diff --git a/conftest.py b/conftest.py
index 8a770095..6fbb520f 100644
--- a/conftest.py
+++ b/conftest.py
@@ -79,6 +79,18 @@ import requests
 NGROK_CLI = [
     'ngrok', 'start', '--none', '--region', 'eu',
 ]
+# When an operation can trigger webhooks, the test suite has to wait *some time*
+# in the hope that the webhook(s) will have been dispatched by the end as github
+# provides no real webhook feedback (e.g. an event stream).
+#
+# This also acts as a bit of a rate limiter, as github has gotten more and more
+# angry with that. Especially around event-generating limits.
+#
+# TODO: explore https://docs.github.com/en/rest/using-the-rest-api/rate-limits-for-the-rest-api
+#       and see if it would be possible to be a better citizen (e.g. add test
+#       retry / backoff using GH tighter GH integration)
+WEBHOOK_WAIT_TIME = 10  # seconds
+LOCAL_WEBHOOK_WAIT_TIME = 1
 
 def pytest_addoption(parser):
     parser.addoption('--addons-path')
@@ -99,7 +111,12 @@ def pytest_addoption(parser):
 def is_manager(config):
     return not hasattr(config, 'workerinput')
 
-def pytest_configure(config):
+def pytest_configure(config: pytest.Config) -> None:
+    global WEBHOOK_WAIT_TIME
+    # no tunnel => local setup, no need to wait as much
+    if not config.getoption('--tunnel'):
+        WEBHOOK_WAIT_TIME = LOCAL_WEBHOOK_WAIT_TIME
+
     sys.path.insert(0, os.path.join(os.path.dirname(__file__), 'mergebot_test_utils'))
     config.addinivalue_line(
         "markers",
@@ -126,7 +143,7 @@ def _set_socket_timeout():
     socket.setdefaulttimeout(120.0)
 
 @pytest.fixture(scope="session")
-def config(pytestconfig):
+def config(pytestconfig: pytest.Config) -> dict[str, dict[str, str]]:
     """ Flat version of the pytest config file (pytest.ini), parses to a
     simple dict of {section: {key: value}}
 
@@ -211,7 +228,7 @@ def users(partners, rolemap):
     return {k: v['login'] for k, v in rolemap.items()}
 
 @pytest.fixture(scope='session')
-def tunnel(pytestconfig, port):
+def tunnel(pytestconfig: pytest.Config, port: int):
     """ Creates a tunnel to localhost:<port> using ngrok or localtunnel, should yield the
     publicly routable address & terminate the process at the end of the session
     """
@@ -368,8 +385,8 @@ def db(request, module, dbcache, tmpdir):
     if not request.config.getoption('--no-delete'):
         subprocess.run(['dropdb', rundb], check=True)
 
-def wait_for_hook(n=1):
-    time.sleep(10 * n)
+def wait_for_hook():
+    time.sleep(WEBHOOK_WAIT_TIME)
 
 def wait_for_server(db, port, proc, mod, timeout=120):
     """ Polls for server to be response & have installed our module.
@@ -437,6 +454,7 @@ class Base(models.AbstractModel):
     _inherit = 'base'
 
     def run_crons(self):
+        builtins.current_date = self.env.context.get('current_date')
         builtins.forwardport_merged_before = self.env.context.get('forwardport_merged_before')
         builtins.forwardport_updated_before = self.env.context.get('forwardport_updated_before')
         self.env['ir.cron']._process_jobs(self.env.cr.dbname)
@@ -477,6 +495,7 @@ class IrCron(models.Model):
         (mod / '__manifest__.py').write_text(pprint.pformat({
             'name': 'dummy saas_worker',
             'version': '1.0',
+            'license': 'BSD-0-Clause',
         }), encoding='utf-8')
         (mod / 'util.py').write_text("""\
 def from_role(*_, **__):
@@ -777,19 +796,20 @@ class Repo:
             parents=[p['sha'] for p in gh_commit['parents']],
         )
 
-    def read_tree(self, commit):
+    def read_tree(self, commit: Commit, *, recursive=False) -> dict[str, str]:
         """ read tree object from commit
-
-        :param Commit commit:
-        :rtype: Dict[str, str]
         """
-        r = self._session.get('https://api.github.com/repos/{}/git/trees/{}'.format(self.name, commit.tree))
+        r = self._session.get(
+            'https://api.github.com/repos/{}/git/trees/{}'.format(self.name, commit.tree),
+            params={'recursive': '1'} if recursive else None,
+        )
         assert 200 <= r.status_code < 300, r.text
 
         # read tree's blobs
         tree = {}
         for t in r.json()['tree']:
-            assert t['type'] == 'blob', "we're *not* doing recursive trees in test cases"
+            if t['type'] != 'blob':
+                continue # only keep blobs
             r = self._session.get('https://api.github.com/repos/{}/git/blobs/{}'.format(self.name, t['sha']))
             assert 200 <= r.status_code < 300, r.text
             tree[t['path']] = base64.b64decode(r.json()['content']).decode()
@@ -813,6 +833,11 @@ class Repo:
         r = self._session.patch('https://api.github.com/repos/{}/git/refs/{}'.format(self.name, name), json={'sha': commit, 'force': force})
         assert r.ok, r.text
 
+    def delete_ref(self, name):
+        assert self.hook
+        r = self._session.delete(f'https://api.github.com/repos/{self.name}/git/refs/{name}')
+        assert r.ok, r.text
+
     def protect(self, branch):
         assert self.hook
         r = self._session.put('https://api.github.com/repos/{}/branches/{}/protection'.format(self.name, branch), json={
@@ -996,11 +1021,11 @@ class Repo:
                 return
 
     def __enter__(self):
-        self.hook = 1
+        self.hook = True
         return self
     def __exit__(self, *args):
-        wait_for_hook(self.hook)
-        self.hook = 0
+        wait_for_hook()
+        self.hook = False
     class Commit:
         def __init__(self, message, *, author=None, committer=None, tree, reset=False):
             self.id = None
@@ -1134,7 +1159,6 @@ class PR:
             headers=headers
         )
         assert 200 <= r.status_code < 300, r.text
-        wait_for_hook()
 
     def delete_comment(self, cid, token=None):
         assert self.repo.hook
@@ -1247,13 +1271,27 @@ class LabelsProxy(collections.abc.MutableSet):
 
 class Environment:
     def __init__(self, port, db):
-        self._uid = xmlrpc.client.ServerProxy('http://localhost:{}/xmlrpc/2/common'.format(port)).authenticate(db, 'admin', 'admin', {})
-        self._object = xmlrpc.client.ServerProxy('http://localhost:{}/xmlrpc/2/object'.format(port))
+        self._port = port
         self._db = db
+        self._uid = None
+        self._password = None
+        self._object = xmlrpc.client.ServerProxy(f'http://localhost:{port}/xmlrpc/2/object')
+        self.login('admin', 'admin')
+
+    def with_user(self, login, password):
+        env = copy.copy(self)
+        env.login(login, password)
+        return env
+
+    def login(self, login, password):
+        self._password = password
+        self._uid = xmlrpc.client.ServerProxy(
+            f'http://localhost:{self._port}/xmlrpc/2/common'
+        ).authenticate(self._db, login, password, {})
 
     def __call__(self, model, method, *args, **kwargs):
         return self._object.execute_kw(
-            self._db, self._uid, 'admin',
+            self._db, self._uid, self._password,
             model, method,
             args, kwargs
         )
@@ -1409,6 +1447,9 @@ class Model:
         )
 
     def mapped(self, path):
+        if callable(path):
+            return [path(r) for r in self]
+
         field, *rest = path.split('.', 1)
         descr = self._fields[field]
         if descr['type'] in ('many2one', 'one2many', 'many2many'):
diff --git a/forwardport/data/queues.xml b/forwardport/data/queues.xml
index ba011344..8d552a2a 100644
--- a/forwardport/data/queues.xml
+++ b/forwardport/data/queues.xml
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@
             <tree>
                 <field name="source"/>
                 <field name="batch_id"/>
+                <field name="retry_after_relative" string="Retry In"/>
             </tree>
         </field>
     </record>
@@ -20,8 +21,13 @@
         <field name="arch" type="xml">
             <form>
                 <group>
-                    <group><field name="source"/></group>
-                    <group><field name="batch_id"/></group>
+                    <group>
+                        <field name="source"/>
+                        <field name="batch_id"/>
+                    </group>
+                    <group>
+                        <field name="retry_after"/>
+                    </group>
                 </group>
             </form>
         </field>
diff --git a/forwardport/models/forwardport.py b/forwardport/models/forwardport.py
index 19a4ae46..c8824167 100644
--- a/forwardport/models/forwardport.py
+++ b/forwardport/models/forwardport.py
@@ -7,9 +7,10 @@ from datetime import datetime, timedelta
 
 import requests
 import sentry_sdk
+from babel.dates import format_timedelta
 from dateutil import relativedelta
 
-from odoo import fields, models
+from odoo import api, fields, models
 from odoo.addons.runbot_merge import git
 from odoo.addons.runbot_merge.github import GH
 
@@ -73,8 +74,10 @@ class ForwardPortTasks(models.Model, Queue):
         ('complete', 'Complete ported batches'),
     ], required=True)
     retry_after = fields.Datetime(required=True, default='1900-01-01 01:01:01')
+    retry_after_relative = fields.Char(compute="_compute_retry_after_relative")
     pr_id = fields.Many2one('runbot_merge.pull_requests')
 
+    @api.model_create_multi
     def create(self, vals_list):
         self.env.ref('forwardport.port_forward')._trigger()
         return super().create(vals_list)
@@ -90,6 +93,15 @@ class ForwardPortTasks(models.Model, Queue):
             ('retry_after', '<=', fields.Datetime.to_string(fields.Datetime.now())),
         ]
 
+    @api.depends('retry_after')
+    def _compute_retry_after_relative(self):
+        now = fields.Datetime.now()
+        for t in self:
+            if t.retry_after <= now:
+                t.retry_after_relative = ""
+            else:
+                t.retry_after_relative = format_timedelta(t.retry_after - now, locale=t.env.lang)
+
     def _on_failure(self):
         super()._on_failure()
         self.retry_after = fields.Datetime.to_string(fields.Datetime.now() + timedelta(minutes=30))
@@ -201,7 +213,7 @@ class ForwardPortTasks(models.Model, Queue):
             # NOTE: ports the new source everywhere instead of porting each
             #       PR to the next step as it does not *stop* on conflict
             repo = git.get_local(source.repository)
-            conflict, head = source._create_fp_branch(repo, target)
+            conflict, head = source._create_port_branch(repo, target, forward=True)
             repo.push(git.fw_url(pr.repository), f'{head}:refs/heads/{ref}')
 
             remote_target = repository.fp_remote_target
@@ -268,6 +280,7 @@ class UpdateQueue(models.Model, Queue):
     original_root = fields.Many2one('runbot_merge.pull_requests')
     new_root = fields.Many2one('runbot_merge.pull_requests')
 
+    @api.model_create_multi
     def create(self, vals_list):
         self.env.ref('forwardport.updates')._trigger()
         return super().create(vals_list)
@@ -300,7 +313,7 @@ class UpdateQueue(models.Model, Queue):
                     return
 
                 repo = git.get_local(previous.repository)
-                conflicts, new_head = previous._create_fp_branch(repo, child.target)
+                conflicts, new_head = previous._create_port_branch(repo, child.target, forward=True)
 
                 if conflicts:
                     _, out, err, _ = conflicts
@@ -357,6 +370,7 @@ class DeleteBranches(models.Model, Queue):
 
     pr_id = fields.Many2one('runbot_merge.pull_requests')
 
+    @api.model_create_multi
     def create(self, vals_list):
         self.env.ref('forwardport.remover')._trigger(datetime.now() - MERGE_AGE)
         return super().create(vals_list)
diff --git a/forwardport/models/project.py b/forwardport/models/project.py
index 41e03abf..fbc510d1 100644
--- a/forwardport/models/project.py
+++ b/forwardport/models/project.py
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@ from odoo.addons.runbot_merge import git, utils
 from odoo.addons.runbot_merge.models.pull_requests import Branch
 from odoo.addons.runbot_merge.models.stagings_create import Message
 
+Conflict = tuple[str, str, str, list[str]]
+
 DEFAULT_DELTA = dateutil.relativedelta.relativedelta(days=3)
 
 _logger = logging.getLogger('odoo.addons.forwardport')
@@ -198,12 +200,13 @@ class PullRequests(models.Model):
             if existing:
                 old |= existing
                 continue
-
             to_create.append(vals)
             if vals.get('parent_id') and 'source_id' not in vals:
                 vals['source_id'] = self.browse(vals['parent_id']).root_id.id
-        new = super().create(to_create)
+        if not to_create:
+            return old
 
+        new = super().create(to_create)
         for pr in new:
             # added a new PR to an already forward-ported batch: port the PR
             if self.env['runbot_merge.batch'].search_count([
@@ -214,6 +217,8 @@ class PullRequests(models.Model):
                     'source': 'complete',
                     'pr_id': pr.id,
                 })
+        if not old:
+            return new
 
         new = iter(new)
         old = iter(old)
@@ -297,17 +302,29 @@ class PullRequests(models.Model):
         return sorted(commits, key=lambda c: idx[c['sha']])
 
 
-    def _create_fp_branch(self, source, target_branch):
+    def _create_port_branch(
+            self,
+            source: git.Repo,
+            target_branch: Branch,
+            *,
+            forward: bool,
+    ) -> tuple[typing.Optional[Conflict], str]:
         """ Creates a forward-port for the current PR to ``target_branch`` under
         ``fp_branch_name``.
 
-        :param target_branch: the branch to port forward to
-        :rtype: (None | (str, str, str, list[commit]), Repo)
+        :param source: the git repository to work with / in
+        :param target_branch: the branch to port ``self`` to
+        :param forward: whether this is a forward (``True``) or a back
+                        (``False``) port
+        :returns: a conflict if one happened, and the head of the port branch
+                  (either a succcessful port of the entire `self`, or a conflict
+                  commit)
         """
         logger = _logger.getChild(str(self.id))
         root = self.root_id
         logger.info(
-            "Forward-porting %s (%s) to %s",
+            "%s %s (%s) to %s",
+            "Forward-porting" if forward else "Back-porting",
             self.display_name, root.display_name, target_branch.name
         )
         fetch = source.with_config(stdout=subprocess.PIPE, stderr=subprocess.STDOUT).fetch()
@@ -356,7 +373,7 @@ class PullRequests(models.Model):
                 '--merge-base', commits[0]['parents'][0]['sha'],
                 target_branch.name,
                 root.head,
-            )
+            ).stdout.decode().splitlines(keepends=False)[0]
             # if there was a single commit, reuse its message when committing
             # the conflict
             if len(commits) == 1:
@@ -372,9 +389,28 @@ stderr:
 {err}
 """
 
-            target_head = source.stdout().rev_parse(target_branch.name).stdout.decode().strip()
+            # if a file is modified by the original PR and added by the forward
+            # port / conflict it's a modify/delete conflict: the file was
+            # deleted in the target branch, and the update (modify) in the
+            # original PR causes it to be added back
+            original_modified = set(conf.diff(
+                "--diff-filter=M", "--name-only",
+                "--merge-base", root.target.name,
+                root.head,
+            ).stdout.decode().splitlines(keepends=False))
+            conflict_added = set(conf.diff(
+                "--diff-filter=A", "--name-only",
+                target_branch.name,
+                tree,
+            ).stdout.decode().splitlines(keepends=False))
+            if modify_delete := (conflict_added & original_modified):
+                # rewrite the tree with conflict markers added to modify/deleted blobs
+                tree = conf.modify_delete(tree, modify_delete)
+
+            target_head = source.stdout().rev_parse(f"refs/heads/{target_branch.name}")\
+                .stdout.decode().strip()
             commit = conf.commit_tree(
-                tree=tree.stdout.decode().splitlines(keepends=False)[0],
+                tree=tree,
                 parents=[target_head],
                 message=str(msg),
                 author=author,
@@ -396,7 +432,7 @@ stderr:
         logger = _logger.getChild(str(self.id)).getChild('cherrypick')
 
         # target's head
-        head = repo.stdout().rev_parse(branch).stdout.decode().strip()
+        head = repo.stdout().rev_parse(f"refs/heads/{branch}").stdout.decode().strip()
 
         commits = self.commits()
         logger.info(
@@ -494,6 +530,8 @@ stderr:
             ('source_id', '!=', False),
             # active
             ('state', 'not in', ['merged', 'closed']),
+            # not ready
+            ('blocked', '!=', False),
             ('source_id.merge_date', '<', cutoff),
         ], order='source_id, id'), lambda p: p.source_id)
 
@@ -508,11 +546,8 @@ stderr:
                 continue
             source.reminder_backoff_factor += 1
 
-            # only keep the PRs which don't have an attached descendant)
-            pr_ids = {p.id for p in prs}
-            for pr in prs:
-                pr_ids.discard(pr.parent_id.id)
-            for pr in (p for p in prs if p.id in pr_ids):
+            # only keep the PRs which don't have an attached descendant
+            for pr in set(prs).difference(p.parent_id for p in prs):
                 self.env.ref('runbot_merge.forwardport.reminder')._send(
                     repository=pr.repository,
                     pull_request=pr.number,
diff --git a/forwardport/tests/test_backport.py b/forwardport/tests/test_backport.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..dbfd8408
--- /dev/null
+++ b/forwardport/tests/test_backport.py
@@ -0,0 +1,117 @@
+from xmlrpc.client import Fault
+
+import pytest
+
+from utils import make_basic, Commit, to_pr, seen
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def repo(env, config, make_repo):
+    repo, _ = make_basic(env, config, make_repo, statuses="default")
+    return repo
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def pr_id(env, repo, config):
+    with repo:
+        repo.make_commits('c', Commit("c", tree={'x': '1'}), ref='heads/aref')
+        pr = repo.make_pr(target='c', head='aref')
+        repo.post_status('aref', 'success')
+        pr.post_comment('hansen r+', config['role_reviewer']['token'])
+    env.run_crons()
+    with repo:
+        repo.post_status('staging.c', 'success')
+    env.run_crons()
+    pr_id = to_pr(env, pr)
+    assert pr_id.merge_date
+    return pr_id
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def backport_id(env, pr_id):
+    action = pr_id.backport()
+    backport_id = env[action['res_model']].browse([action['res_id']])
+    assert backport_id._name == 'runbot_merge.pull_requests.backport'
+    assert backport_id
+    return backport_id
+
+def test_golden_path(env, repo, config, pr_id, backport_id, users):
+    branch_a, branch_b, _branch_c = env['runbot_merge.branch'].search([], order='name')
+    backport_id.target = branch_a.id
+    act2 = backport_id.action_apply()
+    env.run_crons()  # run cron to update labels
+
+    _, bp_id = env['runbot_merge.pull_requests'].search([], order='number')
+    assert bp_id.limit_id == branch_b
+    assert bp_id._name == act2['res_model']
+    assert bp_id.id == act2['res_id']
+    bp_head = repo.commit(bp_id.head)
+    assert repo.read_tree(bp_head) == {
+        'f': 'e',
+        'x': '1',
+    }
+    assert bp_head.message == f"""c
+
+X-original-commit: {pr_id.head}\
+"""
+    assert bp_id.message == f"[Backport] c\n\nBackport of {pr_id.display_name}"
+    assert repo.get_pr(bp_id.number).labels == {"backport"}
+
+    # check that the backport can actually be merged and forward-ports successfully...
+    with repo:
+        repo.post_status(bp_id.head, 'success')
+        repo.get_pr(bp_id.number).post_comment("hansen r+", config['role_reviewer']['token'])
+    env.run_crons()
+    with repo:
+        repo.post_status('staging.a', 'success')
+    env.run_crons()
+    _pr, _backport, fw_id = env['runbot_merge.pull_requests'].search([], order='number')
+    fw_pr = repo.get_pr(fw_id.number)
+    assert fw_pr.comments == [
+        seen(env, fw_pr, users),
+        (users['user'], '''\
+@{user} @{reviewer} this PR targets b and is the last of the forward-port chain.
+
+To merge the full chain, use
+> @hansen r+
+
+More info at https://github.com/odoo/odoo/wiki/Mergebot#forward-port
+'''.format_map(users)),
+    ]
+
+def test_conflict(env, repo, config, backport_id):
+    with repo:
+        repo.make_commits('a', Commit('conflict', tree={'x': '-1'}), ref='heads/a', make=False)
+
+    branch_a, _branch_b, _branch_c = env['runbot_merge.branch'].search([], order='name')
+    backport_id.target = branch_a.id
+    with pytest.raises(Fault) as exc:
+        backport_id.action_apply()
+    assert exc.value.faultString == """\
+backport conflict:
+
+Auto-merging x
+CONFLICT (add/add): Merge conflict in x
+"""
+
+def test_target_error(env, config, backport_id):
+    branch_a, _branch_b, branch_c = env['runbot_merge.branch'].search([], order='name')
+    with pytest.raises(Fault) as exc:
+        backport_id.action_apply()
+    assert exc.value.faultString == "A backport needs a backport target"
+
+    backport_id.target = branch_c.id
+    with pytest.raises(Fault) as exc:
+        backport_id.action_apply()
+    assert exc.value.faultString == "The backport branch needs to be before the source's branch (got 'c' and 'c')"
+
+    backport_id.target = branch_a.id
+    backport_id.action_apply()
+
+@pytest.mark.skip(
+    reason="Currently no way to make just the PR creation fail, swapping the "
+           "fp_github_token for an invalid one breaks git itself"
+)
+def test_pr_fail(env, config, repo, pr_id, backport_id):
+    backport_id.target = env['runbot_merge.branch'].search([], order='name', limit=1).id
+    with pytest.raises(Fault) as exc:
+        backport_id.action_apply()
+    assert exc.value.faultString == 'Backport PR creation failure: '
diff --git a/forwardport/tests/test_conflicts.py b/forwardport/tests/test_conflicts.py
index 3c0bbda6..f6e23bbf 100644
--- a/forwardport/tests/test_conflicts.py
+++ b/forwardport/tests/test_conflicts.py
@@ -262,7 +262,7 @@ def test_massive_conflict(env, config, make_repo):
 
 
 def test_conflict_deleted(env, config, make_repo):
-    prod, other = make_basic(env, config, make_repo)
+    prod, other = make_basic(env, config, make_repo, statuses="default")
     # remove f from b
     with prod:
         prod.make_commits(
@@ -277,18 +277,12 @@ def test_conflict_deleted(env, config, make_repo):
             ref='heads/conflicting'
         )
         pr = prod.make_pr(target='a', head='conflicting')
-        prod.post_status(p_0, 'success', 'legal/cla')
-        prod.post_status(p_0, 'success', 'ci/runbot')
+        prod.post_status(p_0, 'success')
         pr.post_comment('hansen r+', config['role_reviewer']['token'])
 
     env.run_crons()
     with prod:
-        prod.post_status('staging.a', 'success', 'legal/cla')
-        prod.post_status('staging.a', 'success', 'ci/runbot')
-
-    env.run_crons()
-    # wait a bit for PR webhook... ?
-    time.sleep(5)
+        prod.post_status('staging.a', 'success')
     env.run_crons()
 
