diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index b064275..bb690f3 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -42,6 +42,9 @@ $ git-heatmap -r "/path/to/repo" -b "main" -r "/other/repo" -b "test"
 # or to comply with the same number of branch lists per repo lists rule from above
 $ git-heatmap -r "/path/to/repo" -b "main" -r "other/repo" -b ""
 
+# by default merges are counted so using --no-merges ensures they won't be counted
+$ git-heatmap --no-merges
+
 # filter by one or multiple authors 
 # without an -a flag all authors will be checked
 $ git-heatmap -a "username" -a "other"
diff --git a/src/cli.rs b/src/cli.rs
index d34f833..4d79ef1 100644
--- a/src/cli.rs
+++ b/src/cli.rs
@@ -28,6 +28,9 @@ pub struct CliArgs {
 
 	#[arg(long("until"))]
 	pub until: Option<String>,
+
+	#[arg(long("no-merges"), default_value_t = false)]
+	pub no_merges: bool,
 }
 
 fn get_since_date() -> String {
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index e84cf46..4900dbc 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -193,6 +193,13 @@ fn get_commits(args: CliArgs, start_date: NaiveDate) -> Result<(usize, Vec<Commi
 						.ok()?
 						.to_string();
 
+					if args.no_merges {
+						let is_merge = c.parent_ids().count() > 1;
+						if is_merge {
+							return None;
+						}
+					}
+
 					let author = c.author().ok()?;
 
 					let email = author.email.to_string();