diff --git a/src/config.rs b/src/config.rs
index af9ade09c..5858afe56 100644
--- a/src/config.rs
+++ b/src/config.rs
@@ -145,11 +145,11 @@ pub struct Config {
 impl Config {
     pub fn get_style(&self, state: &State) -> &Style {
         match state {
-            State::HunkMinus(_) => &self.minus_style,
-            State::HunkPlus(_) => &self.plus_style,
+            State::HunkMinus(_, _) => &self.minus_style,
+            State::HunkPlus(_, _) => &self.plus_style,
             State::CommitMeta => &self.commit_style,
-            State::DiffHeader => &self.file_style,
-            State::HunkHeader(_, _) => &self.hunk_header_style,
+            State::DiffHeader(_) => &self.file_style,
+            State::HunkHeader(_, _, _) => &self.hunk_header_style,
             State::SubmoduleLog => &self.file_style,
             _ => delta_unreachable("Unreachable code reached in get_style."),
         }
diff --git a/src/delta.rs b/src/delta.rs
index bbbce5198..3f1a79d4c 100644
--- a/src/delta.rs
+++ b/src/delta.rs
@@ -14,17 +14,17 @@ use crate::style::DecorationStyle;
 
 #[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq)]
 pub enum State {
-    CommitMeta,                    // In commit metadata section
-    DiffHeader, // In diff header section, between (possible) commit metadata and first hunk
-    HunkHeader(String, String), // In hunk metadata line (line, raw_line)
-    HunkZero,   // In hunk; unchanged line
-    HunkMinus(Option<String>), // In hunk; removed line (raw_line)
-    HunkPlus(Option<String>), // In hunk; added line (raw_line)
-    SubmoduleLog, // In a submodule section, with gitconfig diff.submodule = log
+    CommitMeta,                                // In commit metadata section
+    DiffHeader(DiffType), // In diff metadata section, between (possible) commit metadata and first hunk
+    HunkHeader(DiffType, String, String), // In hunk metadata line (line, raw_line)
+    HunkZero(Option<String>), // In hunk; unchanged line (prefix)
+    HunkMinus(Option<String>, Option<String>), // In hunk; removed line (prefix, raw_line)
+    HunkPlus(Option<String>, Option<String>), // In hunk; added line (prefix, raw_line)
+    SubmoduleLog,         // In a submodule section, with gitconfig diff.submodule = log
     SubmoduleShort(String), // In a submodule section, with gitconfig diff.submodule = short
     Blame(String, Option<String>), // In a line of `git blame` output (commit, repeat_blame_line).
-    GitShowFile, // In a line of `git show $revision:./path/to/file.ext` output
-    Grep,       // In a line of `git grep` output
+    GitShowFile,          // In a line of `git show $revision:./path/to/file.ext` output
+    Grep,                 // In a line of `git grep` output
     Unknown,
     // The following elements are created when a line is wrapped to display it:
     HunkZeroWrapped,  // Wrapped unchanged line
@@ -32,6 +32,12 @@ pub enum State {
     HunkPlusWrapped,  // Wrapped added line
 }
 
+#[derive(Clone, Debug, PartialEq)]
+pub enum DiffType {
+    Unified,
+    Combined(usize), // number of parent commits: https://git-scm.com/docs/git-diff#_combined_diff_format
+}
+
 #[derive(Debug, PartialEq)]
 pub enum Source {
     GitDiff,     // Coming from a `git diff` command
@@ -171,7 +177,9 @@ impl<'a> StateMachine<'a> {
 
     /// Skip file metadata lines unless a raw diff style has been requested.
     pub fn should_skip_line(&self) -> bool {
-        self.state == State::DiffHeader && self.should_handle() && !self.config.color_only
+        matches!(self.state, State::DiffHeader(_))
+            && self.should_handle()
+            && !self.config.color_only
     }
 