     # should have created a new PR
@@ -300,9 +294,14 @@ def test_conflict_deleted(env, config, make_repo):
         'g': 'c',
     }
     assert pr1.state == 'opened'
-    # NOTE: no actual conflict markers because pr1 essentially adds f de-novo
     assert prod.read_tree(prod.commit(pr1.head)) == {
-        'f': 'xxx',
+        'f': matches("""\
+<<<\x3c<<< $$
+||||||| $$
+=======
+xxx
+>>>\x3e>>> $$
+"""),
         'g': 'c',
     }
 
@@ -333,6 +332,89 @@ def test_conflict_deleted(env, config, make_repo):
     }
     assert pr1.state == 'opened', "state should be open still"
 
+
+def test_conflict_deleted_deep(env, config, make_repo):
+    """ Same as the previous one but files are deeper than toplevel, and we only
+    want to see if the conflict post-processing works.
+    """
+    # region: setup
+    prod = make_repo("test")
+    env['runbot_merge.events_sources'].create({'repository': prod.name})
+    with prod:
+        [a, b] = prod.make_commits(
+            None,
+            Commit("a", tree={
+                "foo/bar/baz": "1",
+                "foo/bar/qux": "1",
+                "corge/grault": "1",
+            }),
+            Commit("b", tree={"foo/bar/qux": "2"}, reset=True),
+        )
+        prod.make_ref("heads/a", a)
+        prod.make_ref("heads/b", b)
+
+    project = env['runbot_merge.project'].create({
+        'name': "test",
+        'github_token': config['github']['token'],
+        'github_prefix': 'hansen',
+        'fp_github_token': config['github']['token'],
+        'fp_github_name': 'herbert',
+        'branch_ids': [
+            (0, 0, {'name': 'a', 'sequence': 100}),
+            (0, 0, {'name': 'b', 'sequence': 80}),
+        ],
+        "repo_ids": [
+            (0, 0, {
+                'name': prod.name,
+                'required_statuses': "default",
+                'fp_remote_target': prod.fork().name,
+                'group_id': False,
+            })
+        ]
+    })
+    env['res.partner'].search([
+        ('github_login', '=', config['role_reviewer']['user'])
+    ]).write({
+        'review_rights': [(0, 0, {'repository_id': project.repo_ids.id, 'review': True})]
+    })
+    # endregion
+
+    with prod:
+        prod.make_commits(
+            'a',
+            Commit("c", tree={
+                "foo/bar/baz": "2",
+                "corge/grault": "insert funny number",
+            }),
+            ref="heads/conflicting",
+        )
+        pr = prod.make_pr(target='a', head='conflicting')
+        prod.post_status("conflicting", "success")
+        pr.post_comment("hansen r+", config['role_reviewer']['token'])
+    env.run_crons()
+
+    with prod:
+        prod.post_status('staging.a', 'success')
+    env.run_crons()
+    _, pr1 = env['runbot_merge.pull_requests'].search([], order='number')
+    assert prod.read_tree(prod.commit(pr1.head), recursive=True) == {
+        "foo/bar/qux": "2",
+        "foo/bar/baz": """\
+<<<<<<< HEAD
+||||||| MERGE BASE
+=======
+2
+>>>>>>> FORWARD PORTED
+""",
+        "corge/grault": """\
+<<<<<<< HEAD
+||||||| MERGE BASE
+=======
+insert funny number
+>>>>>>> FORWARD PORTED
+"""
+    }, "the conflicting file should have had conflict markers fixed in"
+
 def test_multiple_commits_same_authorship(env, config, make_repo):
     """ When a PR has multiple commits by the same author and its
     forward-porting triggers a conflict, the resulting (squashed) conflict
@@ -436,13 +518,13 @@ def test_multiple_commits_different_authorship(env, config, make_repo, users, ro
         "author set to the bot but an empty email"
     assert get(c.committer) == (bot, '')
 
-    assert re.match(r'''<<<\x3c<<< HEAD
+    assert prod.read_tree(c)['g'] == matches('''<<<\x3c<<< b
 b
-|||||||| parent of [\da-f]{7,}.*
+||||||| $$
 =======
 2
->>>\x3e>>> [\da-f]{7,}.*
-''', prod.read_tree(c)['g'])
+>>>\x3e>>> $$
+''')
 
     # I'd like to fix the conflict so everything is clean and proper *but*
     # github's API apparently rejects creating commits with an empty email.
@@ -459,7 +541,7 @@ b
 
     assert pr2.comments == [
         seen(env, pr2, users),
-        (users['user'], matches('@%s @%s $$CONFLICT' % (users['user'], users['reviewer']))),
+        (users['user'], matches('@%(user)s @%(reviewer)s $$CONFLICT' % users)),
         (users['reviewer'], 'hansen r+'),
         (users['user'], f"@{users['user']} @{users['reviewer']} unable to stage: "
                         "All commits must have author and committer email, "
diff --git a/forwardport/tests/test_limit.py b/forwardport/tests/test_limit.py
index de563e3d..7df9d9e5 100644
--- a/forwardport/tests/test_limit.py
+++ b/forwardport/tests/test_limit.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import lxml.html
 import pytest
 
 from utils import seen, Commit, make_basic, to_pr
@@ -76,6 +77,92 @@ def test_ignore(env, config, make_repo, users):
         (users['user'], "Disabled forward-porting."),
     ]
 
+    with prod:
+        pr.post_comment('hansen up to c', config['role_reviewer']['token'])
+    env.run_crons()
+
+    assert env['runbot_merge.pull_requests'].search([]) == pr_id,\
+        "should still not have created a forward port"
+    assert pr.comments[6:] == [
+        (users['reviewer'], 'hansen up to c'),
+        (users['user'], "@%s can not forward-port, policy is 'no' on %s" % (
+            users['reviewer'],
+            pr_id.display_name,
+        ))
+    ]
+
+    assert pr_id.limit_id == env['runbot_merge.branch'].search([('name', '=', 'c')])
+    pr_id.limit_id = False
+
+    with prod:
+        pr.post_comment("hansen fw=default", config['role_reviewer']['token'])
+    env.run_crons()
+
+    assert pr.comments[8:] == [
+        (users['reviewer'], "hansen fw=default"),
+        (users['user'], "Starting forward-port. Waiting for CI to create followup forward-ports.")
+    ]
+
+    assert env['runbot_merge.pull_requests'].search([('source_id', '=', pr_id.id)]),\
+        "should finally have created a forward port"
+
+
+def test_unignore(env, config, make_repo, users, page):
+    env['res.partner'].create({'name': users['other'], 'github_login': users['other'], 'email': 'other@example.org'})
+
+    prod, _ = make_basic(env, config, make_repo, statuses="default")
+    token = config['role_other']['token']
+    fork = prod.fork(token=token)
+    with prod, fork:
+        [c] = fork.make_commits('a', Commit('c', tree={'0': '0'}), ref='heads/mybranch')
+        pr = prod.make_pr(target='a', head=f'{fork.owner}:mybranch', title="title", token=token)
+        prod.post_status(c, 'success')
+    env.run_crons()
+
+    pr_id = to_pr(env, pr)
+    assert pr_id.batch_id.fw_policy == 'default'
+
+    doc = lxml.html.fromstring(page(f'/{prod.name}/pull/{pr.number}'))
+    assert len(doc.cssselect("table > tbody > tr")) == 3, \
+        "the overview table should have as many rows as there are tables"
+
+    with prod:
+        pr.post_comment('hansen fw=no', token)
+    env.run_crons(None)
+    assert pr_id.batch_id.fw_policy == 'no'
+
+    doc = lxml.html.fromstring(page(f'/{prod.name}/pull/{pr.number}'))
+    assert len(doc.cssselect("table > tbody > tr")) == 1, \
+        "if fw=no, there should be just one row"
+
+    with prod:
+        pr.post_comment('hansen fw=default', token)
+    env.run_crons(None)
+    assert pr_id.batch_id.fw_policy == 'default'
+
+    with prod:
+        pr.post_comment('hansen fw=no', token)
+    env.run_crons(None)
+    with prod:
+        pr.post_comment('hansen up to c', token)
+    env.run_crons(None)
+    assert pr_id.batch_id.fw_policy == 'default'
+
+    assert pr.comments == [
+        seen(env, pr, users),
+        (users['other'], "hansen fw=no"),
+        (users['user'], "Disabled forward-porting."),
+        (users['other'], "hansen fw=default"),
+        (users['user'], "Waiting for CI to create followup forward-ports."),
+        (users['other'], "hansen fw=no"),
+        (users['user'], "Disabled forward-porting."),
+        (users['other'], "hansen up to c"),
+        (users['user'], "Forward-porting to 'c'. Re-enabled forward-porting "\
+                        "(you should use `fw=default` to re-enable forward "\
+                        "porting after disabling)."
+        ),
+    ]
+
 def test_disable(env, config, make_repo, users):
     """ Checks behaviour if the limit target is disabled:
 
diff --git a/forwardport/tests/test_simple.py b/forwardport/tests/test_simple.py
index 634a25c0..7ec2601c 100644
--- a/forwardport/tests/test_simple.py
+++ b/forwardport/tests/test_simple.py
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@ def test_empty(env, config, make_repo, users):
     """ Cherrypick of an already cherrypicked (or separately implemented)
     commit -> conflicting pr.
     """
-    prod, other = make_basic(env, config, make_repo)
+    prod, other = make_basic(env, config, make_repo, statuses="default")
     # merge change to b
     with prod:
         [p_0] = prod.make_commits(
@@ -259,13 +259,11 @@ def test_empty(env, config, make_repo, users):
             ref='heads/early'
         )
         pr0 = prod.make_pr(target='b', head='early')
-        prod.post_status(p_0, 'success', 'legal/cla')
-        prod.post_status(p_0, 'success', 'ci/runbot')
+        prod.post_status(p_0, 'success')
         pr0.post_comment('hansen r+', config['role_reviewer']['token'])
     env.run_crons()
     with prod:
-        prod.post_status('staging.b', 'success', 'legal/cla')
-        prod.post_status('staging.b', 'success', 'ci/runbot')
+        prod.post_status('staging.b', 'success')
 
     # merge same change to a afterwards
     with prod:
@@ -274,15 +272,13 @@ def test_empty(env, config, make_repo, users):
             ref='heads/late'
         )
         pr1 = prod.make_pr(target='a', head='late')
-        prod.post_status(p_1, 'success', 'legal/cla')
-        prod.post_status(p_1, 'success', 'ci/runbot')
+        prod.post_status(p_1, 'success')
         pr1.post_comment('hansen r+', config['role_reviewer']['token'])
     env.run_crons()
     with prod:
-        prod.post_status('staging.a', 'success', 'legal/cla')
-        prod.post_status('staging.a', 'success', 'ci/runbot')
-
+        prod.post_status('staging.a', 'success')
     env.run_crons()
+
     assert prod.read_tree(prod.commit('a')) == {
         'f': 'e',
         'x': '0',
@@ -315,7 +311,8 @@ def test_empty(env, config, make_repo, users):
     }
 
     with prod:
-        validate_all([prod], [fp_id.head, fail_id.head])
+        prod.post_status(fp_id.head, 'success')
+        prod.post_status(fail_id.head, 'success')
     env.run_crons()
 
     # should not have created any new PR
@@ -379,12 +376,28 @@ More info at https://github.com/odoo/odoo/wiki/Mergebot#forward-port
         (users['reviewer'], 'hansen r+'),
         seen(env, pr1, users),
     ]
-    assert fail_pr.comments == [
-        seen(env, fail_pr, users),
-        conflict,
+    assert fail_pr.comments[2:] == [awaiting]*2,\
+        "message should not be triggered on closed PR"
+
+    with prod:
+        fail_pr.open()
+    with prod:
+        prod.post_status(fail_id.head, 'success')
+    assert fail_id.state == 'validated'
+    env.run_crons('forwardport.reminder', context={'forwardport_updated_before': FAKE_PREV_WEEK})
+    assert fail_pr.comments[2:] == [awaiting]*3, "check that message triggers again"
+
+    with prod:
+        fail_pr.post_comment('hansen r+', config['role_reviewer']['token'])
+    assert fail_id.state == 'ready'
+    env.run_crons('forwardport.reminder', context={'forwardport_updated_before': FAKE_PREV_WEEK})
+    assert fail_pr.comments[2:] == [
         awaiting,
         awaiting,
-    ], "each cron run should trigger a new message"
+        awaiting,
+        (users['reviewer'], "hansen r+"),
+    ],"if a PR is ready (unblocked), the reminder should not trigger as "\
+        "we're likely waiting for the mergebot"
 
 def test_partially_empty(env, config, make_repo):
     """ Check what happens when only some commits of the PR are now empty
@@ -616,6 +629,14 @@ def test_disapproval(env, config, make_repo, users):
                         "sibling forward ports may have to be unapproved "
                         "individually."),
     ]
+    with prod:
+        pr2.post_comment('hansen r-', token=config['role_other']['token'])
+    env.run_crons(None)
+    assert pr2_id.state == 'validated'
+    assert pr2.comments[2:] == [
+        (users['other'], "hansen r+"),
+        (users['other'], "hansen r-"),
+    ], "shouldn't have a warning on r- because it's the only approved PR of the chain"
 
 def test_delegate_fw(env, config, make_repo, users):
     """If a user is delegated *on a forward port* they should be able to approve
@@ -692,6 +713,7 @@ More info at https://github.com/odoo/odoo/wiki/Mergebot#forward-port
 '''.format_map(users)),
         (users['other'], 'hansen r+')
     ]
+    assert pr2_id.reviewed_by
 
 
 def test_redundant_approval(env, config, make_repo, users):
diff --git a/forwardport/tests/test_weird.py b/forwardport/tests/test_weird.py
index 19feda24..9577f690 100644
--- a/forwardport/tests/test_weird.py
+++ b/forwardport/tests/test_weird.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ from datetime import datetime, timedelta
 
 import pytest
 
-from utils import seen, Commit, to_pr, make_basic
+from utils import seen, Commit, to_pr, make_basic, prevent_unstaging
 
 
 def test_no_token(env, config, make_repo):
@@ -136,6 +136,64 @@ def test_failed_staging(env, config, make_repo):
     assert pr3_id.state == 'ready'
     assert pr3_id.staging_id
 
+def test_fw_retry(env, config, make_repo, users):
+    prod, _ = make_basic(env, config, make_repo, statuses='default')
+    other_token = config['role_other']['token']
+    fork = prod.fork(token=other_token)
+    with prod, fork:
+        fork.make_commits('a', Commit('c', tree={'a': '0'}), ref='heads/abranch')
+        pr1 = prod.make_pr(
+            title="whatever",
+            target='a',
+            head=f'{fork.owner}:abranch',
+            token=other_token,
+        )
+        prod.post_status(pr1.head, 'success')
+        pr1.post_comment('hansen r+', config['role_reviewer']['token'])
+    env.run_crons()
+
+    other_partner = env['res.partner'].search([('github_login', '=', users['other'])])
+    assert len(other_partner) == 1
+    other_partner.email = "foo@example.com"
+
+    with prod:
+        prod.post_status('staging.a', 'success')
+    env.run_crons()
+
+    _pr1_id, pr2_id = env['runbot_merge.pull_requests'].search([], order='number')
+    pr2 = prod.get_pr(pr2_id.number)
+    with prod:
+        prod.post_status(pr2_id.head, 'success')
+        pr2.post_comment('hansen r+', other_token)
+    env.run_crons()
+    assert not pr2_id.blocked
+
+    with prod:
+        prod.post_status('staging.b', 'failure')
+    env.run_crons()
+
+    assert pr2_id.error
+    with prod:
+        pr2.post_comment('hansen r+', other_token)
+    env.run_crons()
+    assert pr2_id.state == 'error'
+    with prod:
+        pr2.post_comment('hansen retry', other_token)
+    env.run_crons()
+    assert pr2_id.state == 'ready'
+
+    assert pr2.comments == [
+        seen(env, pr2, users),
+        (users['user'], "This PR targets b and is part of the forward-port chain. Further PRs will be created up to c.\n\nMore info at https://github.com/odoo/odoo/wiki/Mergebot#forward-port\n"),
+        (users['other'], 'hansen r+'),
+        (users['user'], "@{other} @{reviewer} staging failed: default".format_map(users)),
+
+        (users['other'], 'hansen r+'),
+        (users['user'], "This PR is already reviewed, it's in error, you might want to `retry` it instead (if you have already confirmed the error is not legitimate)."),
+
+        (users['other'], 'hansen retry'),
+    ]
+
 class TestNotAllBranches:
     """ Check that forward-ports don't behave completely insanely when not all
     branches are supported on all repositories.
@@ -862,13 +920,12 @@ def test_missing_magic_ref(env, config, make_repo):
     Emulate this behaviour by updating the PR with a commit which lives in the
     repo but has no ref.
     """
-    prod, _ = make_basic(env, config, make_repo)
+    prod, _ = make_basic(env, config, make_repo, statuses='default')
     a_head = prod.commit('refs/heads/a')
     with prod:
         [c] = prod.make_commits(a_head.id, Commit('x', tree={'x': '0'}), ref='heads/change')
         pr = prod.make_pr(target='a', head='change')
-        prod.post_status(c, 'success', 'legal/cla')
-        prod.post_status(c, 'success', 'ci/runbot')
+        prod.post_status(c, 'success')
         pr.post_comment('hansen r+', config['role_reviewer']['token'])
     env.run_crons()
 
@@ -877,10 +934,10 @@ def test_missing_magic_ref(env, config, make_repo):
     pr_id = to_pr(env, pr)
     assert pr_id.staging_id
 
-    pr_id.head = '0'*40
+    with prevent_unstaging(pr_id.staging_id):
+        pr_id.head = '0'*40
     with prod:
-        prod.post_status('staging.a', 'success', 'legal/cla')
-        prod.post_status('staging.a', 'success', 'ci/runbot')
+        prod.post_status('staging.a', 'success')
     env.run_crons()
 
     assert not pr_id.staging_id
diff --git a/mergebot_test_utils/utils.py b/mergebot_test_utils/utils.py
index c5473e93..50976518 100644
--- a/mergebot_test_utils/utils.py
+++ b/mergebot_test_utils/utils.py
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
 # -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+import contextlib
 import itertools
 import re
 import time
+import typing
 
 from lxml import html
 
@@ -132,7 +134,7 @@ def make_basic(
     prod = make_repo(reponame)
     env['runbot_merge.events_sources'].create({'repository': prod.name})
     with prod:
-        a_0, a_1, a_2, a_3, a_4, = prod.make_commits(
+        _0, _1, a_2, _3, _4, = prod.make_commits(
             None,
             Commit("0", tree={'f': 'a'}),
             Commit("1", tree={'f': 'b'}),
@@ -141,7 +143,7 @@ def make_basic(
             Commit("4", tree={'f': 'e'}),
             ref='heads/a',
         )
-        b_1, b_2 = prod.make_commits(
+        b_1, _2 = prod.make_commits(
             a_2,
             Commit('11', tree={'g': 'a'}),
             Commit('22', tree={'g': 'b'}),
@@ -200,3 +202,30 @@ Signed-off-by: {pr_id.reviewed_by.formatted_email}"""
 def ensure_one(records):
     assert len(records) == 1
     return records
+
+
+@contextlib.contextmanager
+def prevent_unstaging(st) -> None:
+    # hack: `Stagings.cancel` only cancels *active* stagings,
+    # so if we disable the staging, do a thing, then re-enable
+    # then things should work out
+    assert st and st.active, "preventing unstaging of not-a-staging is not useful"
+    st.active = False
+    try:
+        yield
+    finally:
+        st.active = True
+
+
+TYPE_MAPPING = {
+    'boolean': 'integer',
+    'date': 'datetime',
+    'monetary': 'float',
+    'selection': 'char',
+    'many2one': 'char',
+}
+def read_tracking_value(tv) -> tuple[str, typing.Any, typing.Any]:
+    field_id = tv.field_id if 'field_id' in tv else tv.field
+    field_type = field_id.field_type if 'field_type' in field_id else field_id.ttype
+    t = TYPE_MAPPING.get(field_type) or field_type
+    return field_id.name, tv[f"old_value_{t}"], tv[f"new_value_{t}"]
diff --git a/runbot_merge/__manifest__.py b/runbot_merge/__manifest__.py
index 35af99ca..b7e69773 100644
--- a/runbot_merge/__manifest__.py
+++ b/runbot_merge/__manifest__.py
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
         'views/templates.xml',
         'models/project_freeze/views.xml',
         'models/staging_cancel/views.xml',
+        'models/backport/views.xml',
     ],
     'assets': {
        'web._assets_primary_variables': [
diff --git a/runbot_merge/controllers/__init__.py b/runbot_merge/controllers/__init__.py
index 268a05e4..60692c3f 100644
--- a/runbot_merge/controllers/__init__.py
+++ b/runbot_merge/controllers/__init__.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ import hashlib
 import hmac
 import logging
 import json
+from datetime import datetime, timedelta
 
 import sentry_sdk
 import werkzeug.exceptions
@@ -210,12 +211,8 @@ def handle_pr(env, event):
                 updates['target'] = branch.id
                 updates['squash'] = pr['commits'] == 1
 
-        # turns out github doesn't bother sending a change key if the body is
-        # changing from empty (None), therefore ignore that entirely, just
-        # generate the message and check if it changed
-        message = utils.make_message(pr)
-        if message != pr_obj.message:
-            updates['message'] = message
+        if 'title' in event['changes'] or 'body' in event['changes']:
+            updates['message'] = utils.make_message(pr)
 
