diff --git a/src/cli.ts b/src/cli.ts
index 3b02d62..d2d034b 100755
--- a/src/cli.ts
+++ b/src/cli.ts
@@ -128,14 +128,16 @@ program
 program
   .command("merge")
   .argument("<branch>", "branch name")
+  .option("-f, --force", "allow merging into a non-main branch")
   .description("Merge a branch into main and close the session")
-  .action(mergeAction)
+  .action((branch: string, opts: { force?: boolean }) => mergeAction(branch, opts))
 
 program
   .command("squash")
   .argument("<branch>", "branch name")
+  .option("-f, --force", "allow merging into a non-main branch")
   .description("Squash-merge a branch into main and close the session")
-  .action(squashAction)
+  .action((branch: string, opts: { force?: boolean }) => squashAction(branch, opts))
 
 program
   .command("rebase")
diff --git a/src/commands/helpers.ts b/src/commands/helpers.ts
index 9c50920..0172329 100644
--- a/src/commands/helpers.ts
+++ b/src/commands/helpers.ts
@@ -91,12 +91,12 @@ export async function resolveConflicts(
 }
 
 /** Merge (or squash-merge) a branch into main, resolve conflicts if needed, and close the session. */
-export async function mergeAndClose(branch: string, opts?: { squash?: boolean }): Promise<void> {
+export async function mergeAndClose(branch: string, opts?: { squash?: boolean; force?: boolean }): Promise<void> {
   const root = await git.repoRoot()
   const main = await git.mainBranch(root)
   const current = await git.currentBranch(root)
-  if (current !== main) {
-    die(`You must be on "${main}" to merge. Currently on "${current}".`)
+  if (current !== main && !opts?.force) {
+    die(`You must be on "${main}" to merge. Currently on "${current}". Use --force to merge into "${current}" anyway.`)
   }
   const session = await state.getSession(root, branch)
 
diff --git a/src/commands/merge.ts b/src/commands/merge.ts
index 1f4d05e..f20a6ec 100644
--- a/src/commands/merge.ts
+++ b/src/commands/merge.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { mergeAndClose } from "./helpers.ts"
 
-export async function action(branch: string) {
-  await mergeAndClose(branch)
+export async function action(branch: string, opts?: { force?: boolean }) {
+  await mergeAndClose(branch, { force: opts?.force })
 }
diff --git a/src/commands/squash.ts b/src/commands/squash.ts
index 2f0d341..32efca3 100644
--- a/src/commands/squash.ts
+++ b/src/commands/squash.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { mergeAndClose } from "./helpers.ts"
 
-export async function action(branch: string) {
-  await mergeAndClose(branch, { squash: true })
+export async function action(branch: string, opts?: { force?: boolean }) {
+  await mergeAndClose(branch, { squash: true, force: opts?.force })
 }