diff --git a/git-gui.sh b/git-gui.sh
index 0d21f5688b..db02e399e7 100755
--- a/git-gui.sh
+++ b/git-gui.sh
@@ -1797,10 +1797,10 @@ proc ui_status {msg} {
 	}
 }
 
-proc ui_ready {{test {}}} {
+proc ui_ready {} {
 	global main_status
 	if {[info exists main_status]} {
-		$main_status show [mc "Ready."] $test
+		$main_status show [mc "Ready."]
 	}
 }
 
@@ -4159,6 +4159,9 @@ if {$picked && [is_config_true gui.autoexplore]} {
 	do_explore
 }
 
+# Clear "Initializing..." status
+after 500 {$main_status show ""}
+
 # Local variables:
 # mode: tcl
 # indent-tabs-mode: t
diff --git a/lib/blame.tcl b/lib/blame.tcl
index a1aeb8b96e..888f98bab2 100644
--- a/lib/blame.tcl
+++ b/lib/blame.tcl
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ field w_cviewer  ; # pane showing commit message
 field finder     ; # find mini-dialog frame
 field gotoline   ; # line goto mini-dialog frame
 field status     ; # status mega-widget instance
+field status_operation ; # status operation
 field old_height ; # last known height of $w.file_pane
 
 
@@ -274,6 +275,7 @@ constructor new {i_commit i_path i_jump} {
 	pack $w_cviewer -expand 1 -fill both
 
 	set status [::status_bar::new $w.status]
+	set status_operation {}
 
 	menu $w.ctxm -tearoff 0
 	$w.ctxm add command \
@@ -602,16 +604,21 @@ method _exec_blame {cur_w cur_d options cur_s} {
 	} else {
 		lappend options $commit
 	}
+
+	# We may recurse in from another call to _exec_blame and already have
+	# a status operation.
+	if {$status_operation == {}} {
+		set status_operation [$status start \
+			$cur_s \
+			[mc "lines annotated"]]
+	}
+
 	lappend options -- $path
 	set fd [eval git_read --nice blame $options]
 	fconfigure $fd -blocking 0 -translation lf -encoding utf-8
 	fileevent $fd readable [cb _read_blame $fd $cur_w $cur_d]
 	set current_fd $fd
 	set blame_lines 0
-
-	$status start \
-		$cur_s \
-		[mc "lines annotated"]
 }
 
 method _read_blame {fd cur_w cur_d} {
@@ -806,10 +813,11 @@ method _read_blame {fd cur_w cur_d} {
 				[mc "Loading original location annotations..."]
 		} else {
 			set current_fd {}
-			$status stop [mc "Annotation complete."]
+			$status_operation stop [mc "Annotation complete."]
+			set status_operation {}
 		}
 	} else {
-		$status update $blame_lines $total_lines
+		$status_operation update $blame_lines $total_lines
 	}
 } ifdeleted { catch {close $fd} }
 
@@ -1124,7 +1132,7 @@ method _blameparent {} {
 			set diffcmd [list diff-tree --unified=0 $cparent $cmit -- $new_path]
 		}
 		if {[catch {set fd [eval git_read $diffcmd]} err]} {
-			$status stop [mc "Unable to display parent"]
+			$status_operation stop [mc "Unable to display parent"]
 			error_popup [strcat [mc "Error loading diff:"] "\n\n$err"]
 			return
 		}
diff --git a/lib/checkout_op.tcl b/lib/checkout_op.tcl
index a5228297db..21ea768d80 100644
--- a/lib/checkout_op.tcl
+++ b/lib/checkout_op.tcl
@@ -341,9 +341,9 @@ method _readtree {} {
 	global HEAD
 
 	set readtree_d {}
-	$::main_status start \
+	set status_bar_operation [$::main_status start \
 		[mc "Updating working directory to '%s'..." [_name $this]] \
-		[mc "files checked out"]
+		[mc "files checked out"]]
 
 	set fd [git_read --stderr read-tree \
 		-m \
@@ -354,26 +354,27 @@ method _readtree {} {
 		$new_hash \
 		]
 	fconfigure $fd -blocking 0 -translation binary
-	fileevent $fd readable [cb _readtree_wait $fd]
+	fileevent $fd readable [cb _readtree_wait $fd $status_bar_operation]
 }
 