         _logger.info("update: %s = %s (by %s)", pr_obj.display_name, updates, event['sender']['login'])
         if updates:
@@ -286,9 +283,6 @@ def handle_pr(env, event):
             _logger.error("PR %s sync %s -> %s => failure (closed)", pr_obj.display_name, pr_obj.head, pr['head']['sha'])
             return "It's my understanding that closed/merged PRs don't get sync'd"
 
-        if pr_obj.state == 'ready':
-            pr_obj.unstage("updated by %s", event['sender']['login'])
-
         _logger.info(
             "PR %s sync %s -> %s by %s => reset to 'open' and squash=%s",
             pr_obj.display_name,
@@ -297,6 +291,12 @@ def handle_pr(env, event):
             event['sender']['login'],
             pr['commits'] == 1
         )
+        if pr['base']['ref'] != pr_obj.target.name:
+            env['runbot_merge.fetch_job'].create({
+                'repository': pr_obj.repository.id,
+                'number': pr_obj.number,
+                'commits_at': datetime.now() + timedelta(minutes=5),
+            })
 
         pr_obj.write({
             'reviewed_by': False,
@@ -362,7 +362,8 @@ def handle_status(env, event):
         event['context']: {
             'state': event['state'],
             'target_url': event['target_url'],
-            'description': event['description']
+            'description': event['description'],
+            'updated_at': datetime.now().isoformat(timespec='seconds'),
         }
     })
     # create status, or merge update into commit *unless* the update is already
@@ -374,7 +375,7 @@ def handle_status(env, event):
             SET to_check = true,
                 statuses = c.statuses::jsonb || EXCLUDED.statuses::jsonb
             WHERE NOT c.statuses::jsonb @> EXCLUDED.statuses::jsonb
-    """, [event['sha'], status_value])
+    """, [event['sha'], status_value], log_exceptions=False)
     env.ref("runbot_merge.process_updated_commits")._trigger()
 
     return 'ok'
@@ -431,7 +432,9 @@ def _handle_comment(env, repo, issue, comment, target=None):
     if not repository.project_id._find_commands(comment['body'] or ''):
         return "No commands, ignoring"
 
-    pr = env['runbot_merge.pull_requests']._get_or_schedule(repo, issue, target=target)
+    pr = env['runbot_merge.pull_requests']._get_or_schedule(
+        repo, issue, target=target, commenter=comment['user']['login'],
+    )
     if not pr:
         return "Unknown PR, scheduling fetch"
 
diff --git a/runbot_merge/controllers/dashboard.py b/runbot_merge/controllers/dashboard.py
index 2d58e71e..8756d76f 100644
--- a/runbot_merge/controllers/dashboard.py
+++ b/runbot_merge/controllers/dashboard.py
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ from __future__ import annotations
 import base64
 import collections
 import colorsys
+import datetime
 import hashlib
 import io
 import json
@@ -160,7 +161,7 @@ def raster_render(pr):
     # last-modified should be in RFC2822 format, which is what
     # email.utils.formatdate does (sadly takes a timestamp but...)
     last_modified = formatdate(max((
-        o.write_date
+        o.write_date or datetime.datetime.min
         for o in chain(
             project,
             repos,
diff --git a/runbot_merge/data/merge_cron.xml b/runbot_merge/data/merge_cron.xml
index aa9de63e..a728acc5 100644
--- a/runbot_merge/data/merge_cron.xml
+++ b/runbot_merge/data/merge_cron.xml
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
     <field name="state">code</field>
     <field name="code">model._send()</field>
     <field name="interval_number">10</field>
-    <field name="interval_type">minutes</field>
+    <field name="interval_type">hours</field>
     <field name="numbercall">-1</field>
     <field name="doall" eval="False"/>
     <field name="priority">70</field>
diff --git a/runbot_merge/data/runbot_merge.pull_requests.feedback.template.csv b/runbot_merge/data/runbot_merge.pull_requests.feedback.template.csv
index eab2a241..b140ec43 100644
--- a/runbot_merge/data/runbot_merge.pull_requests.feedback.template.csv
+++ b/runbot_merge/data/runbot_merge.pull_requests.feedback.template.csv
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ runbot_merge.pr.load.unmanaged,"Branch `{pr[base][ref]}` is not within my remit,
 
 pr: pull request (github object)
 Repository: repository object (???)"
-runbot_merge.pr.load.fetched,"{pr.ping}I didn't know about this PR and had to retrieve its information, you may have to re-approve it as I didn't see previous commands.","Notifies that we did retrieve an unknown PR (either by request or as side effect of an interaction).
+runbot_merge.pr.load.fetched,"{ping}I didn't know about this PR and had to retrieve its information, you may have to re-approve it as I didn't see previous commands.","Notifies that we did retrieve an unknown PR (either by request or as side effect of an interaction).
 
 Pr: pr object we just created"
 runbot_merge.pr.branch.disabled,"{pr.ping}the target branch {pr.target.name!r} has been disabled, you may want to close this PR.","Notifies that the target branch for this PR was deactivated.
diff --git a/runbot_merge/exceptions.py b/runbot_merge/exceptions.py
index 4ef79f2e..5b4c30c5 100644
--- a/runbot_merge/exceptions.py
+++ b/runbot_merge/exceptions.py
@@ -5,4 +5,7 @@ class FastForwardError(Exception):
 class Mismatch(MergeError):
     pass
 class Unmergeable(MergeError):
-    ...
+    pass
+
+class Skip(MergeError):
+    pass
diff --git a/runbot_merge/git.py b/runbot_merge/git.py
index caaa6e5d..8f2732a8 100644
--- a/runbot_merge/git.py
+++ b/runbot_merge/git.py
@@ -6,7 +6,9 @@ import pathlib
 import resource
 import stat
 import subprocess
+from operator import methodcaller
 from typing import Optional, TypeVar, Union, Sequence, Tuple, Dict
+from collections.abc import Iterable, Mapping, Callable
 
 from odoo.tools.appdirs import user_cache_dir
 from .github import MergeError, PrCommit
@@ -75,6 +77,7 @@ class Repo:
         config.setdefault('stderr', subprocess.PIPE)
         self._config = config
         self._params = ()
+        self.runner = subprocess.run
 
     def __getattr__(self, name: str) -> 'GitCommand':
         return GitCommand(self, name.replace('_', '-'))
@@ -85,7 +88,7 @@ class Repo:
             + tuple(itertools.chain.from_iterable(('-c', p) for p in self._params + ALWAYS))\
             + args
         try:
-            return subprocess.run(args, preexec_fn=_bypass_limits, **opts)
+            return self.runner(args, preexec_fn=_bypass_limits, **opts)
         except subprocess.CalledProcessError as e:
             stream = e.stderr or e.stdout
             if stream:
@@ -245,6 +248,51 @@ class Repo:
             *itertools.chain.from_iterable(('-p', p) for p in parents),
         )
 
+    def update_tree(self, tree: str, files: Mapping[str, Callable[[Self, str], str]]) -> str:
+        # FIXME: either ignore or process binary files somehow (how does git show conflicts in binary files?)
+        repo = self.stdout().with_config(stderr=None, text=True, check=False, encoding="utf-8")
+        for f, c in files.items():
+            new_contents = c(repo, f)
+            oid = repo \
+                .with_config(input=new_contents) \
+                .hash_object("-w", "--stdin", "--path", f) \
+                .stdout.strip()
+
+            # we need to rewrite every tree from the parent of `f`
+            while f:
+                f, _, local = f.rpartition("/")
+                # tree to update, `{tree}:` works as an alias for tree
+                lstree = repo.ls_tree(f"{tree}:{f}").stdout.splitlines(keepends=False)
+                new_tree = "".join(
+                    # tab before name is critical to the format
+                    f"{mode} {typ} {oid if name == local else sha}\t{name}\n"
+                    for mode, typ, sha, name in map(methodcaller("split", None, 3), lstree)
+                )
+                oid = repo.with_config(input=new_tree, check=True).mktree().stdout.strip()
+            tree = oid
+        return tree
+
+    def modify_delete(self, tree: str, files: Iterable[str]) -> str:
+        """Updates ``files`` in ``tree`` to add conflict markers to show them
+        as being modify/delete-ed, rather than have only the original content.
+
+        This is because having just content in a valid file is easy to miss,
+        causing file resurrections as they get committed rather than re-removed.
+
+        TODO: maybe extract the diff information compared to before they were removed? idk
+        """
+        def rewriter(r: Self, f: str) -> str:
+            contents = r.cat_file("-p", f"{tree}:{f}").stdout
+            return f"""\
+<<<\x3c<<< HEAD
+||||||| MERGE BASE
+=======
+{contents}
+>>>\x3e>>> FORWARD PORTED
+"""
+        return self.update_tree(tree, dict.fromkeys(files, rewriter))
+
+
 def check(p: subprocess.CompletedProcess) -> subprocess.CompletedProcess:
     if not p.returncode:
         return p
diff --git a/runbot_merge/models/__init__.py b/runbot_merge/models/__init__.py
index ac19320c..5c79a31a 100644
--- a/runbot_merge/models/__init__.py
+++ b/runbot_merge/models/__init__.py
@@ -1,11 +1,14 @@
 from . import mail_thread
 from . import ir_actions
+from . import ir_ui_view
 from . import res_partner
 from . import project
 from . import pull_requests
 from . import batch
+from . import patcher
 from . import project_freeze
 from . import stagings_create
 from . import staging_cancel
+from . import backport
 from . import events_sources
 from . import crons
diff --git a/runbot_merge/models/backport/__init__.py b/runbot_merge/models/backport/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..7be4652a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/runbot_merge/models/backport/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,145 @@
+import logging
+import re
+import secrets
+
+import requests
+
+from odoo import models, fields
+from odoo.exceptions import UserError
+
+from ..batch import Batch
+from ..project import Project
+from ..pull_requests import Repository
+from ... import git
+
+_logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+
+
+class PullRequest(models.Model):
+    _inherit = 'runbot_merge.pull_requests'
+
+    id: int
+    display_name: str
+    project: Project
+    repository: Repository
+    batch_id: Batch
+
+    def backport(self) -> dict:
+        if len(self) != 1:
+            raise UserError(f"Backporting works one PR at a time, got {len(self)}")
+
+        if len(self.batch_id.prs) > 1:
+            raise UserError("Automatic backport of multi-pr batches is not currently supported")
+
+        if not self.project.fp_github_token:
+            raise UserError(f"Can not backport {self.display_name}: no token on project {self.project.display_name}")
+
+        if not self.repository.fp_remote_target:
+            raise UserError(f"Can not backport {self.display_name}: no remote on {self.project.display_name}")
+
+        w = self.env['runbot_merge.pull_requests.backport'].create({
+            'pr_id': self.id,
+        })
+        return {
+            'type': 'ir.actions.act_window',
+            'name': f"Backport of {self.display_name}",
+            'views': [(False, 'form')],
+            'target': 'new',
+            'res_model': w._name,
+            'res_id': w.id,
+        }
+
+class PullRequestBackport(models.TransientModel):
+    _name = 'runbot_merge.pull_requests.backport'
+    _description = "PR backport wizard"
+    _rec_name = 'pr_id'
+
+    pr_id = fields.Many2one('runbot_merge.pull_requests', required=True)
+    project_id = fields.Many2one(related='pr_id.repository.project_id')
+    source_seq = fields.Integer(related='pr_id.target.sequence')
+    target = fields.Many2one(
+        'runbot_merge.branch',
+        domain="[('project_id', '=', project_id), ('sequence', '>', source_seq)]",
+    )
+
+    def action_apply(self) -> dict:
+        if not self.target:
+            raise UserError("A backport needs a backport target")
+
+        project = self.pr_id.project
+        branches = project._forward_port_ordered().ids
+        source = self.pr_id.source_id or self.pr_id
+        source_idx = branches.index(source.target.id)
+        if branches.index(self.target.id) >= source_idx:
+            raise UserError(
+                "The backport branch needs to be before the source's branch "
+                f"(got {self.target.name!r} and {source.target.name!r})"
+            )
+
+        _logger.info(
+            "backporting %s (on %s) to %s",
+            self.pr_id.display_name,
+            self.pr_id.target.name,
+            self.target.name,
+        )
+
+        bp_branch = "%s-%s-%s-bp" % (
+            self.target.name,
+            self.pr_id.refname,
+            secrets.token_urlsafe(3),
+        )
+        repo_id = self.pr_id.repository
+        repo = git.get_local(repo_id)
+
+        old_map = self.pr_id.commits_map
+        self.pr_id.commits_map = "{}"
+        conflict, head = self.pr_id._create_port_branch(repo, self.target, forward=False)
+        self.pr_id.commits_map = old_map
+
+        if conflict:
+            feedback = "\n".join(filter(None, conflict[1:3]))
+            raise UserError(f"backport conflict:\n\n{feedback}")
+        repo.push(git.fw_url(repo_id), f"{head}:refs/heads/{bp_branch}")
+
+        self.env.cr.execute('LOCK runbot_merge_pull_requests IN SHARE MODE')
+
+        owner, _repo = repo_id.fp_remote_target.split('/', 1)
+        message = source.message + f"\n\nBackport of {self.pr_id.display_name}"
+        title, body = re.fullmatch(r'(?P<title>[^\n]+)\n*(?P<body>.*)', message, flags=re.DOTALL).groups()
+
+        r = requests.post(
+            f'https://api.github.com/repos/{repo_id.name}/pulls',
+            headers={'Authorization': f'token {project.fp_github_token}'},
+            json={
+                'base': self.target.name,
+                'head': f'{owner}:{bp_branch}',
+                'title': '[Backport]' + ('' if title[0] == '[' else ' ') + title,
+                'body': body
+            }
+        )
+        if not r.ok:
+            raise UserError(f"Backport PR creation failure: {r.text}")
+
+        backport = self.env['runbot_merge.pull_requests']._from_gh(r.json())
+        _logger.info("Created backport %s for %s", backport.display_name, self.pr_id.display_name)
+
+        backport.write({
+            'merge_method': self.pr_id.merge_method,
+            # the backport's own forwardport should stop right before the
+            # original PR by default
+            'limit_id': branches[source_idx - 1],
+        })
+        self.env['runbot_merge.pull_requests.tagging'].create({
+            'repository': repo_id.id,
+            'pull_request': backport.number,
+            'tags_add': ['backport'],
+        })
+        # scheduling fp followup probably doesn't make sense since we don't copy the fw_policy...
+
+        return {
+            'type': 'ir.actions.act_window',
+            'name': "new backport",
+            'views': [(False, 'form')],
+            'res_model': backport._name,
+            'res_id': backport.id,
+        }
diff --git a/runbot_merge/models/backport/views.xml b/runbot_merge/models/backport/views.xml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..ec34d972
--- /dev/null
+++ b/runbot_merge/models/backport/views.xml
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+<odoo>
+    <record id="runbot_merge_backport_form" model="ir.ui.view">
+        <field name="name">Backport Wizard</field>
+        <field name="model">runbot_merge.pull_requests.backport</field>
+        <field name="arch" type="xml">
+            <form>
+                <field name="pr_id" invisible="1"/>
+                <field name="project_id" invisible="1"/>
+                <field name="source_seq" invisible="1"/>
+                <field name="target" class="w-100"/>
+            </form>
+        </field>
+    </record>
+
+    <record id="runbot_merge_backport_pr_action" model="ir.actions.server">
+        <field name="name">Perform backport from current PR</field>
+        <field name="type">ir.actions.server</field>
+        <field name="model_id" ref="model_runbot_merge_pull_requests"/>
+        <field name="binding_model_id" ref="model_runbot_merge_pull_requests"/>
+        <field name="state">code</field>
+        <field name="code">action = record.backport()</field>
+    </record>
+</odoo>
diff --git a/runbot_merge/models/batch.py b/runbot_merge/models/batch.py
index df52fc38..c65bd09e 100644
--- a/runbot_merge/models/batch.py
+++ b/runbot_merge/models/batch.py
@@ -1,10 +1,8 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
-import base64
-import contextlib
 import logging
-import os
 import re
+import secrets
 from collections import defaultdict
 from collections.abc import Iterator
 
@@ -195,7 +193,7 @@ class Batch(models.Model):
 
     @api.depends(
         "merge_date",
-        "prs.error", "prs.draft", "prs.squash", "prs.merge_method",
+        "prs.error", "prs.draft",
         "skipchecks",
         "prs.status", "prs.reviewed_by", "prs.target",
     )
@@ -208,7 +206,7 @@ class Batch(models.Model):
             elif len(targets := batch.prs.mapped('target')) > 1:
                 batch.blocked = f"Multiple target branches: {', '.join(targets.mapped('name'))!r}"
             elif blocking := batch.prs.filtered(
-                lambda p: p.error or p.draft or not (p.squash or p.merge_method)
+                lambda p: p.error or p.draft
             ):
                 batch.blocked = "Pull request(s) %s blocked." % ', '.join(blocking.mapped('display_name'))
             elif not batch.skipchecks and (unready := batch.prs.filtered(
@@ -323,14 +321,12 @@ class Batch(models.Model):
         new_branch = '%s-%s-%s-fw' % (
             target.name,
             base.refname,
-            # avoid collisions between fp branches (labels can be reused
-            # or conflict especially as we're chopping off the owner)
-            base64.urlsafe_b64encode(os.urandom(3)).decode()
+            secrets.token_urlsafe(3),
         )
         conflicts = {}
         for pr in prs:
             repo = git.get_local(pr.repository)
-            conflicts[pr], head = pr._create_fp_branch(repo, target)
+            conflicts[pr], head = pr._create_port_branch(repo, target, forward=True)
 
             repo.push(git.fw_url(pr.repository), f"{head}:refs/heads/{new_branch}")
 
@@ -352,11 +348,11 @@ class Batch(models.Model):
                 for p in root | source
             )
 
-            title, body = re.match(r'(?P<title>[^\n]+)\n*(?P<body>.*)', message, flags=re.DOTALL).groups()
+            title, body = re.fullmatch(r'(?P<title>[^\n]+)\n*(?P<body>.*)', message, flags=re.DOTALL).groups()
             r = gh.post(f'https://api.github.com/repos/{pr.repository.name}/pulls', json={
                 'base': target.name,
                 'head': f'{owner}:{new_branch}',
-                'title': '[FW]' + (' ' if title[0] != '[' else '') + title,
+                'title': '[FW]' + ('' if title[0] == '[' else ' ') + title,
                 'body': body
             })
             if not r.ok:
@@ -432,7 +428,7 @@ class Batch(models.Model):
                 _logger.info('-> no parent %s (%s)', batch, prs)
                 continue
             if not force_fw and batch.source.fw_policy != 'skipci' \
-                    and (invalid := batch.prs.filtered(lambda p: p.state not in ['validated', 'ready'])):
+                    and (invalid := batch.prs.filtered(lambda p: p.status != 'success')):
                 _logger.info(
                     '-> wrong state %s (%s)',
                     batch,
diff --git a/runbot_merge/models/commands.py b/runbot_merge/models/commands.py
index fdee31c6..53c268d4 100644
--- a/runbot_merge/models/commands.py
+++ b/runbot_merge/models/commands.py
@@ -72,6 +72,14 @@ class Approve:
             return f"r={ids}"
         return 'review+'
 