     /// Emit unchanged any line that delta does not handle.
@@ -211,7 +219,11 @@ pub fn format_raw_line<'a>(line: &'a str, config: &Config) -> Cow<'a, str> {
 /// * git diff
 /// * diff -u
 fn detect_source(line: &str) -> Source {
-    if line.starts_with("commit ") || line.starts_with("diff --git ") {
+    if line.starts_with("commit ")
+        || line.starts_with("diff --git ")
+        || line.starts_with("diff --cc ")
+        || line.starts_with("diff --combined ")
+    {
         Source::GitDiff
     } else if line.starts_with("diff -u")
         || line.starts_with("diff -ru")
diff --git a/src/features/line_numbers.rs b/src/features/line_numbers.rs
index 0d366f8ae..59218f75c 100644
--- a/src/features/line_numbers.rs
+++ b/src/features/line_numbers.rs
@@ -76,18 +76,18 @@ pub fn linenumbers_and_styles<'a>(
         config.line_numbers_style_minusplus[Plus],
     );
     let ((minus_number, plus_number), (minus_style, plus_style)) = match state {
-        State::HunkMinus(_) => {
+        State::HunkMinus(_, _) => {
             line_numbers_data.line_number[Left] += increment as usize;
             ((Some(nr_left), None), (minus_style, plus_style))
         }
         State::HunkMinusWrapped => ((None, None), (minus_style, plus_style)),
-        State::HunkZero => {
+        State::HunkZero(_) => {
             line_numbers_data.line_number[Left] += increment as usize;
             line_numbers_data.line_number[Right] += increment as usize;
             ((Some(nr_left), Some(nr_right)), (zero_style, zero_style))
         }
         State::HunkZeroWrapped => ((None, None), (zero_style, zero_style)),
-        State::HunkPlus(_) => {
+        State::HunkPlus(_, _) => {
             line_numbers_data.line_number[Right] += increment as usize;
             ((None, Some(nr_right)), (minus_style, plus_style))
         }
diff --git a/src/features/side_by_side.rs b/src/features/side_by_side.rs
index f4960d762..85b066cba 100644
--- a/src/features/side_by_side.rs
+++ b/src/features/side_by_side.rs
@@ -180,7 +180,7 @@ pub fn paint_minus_and_plus_lines_side_by_side(
             &lines_have_homolog[Left],
             match minus_line_index {
                 Some(i) => &line_states[Left][i],
-                None => &State::HunkMinus(None),
+                None => &State::HunkMinus(None, None),
             },
             &mut Some(line_numbers_data),
             bg_should_fill[Left],
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@ pub fn paint_minus_and_plus_lines_side_by_side(
             &lines_have_homolog[Right],
             match plus_line_index {
                 Some(i) => &line_states[Right][i],
-                None => &State::HunkPlus(None),
+                None => &State::HunkPlus(None, None),
             },
             &mut Some(line_numbers_data),
             bg_should_fill[Right],
@@ -222,7 +222,7 @@ pub fn paint_zero_lines_side_by_side<'a>(
     painted_prefix: Option<ansi_term::ANSIString>,
     background_color_extends_to_terminal_width: BgShouldFill,
 ) {
-    let states = vec![State::HunkZero];
+    let states = vec![State::HunkZero(None)];
 
     let (states, syntax_style_sections, diff_style_sections) = wrap_zero_block(
         config,
@@ -418,8 +418,8 @@ fn paint_minus_or_plus_panel_line<'a>(
             )
         } else {
             let opposite_state = match state {
-                State::HunkMinus(x) => State::HunkPlus(x.clone()),
-                State::HunkPlus(x) => State::HunkMinus(x.clone()),
+                State::HunkMinus(_, s) => State::HunkPlus(None, s.clone()),
+                State::HunkPlus(_, s) => State::HunkMinus(None, s.clone()),
                 _ => unreachable!(),
             };
             (
@@ -470,17 +470,17 @@ fn pad_panel_line_to_width<'a>(
     // to form the other half of the line, then don't emit the empty line marker.
     if panel_line_is_empty && line_index.is_some() {
         match state {
-            State::HunkMinus(_) => Painter::mark_empty_line(
+            State::HunkMinus(_, _) => Painter::mark_empty_line(
                 &config.minus_empty_line_marker_style,
                 panel_line,
                 Some(" "),
             ),
-            State::HunkPlus(_) => Painter::mark_empty_line(
+            State::HunkPlus(_, _) => Painter::mark_empty_line(
                 &config.plus_empty_line_marker_style,
                 panel_line,
                 Some(" "),
             ),
-            State::HunkZero => {}
+            State::HunkZero(_) => {}
             _ => unreachable!(),
         };
     };
diff --git a/src/handlers/diff_header.rs b/src/handlers/diff_header.rs
index e28887976..1a7033932 100644
--- a/src/handlers/diff_header.rs
+++ b/src/handlers/diff_header.rs
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ use unicode_segmentation::UnicodeSegmentation;
 
