diff --git a/repo.merge.go b/repo.merge.go
index 6dbb35e..ae74380 100644
--- a/repo.merge.go
+++ b/repo.merge.go
@@ -1,27 +1,45 @@
 package gitpb
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
+
 	"github.com/go-cmd/cmd"
 	"go.wit.com/log"
 )
 
-func (rs *Repo) MergeUserToDevel() (*cmd.Status, error) {
-	startbranch := rs.GetCurrentBranchName()
-	devel := rs.GetDevelBranchName()
-	user := rs.GetUserBranchName()
+func (r *Repo) MergeToDevel() (*cmd.Status, error) {
+	r.Reload()
+	if r.GetCurrentBranchName() != r.GetDevelBranchName() {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("repo not on devel branch")
+	}
+	if r.CheckDirty() {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("repo is dirty")
+	}
+	devel := r.GetDevelBranchName()
+	user := r.GetUserBranchName()
 
-	log.Info("MergeUserToDevel() checking out", devel, "started on", startbranch, "merge", user)
+	log.Info("MergeToDevel() merging from", user, "into", devel)
 
-	var all [][]string
-	all = append(all, []string{"git", "checkout", devel})
-	all = append(all, []string{"git", "merge", user})
-	all = append(all, []string{"git", "push"})
-
-	if result, err := rs.RunStrictAll(all); err != nil {
-		log.Log(WARN, "MergeUserToDevel() failed", rs.GetFullPath())
+	cmd := []string{"git", "merge", user}
+	result, err := r.RunQuiet(cmd)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Log(WARN, "MergeToDevel() failed", r.GetFullPath())
 		return result, err
 	}
-	return nil, nil
+
+	if !r.IsBranchRemote(devel) {
+		// devel branch is not remote. do not try 'git push'
+		return result, nil
+	}
+
+	// it seems like we have write access. lets find out!
+	cmd = []string{"git", "push"}
+	result, err = r.RunQuiet(cmd)
+	if err != nil {
+		log.Log(WARN, "MergeToDevel() failed", r.GetFullPath())
+		return result, err
+	}
+	return result, nil
 }
 
 func (rs *Repo) MergeDevelToMaster() (*cmd.Status, error) {