+    def __contains__(self, item):
+        if self.ids is None:
+            return True
+        return item in self.ids
+
+    def fmt(self):
+        return ", ".join(f"#{n:d}" for n in (self.ids or ()))
+
     @classmethod
     def help(cls, _: bool) -> Iterator[Tuple[str, str]]:
         yield "r(eview)+", "approves the PR, if it's a forwardport also approves all non-detached parents"
@@ -184,7 +192,7 @@ class FW(enum.Enum):
     DEFAULT = enum.auto()
     NO = enum.auto()
     SKIPCI = enum.auto()
-    SKIPMERGE = enum.auto()
+    # SKIPMERGE = enum.auto()
 
     def __str__(self) -> str:
         return f'fw={self.name.lower()}'
@@ -192,8 +200,8 @@ class FW(enum.Enum):
     @classmethod
     def help(cls, is_reviewer: bool) -> Iterator[Tuple[str, str]]:
         yield str(cls.NO), "does not forward-port this PR"
+        yield str(cls.DEFAULT), "forward-ports this PR normally"
         if is_reviewer:
-            yield str(cls.DEFAULT), "forward-ports this PR normally"
             yield str(cls.SKIPCI), "does not wait for a forward-port's statuses to succeed before creating the next one"
 
 
diff --git a/runbot_merge/models/ir_ui_view.py b/runbot_merge/models/ir_ui_view.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..fa915348
--- /dev/null
+++ b/runbot_merge/models/ir_ui_view.py
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+from odoo import models
+
+
+class View(models.Model):
+    _inherit = 'ir.ui.view'
+
+    def _log_view_warning(self, msg, node):
+        """The view validator is dumb and triggers a warning because there's a
+        `field.btn`, even though making a `field[widget=url]` (which renders as
+        a link) look like a button is perfectly legitimate.
+
+        Suppress that warning.
+        """
+        if node.tag == 'field' and node.get('widget') == 'url' and "button/submit/reset" in msg:
+            return
+
+        super()._log_view_warning(msg, node)
diff --git a/runbot_merge/models/patcher.py b/runbot_merge/models/patcher.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d7ad0dfd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/runbot_merge/models/patcher.py
@@ -0,0 +1,322 @@
+""" Implements direct (unstaged) patching.
+
+Useful for massive data changes which are a pain to merge normally but very
+unlikely to break things (e.g. i18n), fixes so urgent staging is an unacceptable
+overhead, or FBI backdoors oh wait forget about that last one.
+"""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import logging
+import pathlib
+import re
+import subprocess
+import tarfile
+import tempfile
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+from email import message_from_string, policy
+from email.utils import parseaddr
+from typing import Union
+
+from odoo import models, fields, api
+from odoo.exceptions import ValidationError
+from odoo.tools.mail import plaintext2html
+
+from .pull_requests import Branch
+from .. import git
+
+_logger = logging.getLogger(__name__)
+FILE_PATTERN = re.compile(r"""
+# paths with spaces don't work well as the path can be followed by a timestamp
+# (in an unspecified format?)
+---\x20(?P<prefix_a>a/)?(?P<file_from>\S+)(:?\s.*)?\n
+\+\+\+\x20(?P<prefix_b>b/)?(?P<file_to>\S+)(:?\s.*)?\n
+@@\x20-(\d+(,\d+)?)\x20\+(\d+(,\d+)?)\x20@@ # trailing garbage
+""", re.VERBOSE)
+
+
+Authorship = Union[None, tuple[str, str], tuple[str, str, str]]
+@dataclass
+class ParseResult:
+    kind: str
+    author: Authorship
+    committer: Authorship
+    message: str
+    patch: str
+
+
+def expect(line: str, starts_with: str, message: str) -> str:
+    if not line.startswith(starts_with):
+        raise ValidationError(message)
+    return line
+
+
+def parse_show(p: Patch) -> ParseResult:
+    # headers are Author, Date or Author, AuthorDate, Commit, CommitDate
+    # commit message is indented 4 spaces
+    lines = iter(p.patch.splitlines(keepends=True))
+    if not next(lines).startswith("commit "):
+        raise ValidationError("Invalid patch")
+    name, email = parseaddr(
+        expect(next(lines), "Author:", "Missing author")
+            .split(maxsplit=1)[1])
+    date: str = next(lines)
+    header, date = date.split(maxsplit=1)
+    author = (name, email, date)
+    if header.startswith("Date:"):
+        committer = author
+    elif header.startswith("AuthorDate:"):
+        commit = expect(next(lines), "Commit:", "Missing committer")
+        commit_date = expect(next(lines), "CommitDate:", "Missing commit date")
+        name, email = parseaddr(commit.split(maxsplit=1)[1])
+        committer = (name, email, commit_date.split(maxsplit=1)[1])
+    else:
+        raise ValidationError(
+            "Invalid patch: expected 'Date:' or 'AuthorDate:' pseudo-header, "
+            f"found {header}.\nOnly 'medium' and 'fuller' formats are supported")
+
+    # skip possible extra headers before the message
+    while next(lines) != ' \n':
+        continue
+
+    body = []
+    while (l := next(lines)) != ' \n':
+        body.append(l.removeprefix('    '))
+
+    # remainder should be the patch
+    patch = "".join(
+        line for line in lines
+        if not line.startswith("git --diff ")
+        if not line.startswith("index ")
+    )
+    return ParseResult(kind="show", author=author, committer=committer, message="".join(body).rstrip(), patch=patch)
+
+
+def parse_format_patch(p: Patch) -> ParseResult:
+    m = message_from_string(p.patch, policy=policy.default)
+    if m.is_multipart():
+        raise ValidationError("multipart patches are not supported.")
+
+    name, email = parseaddr(m['from'])
+    author = (name, email, m['date'])
+    msg = re.sub(r'^\[PATCH( \d+/\d+)?\] ', '', m['subject'])
+    body, _, rest = m.get_payload().partition('---\n')
+    if body:
+        msg += '\n\n' + body
+
+    # split off the signature, per RFC 3676 § 4.3.
+    # leave the diffstat in as it *should* not confuse tooling?
+    patch, _, _ = rest.rpartition("-- \n")
+    # git (diff, show, format-patch) adds command and index headers to every
+    # file header, which patch(1) chokes on, strip them... but maybe this should
+    # extract the udiff sections instead?
+    patch = re.sub(
+        "^(git --diff .*|index .*)\n",
+        "",
+        patch,
+        flags=re.MULTILINE,
+    )
+    return ParseResult(kind="format-patch", author=author, committer=author, message=msg, patch=patch)
+
+
+class PatchFailure(Exception):
+    pass
+
+
+class Patch(models.Model):
+    _name = "runbot_merge.patch"
+    _inherit = ['mail.thread']
+    _description = "Unstaged direct-application patch"
+
+    active = fields.Boolean(default=True, tracking=True)
+    repository = fields.Many2one('runbot_merge.repository', required=True, tracking=True)
+    target = fields.Many2one('runbot_merge.branch', required=True, tracking=True)
+    commit = fields.Char(size=40, string="commit to cherry-pick, must be in-network", tracking=True)
+
+    patch = fields.Text(string="unified diff to apply", tracking=True)
+    format = fields.Selection([
+        ("format-patch", "format-patch"),
+        ("show", "show"),
+    ], compute="_compute_patch_meta")
+    message = fields.Text(compute="_compute_patch_meta")
+
+    _sql_constraints = [
+        ('patch_contents_either', 'check ((commit is null) != (patch is null))', 'Either the commit or patch must be set, and not both.'),
+    ]
+
+    @api.depends("patch")
+    def _compute_patch_meta(self) -> None:
+        for p in self:
+            if r := p._parse_patch():
+                p.format = r.kind
+                p.message = r.message
+            else:
+                p.format = False
+                p.message = False
+
+    def _parse_patch(self) -> ParseResult | None:
+        if not self.patch:
+            return None
+
+        if self.patch.startswith("commit "):
+            return parse_show(self)
+        elif self.patch.startswith("From "):
+            return parse_format_patch(self)
+        else:
+            raise ValidationError("Only `git show` and `git format-patch` formats are supported")
+
+    def _auto_init(self):
+        super()._auto_init()
+        self.env.cr.execute("""
+        CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS runbot_merge_patch_active
+            ON runbot_merge_patch (target) WHERE active
+        """)
+
+    @api.model_create_multi
+    def create(self, vals_list):
+        if any(vals.get('active') is not False for vals in vals_list):
+            self.env.ref("runbot_merge.staging_cron")._trigger()
+        return super().create(vals_list)
+
+    def write(self, vals):
+        if vals.get("active") is not False:
+            self.env.ref("runbot_merge.staging_cron")._trigger()
+        return super().write(vals)
+
+    @api.constrains('patch')
+    def _validate_patch(self):
+        for p in self:
+            patch = p._parse_patch()
+            if not patch:
+                continue
+
+            has_files = False
+            for m in FILE_PATTERN.finditer(patch.patch):
+                has_files = True
+                if m['file_from'] != m['file_to']:
+                    raise ValidationError("Only patches updating a file in place are supported, not creation, removal, or renaming.")
+            if not has_files:
+                raise ValidationError("Patches should have files they patch, found none.")
+
+    def _apply_patches(self, target: Branch) -> bool:
+        patches = self.search([('target', '=', target.id)], order='id asc')
+        if not patches:
+            return True
+
+        commits = {}
+        repos = {}
+        for p in patches:
+            repos[p.repository] = git.get_local(p.repository).check(True)
+            commits.setdefault(p.repository, set())
+            if p.commit:
+                commits[p.repository].add(p.commit)
+
+        for patch in patches:
+            patch.active = False
+            r = repos[patch.repository]
+            remote = git.source_url(patch.repository)
+            if (cs := commits.pop(patch.repository, None)) is not None:
+                # first time encountering a repo, fetch the branch and commits
+                r.fetch(remote, f"+refs/heads/{target.name}:refs/heads/{target.name}", *cs, no_tags=True)
+
+            _logger.info(
+                "Applying %s to %r (in %s)",
+                patch,
+                patch.target.display_name,
+                patch.repository.name,
+            )
+            try:
+                if patch.commit:
+                    c = patch._apply_commit(r)
+                else:
+                    c = patch._apply_patch(r)
+            except Exception as e:
+                if isinstance(e, PatchFailure):
+                    subject = "Unable to apply patch"
+                else:
+                    subject = "Unknown error while trying to apply patch"
+                _logger.error("%s:\n%s", subject, str(e))
+                patch.message_post(body=plaintext2html(e), subject=subject)
+                continue
+            # `.` is the local "remote", so this updates target to c
+            r.fetch(".", f"{c}:{target.name}")
+
+            # push patch by patch, avoids sync issues and in most cases we have 0~1 patches
+            res = r.check(False).stdout()\
+                .with_config(encoding="utf-8")\
+                .push(remote, f"{target.name}:{target.name}")
+            ## one of the repos is out of consistency, loop around to new staging?
+            if res.returncode:
+                _logger.warning(
+                    "Unable to push result of %s\nout:\n%s\nerr:\n%s",
+                    patch.id,
+                    res.stdout,
+                    res.stderr,
+                )
+                return False
+
+        return True
+
+    def _apply_commit(self, r: git.Repo) -> str:
+        r = r.check(True).stdout().with_config(encoding="utf-8")
+        # TODO: maybe use git-rev-list instead?
+        sha = r.show('--no-patch', '--pretty=%H', self.target.name).stdout.strip()
+        target = r.show('--no-patch', '--pretty=%an%n%ae%n%ai%n%cn%n%ce%n%ci%n%B', self.commit)
+        # retrieve metadata of cherrypicked commit
+        author_name, author_email, author_date, committer_name, committer_email, committer_date, body =\
+            target.stdout.strip().split("\n", 6)
+
+        res = r.check(False).merge_tree(sha, self.commit)
+        if res.returncode:
+            _conflict_info, _, informational = res.stdout.partition('\n\n')
+            raise PatchFailure(informational)
+
+        return r.commit_tree(
+            tree=res.stdout.strip(),
+            parents=[sha],
+            message=body.strip(),
+            author=(author_name, author_email, author_date),
+            committer=(committer_name, committer_email, committer_date),
+        ).stdout.strip()
+
+    def _apply_patch(self, r: git.Repo) -> str:
+        p = self._parse_patch()
+        files = {}
+        def reader(_r, f):
+            return pathlib.Path(tmpdir, f).read_text(encoding="utf-8")
+
+        prefix = 0
+        for m in FILE_PATTERN.finditer(p.patch):
+            if not prefix and m['prefix_a'] and m['prefix_b']:
+                prefix = 1
+
+            files[m['file_to']] = reader
+
+        archiver = r.stdout(True)
+        # if the parent is checked then we can't get rid of the kwarg and popen doesn't support it
+        archiver._config.pop('check', None)
+        archiver.runner = subprocess.Popen
+        with archiver.archive(self.target.name, *files) as out, \
+             tarfile.open(fileobj=out.stdout, mode='r|') as tf,\
+             tempfile.TemporaryDirectory() as tmpdir:
+            tf.extractall(tmpdir)
+            patch = subprocess.run(
+                ['patch', f'-p{prefix}', '--directory', tmpdir, '--verbose'],
+                input=p.patch,
+                stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
+                stderr=subprocess.PIPE,
+                encoding='utf-8',
+            )
+            if patch.returncode:
+                raise PatchFailure("\n---------\n".join(filter(None, [p.patch, patch.stdout.strip(), patch.stderr.strip()])))
+            new_tree = r.update_tree(self.target.name, files)
+
+        sha = r.stdout().with_config(encoding='utf-8')\
+            .show('--no-patch', '--pretty=%H', self.target.name)\
+            .stdout.strip()
+        return r.commit_tree(
+            tree=new_tree,
+            parents=[sha],
+            message=p.message,
+            author=p.author,
+            committer=p.committer,
+        ).stdout.strip()
diff --git a/runbot_merge/models/project.py b/runbot_merge/models/project.py
index e36ad0c5..c1d0c5d0 100644
--- a/runbot_merge/models/project.py
+++ b/runbot_merge/models/project.py
@@ -147,6 +147,18 @@ class Project(models.Model):
             ('staging_enabled', '=', True),
             ('project_id.staging_enabled', '=', True),
         ]):
+            try:
+                with self.env.cr.savepoint():
+                    if not self.env['runbot_merge.patch']._apply_patches(branch):
+                        self.env.ref("runbot_merge.staging_cron")._trigger()
+                        return
+
+            except Exception:
+                _logger.exception("Failed to apply patches to branch %r", branch.name)
+            else:
+                if commit:
+                    self.env.cr.commit()
+
             try:
                 with self.env.cr.savepoint(), \
                     sentry_sdk.start_span(description=f'create staging {branch.name}') as span:
diff --git a/runbot_merge/models/project_freeze/__init__.py b/runbot_merge/models/project_freeze/__init__.py
index 5699314f..c710f860 100644
--- a/runbot_merge/models/project_freeze/__init__.py
+++ b/runbot_merge/models/project_freeze/__init__.py
@@ -217,7 +217,7 @@ class FreezeWizard(models.Model):
             for r in self.project_id.repo_ids
         }
         for repo, copy in repos.items():
-            copy.fetch(git.source_url(repo), '+refs/heads/*:refs/heads/*')
+            copy.fetch(git.source_url(repo), '+refs/heads/*:refs/heads/*', no_tags=True)
         all_prs = self.release_pr_ids.pr_id | self.bump_pr_ids.pr_id
         for pr in all_prs:
             repos[pr.repository].fetch(
diff --git a/runbot_merge/models/pull_requests.py b/runbot_merge/models/pull_requests.py
index 7d2eddcd..64cd4d94 100644
--- a/runbot_merge/models/pull_requests.py
+++ b/runbot_merge/models/pull_requests.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import ast
+import builtins
 import collections
 import contextlib
 import datetime
@@ -9,6 +10,7 @@ import json
 import logging
 import re
 import time
+from enum import IntEnum
 from functools import reduce
 from operator import itemgetter
 from typing import Optional, Union, List, Iterator, Tuple
@@ -21,7 +23,7 @@ from markupsafe import Markup
 from odoo import api, fields, models, tools, Command
 from odoo.exceptions import AccessError, UserError
 from odoo.osv import expression
-from odoo.tools import html_escape, Reverse
+from odoo.tools import html_escape, Reverse, mute_logger
 from . import commands
 from .utils import enum, readonly, dfm
 
@@ -101,12 +103,19 @@ All substitutions are tentatively applied sequentially to the input.
         return github.GH(self.project_id[token_field], self.name)
 
     def _auto_init(self):
-        res = super(Repository, self)._auto_init()
+        res = super()._auto_init()
         tools.create_unique_index(
             self._cr, 'runbot_merge_unique_repo', self._table, ['name'])
         return res
 
-    def _load_pr(self, number, *, closing=False):
+    def _load_pr(
+        self,
+        number: int,
+        *,
+        closing: bool = False,
+        squash: bool = False,
+        ping: str | None = None,
+    ):
         gh = self.github()
 
         # fetch PR object and handle as *opened*
@@ -133,6 +142,10 @@ All substitutions are tentatively applied sequentially to the input.
             ('number', '=', number),
         ])
         if pr_id:
+            if squash:
+                pr_id.squash = pr['commits'] == 1
+                return
+
             sync = controllers.handle_pr(self.env, {
                 'action': 'synchronize',
                 'pull_request': pr,
@@ -233,7 +246,10 @@ All substitutions are tentatively applied sequentially to the input.
         self.env.ref('runbot_merge.pr.load.fetched')._send(
             repository=self,
             pull_request=number,
-            format_args={'pr': pr_id},
+            format_args={
+                'pr': pr_id,
+                'ping': ping or pr_id.ping,
+            },
         )
 
     def having_branch(self, branch):
@@ -279,7 +295,7 @@ class Branch(models.Model):
     staging_enabled = fields.Boolean(default=True)
 
     def _auto_init(self):
-        res = super(Branch, self)._auto_init()
+        res = super()._auto_init()
         tools.create_unique_index(
             self._cr, 'runbot_merge_unique_branch_per_repo',
             self._table, ['name', 'project_id'])
@@ -303,6 +319,13 @@ class Branch(models.Model):
                 'message': tmpl._format(pr=pr),
             } for pr in actives.prs])
             self.env.ref('runbot_merge.branch_cleanup')._trigger()
+
+        if (
+            (vals.get('staging_enabled') is True and not all(self.mapped('staging_enabled')))
+         or (vals.get('active') is True and not all(self.mapped('active')))
+        ):
+            self.env.ref('runbot_merge.staging_cron')._trigger()
+
         super().write(vals)
         return True
 
@@ -419,10 +442,16 @@ class PullRequests(models.Model):
     staging_id = fields.Many2one('runbot_merge.stagings', compute='_compute_staging', inverse=readonly, readonly=True, store=True)
     staging_ids = fields.Many2many('runbot_merge.stagings', string="Stagings", compute='_compute_stagings', inverse=readonly, readonly=True, context={"active_test": False})
 
-    @api.depends('batch_id.batch_staging_ids.runbot_merge_stagings_id.active')
+    @api.depends(
+        'closed',
+        'batch_id.batch_staging_ids.runbot_merge_stagings_id.active',
+    )
     def _compute_staging(self):
         for p in self:
-            p.staging_id = p.batch_id.staging_ids.filtered('active')
+            if p.closed:
+                p.staging_id = False
+            else:
+                p.staging_id = p.batch_id.staging_ids.filtered('active')
 
     @api.depends('batch_id.batch_staging_ids.runbot_merge_stagings_id')
     def _compute_stagings(self):
@@ -576,8 +605,6 @@ class PullRequests(models.Model):
 
     @api.depends(
         'batch_id.prs.draft',
-        'batch_id.prs.squash',
-        'batch_id.prs.merge_method',
         'batch_id.prs.state',
         'batch_id.skipchecks',
     )
@@ -585,12 +612,11 @@ class PullRequests(models.Model):
         self.blocked = False
         requirements = (
             lambda p: not p.draft,
-            lambda p: p.squash or p.merge_method,
             lambda p: p.state == 'ready' \
                   or p.batch_id.skipchecks \
                  and all(pr.state != 'error' for pr in p.batch_id.prs)
         )
-        messages = ('is in draft', 'has no merge method', 'is not ready')
+        messages = ('is in draft', 'is not ready')
         for pr in self:
             if pr.state in ('merged', 'closed'):
                 continue
@@ -613,26 +639,54 @@ class PullRequests(models.Model):
             return json.loads(self.overrides)
         return {}
 
-    def _get_or_schedule(self, repo_name, number, *, target=None, closing=False):
+    def _get_or_schedule(
+            self,
+            repo_name: str,
+            number: int,
+            *,
+            target: str | None = None,
+            closing: bool = False,
+            commenter: str | None = None,
+    ) -> PullRequests | None:
         repo = self.env['runbot_merge.repository'].search([('name', '=', repo_name)])
         if not repo:
-            return
-
-        if target and not repo.project_id._has_branch(target):
-            self.env.ref('runbot_merge.pr.fetch.unmanaged')._send(
-                repository=repo,
-                pull_request=number,
-                format_args={'repository': repo, 'branch': target, 'number': number}
+            source = self.env['runbot_merge.events_sources'].search([('repository', '=', repo_name)])
+            _logger.warning(
+                "Got a PR notification for unknown repository %s (source %s)",
+                repo_name, source,
             )
             return
 
-        pr = self.search([
-            ('repository', '=', repo.id),
-            ('number', '=', number,)
-        ])
+        if target:
+            b = self.env['runbot_merge.branch'].with_context(active_test=False).search([
+                ('project_id', '=', repo.project_id.id),
+                ('name', '=', target),
+            ])
+            tmpl = None if b.active \
+                else 'runbot_merge.handle.branch.inactive' if b\
+                else 'runbot_merge.pr.fetch.unmanaged'
+        else:
+            tmpl = None
+
+        pr = self.search([('repository', '=', repo.id), ('number', '=', number)])
+        if pr and not pr.target.active:
+            tmpl = 'runbot_merge.handle.branch.inactive'
+            target = pr.target.name
+
+        if tmpl and not closing:
+            self.env.ref(tmpl)._send(
+                repository=repo,
+                pull_request=number,
+                format_args={'repository': repo_name, 'branch': target, 'number': number},
+            )
+
         if pr:
             return pr
 
+        # if the branch is unknown or inactive, no need to fetch the PR
+        if tmpl:
+            return
+
         Fetch = self.env['runbot_merge.fetch_job']
         if Fetch.search([('repository', '=', repo.id), ('number', '=', number)]):
             return
@@ -640,6 +694,7 @@ class PullRequests(models.Model):
             'repository': repo.id,
             'number': number,
             'closing': closing,
+            'commenter': commenter,
         })
 
     def _iter_ancestors(self) -> Iterator[PullRequests]:
@@ -673,14 +728,14 @@ class PullRequests(models.Model):
             })
 
         is_admin, is_reviewer, is_author = self._pr_acl(author)
-        _source_admin, source_reviewer, source_author = self.source_id._pr_acl(author)
+        source_author = self.source_id._pr_acl(author).is_author
         # nota: 15.0 `has_group` completely doesn't work if the recordset is empty
         super_admin = is_admin and author.user_ids and author.user_ids.has_group('runbot_merge.group_admin')
 
         help_list: list[type(commands.Command)] = list(filter(None, [
             commands.Help,
 
-            (self.source_id and (source_author or source_reviewer) or is_reviewer) and not self.reviewed_by and commands.Approve,
+            (is_reviewer or (self.source_id and source_author)) and not self.reviewed_by and commands.Approve,
             (is_author or source_author) and self.reviewed_by and commands.Reject,
             (is_author or source_author) and self.error and commands.Retry,
 
