diff --git a/cmd/git-sv/handlers.go b/cmd/git-sv/handlers.go
index 206f194..efe9fc4 100644
--- a/cmd/git-sv/handlers.go
+++ b/cmd/git-sv/handlers.go
@@ -376,6 +376,11 @@ func validateCommitMessageHandler(git sv.Git, messageProcessor sv.MessageProcess
 			return nil
 		}
 
+		if source := c.String("source"); source == "merge" {
+			warn("commit message validation skipped, ignoring source: %s...", source)
+			return nil
+		}
+
 		filepath := filepath.Join(c.String("path"), c.String("file"))
 
 		commitMessage, err := readFile(filepath)
diff --git a/cmd/git-sv/main.go b/cmd/git-sv/main.go
index d39f5c5..885b68f 100644
--- a/cmd/git-sv/main.go
+++ b/cmd/git-sv/main.go
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ func main() {
 		{
 			Name:    "validate-commit-message",
 			Aliases: []string{"vcm"},
-			Usage:   "use as prepare-commit-message hook to validate message",
+			Usage:   "use as prepare-commit-message hook to validate and enhance commit message",
 			Action:  validateCommitMessageHandler(git, messageProcessor),
 			Flags: []cli.Flag{
 				&cli.StringFlag{Name: "path", Required: true, Usage: "git working directory"},