diff --git a/merge-recursive.c b/merge-recursive.c
index 33ba5dc..ea9dbd3 100644
--- a/merge-recursive.c
+++ b/merge-recursive.c
@@ -2068,6 +2068,15 @@
 		o->xdl_opts = DIFF_WITH_ALG(o, PATIENCE_DIFF);
 	else if (!strcmp(s, "histogram"))
 		o->xdl_opts = DIFF_WITH_ALG(o, HISTOGRAM_DIFF);
+	else if (!strcmp(s, "diff-algorithm=")) {
+		long value = parse_algorithm_value(s+15);
+		if (value < 0)
+			return -1;
+		/* clear out previous settings */
+		DIFF_XDL_CLR(o, NEED_MINIMAL);
+		o->xdl_opts &= ~XDF_DIFF_ALGORITHM_MASK;
+		o->xdl_opts |= value;
+	}
 	else if (!strcmp(s, "ignore-space-change"))
 		o->xdl_opts |= XDF_IGNORE_WHITESPACE_CHANGE;
 	else if (!strcmp(s, "ignore-all-space"))