 use super::draw;
 use crate::config::Config;
-use crate::delta::{Source, State, StateMachine};
+use crate::delta::{DiffType, Source, State, StateMachine};
 use crate::features;
 use crate::paint::Painter;
 
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ pub enum FileEvent {
 impl<'a> StateMachine<'a> {
     #[inline]
     fn test_diff_header_minus_line(&self) -> bool {
-        (self.state == State::DiffHeader || self.source == Source::DiffUnified)
+        (matches!(self.state, State::DiffHeader(_)) || self.source == Source::DiffUnified)
             && (self.line.starts_with("--- ")
                 || self.line.starts_with("rename from ")
                 || self.line.starts_with("copy from ")
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ impl<'a> StateMachine<'a> {
         self.minus_file_event = file_event;
 
         if self.source == Source::DiffUnified {
-            self.state = State::DiffHeader;
+            self.state = State::DiffHeader(DiffType::Unified);
             self.painter
                 .set_syntax(get_file_extension_from_marker_line(&self.line));
         } else {
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ impl<'a> StateMachine<'a> {
 
     #[inline]
     fn test_diff_header_plus_line(&self) -> bool {
-        (self.state == State::DiffHeader || self.source == Source::DiffUnified)
+        (matches!(self.state, State::DiffHeader(_)) || self.source == Source::DiffUnified)
             && (self.line.starts_with("+++ ")
                 || self.line.starts_with("rename to ")
                 || self.line.starts_with("copy to ")
diff --git a/src/handlers/diff_header_diff.rs b/src/handlers/diff_header_diff.rs
index 78ec2a98c..869e40ef1 100644
--- a/src/handlers/diff_header_diff.rs
+++ b/src/handlers/diff_header_diff.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-use crate::delta::{State, StateMachine};
+use crate::delta::{DiffType, State, StateMachine};
 
 impl<'a> StateMachine<'a> {
     #[inline]
@@ -12,7 +12,12 @@ impl<'a> StateMachine<'a> {
             return Ok(false);
         }
         self.painter.paint_buffered_minus_and_plus_lines();
-        self.state = State::DiffHeader;
+        self.state =
+            if self.line.starts_with("diff --cc ") || self.line.starts_with("diff --combined ") {
+                State::DiffHeader(DiffType::Combined(2)) // We will confirm the number of parents when we see the hunk header
+            } else {
+                State::DiffHeader(DiffType::Unified)
+            };
         self.handled_diff_header_header_line_file_pair = None;
         self.diff_line = self.line.clone();
         if !self.should_skip_line() {
diff --git a/src/handlers/diff_header_misc.rs b/src/handlers/diff_header_misc.rs
index f112d46b9..eb0833def 100644
--- a/src/handlers/diff_header_misc.rs
+++ b/src/handlers/diff_header_misc.rs
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-use crate::delta::{Source, State, StateMachine};
+use crate::delta::{DiffType, Source, State, StateMachine};
 
 impl<'a> StateMachine<'a> {
     #[inline]
@@ -11,6 +11,9 @@ impl<'a> StateMachine<'a> {
         if !self.test_diff_header_misc_cases() {
             return Ok(false);
         }
-        self.handle_additional_cases(State::DiffHeader)
+        self.handle_additional_cases(match self.state {
+            State::DiffHeader(_) => self.state.clone(),
+            _ => State::DiffHeader(DiffType::Unified),
+        })
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/handlers/hunk.rs b/src/handlers/hunk.rs
index 75e0bb6fd..93ac70ca6 100644
--- a/src/handlers/hunk.rs
+++ b/src/handlers/hunk.rs
@@ -1,7 +1,10 @@
+use std::cmp::min;
+
 use lazy_static::lazy_static;
 