-method _readtree_wait {fd} {
+method _readtree_wait {fd status_bar_operation} {
 	global current_branch
 
 	set buf [read $fd]
-	$::main_status update_meter $buf
+	$status_bar_operation update_meter $buf
 	append readtree_d $buf
 
 	fconfigure $fd -blocking 1
 	if {![eof $fd]} {
 		fconfigure $fd -blocking 0
+		$status_bar_operation stop
 		return
 	}
 
 	if {[catch {close $fd}]} {
 		set err $readtree_d
 		regsub {^fatal: } $err {} err
-		$::main_status stop [mc "Aborted checkout of '%s' (file level merging is required)." [_name $this]]
+		$status_bar_operation stop [mc "Aborted checkout of '%s' (file level merging is required)." [_name $this]]
 		warn_popup [strcat [mc "File level merge required."] "
 
 $err
@@ -384,7 +385,7 @@ $err
 		return
 	}
 
-	$::main_status stop
+	$status_bar_operation stop
 	_after_readtree $this
 }
 
diff --git a/lib/index.tcl b/lib/index.tcl
index 28d4d2a54e..62f4773ef4 100644
--- a/lib/index.tcl
+++ b/lib/index.tcl
@@ -45,13 +45,13 @@ proc _close_updateindex {fd after} {
 		wm deiconify $w
 		tkwait window $w
 
-		$::main_status stop
+		$::main_status stop_all
 		unlock_index
 		rescan $after 0
 		return
 	}
 
-	$::main_status stop
+	$::main_status stop_all
 	unlock_index
 	uplevel #0 $after
 }
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ proc update_indexinfo {msg path_list after} {
 	set batch [expr {int($total_cnt * .01) + 1}]
 	if {$batch > 25} {set batch 25}
 
-	$::main_status start $msg [mc "files"]
+	set status_bar_operation [$::main_status start $msg [mc "files"]]
 	set fd [git_write update-index -z --index-info]
 	fconfigure $fd \
 		-blocking 0 \
@@ -81,15 +81,18 @@ proc update_indexinfo {msg path_list after} {
 		$path_list \
 		$total_cnt \
 		$batch \
+		$status_bar_operation \
 		$after \
 		]
 }
 
-proc write_update_indexinfo {fd path_list total_cnt batch after} {
+proc write_update_indexinfo {fd path_list total_cnt batch status_bar_operation \
+	after} {
 	global update_index_cp
 	global file_states current_diff_path
 
 	if {$update_index_cp >= $total_cnt} {
+		$status_bar_operation stop
 		_close_updateindex $fd $after
 		return
 	}
@@ -119,7 +122,7 @@ proc write_update_indexinfo {fd path_list total_cnt batch after} {
 		display_file $path $new
 	}
 
-	$::main_status update $update_index_cp $total_cnt
+	$status_bar_operation update $update_index_cp $total_cnt
 }
 
 proc update_index {msg path_list after} {
@@ -133,7 +136,7 @@ proc update_index {msg path_list after} {
 	set batch [expr {int($total_cnt * .01) + 1}]
 	if {$batch > 25} {set batch 25}
 
-	$::main_status start $msg [mc "files"]
+	set status_bar_operation [$::main_status start $msg [mc "files"]]
 	set fd [git_write update-index --add --remove -z --stdin]
 	fconfigure $fd \
 		-blocking 0 \
@@ -147,15 +150,18 @@ proc update_index {msg path_list after} {
 		$path_list \
 		$total_cnt \
 		$batch \
+		$status_bar_operation \
 		$after \
 		]
 }
 