@@ -762,55 +817,21 @@ For your own safety I've ignored *everything in your entire comment*.
             match command:
                 case commands.Approve() if self.draft:
                     msg = "draft PRs can not be approved."
-                case commands.Approve() if self.source_id:
-                    # rules are a touch different for forwardport PRs:
-                    valid = lambda _: True if command.ids is None else lambda n: n in command.ids
-                    _, source_reviewer, source_author = self.source_id._pr_acl(author)
-
-                    ancestors = list(self._iter_ancestors())
-                    # - reviewers on the original can approve any forward port
-                    if source_reviewer:
-                        approveable = ancestors
-                    elif source_author:
-                        # give full review rights on all forwardports (attached
-                        # or not) to original author
-                        approveable = ancestors
+                case commands.Approve() if self.source_id and (source_author or is_reviewer):
+                    if selected := [p for p in self._iter_ancestors() if p.number in command]:
+                        for pr in selected:
+                            # ignore already reviewed PRs, unless it's the one
+                            # being r+'d, this means ancestors in error will not
+                            # be warned about
+                            if pr == self or not pr.reviewed_by:
+                                pr._approve(author, login)
                     else:
-                        # between the first merged ancestor and self
-                        mergeors = list(itertools.dropwhile(
-                            lambda p: p.state != 'merged',
-                            reversed(ancestors),
-                        ))
-                        # between the first ancestor the current user can review and self
-                        reviewors = list(itertools.dropwhile(
-                            lambda p: not p._pr_acl(author).is_reviewer,
-                            reversed(ancestors),
-                        ))
-
-                        # source author can approve any descendant of a merged
-                        # forward port (or source), people with review rights
-                        # to a forward port have review rights to its
-                        # descendants, if both apply use the most favorable
-                        # (largest number of PRs)
-                        if source_author and len(mergeors) > len(reviewors):
-                            approveable = mergeors
-                        else:
-                            approveable = reviewors
-
-                    if approveable:
-                        for pr in approveable:
-                            if not (pr.state in RPLUS and valid(pr.number)):
-                                continue
-                            msg = pr._approve(author, login)
-                            if msg:
-                                break
-                    else:
-                        msg = f"you can't {command} you silly little bean."
+                        msg = f"tried to approve PRs {command.fmt()} but no such PR is an ancestors of {self.number}"
                 case commands.Approve() if is_reviewer:
-                    if command.ids is not None and command.ids != [self.number]:
-                        msg = f"tried to approve PRs {command.ids} but the current PR is {self.number}"
-                    else:
+                    if command.ids is None or command.ids == [self.number]:
                         msg = self._approve(author, login)
+                    else:
+                        msg = f"tried to approve PRs {command.fmt()} but the current PR is {self.number}"
                 case commands.Reject() if is_author or source_author:
                     if self.batch_id.skipchecks or self.reviewed_by:
                         if self.error:
@@ -824,10 +845,12 @@ For your own safety I've ignored *everything in your entire comment*.
                                 pull_request=self.number,
                                 format_args={'user': login, 'pr': self},
                             )
-                        if self.source_id:
+                        if self.source_id.forwardport_ids.filtered(
+                            lambda p: p.reviewed_by and p.state not in ('merged', 'closed')
+                        ):
                             feedback("Note that only this forward-port has been"
-                                     " unapproved, sibling forward ports may "
-                                     "have to be unapproved individually.")
+                                     " unapproved, sibling forward ports may"
+                                     " have to be unapproved individually.")
                         self.unstage("unreviewed (r-) by %s", login)
                     else:
                         msg = "r- makes no sense in the current PR state."
@@ -839,6 +862,10 @@ For your own safety I've ignored *everything in your entire comment*.
                         pull_request=self.number,
                         format_args={'new_method': explanation, 'pr': self, 'user': login},
                     )
+                    # if the merge method is the only thing preventing (but not
+                    # *blocking*) staging, trigger a staging
+                    if self.state == 'ready':
+                        self.env.ref("runbot_merge.staging_cron")._trigger()
                 case commands.Retry() if is_author or source_author:
                     if self.error:
                         self.error = False
@@ -905,21 +932,38 @@ For your own safety I've ignored *everything in your entire comment*.
                 case commands.Close() if source_author:
                     feedback(close=True)
                 case commands.FW():
+                    message = None
                     match command:
                         case commands.FW.NO if is_author or source_author:
                             message = "Disabled forward-porting."
                         case commands.FW.DEFAULT if is_author or source_author:
                             message = "Waiting for CI to create followup forward-ports."
-                        case commands.FW.SKIPCI if is_reviewer or source_reviewer:
+                        case commands.FW.SKIPCI if is_reviewer:
                             message = "Not waiting for CI to create followup forward-ports."
-                        case commands.FW.SKIPMERGE if is_reviewer or source_reviewer:
-                            message = "Not waiting for merge to create followup forward-ports."
+                        # case commands.FW.SKIPMERGE if is_reviewer:
+                        #     message = "Not waiting for merge to create followup forward-ports."
                         case _:
                             msg = f"you don't have the right to {command}."
+                    if message:
+                        # TODO: feedback?
+                        if self.source_id:
+                            "if the pr is not a source, ignore (maybe?)"
+                        elif not self.merge_date:
+                            "if the PR is not merged, it'll be fw'd normally"
+                        elif self.batch_id.fw_policy != 'no' or command == commands.FW.NO:
+                            "if the policy is not being flipped from no to something else, nothing to do"
+                        elif branch_key(self.limit_id) <= branch_key(self.target):
+                            "if the limit is lower than current (old style ignore) there's nothing to do"
+                        else:
+                            message = f"Starting forward-port. {message}"
+                            self.env['forwardport.batches'].create({
+                                'batch_id': self.batch_id.id,
+                                'source': 'merge',
+                            })
 
-                    if not msg:
                         (self.source_id or self).batch_id.fw_policy = command.name.lower()
                         feedback(message=message)
+
                 case commands.Limit(branch) if is_author:
                     if branch is None:
                         feedback(message="'ignore' is deprecated, use 'fw=no' to disable forward porting.")
@@ -927,7 +971,7 @@ For your own safety I've ignored *everything in your entire comment*.
                     for p in self.batch_id.prs:
                         ping, m = p._maybe_update_limit(limit)
 
-                        if ping and p == self:
+                        if ping is Ping.ERROR and p == self:
                             msg = m
                         else:
                             if ping:
@@ -960,31 +1004,37 @@ For your own safety I've ignored *everything in your entire comment*.
             feedback(message=f"@{login}{rejections}{footer}")
         return 'rejected'
 
-    def _maybe_update_limit(self, limit: str) -> Tuple[bool, str]:
+    def _maybe_update_limit(self, limit: str) -> Tuple[Ping, str]:
         limit_id = self.env['runbot_merge.branch'].with_context(active_test=False).search([
             ('project_id', '=', self.repository.project_id.id),
             ('name', '=', limit),
         ])
         if not limit_id:
-            return True, f"there is no branch {limit!r}, it can't be used as a forward port target."
+            return Ping.ERROR, f"there is no branch {limit!r}, it can't be used as a forward port target."
 
         if limit_id != self.target and not limit_id.active:
-            return True, f"branch {limit_id.name!r} is disabled, it can't be used as a forward port target."
+            return Ping.ERROR, f"branch {limit_id.name!r} is disabled, it can't be used as a forward port target."
 
         # not forward ported yet, just acknowledge the request
         if not self.source_id and self.state != 'merged':
             self.limit_id = limit_id
             if branch_key(limit_id) <= branch_key(self.target):
-                return False, "Forward-port disabled (via limit)."
+                return Ping.NO, "Forward-port disabled (via limit)."
             else:
-                return False, f"Forward-porting to {limit_id.name!r}."
+                suffix = ''
+                if self.batch_id.fw_policy == 'no':
+                    self.batch_id.fw_policy = 'default'
+                    suffix = " Re-enabled forward-porting (you should use "\
+                             "`fw=default` to re-enable forward porting "\
+                             "after disabling)."
+                return Ping.NO, f"Forward-porting to {limit_id.name!r}.{suffix}"
 
         # if the PR has been forwardported
         prs = (self | self.forwardport_ids | self.source_id | self.source_id.forwardport_ids)
         tip = max(prs, key=pr_key)
         # if the fp tip was closed it's fine
         if tip.state == 'closed':
-            return True, f"{tip.display_name} is closed, no forward porting is going on"
+            return Ping.ERROR, f"{tip.display_name} is closed, no forward porting is going on"
 
         prs.limit_id = limit_id
 
@@ -1003,7 +1053,7 @@ For your own safety I've ignored *everything in your entire comment*.
             except psycopg2.errors.LockNotAvailable:
                 # row locked = port occurring and probably going to succeed,
                 # so next(real_limit) likely a done deal already
-                return True, (
+                return Ping.ERROR, (
                     f"Forward port of {tip.display_name} likely already "
                     f"ongoing, unable to cancel, close next forward port "
                     f"when it completes.")
@@ -1014,6 +1064,9 @@ For your own safety I've ignored *everything in your entire comment*.
             # forward porting was previously stopped at tip, and we want it to
             # resume
             if tip.state == 'merged':
+                if tip.batch_id.source.fw_policy == 'no':
+                    # hack to ping the user but not rollback the transaction
+                    return Ping.YES, f"can not forward-port, policy is 'no' on {(tip.source_id or tip).display_name}"
                 self.env['forwardport.batches'].create({
                     'batch_id': tip.batch_id.id,
                     'source': 'fp' if tip.parent_id else 'merge',
@@ -1048,7 +1101,7 @@ For your own safety I've ignored *everything in your entire comment*.
             for p in (self.source_id | root) - self
         ])
 
-        return False, msg
+        return Ping.NO, msg
 
 
     def _find_next_target(self) -> Optional[Branch]:
@@ -1115,7 +1168,7 @@ For your own safety I've ignored *everything in your entire comment*.
             self.env.ref('runbot_merge.check_linked_prs_status')._trigger()
         return None
 
-    def _pr_acl(self, user):
+    def _pr_acl(self, user) -> ACL:
         if not self:
             return ACL(False, False, False)
 
@@ -1124,17 +1177,25 @@ For your own safety I've ignored *everything in your entire comment*.
             ('repository_id', '=', self.repository.id),
             ('review', '=', True) if self.author != user else ('self_review', '=', True),
         ]) == 1
-        is_reviewer = is_admin or self in user.delegate_reviewer
-        # TODO: should delegate reviewers be able to retry PRs?
-        is_author = is_reviewer or self.author == user
-        return ACL(is_admin, is_reviewer, is_author)
+        if is_admin:
+            return ACL(True, True, True)
+
+        # delegate on source = delegate on PR
+        if self.source_id and self.source_id in user.delegate_reviewer:
+            return ACL(False, True, True)
+        # delegate on any ancestors ~ delegate on PR (maybe should be any descendant of source?)
+        if any(p in user.delegate_reviewer for p in self._iter_ancestors()):
+            return ACL(False, True, True)
+
+        # user is probably always False on a forward port
+        return ACL(False, False, self.author == user)
 
     def _validate(self, statuses):
         # could have two PRs (e.g. one open and one closed) at least
         # temporarily on the same head, or on the same head with different
         # targets
         updateable = self.filtered(lambda p: not p.merge_date)
-        updateable.statuses = statuses
+        updateable.statuses = statuses or '{}'
         for pr in updateable:
             if pr.status == "failure":
                 statuses = json.loads(pr.statuses_full)
@@ -1160,7 +1221,7 @@ For your own safety I've ignored *everything in your entire comment*.
         super().modified(fnames, create, before)
 
     @api.depends(
-        'statuses', 'overrides', 'target', 'parent_id',
+        'statuses', 'overrides', 'target', 'parent_id', 'skipchecks',
         'repository.status_ids.context',
         'repository.status_ids.branch_filter',
         'repository.status_ids.prs',
@@ -1170,6 +1231,9 @@ For your own safety I've ignored *everything in your entire comment*.
             statuses = {**json.loads(pr.statuses), **pr._get_overrides()}
 
             pr.statuses_full = json.dumps(statuses, indent=4)
+            if pr.skipchecks:
+                pr.status = 'success'
+                continue
 
             st = 'success'
             for ci in pr.repository.status_ids._for_pr(pr):
@@ -1179,6 +1243,9 @@ For your own safety I've ignored *everything in your entire comment*.
                     break
                 if v == 'pending':
                     st = 'pending'
+            if pr.status != 'failure' and st == 'failure':
+                pr.unstage("had CI failure after staging")
+
             pr.status = st
 
     @api.depends(
@@ -1188,10 +1255,10 @@ For your own safety I've ignored *everything in your entire comment*.
     )
     def _compute_state(self):
         for pr in self:
-            if pr.batch_id.merge_date:
-                pr.state = 'merged'
-            elif pr.closed:
+            if pr.closed:
                 pr.state = "closed"
+            elif pr.batch_id.merge_date:
+                pr.state = 'merged'
             elif pr.error:
                 pr.state = "error"
             elif pr.batch_id.skipchecks: # skipchecks behaves as both approval and status override
@@ -1276,12 +1343,6 @@ For your own safety I've ignored *everything in your entire comment*.
                          "ON runbot_merge_pull_requests "
                          "USING hash (head)")
 
-    @property
-    def _tagstate(self):
-        if self.state == 'ready' and self.staging_id.heads:
-            return 'staged'
-        return self.state
-
     def _get_batch(self, *, target, label):
         batch = self.env['runbot_merge.batch']
         if not re.search(r':patch-\d+$', label):
@@ -1294,9 +1355,14 @@ For your own safety I've ignored *everything in your entire comment*.
 
     @api.model_create_multi
     def create(self, vals_list):
+        batches = {}
         for vals in vals_list:
-            batch = self._get_batch(target=vals['target'], label=vals['label'])
+            batch_key = vals['target'], vals['label']
+            batch = batches.get(batch_key)
+            if batch is None:
+                batch = batches[batch_key] = self._get_batch(target=vals['target'], label=vals['label'])
             vals['batch_id'] = batch.id
+
             if 'limit_id' not in vals:
                 limits = {p.limit_id for p in batch.prs}
                 if len(limits) == 1:
@@ -1315,7 +1381,7 @@ For your own safety I've ignored *everything in your entire comment*.
         prs = super().create(vals_list)
         for pr in prs:
             c = self.env['runbot_merge.commit'].search([('sha', '=', pr.head)])
-            pr._validate(c.statuses or '{}')
+            pr._validate(c.statuses)
 
             if pr.state not in ('closed', 'merged'):
                 self.env.ref('runbot_merge.pr.created')._send(
@@ -1392,8 +1458,16 @@ For your own safety I've ignored *everything in your entire comment*.
 
         newhead = vals.get('head')
         if newhead:
+            authors = self.env.cr.precommit.data.get(f'mail.tracking.author.{self._name}', {})
+            for p in self:
+                if pid := authors.get(p.id):
+                    writer = self.env['res.partner'].browse(pid)
+                else:
+                    writer = self.env.user.partner_id
+                p.unstage("updated by %s", writer.github_login or writer.name)
+            # this can be batched
             c = self.env['runbot_merge.commit'].search([('sha', '=', newhead)])
-            self._validate(c.statuses or '{}')
+            self._validate(c.statuses)
         return w
 
     def _check_linked_prs_statuses(self, commit=False):
@@ -1628,6 +1702,13 @@ For your own safety I've ignored *everything in your entire comment*.
             'batch_id': batch.create({}).id,
         })
 
+
+class Ping(IntEnum):
+    NO = 0
+    YES = 1
+    ERROR = 2
+
+
 # ordering is a bit unintuitive because the lowest sequence (and name)
 # is the last link of the fp chain, reasoning is a bit more natural the
 # other way around (highest object is the last), especially with Python
@@ -1689,6 +1770,8 @@ class Tagging(models.Model):
                 values['tags_remove'] = json.dumps(list(values['tags_remove']))
             if not isinstance(values.get('tags_add', ''), str):
                 values['tags_add'] = json.dumps(list(values['tags_add']))
+        if any(vals_list):
+            self.env.ref('runbot_merge.labels_cron')._trigger()
         return super().create(vals_list)
 
     def _send(self):
@@ -1894,23 +1977,25 @@ class Commit(models.Model):
     pull_requests = fields.One2many('runbot_merge.pull_requests', compute='_compute_prs')
 
     @api.model_create_multi
-    def create(self, values):
-        for vals in values:
-            vals['to_check'] = True
-        r = super(Commit, self).create(values)
+    def create(self, vals_list):
+        for values in vals_list:
+            values['to_check'] = True
+        r = super().create(vals_list)
         self.env.ref("runbot_merge.process_updated_commits")._trigger()
         return r
 
     def write(self, values):
         values.setdefault('to_check', True)
-        r = super(Commit, self).write(values)
+        r = super().write(values)
         if values['to_check']:
             self.env.ref("runbot_merge.process_updated_commits")._trigger()
         return r
 
+    @mute_logger('odoo.sql_db')
     def _notify(self):
         Stagings = self.env['runbot_merge.stagings']
         PRs = self.env['runbot_merge.pull_requests']
+        serialization_failures = False
         # chances are low that we'll have more than one commit
         for c in self.search([('to_check', '=', True)]):
             sha = c.sha
@@ -1930,20 +2015,23 @@ class Commit(models.Model):
                 if stagings:
                     stagings._notify(c)
             except psycopg2.errors.SerializationFailure:
-                _logger.info("Failed to apply commit %s (%s): serialization failure", c, sha)
+                serialization_failures = True
+                _logger.info("Failed to apply commit %s: serialization failure", sha)
                 self.env.cr.rollback()
             except Exception:
-                _logger.exception("Failed to apply commit %s (%s)", c, sha)
+                _logger.exception("Failed to apply commit %s", sha)
                 self.env.cr.rollback()
             else:
                 self.env.cr.commit()
+        if serialization_failures:
+            self.env.ref("runbot_merge.process_updated_commits")._trigger()
 
     _sql_constraints = [
         ('unique_sha', 'unique (sha)', 'no duplicated commit'),
     ]
 
     def _auto_init(self):
-        res = super(Commit, self)._auto_init()
+        res = super()._auto_init()
         self._cr.execute("""
             CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS runbot_merge_unique_statuses
             ON runbot_merge_commit
@@ -1985,7 +2073,7 @@ class Stagings(models.Model):
     active = fields.Boolean(default=True)
 
     staged_at = fields.Datetime(default=fields.Datetime.now, index=True)
-    staging_end = fields.Datetime(store=True, compute='_compute_state')
+    staging_end = fields.Datetime(store=True)
     staging_duration = fields.Float(compute='_compute_duration')
     timeout_limit = fields.Datetime(store=True, compute='_compute_timeout_limit')
     reason = fields.Text("Reason for final state (if any)")
@@ -2050,6 +2138,7 @@ class Stagings(models.Model):
                 ._trigger(fields.Datetime.to_datetime(timeout))
 
         if vals.get('active') is False:
+            vals['staging_end'] = fields.Datetime.now()
             self.env.ref("runbot_merge.staging_cron")._trigger()
 
         return super().write(vals)
@@ -2088,6 +2177,7 @@ class Stagings(models.Model):
         if not self.env.user.has_group('runbot_merge.status'):
             raise AccessError("You are not allowed to post a status.")
 
+        now = datetime.datetime.now().isoformat(timespec='seconds')
         for s in self:
             if not s.target.project_id.staging_rpc:
                 continue
@@ -2100,6 +2190,7 @@ class Stagings(models.Model):
                 'state': status,
                 'target_url': target_url,
                 'description': description,
+                'updated_at': now,
             }
             s.statuses_cache = json.dumps(st)
 
@@ -2113,40 +2204,45 @@ class Stagings(models.Model):
         "heads.repository_id.status_ids.context",
     )
     def _compute_state(self):
-        for s in self:
-            if s.state != 'pending':
+        for staging in self:
+            if staging.state != 'pending':
                 continue
 
             # maps commits to the statuses they need
             required_statuses = [
-                (h.commit_id.sha, h.repository_id.status_ids._for_staging(s).mapped('context'))
-                for h in s.heads
+                (h.commit_id.sha, h.repository_id.status_ids._for_staging(staging).mapped('context'))
+                for h in staging.heads
             ]
-            cmap = json.loads(s.statuses_cache)
+            cmap = json.loads(staging.statuses_cache)
 
-            update_timeout_limit = False
-            st = 'success'
+            last_pending = ""
+            state = 'success'
             for head, reqs in required_statuses:
                 statuses = cmap.get(head) or {}
-                for v in map(lambda n: statuses.get(n, {}).get('state'), reqs):
-                    if st == 'failure' or v in ('error', 'failure'):
-                        st = 'failure'
+                for status in (statuses.get(n, {}) for n in reqs):
+                    v = status.get('state')
+                    if state == 'failure' or v in ('error', 'failure'):
+                        state = 'failure'
                     elif v is None:
-                        st = 'pending'
+                        state = 'pending'
                     elif v == 'pending':
-                        st = 'pending'
-                        update_timeout_limit = True
+                        state = 'pending'
+                        last_pending = max(last_pending, status.get('updated_at', ''))
                     else:
                         assert v == 'success'
 
-            s.state = st
-            if s.state != 'pending':
+            staging.state = state
+            if staging.state != 'pending':
                 self.env.ref("runbot_merge.merge_cron")._trigger()
-                s.staging_end = fields.Datetime.now()
-            if update_timeout_limit:
-                s.timeout_limit = datetime.datetime.now() + datetime.timedelta(minutes=s.target.project_id.ci_timeout)
-                self.env.ref("runbot_merge.merge_cron")._trigger(s.timeout_limit)
-                _logger.debug("%s got pending status, bumping timeout to %s (%s)", self, s.timeout_limit, cmap)
+
+            if last_pending:
+                timeout = datetime.datetime.fromisoformat(last_pending) \
+                      + datetime.timedelta(minutes=staging.target.project_id.ci_timeout)
+
+                if timeout > staging.timeout_limit:
+                    staging.timeout_limit = timeout
+                    self.env.ref("runbot_merge.merge_cron")._trigger(timeout)
+                    _logger.debug("%s got pending status, bumping timeout to %s", staging, timeout)
 
     def action_cancel(self):
         w = self.env['runbot_merge.stagings.cancel'].create({
@@ -2297,7 +2393,7 @@ class Stagings(models.Model):
                 prs._track_set_log_message(f'staging {self.id} succeeded')
                 logger.info(
                     "%s FF successful, marking %s as merged",
-                    self, prs
+                    self, prs.mapped('display_name'),
                 )
                 self.batch_ids.merge_date = fields.Datetime.now()
 
@@ -2423,31 +2519,47 @@ class FetchJob(models.Model):
     repository = fields.Many2one('runbot_merge.repository', required=True)
     number = fields.Integer(required=True, group_operator=None)
     closing = fields.Boolean(default=False)
+    commits_at = fields.Datetime(index="btree_not_null")
+    commenter = fields.Char()
 
     @api.model_create_multi
     def create(self, vals_list):
-        self.env.ref('runbot_merge.fetch_prs_cron')._trigger()
+        now = fields.Datetime.now()
+        self.env.ref('runbot_merge.fetch_prs_cron')._trigger({
+            fields.Datetime.to_datetime(
+                vs.get('commits_at') or now
+            )
+            for vs in vals_list
+        })
         return super().create(vals_list)
 
     def _check(self, commit=False):
         """
         :param bool commit: commit after each fetch has been executed
         """
+        now = getattr(builtins, 'current_date', None) or fields.Datetime.to_string(datetime.datetime.now())
         while True:
-            f = self.search([], limit=1)
+            f = self.search([
+                '|', ('commits_at', '=', False), ('commits_at', '<=', now)
+            ], limit=1)
             if not f:
                 return
 
+            f.active = False
             self.env.cr.execute("SAVEPOINT runbot_merge_before_fetch")
             try:
-                f.repository._load_pr(f.number, closing=f.closing)
+                f.repository._load_pr(
+                    f.number,
+                    closing=f.closing,
+                    squash=bool(f.commits_at),
+                    ping=f.commenter and f'@{f.commenter} ',
+                )
             except Exception:
                 self.env.cr.execute("ROLLBACK TO SAVEPOINT runbot_merge_before_fetch")
                 _logger.exception("Failed to load pr %s, skipping it", f.number)
             finally:
                 self.env.cr.execute("RELEASE SAVEPOINT runbot_merge_before_fetch")
 