 use crate::cli;
-use crate::delta::{State, StateMachine};
+use crate::config::delta_unreachable;
+use crate::delta::{DiffType, State, StateMachine};
 use crate::style;
 use crate::utils::process::{self, CallingProcess};
 use unicode_segmentation::UnicodeSegmentation;
@@ -26,7 +29,10 @@ impl<'a> StateMachine<'a> {
     fn test_hunk_line(&self) -> bool {
         matches!(
             self.state,
-            State::HunkHeader(_, _) | State::HunkZero | State::HunkMinus(_) | State::HunkPlus(_)
+            State::HunkHeader(_, _, _)
+                | State::HunkZero(_)
+                | State::HunkMinus(_, _)
+                | State::HunkPlus(_, _)
         ) && !&*IS_WORD_DIFF
     }
 
@@ -37,6 +43,7 @@ impl<'a> StateMachine<'a> {
     // highlighting according to inferred edit operations. In the case of
     // an unchanged line, we paint it immediately.
     pub fn handle_hunk_line(&mut self) -> std::io::Result<bool> {
+        use State::*;
         // A true hunk line should start with one of: '+', '-', ' '. However, handle_hunk_line
         // handles all lines until the state transitions away from the hunk states.
         if !self.test_hunk_line() {
@@ -50,16 +57,17 @@ impl<'a> StateMachine<'a> {
         {
             self.painter.paint_buffered_minus_and_plus_lines();
         }
-        if let State::HunkHeader(line, raw_line) = &self.state.clone() {
+        if let State::HunkHeader(_, line, raw_line) = &self.state.clone() {
             self.emit_hunk_header_line(line, raw_line)?;
         }
-        self.state = match self.line.chars().next() {
-            Some('-') => {
-                if let State::HunkPlus(_) = self.state {
+        self.state = match new_line_state(&self.line, &self.state) {
+            Some(HunkMinus(prefix, _)) => {
+                if let HunkPlus(_, _) = self.state {
                     // We have just entered a new subhunk; process the previous one
                     // and flush the line buffers.
                     self.painter.paint_buffered_minus_and_plus_lines();
                 }
+                let line = self.painter.prepare(&self.line, prefix.as_deref());
                 let state = match self.config.inspect_raw_lines {
                     cli::InspectRawLines::True
                         if style::line_has_style_other_than(
@@ -67,16 +75,18 @@ impl<'a> StateMachine<'a> {
                             [*style::GIT_DEFAULT_MINUS_STYLE, self.config.git_minus_style].iter(),
                         ) =>
                     {
-                        State::HunkMinus(Some(self.painter.prepare_raw_line(&self.raw_line)))
+                        let raw_line = self
+                            .painter
+                            .prepare_raw_line(&self.raw_line, prefix.as_deref());
+                        HunkMinus(prefix, Some(raw_line))
                     }
-                    _ => State::HunkMinus(None),
+                    _ => HunkMinus(prefix, None),
                 };
-                self.painter
-                    .minus_lines
-                    .push((self.painter.prepare(&self.line), state.clone()));
+                self.painter.minus_lines.push((line, state.clone()));
                 state
             }
-            Some('+') => {
+            Some(HunkPlus(prefix, _)) => {
+                let line = self.painter.prepare(&self.line, prefix.as_deref());
                 let state = match self.config.inspect_raw_lines {
                     cli::InspectRawLines::True
                         if style::line_has_style_other_than(
@@ -84,37 +94,70 @@ impl<'a> StateMachine<'a> {
                             [*style::GIT_DEFAULT_PLUS_STYLE, self.config.git_plus_style].iter(),
                         ) =>
                     {
-                        State::HunkPlus(Some(self.painter.prepare_raw_line(&self.raw_line)))