-proc write_update_index {fd path_list total_cnt batch after} {
+proc write_update_index {fd path_list total_cnt batch status_bar_operation \
+	after} {
 	global update_index_cp
 	global file_states current_diff_path
 
 	if {$update_index_cp >= $total_cnt} {
+		$status_bar_operation stop
 		_close_updateindex $fd $after
 		return
 	}
@@ -190,7 +196,7 @@ proc write_update_index {fd path_list total_cnt batch after} {
 		display_file $path $new
 	}
 
-	$::main_status update $update_index_cp $total_cnt
+	$status_bar_operation update $update_index_cp $total_cnt
 }
 
 proc checkout_index {msg path_list after} {
@@ -204,7 +210,7 @@ proc checkout_index {msg path_list after} {
 	set batch [expr {int($total_cnt * .01) + 1}]
 	if {$batch > 25} {set batch 25}
 
-	$::main_status start $msg [mc "files"]
+	set status_bar_operation [$::main_status start $msg [mc "files"]]
 	set fd [git_write checkout-index \
 		--index \
 		--quiet \
@@ -224,15 +230,18 @@ proc checkout_index {msg path_list after} {
 		$path_list \
 		$total_cnt \
 		$batch \
+		$status_bar_operation \
 		$after \
 		]
 }
 
-proc write_checkout_index {fd path_list total_cnt batch after} {
+proc write_checkout_index {fd path_list total_cnt batch status_bar_operation \
+	after} {
 	global update_index_cp
 	global file_states current_diff_path
 
 	if {$update_index_cp >= $total_cnt} {
+		$status_bar_operation stop
 		_close_updateindex $fd $after
 		return
 	}
@@ -253,7 +262,7 @@ proc write_checkout_index {fd path_list total_cnt batch after} {
 		}
 	}
 
-	$::main_status update $update_index_cp $total_cnt
+	$status_bar_operation update $update_index_cp $total_cnt
 }
 
 proc unstage_helper {txt paths} {
diff --git a/lib/merge.tcl b/lib/merge.tcl
index 9f253db5b3..8df8ffae55 100644
--- a/lib/merge.tcl
+++ b/lib/merge.tcl
@@ -241,23 +241,27 @@ Continue with resetting the current changes?"]
 	if {[ask_popup $op_question] eq {yes}} {
 		set fd [git_read --stderr read-tree --reset -u -v HEAD]
 		fconfigure $fd -blocking 0 -translation binary
-		fileevent $fd readable [namespace code [list _reset_wait $fd]]
-		$::main_status start [mc "Aborting"] [mc "files reset"]
+		set status_bar_operation [$::main_status \
+			start \
+			[mc "Aborting"] \
+			[mc "files reset"]
+		fileevent $fd readable [namespace code [list \
+			_reset_wait $fd $status_bar_operation]]
 	} else {
 		unlock_index
 	}
 }
 
-proc _reset_wait {fd} {
+proc _reset_wait {fd status_bar_operation} {
 	global ui_comm
 
-	$::main_status update_meter [read $fd]
+	$status_bar_operation update_meter [read $fd]
 
 	fconfigure $fd -blocking 1
 	if {[eof $fd]} {
 		set fail [catch {close $fd} err]
-		$::main_status stop
 		unlock_index
+		$status_bar_operation stop
 
 		$ui_comm delete 0.0 end
 		$ui_comm edit modified false
diff --git a/lib/status_bar.tcl b/lib/status_bar.tcl
index 02111a1742..c4bff98856 100644
--- a/lib/status_bar.tcl
+++ b/lib/status_bar.tcl
@@ -1,16 +1,42 @@
 # git-gui status bar mega-widget
 # Copyright (C) 2007 Shawn Pearce
 