-            f.active = False
             if commit:
                 self.env.cr.commit()
 
diff --git a/runbot_merge/models/stagings_create.py b/runbot_merge/models/stagings_create.py
index 55955a0a..ca517395 100644
--- a/runbot_merge/models/stagings_create.py
+++ b/runbot_merge/models/stagings_create.py
@@ -195,11 +195,15 @@ def ready_batches(for_branch: Branch) -> Tuple[bool, Batch]:
     # staged through priority *and* through split.
     split_ids = for_branch.split_ids.batch_ids.ids
     env.cr.execute("""
-        SELECT max(priority)
-        FROM runbot_merge_batch
-        WHERE blocked IS NULL AND target = %s AND NOT id = any(%s)
+        SELECT exists (
+            SELECT FROM runbot_merge_batch
+            WHERE priority = 'alone'
+              AND blocked IS NULL
+              AND target = %s
+              AND NOT id = any(%s)
+        )
     """, [for_branch.id, split_ids])
-    alone = env.cr.fetchone()[0] == 'alone'
+    [alone] = env.cr.fetchone()
 
     return (
         alone,
@@ -208,7 +212,7 @@ def ready_batches(for_branch: Branch) -> Tuple[bool, Batch]:
             ('blocked', '=', False),
             ('priority', '=', 'alone') if alone else (1, '=', 1),
             ('id', 'not in', split_ids),
-        ], order="priority DESC, id ASC"),
+        ], order="priority DESC, write_date ASC, id ASC"),
     )
 
 
@@ -240,7 +244,8 @@ def staging_setup(
             # be hooked only to "proper" remote-tracking branches
             # (in `refs/remotes`), it doesn't seem to work here
             f'+refs/heads/{target.name}:refs/heads/{target.name}',
-            *(pr.head for pr in by_repo.get(repo, []))
+            *(pr.head for pr in by_repo.get(repo, [])),
+            no_tags=True,
         )
         original_heads[repo] = head
         staging_state[repo] = StagingSlice(gh=gh, head=head, repo=source.stdout().with_config(text=True, check=False))
@@ -257,6 +262,10 @@ def stage_batches(branch: Branch, batches: Batch, staging_state: StagingState) -
             break
         try:
             staged |= stage_batch(env, batch, staging_state)
+        except exceptions.Skip:
+            # skip silently because the PR will be retried on every staging
+            # which is going to be ultra spammy
+            pass
         except exceptions.MergeError as e:
             pr = e.args[0]
             _logger.info("Failed to stage %s into %s", pr.display_name, branch.name)
@@ -414,9 +423,19 @@ def stage(pr: PullRequests, info: StagingSlice, related_prs: PullRequests) -> Tu
         invalid['target'] = branch.id
         diff.append(('Target branch', pr.target.name, branch.name))
 
-    if pr.squash != commits == 1:
-        invalid['squash'] = commits == 1
-        diff.append(('Single commit', pr.squash, commits == 1))
+    if not method:
+        if not pr.method_warned:
+            pr.env.ref('runbot_merge.pr.merge_method')._send(
+                repository=pr.repository,
+                pull_request=pr.number,
+                format_args={'pr': pr, 'methods': ''.join(
+                    '* `%s` to %s\n' % pair
+                    for pair in type(pr).merge_method.selection
+                    if pair[0] != 'squash'
+                )},
+            )
+            pr.method_warned = True
+        raise exceptions.Skip()
 
     msg = utils.make_message(prdict)
     if pr.message != msg:
diff --git a/runbot_merge/models/utils.py b/runbot_merge/models/utils.py
index a66fe0b4..50740c59 100644
--- a/runbot_merge/models/utils.py
+++ b/runbot_merge/models/utils.py
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ def dfm(repository: str, text: str) -> Markup:
     """
     t = DFM_CONTEXT_REPO.set(repository)
     try:
+        dfm_renderer.reset()
         return Markup(dfm_renderer.convert(escape(text)))
     finally:
         DFM_CONTEXT_REPO.reset(t)
diff --git a/runbot_merge/security/ir.model.access.csv b/runbot_merge/security/ir.model.access.csv
index 76bbf09d..13949597 100644
--- a/runbot_merge/security/ir.model.access.csv
+++ b/runbot_merge/security/ir.model.access.csv
@@ -30,5 +30,6 @@ access_runbot_merge_pull_requests,User access to PR,model_runbot_merge_pull_requ
 access_runbot_merge_pull_requests_feedback,Users have no reason to access feedback,model_runbot_merge_pull_requests_feedback,,0,0,0,0
 access_runbot_merge_review_rights_2,Users can see partners,model_res_partner_review,base.group_user,1,0,0,0
 access_runbot_merge_review_override_2,Users can see partners,model_res_partner_override,base.group_user,1,0,0,0
-runbot_merge.access_runbot_merge_pull_requests_feedback_template,access_runbot_merge_pull_requests_feedback_template,runbot_merge.model_runbot_merge_pull_requests_feedback_template,base.group_system,1,1,0,0
-
+access_runbot_merge_pull_requests_feedback_template,access_runbot_merge_pull_requests_feedback_template,runbot_merge.model_runbot_merge_pull_requests_feedback_template,base.group_system,1,1,0,0
+access_runbot_merge_patch,Patcher access,runbot_merge.model_runbot_merge_patch,runbot_merge.group_patcher,1,1,1,0
+access_runbot_merge_backport_admin,Admin access to backport wizard,model_runbot_merge_pull_requests_backport,runbot_merge.group_admin,1,1,1,0
diff --git a/runbot_merge/security/security.xml b/runbot_merge/security/security.xml
index d1ea1c79..668b2f02 100644
--- a/runbot_merge/security/security.xml
+++ b/runbot_merge/security/security.xml
@@ -1,9 +1,15 @@
 <odoo>
+    <record model="res.groups" id="group_patcher">
+        <field name="name">Mergebot Patcher</field>
+    </record>
     <record model="res.groups" id="group_admin">
         <field name="name">Mergebot Administrator</field>
     </record>
     <record model="res.groups" id="base.group_system">
-        <field name="implied_ids" eval="[(4, ref('runbot_merge.group_admin'))]"/>
+        <field name="implied_ids" eval="[
+            (4, ref('runbot_merge.group_admin')),
+            (4, ref('runbot_merge.group_patcher')),
+        ]"/>
     </record>
     <record model="res.groups" id="status">
         <field name="name">Mergebot Status Sender</field>
diff --git a/runbot_merge/tests/test_basic.py b/runbot_merge/tests/test_basic.py
index f46b9d79..41687ce1 100644
--- a/runbot_merge/tests/test_basic.py
+++ b/runbot_merge/tests/test_basic.py
@@ -11,7 +11,8 @@ import requests
 from lxml import html
 
 import odoo
-from utils import _simple_init, seen, matches, get_partner, Commit, pr_page, to_pr, part_of, ensure_one
+from utils import _simple_init, seen, matches, get_partner, Commit, pr_page, to_pr, part_of, ensure_one, read_tracking_value
+
 
 @pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
 def _configure_statuses(request, project, repo):
@@ -172,28 +173,29 @@ def test_trivial_flow(env, repo, page, users, config):
 
     # reverse because the messages are in newest-to-oldest by default
     # (as that's how you want to read them)
-    messages = reversed([
-        (m.author_id.display_name, m.body, [get_tracking_values(v) for v in m.tracking_value_ids])
-        for m in pr_id.message_ids
-    ])
+    messages = pr_id.message_ids[::-1].mapped(lambda m: (
+        m.author_id.display_name,
+        m.body,
+        list(map(read_tracking_value, m.tracking_value_ids)),
+    ))
 
     assert list(messages) == [
         (users['user'], '<p>Pull Request created</p>', []),
-        (users['user'], '', [(c1, c2)]),
-        ('OdooBot', f'<p>statuses changed on {c2}</p>', [('Opened', 'Validated')]),
+        (users['user'], '', [('head', c1, c2)]),
+        ('OdooBot', f'<p>statuses changed on {c2}</p>', [('state', 'Opened', 'Validated')]),
         # reviewer approved changing the state and setting reviewer as reviewer
         # plus set merge method
         ('Reviewer', '', [
-            ('', 'rebase and merge, using the PR as merge commit message'),
-            ('', 'Reviewer'),
-            ('Validated', 'Ready'),
+            ('state', 'Validated', 'Ready'),
+            ('merge_method', '', 'rebase and merge, using the PR as merge commit message'),
+            ('reviewed_by', '', 'Reviewer'),
         ]),
         # staging succeeded
         (matches('$$'), f'<p>staging {st.id} succeeded</p>', [
             # set merge date
-            (False, pr_id.merge_date),
+            ('merge_date', False, pr_id.merge_date),
             # updated state
-            ('Ready', 'Merged'),
+            ('state', 'Ready', 'Merged'),
         ]),
     ]
 
@@ -617,7 +619,6 @@ def test_staging_ci_timeout(env, repo, config, page, update_op: Callable[[int],
     assert dangerbox
     assert dangerbox[0].text == 'timed out (>60 minutes)'
 
-@pytest.mark.defaultstatuses
 def test_timeout_bump_on_pending(env, repo, config):
     with repo:
         [m, c] = repo.make_commits(
@@ -627,8 +628,9 @@ def test_timeout_bump_on_pending(env, repo, config):
         )
         repo.make_ref('heads/master', m)
 
-        prx = repo.make_pr(title='title', body='body', target='master', head=c)
-        repo.post_status(prx.head, 'success')
+        prx = repo.make_pr(target='master', head=c)
+        repo.post_status(prx.head, 'success', 'ci/runbot')
+        repo.post_status(prx.head, 'success', 'legal/cla')
         prx.post_comment('hansen r+', config['role_reviewer']['token'])
     env.run_crons()
 
@@ -636,9 +638,18 @@ def test_timeout_bump_on_pending(env, repo, config):
     old_timeout = odoo.fields.Datetime.to_string(datetime.datetime.now() - datetime.timedelta(days=15))
     st.timeout_limit = old_timeout
     with repo:
-        repo.post_status('staging.master', 'pending')
+        repo.post_status('staging.master', 'pending', 'ci/runbot')
     env.run_crons(None)
-    assert st.timeout_limit > old_timeout
+    assert st.timeout_limit > old_timeout, "receiving a pending status should bump the timeout"
+
+    st.timeout_limit = old_timeout
+    # clear the statuses cache to remove the memoized status times
+    st.statuses_cache = "{}"
+    st.commit_ids.statuses = "{}"
+    with repo:
+        repo.post_status('staging.master', 'success', 'legal/cla')
+    env.run_crons(None)
+    assert st.timeout_limit == old_timeout, "receiving a success status should *not* bump the timeout"
 
 def test_staging_ci_failure_single(env, repo, users, config, page):
     """ on failure of single-PR staging, mark & notify failure
@@ -2203,83 +2214,53 @@ Co-authored-by: {other_user['name']} <{other_user['email']}>\
         }
 
 
-class TestPRUpdate(object):
+class TestPRUpdate:
     """ Pushing on a PR should update the HEAD except for merged PRs, it
     can have additional effect (see individual tests)
     """
+    @pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
+    def master(self, repo):
+        with repo:
+            [m] = repo.make_commits(None, Commit('initial', tree={'m': 'm'}), ref="heads/master")
+        return m
+
     def test_update_opened(self, env, repo):
         with repo:
-            m = repo.make_commit(None, 'initial', None, tree={'m': 'm'})
-            repo.make_ref('heads/master', m)
-
-            c = repo.make_commit(m, 'fist', None, tree={'m': 'c1'})
-            prx = repo.make_pr(title='title', body='body', target='master', head=c)
+            [c] = repo.make_commits("master", Commit('first', tree={'m': 'c1'}))
+            prx = repo.make_pr(target='master', head=c)
 
         pr = to_pr(env, prx)
         assert pr.head == c
         # alter & push force PR entirely
         with repo:
-            c2 = repo.make_commit(m, 'first', None, tree={'m': 'cc'})
-            repo.update_ref(prx.ref, c2, force=True)
-        assert pr.head == c2
-
-    def test_reopen_update(self, env, repo, config):
-        with repo:
-            m = repo.make_commit(None, 'initial', None, tree={'m': 'm'})
-            repo.make_ref('heads/master', m)
-
-            c = repo.make_commit(m, 'fist', None, tree={'m': 'c1'})
-            prx = repo.make_pr(title='title', body='body', target='master', head=c)
-            prx.post_comment("hansen r+", config['role_reviewer']['token'])
-
-        pr = to_pr(env, prx)
-        assert pr.state == 'approved'
-        assert pr.reviewed_by
-        with repo:
-            prx.close()
-        assert pr.state == 'closed'
-        assert pr.head == c
-        assert not pr.reviewed_by
-
-        with repo:
-            prx.open()
-        assert pr.state == 'opened'
-        assert not pr.reviewed_by
-
-        with repo:
-            c2 = repo.make_commit(c, 'first', None, tree={'m': 'cc'})
+            [c2] = repo.make_commits("master", Commit('first', tree={'m': 'cc'}))
             repo.update_ref(prx.ref, c2, force=True)
         assert pr.head == c2
 
+    @pytest.mark.defaultstatuses
     def test_update_validated(self, env, repo):
         """ Should reset to opened
         """
         with repo:
-            m = repo.make_commit(None, 'initial', None, tree={'m': 'm'})
-            repo.make_ref('heads/master', m)
-
-            c = repo.make_commit(m, 'fist', None, tree={'m': 'c1'})
-            prx = repo.make_pr(title='title', body='body', target='master', head=c)
-            repo.post_status(prx.head, 'success', 'legal/cla')
-            repo.post_status(prx.head, 'success', 'ci/runbot')
+            [c] = repo.make_commits("master", Commit('first', tree={'m': 'c1'}))
+            pr = repo.make_pr(target='master', head=c)
+            repo.post_status(c, 'success')
         env.run_crons()
-        pr = to_pr(env, prx)
-        assert pr.head == c
-        assert pr.state == 'validated'
+
+        pr_id = to_pr(env, pr)
+        assert pr_id.head == c
+        assert pr_id.state == 'validated'
 
         with repo:
-            c2 = repo.make_commit(m, 'first', None, tree={'m': 'cc'})
-            repo.update_ref(prx.ref, c2, force=True)
-        assert pr.head == c2
-        assert pr.state == 'opened'
+            [c2] = repo.make_commits("master", Commit('first', tree={'m': 'cc'}))
+            repo.update_ref(pr.ref, c2, force=True)
+        assert pr_id.head == c2
+        assert pr_id.state == 'opened'
 
     def test_update_approved(self, env, repo, config):
         with repo:
-            m = repo.make_commit(None, 'initial', None, tree={'m': 'm'})
-            repo.make_ref('heads/master', m)
-
-            c = repo.make_commit(m, 'fist', None, tree={'m': 'c1'})
-            prx = repo.make_pr(title='title', body='body', target='master', head=c)
+            [c] = repo.make_commits("master", Commit('fist', tree={'m': 'c1'}))
+            prx = repo.make_pr(target='master', head=c)
             prx.post_comment('hansen r+', config['role_reviewer']['token'])
 
         pr = to_pr(env, prx)
@@ -2287,22 +2268,19 @@ class TestPRUpdate(object):
         assert pr.state == 'approved'
 
         with repo:
-            c2 = repo.make_commit(c, 'first', None, tree={'m': 'cc'})
+            [c2] = repo.make_commits("master", Commit('first', tree={'m': 'cc'}))
             repo.update_ref(prx.ref, c2, force=True)
         assert pr.head == c2
         assert pr.state == 'opened'
 
+    @pytest.mark.defaultstatuses
     def test_update_ready(self, env, repo, config):
         """ Should reset to opened
         """
         with repo:
-            m = repo.make_commit(None, 'initial', None, tree={'m': 'm'})
-            repo.make_ref('heads/master', m)
-
-            c = repo.make_commit(m, 'fist', None, tree={'m': 'c1'})
-            prx = repo.make_pr(title='title', body='body', target='master', head=c)
-            repo.post_status(prx.head, 'success', 'legal/cla')
-            repo.post_status(prx.head, 'success', 'ci/runbot')
+            [c] = repo.make_commits("master", Commit('fist', tree={'m': 'c1'}))
+            prx = repo.make_pr(target='master', head=c)
+            repo.post_status(prx.head, 'success')
             prx.post_comment('hansen r+', config['role_reviewer']['token'])
         env.run_crons()
         pr = to_pr(env, prx)
@@ -2310,22 +2288,19 @@ class TestPRUpdate(object):
         assert pr.state == 'ready'
 
         with repo:
-            c2 = repo.make_commit(c, 'first', None, tree={'m': 'cc'})
+            [c2] = repo.make_commits(c, Commit('first', tree={'m': 'cc'}))
             repo.update_ref(prx.ref, c2, force=True)
         assert pr.head == c2
         assert pr.state == 'opened'
 
+    @pytest.mark.defaultstatuses
     def test_update_staged(self, env, repo, config):
         """ Should cancel the staging & reset PR to opened
         """
         with repo:
-            m = repo.make_commit(None, 'initial', None, tree={'m': 'm'})
-            repo.make_ref('heads/master', m)
-
-            c = repo.make_commit(m, 'fist', None, tree={'m': 'c1'})
-            prx = repo.make_pr(title='title', body='body', target='master', head=c)
-            repo.post_status(prx.head, 'success', 'legal/cla')
-            repo.post_status(prx.head, 'success', 'ci/runbot')
+            [c] = repo.make_commits("master", Commit('fist', tree={'m': 'c1'}))
+            prx = repo.make_pr(target='master', head=c)
+            repo.post_status(prx.head, 'success')
             prx.post_comment('hansen r+', config['role_reviewer']['token'])
 
         env.run_crons()
@@ -2334,33 +2309,27 @@ class TestPRUpdate(object):
         assert pr.staging_id
 
         with repo:
-            c2 = repo.make_commit(c, 'first', None, tree={'m': 'cc'})
+            [c2] = repo.make_commits(c, Commit('first', tree={'m': 'cc'}))
             repo.update_ref(prx.ref, c2, force=True)
         assert pr.head == c2
         assert pr.state == 'opened'
         assert not pr.staging_id
         assert not env['runbot_merge.stagings'].search([])
 
+    @pytest.mark.defaultstatuses
     def test_split(self, env, repo, config):
         """ Should remove the PR from its split, and possibly delete the split
         entirely.
         """
         with repo:
-            m = repo.make_commit(None, 'initial', None, tree={'m': 'm'})
-            repo.make_ref('heads/master', m)
-
-            c = repo.make_commit(m, 'first', None, tree={'m': 'm', '1': '1'})
-            repo.make_ref('heads/p1', c)
-            prx1 = repo.make_pr(title='t1', body='b1', target='master', head='p1')
-            repo.post_status(prx1.head, 'success', 'legal/cla')
-            repo.post_status(prx1.head, 'success', 'ci/runbot')
+            repo.make_commits("master", Commit('first', tree={'1': '1'}), ref="heads/p1")
+            prx1 = repo.make_pr(target='master', head='p1')
+            repo.post_status(prx1.head, 'success')
             prx1.post_comment('hansen r+', config['role_reviewer']['token'])
 
-            c = repo.make_commit(m, 'first', None, tree={'m': 'm', '2': '2'})
-            repo.make_ref('heads/p2', c)
-            prx2 = repo.make_pr(title='t2', body='b2', target='master', head='p2')
-            repo.post_status(prx2.head, 'success', 'legal/cla')
-            repo.post_status(prx2.head, 'success', 'ci/runbot')
+            [c] = repo.make_commits("master", Commit('first', tree={'2': '2'}), ref="heads/p2")
+            prx2 = repo.make_pr(target='master', head='p2')
+            repo.post_status(prx2.head, 'success')
             prx2.post_comment('hansen r+', config['role_reviewer']['token'])
         env.run_crons()
 
@@ -2371,7 +2340,7 @@ class TestPRUpdate(object):
         s0 = pr1.staging_id
 
         with repo:
-            repo.post_status('heads/staging.master', 'failure', 'ci/runbot')
+            repo.post_status('heads/staging.master', 'failure')
         env.run_crons()
 
         assert pr1.staging_id and pr1.staging_id != s0, "pr1 should have been re-staged"
@@ -2381,22 +2350,20 @@ class TestPRUpdate(object):
         assert env['runbot_merge.split'].search([])
 
         with repo:
-            repo.update_ref(prx2.ref, repo.make_commit(c, 'second', None, tree={'m': 'm', '2': '22'}), force=True)
+            [c2] = repo.make_commits(c, Commit('second', tree={'2': '22'}))
+            repo.update_ref(prx2.ref, c2, force=True)
         # probably not necessary ATM but...
         env.run_crons()
 
         assert pr2.state == 'opened', "state should have been reset"
         assert not env['runbot_merge.split'].search([]), "there should be no split left"
 
+    @pytest.mark.defaultstatuses
     def test_update_error(self, env, repo, config):
         with repo:
-            m = repo.make_commit(None, 'initial', None, tree={'m': 'm'})
-            repo.make_ref('heads/master', m)
-
-            c = repo.make_commit(m, 'fist', None, tree={'m': 'c1'})
-            prx = repo.make_pr(title='title', body='body', target='master', head=c)
-            repo.post_status(prx.head, 'success', 'legal/cla')
-            repo.post_status(prx.head, 'success', 'ci/runbot')
+            [c] = repo.make_commits("master", Commit('fist', tree={'m': 'c1'}))
+            prx = repo.make_pr(target='master', head=c)
+            repo.post_status(prx.head, 'success')
             prx.post_comment('hansen r+', config['role_reviewer']['token'])
         env.run_crons()
         pr = to_pr(env, prx)
@@ -2404,24 +2371,25 @@ class TestPRUpdate(object):
         assert pr.staging_id
 
         with repo:
-            repo.post_status('staging.master', 'success', 'legal/cla')
-            repo.post_status('staging.master', 'failure', 'ci/runbot')
+            repo.post_status('staging.master', 'failure')
         env.run_crons()
         assert not pr.staging_id
         assert pr.state == 'error'
 
         with repo:
-            c2 = repo.make_commit(c, 'first', None, tree={'m': 'cc'})
+            [c2] = repo.make_commits(c, Commit('first', tree={'m': 'cc'}))
             repo.update_ref(prx.ref, c2, force=True)
         assert pr.head == c2
         assert pr.state == 'opened'
 
     def test_unknown_pr(self, env, repo):
         with repo:
-            m = repo.make_commit(None, 'initial', None, tree={'m': 'm'})
+            [m, c] = repo.make_commits(
+                None,
+                Commit('initial', tree={'m': 'm'}),
+                Commit('first', tree={'m': 'c1'}),
+            )
             repo.make_ref('heads/1.0', m)
-
-            c = repo.make_commit(m, 'first', None, tree={'m': 'c1'})
             prx = repo.make_pr(title='title', body='body', target='1.0', head=c)
         assert not env['runbot_merge.pull_requests'].search([('number', '=', prx.number)])
 