+                        let raw_line = self
+                            .painter
+                            .prepare_raw_line(&self.raw_line, prefix.as_deref());
+                        HunkPlus(prefix, Some(raw_line))
                     }
-                    _ => State::HunkPlus(None),
+                    _ => HunkPlus(prefix, None),
                 };
-                self.painter
-                    .plus_lines
-                    .push((self.painter.prepare(&self.line), state.clone()));
+                self.painter.plus_lines.push((line, state.clone()));
                 state
             }
-            Some(' ') => {
+            Some(HunkZero(prefix)) => {
+                // We are in a zero (unchanged) line, therefore we have just exited a subhunk (a
+                // sequence of consecutive minus (removed) and/or plus (added) lines). Process that
+                // subhunk and flush the line buffers.
                 self.painter.paint_buffered_minus_and_plus_lines();
-                self.painter.paint_zero_line(&self.line);
-                State::HunkZero
+                self.painter.paint_zero_line(&self.line, prefix.clone());
+                HunkZero(prefix)
             }
             _ => {
                 // The first character here could be e.g. '\' from '\ No newline at end of file'. This
                 // is not a hunk line, but the parser does not have a more accurate state corresponding
                 // to this.
-
-                // We are in a zero (unchanged) line, therefore we have just exited a subhunk (a
-                // sequence of consecutive minus (removed) and/or plus (added) lines). Process that
-                // subhunk and flush the line buffers.
                 self.painter.paint_buffered_minus_and_plus_lines();
                 self.painter
                     .output_buffer
                     .push_str(&self.painter.expand_tabs(self.raw_line.graphemes(true)));
                 self.painter.output_buffer.push('\n');
-                State::HunkZero
+                State::HunkZero(None)
             }
         };
         self.painter.emit()?;
         Ok(true)
     }
 }
+
+fn new_line_state(new_line: &str, prev_state: &State) -> Option<State> {
+    use State::*;
+    let diff_type = match prev_state {
+        HunkMinus(None, _) | HunkZero(None) | HunkPlus(None, _) => DiffType::Unified,
+        HunkHeader(diff_type, _, _) => diff_type.clone(),
+        HunkMinus(Some(prefix), _) | HunkZero(Some(prefix)) | HunkPlus(Some(prefix), _) => {
+            DiffType::Combined(prefix.len())
+        }
+        _ => delta_unreachable(&format!("diff_type: unexpected state: {:?}", prev_state)),
+    };
+
+    let (prefix_char, prefix) = match diff_type {
+        DiffType::Unified => (new_line.chars().next(), None),
+        DiffType::Combined(n_parents) => {
+            let prefix = &new_line[..min(n_parents, new_line.len())];
+            let prefix_char = match prefix.chars().find(|c| c == &'-' || c == &'+') {
+                Some(c) => Some(c),
+                None => match prefix.chars().find(|c| c != &' ') {
+                    None => Some(' '),
+                    Some(_) => None,
+                },
+            };
+            (prefix_char, Some(prefix.to_string()))
+        }
+    };
+    match prefix_char {
+        Some('-') => Some(HunkMinus(prefix, None)),
+        Some(' ') => Some(HunkZero(prefix)),
+        Some('+') => Some(HunkPlus(prefix, None)),
+        _ => None,
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/handlers/hunk_header.rs b/src/handlers/hunk_header.rs
index dd851509d..39c223d60 100644
--- a/src/handlers/hunk_header.rs
+++ b/src/handlers/hunk_header.rs
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ use regex::Regex;
 