+# The status_bar class manages the entire status bar. It is possible for
+# multiple overlapping asynchronous operations to want to display status
+# simultaneously. Each one receives a status_bar_operation when it calls the
+# start method, and the status bar combines all active operations into the
+# line of text it displays. Most of the time, there will be at most one
+# ongoing operation.
+#
+# Note that the entire status bar can be either in single-line or two-line
+# mode, depending on the constructor. Multiple active operations are only
+# supported for single-line status bars.
+
 class status_bar {
 
+field allow_multiple ; # configured at construction
+
 field w         ; # our own window path
 field w_l       ; # text widget we draw messages into
 field w_c       ; # canvas we draw a progress bar into
 field c_pack    ; # script to pack the canvas with
-field status  {}; # single line of text we show
-field prefix  {}; # text we format into status
-field units   {}; # unit of progress
-field meter   {}; # current core git progress meter (if active)
+
+field baseline_text   ; # text to show if there are no operations
+field status_bar_text ; # combined text for all operations
+
+field operations ; # list of current ongoing operations
+
+# The status bar can display a progress bar, updated when consumers call the
+# update method on their status_bar_operation. When there are multiple
+# operations, the status bar shows the combined status of all operations.
+#
+# When an overlapping operation completes, the progress bar is going to
+# abruptly have one fewer operation in the calculation, causing a discontinuity.
+# Therefore, whenever an operation completes, if it is not the last operation,
+# this counter is increased, and the progress bar is calculated as though there
+# were still another operation at 100%. When the last operation completes, this
+# is reset to 0.
+field completed_operation_count
 
 constructor new {path} {
 	global use_ttk NS
@@ -18,12 +44,19 @@ constructor new {path} {
 	set w_l $w.l
 	set w_c $w.c
 
+	# Standard single-line status bar: Permit overlapping operations
+	set allow_multiple 1
+
+	set baseline_text ""
+	set operations [list]
+	set completed_operation_count 0
+
 	${NS}::frame $w
 	if {!$use_ttk} {
 		$w configure -borderwidth 1 -relief sunken
 	}
 	${NS}::label $w_l \
-		-textvariable @status \
+		-textvariable @status_bar_text \
 		-anchor w \
 		-justify left
 	pack $w_l -side left
@@ -44,9 +77,15 @@ constructor two_line {path} {
 	set w_l $w.l
 	set w_c $w.c
 
+	# Two-line status bar: Only one ongoing operation permitted.
+	set allow_multiple 0
+
+	set baseline_text ""
+	set operations [list]
+
 	${NS}::frame $w
 	${NS}::label $w_l \
-		-textvariable @status \
+		-textvariable @status_bar_text \
 		-anchor w \
 		-justify left
 	pack $w_l -anchor w -fill x
@@ -56,7 +95,7 @@ constructor two_line {path} {
 	return $this
 }
 