@@ -2430,27 +2398,24 @@ class TestPRUpdate(object):
         })
 
         with repo:
-            c2 = repo.make_commit(c, 'second', None, tree={'m': 'c2'})
+            [c2] = repo.make_commits(c, Commit('second', tree={'m': 'c2'}))
             repo.update_ref(prx.ref, c2, force=True)
 
         assert not env['runbot_merge.pull_requests'].search([('number', '=', prx.number)])
 
+    @pytest.mark.defaultstatuses
     def test_update_to_ci(self, env, repo):
         """ If a PR is updated to a known-valid commit, it should be
         validated
         """
         with repo:
-            m = repo.make_commit(None, 'initial', None, tree={'m': 'm'})
-            repo.make_ref('heads/master', m)
-
-            c = repo.make_commit(m, 'fist', None, tree={'m': 'c1'})
-            c2 = repo.make_commit(m, 'first', None, tree={'m': 'cc'})
-            repo.post_status(c2, 'success', 'legal/cla')
-            repo.post_status(c2, 'success', 'ci/runbot')
+            [c] = repo.make_commits("master", Commit('fist', tree={'m': 'c1'}))
+            [c2] = repo.make_commits("master", Commit('first', tree={'m': 'cc'}))
+            repo.post_status(c2, 'success')
         env.run_crons()
 
         with repo:
-            prx = repo.make_pr(title='title', body='body', target='master', head=c)
+            prx = repo.make_pr(target='master', head=c)
         pr = to_pr(env, prx)
         assert pr.head == c
         assert pr.state == 'opened'
@@ -2460,6 +2425,7 @@ class TestPRUpdate(object):
         assert pr.head == c2
         assert pr.state == 'validated'
 
+    @pytest.mark.defaultstatuses
     def test_update_missed(self, env, repo, config, users):
         """ Sometimes github's webhooks don't trigger properly, a branch's HEAD
         does not get updated and we might e.g. attempt to merge a PR despite it
@@ -2479,10 +2445,9 @@ class TestPRUpdate(object):
             repo.make_ref('heads/somethingelse', c)
 
             [c] = repo.make_commits(
-                'heads/master', repo.Commit('title \n\nbody', tree={'a': '1'}), ref='heads/abranch')
+                'master', repo.Commit('title \n\nbody', tree={'a': '1'}), ref='heads/abranch')
             pr = repo.make_pr(target='master', head='abranch')
-            repo.post_status(pr.head, 'success', 'legal/cla')
-            repo.post_status(pr.head, 'success', 'ci/runbot')
+            repo.post_status(pr.head, 'success')
             pr.post_comment('hansen r+', config['role_reviewer']['token'])
 
         env.run_crons()
@@ -2498,8 +2463,7 @@ class TestPRUpdate(object):
             # to the PR *actually* having more than 1 commit and thus needing
             # a configuration
             [c2] = repo.make_commits('heads/master', repo.Commit('c2', tree={'a': '2'}))
-            repo.post_status(c2, 'success', 'legal/cla')
-            repo.post_status(c2, 'success', 'ci/runbot')
+            repo.post_status(c2, 'success')
             repo.update_ref(pr.ref, c2, force=True)
 
         other = env['runbot_merge.branch'].create({
@@ -2608,61 +2572,114 @@ Please check and re-approve.
             f"Updated target, squash, message. Updated {pr_id.display_name} to ready. Updated to {c2}."
         )
 
-    def test_update_closed(self, env, repo):
+    @pytest.mark.defaultstatuses
+    def test_update_closed(self, env, repo, config):
         with repo:
-            [m] = repo.make_commits(None, repo.Commit('initial', tree={'m': 'm'}), ref='heads/master')
-
-            [c] = repo.make_commits(m, repo.Commit('first', tree={'m': 'm3'}), ref='heads/abranch')
-            prx = repo.make_pr(title='title', body='body', target='master', head=c)
+            [c] = repo.make_commits("master", repo.Commit('first', tree={'m': 'm3'}), ref='heads/abranch')
+            pr = repo.make_pr(target='master', head=c)
+            pr.post_comment("hansen r+", config['role_reviewer']['token'])
         env.run_crons()
-        pr = to_pr(env, prx)
-        assert pr.state == 'opened'
-        assert pr.head == c
-        assert pr.squash
+
+        pr_id = to_pr(env, pr)
+        assert pr_id.state == 'approved'
+        assert pr_id.head == c
+        assert pr_id.squash
+        assert pr_id.reviewed_by
 
         with repo:
-            prx.close()
-
-        with repo:
-            c2 = repo.make_commit(c, 'xxx', None, tree={'m': 'm4'})
-            repo.update_ref(prx.ref, c2)
-
+            pr.close()
         assert pr.state == 'closed'
         assert pr.head == c
-        assert pr.squash
+        assert not pr_id.reviewed_by
+        assert pr_id.squash
 
         with repo:
-            prx.open()
-        assert pr.state == 'opened'
-        assert pr.head == c2
-        assert not pr.squash
+            [c2] = repo.make_commits(c, Commit('xxx', tree={'m': 'm4'}))
+            repo.update_ref(pr.ref, c2)
+            repo.post_status(c2, "success")
 
-    def test_update_closed_revalidate(self, env, repo):
-        """ The PR should be validated on opening and reopening in case there's
-        already a CI+ stored (as the CI might never trigger unless explicitly
-        re-requested)
+        assert pr_id.state == 'closed'
+        assert pr_id.head == c
+        assert not pr_id.reviewed_by
+        assert pr_id.squash
+
+        with repo:
+            pr.open()
+        assert pr_id.state == 'validated'
+        assert pr_id.head == c2
+        assert not pr_id.reviewed_by
+        assert not pr_id.squash
+
+    @pytest.mark.defaultstatuses
+    def test_update_incorrect_commits_count(self, port, env, project, repo, config, users):
+        """This is not a great test but it aims to kinda sorta simulate the
+        behaviour when a user retargets and updates a PR at about the same time:
+        github can send the hooks in the wrong order, which leads to the correct
+        base and head but can lead to the wrong squash status.
         """
+        project.write({
+            'branch_ids': [(0, 0, {
+                'name': 'xxx',
+            })]
+        })
         with repo:
-            m = repo.make_commit(None, 'initial', None, tree={'m': 'm'})
-            repo.make_ref('heads/master', m)
+            [c] = repo.make_commits("master", Commit("c", tree={"m": "n"}), ref="heads/thing")
+            pr = repo.make_pr(target='master', head='thing')
 
-            c = repo.make_commit(m, 'fist', None, tree={'m': 'c1'})
-            repo.post_status(c, 'success', 'legal/cla')
-            repo.post_status(c, 'success', 'ci/runbot')
-            prx = repo.make_pr(title='title', body='body', target='master', head=c)
+        pr_id = to_pr(env, pr)
+        pr_id.head = '0'*40
+        with requests.Session() as s:
+            r = s.post(
+                f"http://localhost:{port}/runbot_merge/hooks",
+                headers={
+                    "X-Github-Event": "pull_request",
+                },
+                json={
+                    'action': 'synchronize',
+                    'sender': {
+                        'login': users['user'],
+                    },
+                    'repository': {
+                        'full_name': repo.name,
+                    },
+                    'pull_request': {
+                        'number': pr.number,
+                        'head': {'sha': c},
+                        'title': "c",
+                        'commits': 40123,
+                        'base': {
+                            'ref': 'xxx',
+                            'repo': {
+                                'full_name': repo.name,
+                            },
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+            )
+            r.raise_for_status()
+        assert pr_id.head == c, "the head should have been updated"
+        assert not pr_id.squash, "the wrong count should be used"
 
+        with repo:
+            pr.post_comment("hansen r+", config['role_reviewer']['token'])
+            repo.post_status(c, 'success')
         env.run_crons()
-        pr = to_pr(env, prx)
-        assert pr.state == 'validated', \
-            "if a PR is created on a CI'd commit, it should be validated immediately"
-
-        with repo: prx.close()
-        assert pr.state == 'closed'
-
-        with repo: prx.open()
-        assert pr.state == 'validated', \
-            "if a PR is reopened and had a CI'd head, it should be validated immediately"
-
+        assert not pr_id.blocked
+        assert pr_id.message_ids[::-1].mapped(lambda m: (
+            ((m.subject or '') + '\n\n' + m.body).strip(),
+            list(map(read_tracking_value, m.tracking_value_ids)),
+        )) == [
+            ('<p>Pull Request created</p>', []),
+            ('', [('head', c, '0'*40)]),
+            ('', [('head', '0'*40, c), ('squash', 1, 0)]),
+            ('', [('state', 'Opened', 'Approved'), ('reviewed_by', '', 'Reviewer')]),
+            (f'<p>statuses changed on {c}</p>', [('state', 'Approved', 'Ready')]),
+        ]
+        assert pr_id.staging_id
+        with repo:
+            repo.post_status('staging.master', 'success')
+        env.run_crons()
+        assert pr_id.merge_date
 
 class TestBatching(object):
     def _pr(self, repo, prefix, trees, *, target='master', user, reviewer,
@@ -2982,7 +2999,6 @@ class TestBatching(object):
             pr0.post_comment('hansen NOW!', config['role_reviewer']['token'])
         env.run_crons()
 
-        # TODO: maybe just deactivate stagings instead of deleting them when canceling?
         assert not p_1.staging_id
         assert to_pr(env, pr0).staging_id
 
@@ -3405,15 +3421,15 @@ class TestUnknownPR:
 
         c = env['runbot_merge.commit'].search([('sha', '=', prx.head)])
         assert json.loads(c.statuses) == {
-            'legal/cla': {'state': 'success', 'target_url': None, 'description': None},
-            'ci/runbot': {'state': 'success', 'target_url': 'http://example.org/wheee', 'description': None}
+            'legal/cla': {'state': 'success', 'target_url': None, 'description': None, 'updated_at': matches("$$")},
+            'ci/runbot': {'state': 'success', 'target_url': 'http://example.org/wheee', 'description': None, 'updated_at': matches("$$")}
         }
         assert prx.comments == [
             seen(env, prx, users),
             (users['reviewer'], 'hansen r+'),
             (users['reviewer'], 'hansen r+'),
             seen(env, prx, users),
-            (users['user'], f"@{users['user']} I didn't know about this PR and had to "
+            (users['user'], f"@{users['reviewer']} I didn't know about this PR and had to "
                             "retrieve its information, you may have to "
                             "re-approve it as I didn't see previous commands."),
         ]
@@ -3469,7 +3485,7 @@ class TestUnknownPR:
             # reviewer is set because fetch replays all the comments (thus
             # setting r+ and reviewer) but then syncs the head commit thus
             # unsetting r+ but leaving the reviewer
-            (users['user'], f"@{users['user']} I didn't know about this PR and had to retrieve "
+            (users['user'], f"@{users['reviewer']} I didn't know about this PR and had to retrieve "
                             "its information, you may have to re-approve it "
                             "as I didn't see previous commands."),
         ]
diff --git a/runbot_merge/tests/test_by_branch.py b/runbot_merge/tests/test_by_branch.py
index 9134a4e2..4d64ca43 100644
--- a/runbot_merge/tests/test_by_branch.py
+++ b/runbot_merge/tests/test_by_branch.py
@@ -149,7 +149,6 @@ def test_pseudo_version_tag(env, project, make_repo, setreviewers, config):
     with repo:
         repo.post_status('staging.master', 'success', 'ci')
     env.run_crons() # should merge staging
-    env.run_crons('runbot_merge.labels_cron') # update labels
     assert pr_id.state == 'merged'
     assert pr.labels >= {'2.1'}
 
@@ -170,6 +169,5 @@ def test_pseudo_version_tag(env, project, make_repo, setreviewers, config):
     with repo:
         repo.post_status('staging.master', 'success', 'ci')
     env.run_crons() # should merge staging
-    env.run_crons('runbot_merge.labels_cron') # update labels
     assert pr_id.state == 'merged'
     assert pr.labels >= {'post-bonk'}
diff --git a/runbot_merge/tests/test_disabled_branch.py b/runbot_merge/tests/test_disabled_branch.py
index 88e5e490..eaf2e9f6 100644
--- a/runbot_merge/tests/test_disabled_branch.py
+++ b/runbot_merge/tests/test_disabled_branch.py
@@ -1,8 +1,11 @@
 import pytest
 
-from utils import seen, Commit, pr_page
+from utils import seen, Commit, pr_page, to_pr
 
-def test_existing_pr_disabled_branch(env, project, make_repo, setreviewers, config, users, page):
+
+pytestmark = pytest.mark.defaultstatuses
+
+def test_existing_pr_disabled_branch(env, project, repo, config, users, page):
     """ PRs to disabled branches are ignored, but what if the PR exists *before*
     the branch is disabled?
     """
@@ -10,20 +13,11 @@ def test_existing_pr_disabled_branch(env, project, make_repo, setreviewers, conf
     # new work
     assert env['base'].run_crons()
 
-    repo = make_repo('repo')
-    project.branch_ids.sequence = 0
     project.write({'branch_ids': [
+        (1, project.branch_ids.id, {'sequence': 0}),
         (0, 0, {'name': 'other', 'sequence': 1}),
         (0, 0, {'name': 'other2', 'sequence': 2}),
     ]})
-    repo_id = env['runbot_merge.repository'].create({
-        'project_id': project.id,
-        'name': repo.name,
-        'status_ids': [(0, 0, {'context': 'status'})],
-        'group_id': False,
-    })
-    setreviewers(*project.repo_ids)
-    env['runbot_merge.events_sources'].create({'repository': repo.name})
 
     with repo:
         [m] = repo.make_commits(None, Commit('root', tree={'a': '1'}), ref='heads/master')
@@ -32,14 +26,11 @@ def test_existing_pr_disabled_branch(env, project, make_repo, setreviewers, conf
 
         [c] = repo.make_commits(ot, Commit('wheee', tree={'b': '2'}))
         pr = repo.make_pr(title="title", body='body', target='other', head=c)
-        repo.post_status(c, 'success', 'status')
+        repo.post_status(c, 'success')
         pr.post_comment('hansen r+', config['role_reviewer']['token'])
     env.run_crons()
 
-    pr_id = env['runbot_merge.pull_requests'].search([
-        ('repository', '=', repo_id.id),
-        ('number', '=', pr.number),
-    ])
+    pr_id = to_pr(env, pr)
     branch_id = pr_id.target
     assert pr_id.staging_id
     staging_id = branch_id.active_staging_id
@@ -47,9 +38,6 @@ def test_existing_pr_disabled_branch(env, project, make_repo, setreviewers, conf
 
     # staging of `pr` should have generated a staging branch
     _ = repo.get_ref('heads/staging.other')
-    # stagings should not need a tmp branch anymore, so this should not exist
-    with pytest.raises(AssertionError, match=r'Not Found'):
-        repo.get_ref('heads/tmp.other')
 
     # disable branch "other"
     branch_id.active = False
@@ -74,7 +62,7 @@ def test_existing_pr_disabled_branch(env, project, make_repo, setreviewers, conf
     [target] = p.cssselect('table tr.bg-info')
     assert 'inactive' in target.classes
     assert target[0].text_content() == "other"
-
+    env.run_crons()
     assert pr.comments == [
         (users['reviewer'], "hansen r+"),
         seen(env, pr, users),
@@ -82,37 +70,38 @@ def test_existing_pr_disabled_branch(env, project, make_repo, setreviewers, conf
     ]
 
     with repo:
-        [c2] = repo.make_commits(ot, Commit('wheee', tree={'b': '3'}))
-        repo.update_ref(pr.ref, c2, force=True)
+        [c2] = repo.make_commits(ot, Commit('wheee', tree={'b': '3'}), ref=pr.ref, make=False)
+    env.run_crons()
+    assert pr.comments[3] == (
+        users['user'],
+        "This PR targets the disabled branch {repository}:{target}, it needs to be retargeted before it can be merged.".format(
+            repository=repo.name,
+            target="other",
+        )
+    )
     assert pr_id.head == c2, "pr should be aware of its update"
 
     with repo:
         pr.base = 'other2'
-        repo.post_status(c2, 'success', 'status')
+        repo.post_status(c2, 'success')
         pr.post_comment('hansen rebase-ff r+', config['role_reviewer']['token'])
     env.run_crons()
 
+    assert pr.comments[4:] == [
+        (users['reviewer'], 'hansen rebase-ff r+'),
+        (users['user'], "Merge method set to rebase and fast-forward."),
+    ]
+
     assert pr_id.state == 'ready'
     assert pr_id.target == env['runbot_merge.branch'].search([('name', '=', 'other2')])
     assert pr_id.staging_id
 
     # staging of `pr` should have generated a staging branch
     _ = repo.get_ref('heads/staging.other2')
-    # stagings should not need a tmp branch anymore, so this should not exist
-    with pytest.raises(AssertionError, match=r'Not Found'):
-        repo.get_ref('heads/tmp.other2')
 
-def test_new_pr_no_branch(env, project, make_repo, setreviewers, users):
+def test_new_pr_no_branch(env, project, repo, users):
     """ A new PR to an *unknown* branch should be ignored and warn
     """
-    repo = make_repo('repo')
-    repo_id = env['runbot_merge.repository'].create({
-        'project_id': project.id,
-        'name': repo.name,
-        'status_ids': [(0, 0, {'context': 'status'})]
-    })
-    setreviewers(*project.repo_ids)
-    env['runbot_merge.events_sources'].create({'repository': repo.name})
 
     with repo:
         [m] = repo.make_commits(None, Commit('root', tree={'a': '1'}), ref='heads/master')
@@ -123,30 +112,18 @@ def test_new_pr_no_branch(env, project, make_repo, setreviewers, users):
     env.run_crons()
 
     assert not env['runbot_merge.pull_requests'].search([
-        ('repository', '=', repo_id.id),
+        ('repository', '=', project.repo_ids.id),
         ('number', '=', pr.number),
     ]), "the PR should not have been created in the backend"
     assert pr.comments == [
         (users['user'], "This PR targets the un-managed branch %s:other, it needs to be retargeted before it can be merged." % repo.name),
     ]
 
-def test_new_pr_disabled_branch(env, project, make_repo, setreviewers, users):
+def test_new_pr_disabled_branch(env, project, repo, users):
     """ A new PR to a *disabled* branch should be accepted (rather than ignored)
     but should warn
     """
-    repo = make_repo('repo')
-    repo_id = env['runbot_merge.repository'].create({
-        'project_id': project.id,
-        'name': repo.name,
-        'status_ids': [(0, 0, {'context': 'status'})]
-    })
-    env['runbot_merge.branch'].create({
-        'project_id': project.id,
-        'name': 'other',
-        'active': False,
-    })
-    setreviewers(*project.repo_ids)
-    env['runbot_merge.events_sources'].create({'repository': repo.name})
+    project.write({'branch_ids': [(0, 0, {'name': 'other', 'active': False})]})
 
     with repo:
         [m] = repo.make_commits(None, Commit('root', tree={'a': '1'}), ref='heads/master')
@@ -156,13 +133,40 @@ def test_new_pr_disabled_branch(env, project, make_repo, setreviewers, users):
         pr = repo.make_pr(title="title", body='body', target='other', head=c)
     env.run_crons()
 
-    pr_id = env['runbot_merge.pull_requests'].search([
-        ('repository', '=', repo_id.id),
-        ('number', '=', pr.number),
-    ])
+    pr_id = to_pr(env, pr)
     assert pr_id, "the PR should have been created in the backend"
     assert pr_id.state == 'opened'
     assert pr.comments == [
         (users['user'], "This PR targets the disabled branch %s:other, it needs to be retargeted before it can be merged." % repo.name),
         seen(env, pr, users),
     ]
+
+def test_review_disabled_branch(env, project, repo, users, config):
+    with repo:
+        [m] = repo.make_commits(None, Commit("init", tree={'m': 'm'}), ref='heads/master')
+
+        [c] = repo.make_commits(m, Commit('pr', tree={'m': 'n'}))
+        pr = repo.make_pr(target="master", head=c)
+    env.run_crons()
+    target = project.branch_ids
+    target.active = False
+    env.run_crons()
+    with repo:
+        pr.post_comment("A normal comment", config['role_other']['token'])
+    with repo:
+        pr.post_comment("hansen r+", config['role_reviewer']['token'])
+    env.run_crons()
+
+    assert pr.comments == [
+        seen(env, pr, users),
+        (users['user'], "@{user} the target branch {target!r} has been disabled, you may want to close this PR.".format(
+            **users,
+            target=target.name,
+        )),
+        (users['other'], "A normal comment"),
+        (users['reviewer'], "hansen r+"),
+        (users['user'], "This PR targets the disabled branch {repository}:{target}, it needs to be retargeted before it can be merged.".format(
+            repository=repo.name,
+            target=target.name,
+        )),
+    ]
diff --git a/runbot_merge/tests/test_multirepo.py b/runbot_merge/tests/test_multirepo.py
index 0efb7cfc..52e9bb2b 100644
--- a/runbot_merge/tests/test_multirepo.py
+++ b/runbot_merge/tests/test_multirepo.py
@@ -806,10 +806,12 @@ class TestBlocked:
 
         p = to_pr(env, pr)
         assert p.state == 'ready'
-        assert p.blocked
+        assert not p.blocked
+        assert not p.staging_id
 
         with repo_a: pr.post_comment('hansen rebase-merge', config['role_reviewer']['token'])
-        assert not p.blocked
+        env.run_crons()
+        assert p.staging_id
 
     def test_linked_closed(self, env, repo_a, repo_b, config):
         with repo_a, repo_b:
diff --git a/runbot_merge/tests/test_oddities.py b/runbot_merge/tests/test_oddities.py
index 7f353619..9e7cea7b 100644
--- a/runbot_merge/tests/test_oddities.py
+++ b/runbot_merge/tests/test_oddities.py
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ def test_force_ready(env, repo, config):
     pr_id.skipchecks = True
 
     assert pr_id.state == 'ready'
-    assert pr_id.status == 'pending'
+    assert pr_id.status == 'success'
     reviewer = env['res.users'].browse([env._uid]).partner_id
     assert pr_id.reviewed_by == reviewer
 