 use super::draw;
 use crate::config::Config;
-use crate::delta::{self, State, StateMachine};
+use crate::delta::{self, DiffType, State, StateMachine};
 use crate::paint::{self, BgShouldFill, Painter, StyleSectionSpecifier};
 use crate::style::DecorationStyle;
 
@@ -40,7 +40,15 @@ impl<'a> StateMachine<'a> {
         if !self.test_hunk_header_line() {
             return Ok(false);
         }
-        self.state = State::HunkHeader(self.line.clone(), self.raw_line.clone());
+        let diff_type = match &self.state {
+            State::DiffHeader(DiffType::Combined(_)) => {
+                // https://git-scm.com/docs/git-diff#_combined_diff_format
+                let n_parents = self.line.chars().take_while(|c| c == &'@').count() - 1;
+                DiffType::Combined(n_parents)
+            }
+            _ => DiffType::Unified,
+        };
+        self.state = State::HunkHeader(diff_type, self.line.clone(), self.raw_line.clone());
         Ok(true)
     }
 
@@ -251,7 +259,7 @@ fn write_to_output_buffer(
         painter.syntax_highlight_and_paint_line(
             &line,
             StyleSectionSpecifier::Style(config.hunk_header_style),
-            delta::State::HunkHeader("".to_owned(), "".to_owned()),
+            delta::State::HunkHeader(DiffType::Unified, "".to_owned(), "".to_owned()),
             BgShouldFill::No,
         );
         painter.output_buffer.pop(); // trim newline
diff --git a/src/handlers/submodule.rs b/src/handlers/submodule.rs
index 4350c561a..04e273e92 100644
--- a/src/handlers/submodule.rs
+++ b/src/handlers/submodule.rs
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ impl<'a> StateMachine<'a> {
 
     #[inline]
     fn test_submodule_short_line(&self) -> bool {
-        matches!(self.state, State::HunkHeader(_, _))
+        matches!(self.state, State::HunkHeader(_, _, _))
             && self.line.starts_with("-Subproject commit ")
             || matches!(self.state, State::SubmoduleShort(_))
                 && self.line.starts_with("+Subproject commit ")
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ impl<'a> StateMachine<'a> {
             return Ok(false);
         }
         if let Some(commit) = get_submodule_short_commit(&self.line) {
-            if let State::HunkHeader(_, _) = self.state {
+            if let State::HunkHeader(_, _, _) = self.state {
                 self.state = State::SubmoduleShort(commit.to_owned());
             } else if let State::SubmoduleShort(minus_commit) = &self.state {
                 self.painter.emit()?;
diff --git a/src/paint.rs b/src/paint.rs
index 5821ee927..0ef92dbdc 100644
--- a/src/paint.rs
+++ b/src/paint.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 use std::collections::HashMap;
 use std::io::Write;
 
+use ansi_term::ANSIString;
 use itertools::Itertools;
 use syntect::easy::HighlightLines;
 use syntect::highlighting::Style as SyntectStyle;
@@ -122,26 +123,33 @@ impl<'p> Painter<'p> {
     // Terminating with newline character is necessary for many of the sublime syntax definitions to
     // highlight correctly.
     // See https://docs.rs/syntect/3.2.0/syntect/parsing/struct.SyntaxSetBuilder.html#method.add_from_folder
-    pub fn prepare(&self, line: &str) -> String {
+    pub fn prepare(&self, line: &str, prefix: Option<&str>) -> String {
         if !line.is_empty() {
             let mut line = line.graphemes(true);
 
-            // The first column contains a -/+/space character, added by git. We remove it now so that
-            // it is not present during syntax highlighting or wrapping. If --keep-plus-minus-markers is
-            // in effect this character is re-inserted in Painter::paint_line.
-            line.next();
+            // The initial columns contain -/+/space characters, added by git. Remove them now so
+            // they are not present during syntax highlighting or wrapping. If
+            // --keep-plus-minus-markers is in effect this prefix is re-inserted in
+            // Painter::paint_line.
+            let prefix_length = prefix.map(|s| s.len()).unwrap_or(1);
+            for _ in 0..prefix_length {
+                line.next();
+            }
             format!("{}\n", self.expand_tabs(line))
         } else {
             "\n".to_string()
         }
     }
 
-    // Remove initial -/+ character, expand tabs as spaces, retaining ANSI sequences. Terminate with
+    // Remove initial -/+ characters, expand tabs as spaces, retaining ANSI sequences. Terminate with
     // newline character.
-    pub fn prepare_raw_line(&self, raw_line: &str) -> String {
+    pub fn prepare_raw_line(&self, raw_line: &str, prefix: Option<&str>) -> String {
         format!(
             "{}\n",
-            ansi::ansi_preserving_slice(&self.expand_tabs(raw_line.graphemes(true)), 1),
+            ansi::ansi_preserving_slice(
+                &self.expand_tabs(raw_line.graphemes(true)),
+                prefix.map(|s| s.len()).unwrap_or(1)
+            ),
         )
     }
 