-method start {msg uds} {
+method ensure_canvas {} {
 	if {[winfo exists $w_c]} {
 		$w_c coords bar 0 0 0 20
 	} else {
@@ -68,31 +107,170 @@ method start {msg uds} {
 		$w_c create rectangle 0 0 0 20 -tags bar -fill navy
 		eval $c_pack
 	}
+}
+
+method show {msg} {
+	$this ensure_canvas
+	set baseline_text $msg
+	$this refresh
+}
+
+method start {msg uds} {
+	set baseline_text ""
+
+	if {!$allow_multiple && [llength $operations]} {
+		return [lindex $operations 0]
+	}
+
+	$this ensure_canvas
+
+	set operation [status_bar_operation::new $this $msg $uds]
+
+	lappend operations $operation
+
+	$this refresh
+
+	return $operation
+}
+
+method refresh {} {
+	set new_text ""
+
+	set total [expr $completed_operation_count * 100]
+	set have $total
+
+	foreach operation $operations {
+		if {$new_text != ""} {
+			append new_text " / "
+		}
+
+		append new_text [$operation get_status]
+
+		set total [expr $total + 100]
+		set have [expr $have + [$operation get_progress]]
+	}
+
+	if {$new_text == ""} {
+		set new_text $baseline_text
+	}
+
+	set status_bar_text $new_text
+
+	if {[winfo exists $w_c]} {
+		set pixel_width 0
+		if {$have > 0} {
+			set pixel_width [expr {[winfo width $w_c] * $have / $total}]
+		}
+
+		$w_c coords bar 0 0 $pixel_width 20
+	}
+}
+
+method stop {operation stop_msg} {
+	set idx [lsearch $operations $operation]
+
+	if {$idx >= 0} {
+		set operations [lreplace $operations $idx $idx]
+		set completed_operation_count [expr \
+			$completed_operation_count + 1]
+
+		if {[llength $operations] == 0} {
+			set completed_operation_count 0
+
+			destroy $w_c
+			if {$stop_msg ne {}} {
+				set baseline_text $stop_msg
+			}
+		}
+
+		$this refresh
+	}
+}
+
+method stop_all {{stop_msg {}}} {
+	# This makes the operation's call to stop a no-op.
+	set operations_copy $operations
+	set operations [list]
+
+	foreach operation $operations_copy {
+		$operation stop
+	}
+
+	if {$stop_msg ne {}} {
+		set baseline_text $stop_msg
+	}
+
+	$this refresh
+}
+
+method _delete {current} {
+	if {$current eq $w} {
+		delete_this
+	}
+}
+
+}
+
+# The status_bar_operation class tracks a single consumer's ongoing status bar
+# activity, with the context that there are a few situations where multiple
+# overlapping asynchronous operations might want to display status information
+# simultaneously. Instances of status_bar_operation are created by calling
+# start on the status_bar, and when the caller is done with its stauts bar
+# operation, it calls stop on the operation.
+
+class status_bar_operation {
+
+field status_bar; # reference back to the status_bar that owns this object
+
+field is_active;
+
+field status   {}; # single line of text we show
+field progress {}; # current progress (0 to 100)
+field prefix   {}; # text we format into status
+field units    {}; # unit of progress
+field meter    {}; # current core git progress meter (if active)
+
+constructor new {owner msg uds} {
+	set status_bar $owner
 
 	set status $msg
+	set progress 0
 	set prefix $msg
 	set units  $uds
 	set meter  {}
+
+	set is_active 1
+
+	return $this
 }
 
+method get_is_active {} { return $is_active }
+method get_status {} { return $status }
+method get_progress {} { return $progress }
+
 method update {have total} {
-	set pdone 0
-	set cdone 0
+	if {!$is_active} { return }
+
+	set progress 0
+
 	if {$total > 0} {
-		set pdone [expr {100 * $have / $total}]
-		set cdone [expr {[winfo width $w_c] * $have / $total}]
+		set progress [expr {100 * $have / $total}]
 	}
 
 	set prec [string length [format %i $total]]
+
 	set status [mc "%s ... %*i of %*i %s (%3i%%)" \
 		$prefix \
 		$prec $have \
 		$prec $total \
-		$units $pdone]
-	$w_c coords bar 0 0 $cdone 20
+		$units $progress]
+
+	$status_bar refresh
 }
 
 method update_meter {buf} {
+	if {!$is_active} { return }
+
 	append meter $buf
 	set r [string last "\r" $meter]
 	if {$r == -1} {
@@ -109,23 +287,23 @@ method update_meter {buf} {
 	}
 }
 
-method stop {{msg {}}} {
-	destroy $w_c
-	if {$msg ne {}} {
-		set status $msg
+method stop {{stop_msg {}}} {
+	if {$is_active} {
+		set is_active 0
+		$status_bar stop $this $stop_msg
 	}
 }
 
-method show {msg {test {}}} {
-	if {$test eq {} || $status eq $test} {
-		set status $msg
-	}
+method show {msg} {
+	if {!$is_active} { return }
+
+	set status $msg
+	$status_bar refresh
 }
 
-method _delete {current} {
-	if {$current eq $w} {
-		delete_this
-	}
+method _delete {} {
+	stop
+	delete_this
 }
 
 }