@@ -349,6 +349,7 @@ Currently available commands for @{user}:
 |-|-|
 |`help`|displays this help|
 |`fw=no`|does not forward-port this PR|
+|`fw=default`|forward-ports this PR normally|
 |`up to <branch>`|only ports this PR forward to the specified branch (included)|
 |`check`|fetches or refreshes PR metadata, resets mergebot state|
 
diff --git a/runbot_merge/tests/test_patching.py b/runbot_merge/tests/test_patching.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2f2c8b64
--- /dev/null
+++ b/runbot_merge/tests/test_patching.py
@@ -0,0 +1,262 @@
+import xmlrpc.client
+
+import pytest
+
+from utils import Commit, read_tracking_value, matches
+
+# basic udiff / show style patch, updates `b` from `1` to `2`
+BASIC_UDIFF = """\
+commit 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000
+Author: 3 Discos Down <bar@example.org>
+Date:   2021-04-24T17:09:14Z
+ 
+    whop
+    
+    whop whop
+ 
+diff --git a/b b/b
+index 000000000000..000000000000 100644
+--- a/b
++++ b/b
+@@ -1,1 +1,1 @@
+-1
++2
+"""
+
+FORMAT_PATCH_XMO = """\
+From 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
+From: 3 Discos Down <bar@example.org>
+Date: Sat, 24 Apr 2021 17:09:14 +0000
+Subject: [PATCH] [I18N] whop
+
+whop whop
+---
+ b | 2 +-
+ 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-)
+ 
+diff --git a/b b/b
+index 000000000000..000000000000 100644
+--- a/b
++++ b/b
+@@ -1,1 +1,1 @@
+-1
++2
+-- 
+2.46.2
+"""
+
+# slightly different format than the one I got, possibly because older?
+FORMAT_PATCH_MAT = """\
+From 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
+From: 3 Discos Down <bar@example.org>
+Date: Sat, 24 Apr 2021 17:09:14 +0000
+Subject: [PATCH 1/1] [I18N] whop
+
+whop whop
+---
+ b | 2 +-
+ 1 file changed, 1 insertion(+), 1 deletion(-)
+ 
+diff --git b b
+index 000000000000..000000000000 100644
+--- b
++++ b
+@@ -1,1 +1,1 @@
+-1
++2
+-- 
+2.34.1
+"""
+
+
+@pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
+def _setup(repo):
+    with repo:
+        [c, _] = repo.make_commits(
+            None,
+            Commit("a", tree={"a": "1", "b": "1\n"}),
+            Commit("b", tree={"a": "2"}),
+            ref="heads/master",
+        )
+        repo.make_ref("heads/x", c)
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("group,access", [
+    ('base.group_portal', False),
+    ('base.group_user', False),
+    ('runbot_merge.group_patcher', True),
+    ('runbot_merge.group_admin', False),
+    ('base.group_system', True),
+])
+def test_patch_acl(env, project, group, access):
+    g = env.ref(group)
+    assert g._name == 'res.groups'
+    env['res.users'].create({
+        'name': 'xxx',
+        'login': 'xxx',
+        'password': 'xxx',
+        'groups_id': [(6, 0, [g.id])],
+    })
+    env2 = env.with_user('xxx', 'xxx')
+    def create():
+        return env2['runbot_merge.patch'].create({
+            'target': project.branch_ids.id,
+            'repository': project.repo_ids.id,
+            'patch': BASIC_UDIFF,
+        })
+    if access:
+        create()
+    else:
+        pytest.raises(xmlrpc.client.Fault, create)\
+            .match("You are not allowed to create")
+
+def test_apply_commit(env, project, repo, users):
+    with repo:
+        [c] = repo.make_commits("x", Commit("c", tree={"b": "2"}, author={
+            'name': "Henry Hoover",
+            "email": "dustsuckinghose@example.org",
+        }), ref="heads/abranch")
+        repo.delete_ref('heads/abranch')
+
+    p = env['runbot_merge.patch'].create({
+        'target': project.branch_ids.id,
+        'repository': project.repo_ids.id,
+        'commit': c,
+    })
+
+    env.run_crons()
+
+    HEAD = repo.commit('master')
+    assert repo.read_tree(HEAD) == {
+        'a': '2',
+        'b': '2',
+    }
+    assert HEAD.message == "c"
+    assert HEAD.author['name'] == "Henry Hoover"
+    assert HEAD.author['email'] == "dustsuckinghose@example.org"
+    assert not p.active
+
+def test_commit_conflict(env, project, repo, users):
+    with repo:
+        [c] = repo.make_commits("x", Commit("x", tree={"b": "3"}))
+        repo.make_commits("master", Commit("c", tree={"b": "2"}), ref="heads/master", make=False)
+
+    p = env['runbot_merge.patch'].create({
+        'target': project.branch_ids.id,
+        'repository': project.repo_ids.id,
+        'commit': c,
+    })
+
+    env.run_crons()
+
+    HEAD = repo.commit('master')
+    assert repo.read_tree(HEAD) == {
+        'a': '2',
+        'b': '2',
+    }
+    assert not p.active
+    assert [(
+        m.subject,
+        m.body,
+        list(map(read_tracking_value, m.tracking_value_ids)),
+    )
+        for m in reversed(p.message_ids)
+    ] == [
+        (False, '<p>Unstaged direct-application patch created</p>', []),
+        (
+            "Unable to apply patch",
+            """\
+<p>Auto-merging b<br>\
+CONFLICT (content): Merge conflict in b<br></p>\
+""",
+            [],
+        ),
+        (False, '', [('active', 1, 0)]),
+    ]
+
+def test_apply_udiff(env, project, repo, users):
+    p = env['runbot_merge.patch'].create({
+        'target': project.branch_ids.id,
+        'repository': project.repo_ids.id,
+        'patch': BASIC_UDIFF,
+    })
+
+    env.run_crons()
+
+    HEAD = repo.commit('master')
+    assert repo.read_tree(HEAD) == {
+        'a': '2',
+        'b': '2\n',
+    }
+    assert HEAD.message == "whop\n\nwhop whop"
+    assert HEAD.author['name'] == "3 Discos Down"
+    assert HEAD.author['email'] == "bar@example.org"
+    assert not p.active
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize('patch', [
+    pytest.param(FORMAT_PATCH_XMO, id='xmo'),
+    pytest.param(FORMAT_PATCH_MAT, id='mat'),
+])
+def test_apply_format_patch(env, project, repo, users, patch):
+    p = env['runbot_merge.patch'].create({
+        'target': project.branch_ids.id,
+        'repository': project.repo_ids.id,
+        'patch': patch,
+    })
+
+    env.run_crons()
+
+    bot = env['res.users'].browse((1,))
+    assert p.message_ids[::-1].mapped(lambda m: (
+        m.author_id.display_name,
+        m.body,
+        list(map(read_tracking_value, m.tracking_value_ids)),
+    )) == [
+        (p.create_uid.partner_id.display_name, '<p>Unstaged direct-application patch created</p>', []),
+        (bot.partner_id.display_name, "", [('active', 1, 0)]),
+    ]
+    HEAD = repo.commit('master')
+    assert repo.read_tree(HEAD) == {
+        'a': '2',
+        'b': '2\n',
+    }
+    assert HEAD.message == "[I18N] whop\n\nwhop whop"
+    assert HEAD.author['name'] == "3 Discos Down"
+    assert HEAD.author['email'] == "bar@example.org"
+    assert not p.active
+
+def test_patch_conflict(env, project, repo, users):
+    p = env['runbot_merge.patch'].create({
+        'target': project.branch_ids.id,
+        'repository': project.repo_ids.id,
+        'patch': BASIC_UDIFF,
+    })
+    with repo:
+        repo.make_commits('master', Commit('cccombo breaker', tree={'b': '3'}), ref='heads/master', make=False)
+
+    env.run_crons()
+
+    HEAD = repo.commit('master')
+    assert HEAD.message == 'cccombo breaker'
+    assert repo.read_tree(HEAD) == {
+        'a': '2',
+        'b': '3',
+    }
+    assert not p.active
+    assert [(
+        m.subject,
+        m.body,
+        list(map(read_tracking_value, m.tracking_value_ids)),
+    )
+        for m in reversed(p.message_ids)
+    ] == [(
+        False,
+        '<p>Unstaged direct-application patch created</p>',
+        [],
+    ), (
+        "Unable to apply patch",
+        matches("$$"),  # feedback from patch can vary
+        [],
+    ), (
+        False, '', [('active', 1, 0)]
+    )]
diff --git a/runbot_merge/tests/test_staging.py b/runbot_merge/tests/test_staging.py
index c1aeeeeb..7dc98713 100644
--- a/runbot_merge/tests/test_staging.py
+++ b/runbot_merge/tests/test_staging.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-from utils import Commit, to_pr
+from utils import Commit, to_pr, make_basic, prevent_unstaging
 
 
 def test_staging_disabled_branch(env, project, repo, config):
@@ -26,3 +26,95 @@ def test_staging_disabled_branch(env, project, repo, config):
         "master is allowed to stage, should be staged"
     assert not to_pr(env, other_pr).staging_id, \
         "other is *not* allowed to stage, should not be staged"
+
+
+def test_staged_failure(env, config, repo, users):
+    """If a PR is staged and gets a new CI failure, it should be unstaged
+
+    This was an issue with odoo/odoo#165931 which got rebuilt and that triggered
+    a failure, which made the PR !ready but kept the staging going. So the PR
+    ended up in an odd state of being both staged and not ready.
+
+    And while the CI failure it got was a false positive, it was in fact the
+    problematic PR breaking that staging.
+
+    More relevant the runbot's "automatic rebase" mode sends CI to the original
+    commits so receiving legitimate failures after staging very much makes
+    sense e.g. an old PR is staged, the staging starts failing, somebody notices
+    the outdated PR and triggers autorebase, which fails (because something
+    incompatible was merged in the meantime), the PR *should* be unstaged.
+    """
+    with repo:
+        repo.make_commits(None, Commit("master", tree={'a': '1'}), ref="heads/master")
+
+        repo.make_commits('master', Commit('c', tree={'a': 'b'}), ref="heads/mybranch")
+        pr = repo.make_pr(target='master', head='mybranch')
+        repo.post_status('mybranch', 'success')
+        pr.post_comment('hansen r+', config['role_reviewer']['token'])
+    env.run_crons()
+
+    pr_id = to_pr(env, pr)
+    staging = pr_id.staging_id
+    assert staging, "pr should be staged"
+
+    with repo:
+        # started rebuild, nothing should happen
+        repo.post_status('mybranch', 'pending')
+    env.run_crons()
+    assert pr_id.staging_id
+    # can't find a clean way to keep this "ready" when transitioning from
+    # success to pending *without updating the head*, at least not without
+    # adding a lot of contextual information around `_compute_statuses`
+    # assert pr_id.state == 'ready'
+
+    with repo:
+        # rebuild failed omg!
+        repo.post_status('mybranch', 'failure')
+    env.run_crons()
+
+    assert pr_id.status == 'failure'
+    assert pr_id.state == 'approved'
+
+    assert not pr_id.staging_id, "pr should be unstaged"
+    assert staging.state == "cancelled"
+    assert staging.reason == f"{pr_id.display_name} had CI failure after staging"
+
+
+def test_update_unready(env, config, repo, users):
+    """Less likely with `test_staged_failure` fixing most of the issue, but
+    clearly the assumption that a staged PR will be `ready` is not strictly
+    enforced.
+
+    As such, updating the PR should try to `unstage` it no matter what state
+    it's in, this will lead to slightly higher loads on sync but loads on the
+    mergebot are generally non-existent outside of the git maintenance cron,
+    and there are doubtless other optimisations missing, or that (and other
+    items) can be done asynchronously.
+    """
+    with repo:
+        repo.make_commits(None, Commit("master", tree={'a': '1'}), ref="heads/master")
+
+        repo.make_commits('master', Commit('c', tree={'a': 'b'}), ref="heads/mybranch")
+        pr = repo.make_pr(target='master', head='mybranch')
+        repo.post_status('mybranch', 'success')
+        pr.post_comment('hansen r+', config['role_reviewer']['token'])
+
+        [c2] = repo.make_commits('master', Commit('c', tree={'a': 'c'}))
+    env.run_crons()
+
+    pr_id = to_pr(env, pr)
+    staging = pr_id.staging_id
+    assert staging, "pr should be staged"
+
+    with prevent_unstaging(pr_id.staging_id):
+        pr_id.overrides = '{"default": {"state": "failure"}}'
+    assert pr_id.state == "approved"
+    assert pr_id.staging_id, "pr should not have been unstaged because we cheated"
+
+    with repo:
+        repo.update_ref("heads/mybranch", c2, force=True)
+    env.run_crons()
+
+    assert not pr_id.staging_id, "pr should be unstaged"
+    assert staging.state == "cancelled"
+    assert staging.reason == f"{pr_id.display_name} updated by {users['user']}"
diff --git a/runbot_merge/views/mergebot.xml b/runbot_merge/views/mergebot.xml
index e3c0b97e..44311715 100644
--- a/runbot_merge/views/mergebot.xml
+++ b/runbot_merge/views/mergebot.xml
@@ -115,6 +115,7 @@
                 <field name="state"/>
                 <field name="author"/>
                 <field name="reviewed_by"/>
+                <field name="write_date"/>
             </tree>
         </field>
     </record>
@@ -379,6 +380,15 @@
         <field name="res_model">runbot_merge.commit</field>
         <field name="view_mode">tree,form</field>
     </record>
+    <record id="runbot_merge_commits_search" model="ir.ui.view">
+        <field name="name">commits search</field>
+        <field name="model">runbot_merge.commit</field>
+        <field name="arch" type="xml">
+            <search>
+                <field name="sha" operator="="/>
+            </search>
+        </field>
+    </record>
     <record id="runbot_merge_commits_tree" model="ir.ui.view">
         <field name="name">commits list</field>
         <field name="model">runbot_merge.commit</field>
diff --git a/runbot_merge/views/queues.xml b/runbot_merge/views/queues.xml
index a72571f3..1514bec4 100644
--- a/runbot_merge/views/queues.xml
+++ b/runbot_merge/views/queues.xml
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
         <field name="res_model">runbot_merge.pull_requests.feedback</field>
     </record>
     <record id="tree_feedback" model="ir.ui.view">
-        <field name="name">Feedback</field>
+        <field name="name">Feedback List</field>
         <field name="model">runbot_merge.pull_requests.feedback</field>
         <field name="arch" type="xml">
             <tree>
@@ -81,17 +81,86 @@
         </field>
     </record>
 
-    <menuitem name="Queues" id="menu_queues" parent="runbot_merge_menu"/>
+    <record id="action_patches" model="ir.actions.act_window">
+        <field name="name">Patches</field>
+        <field name="res_model">runbot_merge.patch</field>
+    </record>
+    <record id="search_patch" model="ir.ui.view">
+        <field name="name">Patches Search</field>
+        <field name="model">runbot_merge.patch</field>
+        <field name="arch" type="xml">
+            <search>
+                <filter string="Inactive" name="active" domain="[('active', '=', False)]"/>
+                <field name="target"/>
+                <field name="repository"/>
+            </search>
+        </field>
+    </record>
+    <record id="tree_patch" model="ir.ui.view">
+        <field name="name">Patches List</field>
+        <field name="model">runbot_merge.patch</field>
+        <field name="arch" type="xml">
+            <tree>
+                <field name="id"/>
+                <field name="repository"/>
+                <field name="target"/>
+            </tree>
+        </field>
+    </record>
+    <record id="form_patch" model="ir.ui.view">
+        <field name="name">Patches Form</field>
+        <field name="model">runbot_merge.patch</field>
+        <field name="arch" type="xml">
+            <form>
+                <sheet>
+                    <group>
+                        <group>
+                            <field name="repository"/>
+                            <field name="target"/>
+                        </group>
+                        <group>
+                            <field name="active"/>
+                        </group>
+                    </group>
+                    <group attrs="{'invisible': [
+                        ('commit', '=', False),
+                        ('patch', '!=', False),
+                    ]}">
+                        <group colspan="4">
+                            <field name="commit"/>
+                        </group>
+                    </group>
+                    <group attrs="{'invisible': [
+                        ('patch', '=', False),
+                        ('commit', '!=', False),
+                    ]}">
+                        <group colspan="4">
+                            <field name="format" colspan="4"/>
+                            <field name="patch" widget="ace"/>
+                                <!-- no diff/patch mode support -->
+                                <!-- options="{'mode': 'patch'}"/> -->
+                            <field name="message" colspan="4"/>
+                        </group>
+                    </group>
+                </sheet>
+                <div class="oe_chatter">
+                    <field name="message_follower_ids" widget="mail_followers"/>
+                    <field name="message_ids" widget="mail_thread"/>
+                </div>
+            </form>
+        </field>
+    </record>
+
+    <menuitem name="Queues" id="menu_queues" parent="runbot_merge_menu">
         <menuitem name="Splits" id="menu_queues_splits"
-                  parent="menu_queues"
                   action="action_splits"/>
         <menuitem name="Feedback" id="menu_queues_feedback"
-                  parent="menu_queues"
                   action="action_feedback"/>
         <menuitem name="Tagging" id="menu_queues_tagging"
-                  parent="menu_queues"
                   action="action_tagging"/>
         <menuitem name="Fetches" id="menu_fetches"
-                  parent="menu_queues"
                   action="action_fetches"/>
+        <menuitem name="Patches" id="menu_patches"
+                  action="action_patches"/>
+    </menuitem>
 </odoo>
diff --git a/runbot_merge/views/templates.xml b/runbot_merge/views/templates.xml
index 267045b5..04ec273d 100644
--- a/runbot_merge/views/templates.xml
+++ b/runbot_merge/views/templates.xml
@@ -5,21 +5,18 @@
     </function>
 
     <template id="link-pr" name="create a link to `pr`">
+        <t t-set="title"
+           t-value="pr.message.split('\n', 1)[0] if pr.repository.group_id &lt;= env.user.groups_id else ''"/>
         <t t-set="title">
-            <t t-if="pr.repository.group_id &lt;= env.user.groups_id">
-                <t t-out="pr.message.split('\n', 1)[0]"/>
-            </t>
-        </t>
-        <t t-set="title">
-          <t t-if="title.strip() and pr.blocked" >
-            <t t-out="title.strip()"/>: <t t-out="pr.blocked"/>
+          <t t-if="title and pr.blocked" >
+            <t t-out="title"/>: <t t-out="pr.blocked"/>
           </t>
           <t t-else="">
-            <t t-out="pr.blocked or title.strip()"/>
+            <t t-out="pr.blocked or title"/>
           </t>
         </t>
         <a t-attf-href="https://github.com/{{ pr.repository.name }}/pull/{{ pr.number }}"
-           t-att-title="title"
+           t-att-title="title.strip()"
            t-att-target="target or None"
            t-att-class="classes or None"
         ><t t-esc="pr.display_name"/></a>
@@ -177,14 +174,15 @@
                     <t t-if="staging_index >= 4">d-none d-lg-block</t>
                 </t>
                 <t t-set="title">
-                    <t t-if="staging.state == 'ff_failed'">fast forward failed (<t t-esc="staging.reason"/>)</t>
-                    <t t-if="staging.state == 'pending'">last status</t>
+                    <t t-if="staging.state == 'success'"/>
+                    <t t-else="">
+                        <t t-if="staging.state == 'pending'">last status</t
+                        ><t t-elif="staging.state == 'ff_failed'">fast forward failed (<t t-out="(staging.reason or '').replace('\'', '')"/>)</t
+                        ><t t-else="" t-out="(staging.reason or '').replace('\'', '')"
+                        /> at <t t-out="(staging.staging_end or staging.write_date).replace(microsecond=0)"/>Z
+                    </t>
                 </t>
-                <!-- separate concatenation to avoid having line-break in title as some browsers trigger it -->
-                <!-- write-date may have microsecond precision, strip that information -->
-                <!-- use write-date under assumption that a staging is last modified when it ends -->
-                <t t-set="title"><t t-esc="title.strip() or staging.reason"/> at <t t-esc="staging.write_date.replace(microsecond=0)"/>Z</t>
-                <li t-attf-class="staging {{stateclass.strip()}} {{decorationclass.strip()}}" t-att-title="title">
+                <li t-attf-class="staging {{stateclass.strip()}} {{decorationclass.strip()}}" t-att-title="title.strip() or None">
                     <ul class="list-unstyled">
                         <li t-foreach="staging.batch_ids" t-as="batch" class="batch">
                             <t t-esc="batch.prs[:1].label"/>
@@ -241,14 +239,14 @@
                             </t>
                         </t>
                         <t t-set="title">
-                            <t t-if="staging.state == 'canceled'">Cancelled:
-                                <t t-esc="staging.reason"/>
+                            <t t-if="staging.state == 'ff_failed'">
+                                Fast Forward Failed
                             </t>
-                            <t t-if="staging.state == 'ff_failed'">Fast
-                                Forward Failed
+                            <t t-elif="staging.state == 'canceled'">
+                                Cancelled<t t-if="staging.reason">: <t t-out="staging.reason.replace('\'', '')"/></t>
                             </t>
-                            <t t-if="staging.state not in ('canceled', 'ff_failed')">
-                                <t t-esc="staging.reason"/>
+                            <t t-else="">
+                                <t t-out="(staging.reason or '').replace('\'', '')"/>
                             </t>
                         </t>
                         <tr t-att-class="stateclass"
@@ -467,6 +465,8 @@ if not genealogy:
     repos = pr.repository
 elif all(p.state in ('merged', 'closed') for p in genealogy[-1].all_prs):
     branches = (project.branch_ids & targets)[::-1]
+elif pr.batch_id.fw_policy == 'no':
+    branches = pr.target
 else:
     # if the tip of the genealogy is not closed, extend to the furthest limit,
     # keeping branches which are active or have an associated batch / PR