@@ -207,11 +215,6 @@ impl<'p> Painter<'p> {
                     &mut self.output_buffer,
                     self.config,
                     &mut self.line_numbers_data.as_mut(),
-                    if self.config.keep_plus_minus_markers {
-                        Some(self.config.minus_style.paint("-"))
-                    } else {
-                        None
-                    },
                     Some(self.config.minus_empty_line_marker_style),
                     BgShouldFill::default(),
                 );
@@ -225,11 +228,6 @@ impl<'p> Painter<'p> {
                     &mut self.output_buffer,
                     self.config,
                     &mut self.line_numbers_data.as_mut(),
-                    if self.config.keep_plus_minus_markers {
-                        Some(self.config.plus_style.paint("+"))
-                    } else {
-                        None
-                    },
                     Some(self.config.plus_empty_line_marker_style),
                     BgShouldFill::default(),
                 );
@@ -239,16 +237,10 @@ impl<'p> Painter<'p> {
         self.plus_lines.clear();
     }
 
-    pub fn paint_zero_line(&mut self, line: &str) {
-        let state = State::HunkZero;
-        let painted_prefix = if self.config.keep_plus_minus_markers && !line.is_empty() {
-            // A zero line here still contains the " " prefix, so use it.
-            Some(self.config.zero_style.paint(&line[..1]))
-        } else {
-            None
-        };
-
-        let lines = vec![(self.prepare(line), state)];
+    pub fn paint_zero_line(&mut self, line: &str, prefix: Option<String>) {
+        let line = self.prepare(line, prefix.as_deref());
+        let state = State::HunkZero(prefix);
+        let lines = vec![(line, state.clone())];
         let syntax_style_sections = Painter::get_syntax_style_sections_for_lines(
             &lines,
             self.highlighter.as_mut(),
@@ -265,7 +257,7 @@ impl<'p> Painter<'p> {
                 &mut self.output_buffer,
                 self.config,
                 &mut self.line_numbers_data.as_mut(),
-                painted_prefix,
+                painted_prefix(state, self.config),
                 BgShouldFill::With(BgFillMethod::Spaces),
             );
         } else {
@@ -277,7 +269,6 @@ impl<'p> Painter<'p> {
                 &mut self.output_buffer,
                 self.config,
                 &mut self.line_numbers_data.as_mut(),
-                painted_prefix,
                 None,
                 BgShouldFill::With(BgFillMethod::Spaces),
             );
@@ -295,7 +286,6 @@ impl<'p> Painter<'p> {
         output_buffer: &mut String,
         config: &config::Config,
         line_numbers_data: &mut Option<&mut line_numbers::LineNumbersData>,
-        painted_prefix: Option<ansi_term::ANSIString>,
         empty_line_style: Option<Style>, // a style with background color to highlight an empty line
         background_color_extends_to_terminal_width: BgShouldFill,
     ) {
@@ -318,7 +308,7 @@ impl<'p> Painter<'p> {
                 state,
                 line_numbers_data,
                 None,
-                painted_prefix.clone(),
+                painted_prefix(state.clone(), config),
                 config,
             );
             let (bg_fill_mode, fill_style) =
@@ -384,7 +374,6 @@ impl<'p> Painter<'p> {
             self.config,
             &mut None,
             None,
-            None,
             background_color_extends_to_terminal_width,
         );
     }
@@ -399,22 +388,22 @@ impl<'p> Painter<'p> {
         config: &config::Config,
     ) -> (Option<BgFillMethod>, Style) {
         let fill_style = match state {
-            State::HunkMinus(None) | State::HunkMinusWrapped => {
+            State::HunkMinus(_, None) | State::HunkMinusWrapped => {
                 if let Some(true) = line_has_homolog {
                     config.minus_non_emph_style
                 } else {
                     config.minus_style
                 }
             }
-            State::HunkZero | State::HunkZeroWrapped => config.zero_style,
-            State::HunkPlus(None) | State::HunkPlusWrapped => {
+            State::HunkZero(_) | State::HunkZeroWrapped => config.zero_style,
+            State::HunkPlus(_, None) | State::HunkPlusWrapped => {
                 if let Some(true) = line_has_homolog {
                     config.plus_non_emph_style
                 } else {
                     config.plus_style
                 }
             }
-            State::HunkMinus(Some(_)) | State::HunkPlus(Some(_)) => {
+            State::HunkMinus(_, Some(_)) | State::HunkPlus(_, Some(_)) => {
                 // Consider the following raw line, from git colorMoved:
                 // ␛[1;36m+␛[m␛[1;36mclass·X:·pass␛[m␊ The last style section returned by
                 // parse_style_sections will be a default style associated with the terminal newline
@@ -480,7 +469,7 @@ impl<'p> Painter<'p> {
         state: &State,
         line_numbers_data: &mut Option<&mut line_numbers::LineNumbersData>,
         side_by_side_panel: Option<PanelSide>,
-        painted_prefix: Option<ansi_term::ANSIString>,
+        mut painted_prefix: Option<ansi_term::ANSIString>,
         config: &config::Config,
     ) -> (String, bool) {
         let mut ansi_strings = Vec::new();
@@ -517,8 +506,8 @@ impl<'p> Painter<'p> {
         for (section_style, text) in &superimposed {
             // If requested re-insert the +/- prefix with proper styling.
             if !handled_prefix {
-                if let Some(ref painted_prefix) = painted_prefix {
-                    ansi_strings.push(painted_prefix.clone());
+                if let Some(painted_prefix) = painted_prefix.take() {
+                    ansi_strings.push(painted_prefix)
                 }
             }
 
@@ -545,19 +534,19 @@ impl<'p> Painter<'p> {
             return false;
         }
         match state {
-            State::HunkMinus(None) => {
+            State::HunkMinus(_, None) => {
                 config.minus_style.is_syntax_highlighted
                     || config.minus_emph_style.is_syntax_highlighted
                     || config.minus_non_emph_style.is_syntax_highlighted
             }
-            State::HunkZero => config.zero_style.is_syntax_highlighted,
-            State::HunkPlus(None) => {
+            State::HunkZero(_) => config.zero_style.is_syntax_highlighted,
+            State::HunkPlus(_, None) => {
                 config.plus_style.is_syntax_highlighted
                     || config.plus_emph_style.is_syntax_highlighted
                     || config.plus_non_emph_style.is_syntax_highlighted
             }
-            State::HunkHeader(_, _) => true,
-            State::HunkMinus(Some(_raw_line)) | State::HunkPlus(Some(_raw_line)) => {
+            State::HunkHeader(_, _, _) => true,
+            State::HunkMinus(_, Some(_raw_line)) | State::HunkPlus(_, Some(_raw_line)) => {
                 // It is possible that the captured raw line contains an ANSI
                 // style that has been mapped (via map-styles) to a delta Style
                 // with syntax-highlighting.
@@ -568,7 +557,7 @@ impl<'p> Painter<'p> {
             State::Grep => true,
             State::Unknown
             | State::CommitMeta
-            | State::DiffHeader
+            | State::DiffHeader(_)
             | State::HunkMinusWrapped
             | State::HunkZeroWrapped
             | State::HunkPlusWrapped
@@ -701,7 +690,8 @@ impl<'p> Painter<'p> {
             .zip_eq(lines_style_sections)
             .zip_eq(lines_have_homolog)
         {
-            if let State::HunkMinus(Some(raw_line)) | State::HunkPlus(Some(raw_line)) = state {
+            if let State::HunkMinus(_, Some(raw_line)) | State::HunkPlus(_, Some(raw_line)) = state
+            {
                 // raw_line is captured in handle_hunk_line under certain conditions. If we have
                 // done so, then overwrite the style sections with styles parsed directly from the
                 // raw line. Currently the only reason this is done is to handle a diff.colorMoved
@@ -733,6 +723,23 @@ impl<'p> Painter<'p> {
     }
 }
 
+fn painted_prefix(state: State, config: &config::Config) -> Option<ANSIString> {
+    match (state, config.keep_plus_minus_markers) {
+        // If there is Some(prefix) then this is a combined diff. In this case we do not honor
+        // keep_plus_minus_markers -- i.e. always emit the prefix -- because there is currently no
+        // way to distinguish, say, a '+ ' line from a ' +' line, by styles alone.
+        (State::HunkMinus(Some(prefix), _), _) => Some(config.minus_style.paint(prefix)),
+        (State::HunkZero(Some(prefix)), _) => Some(config.zero_style.paint(prefix)),
+        (State::HunkPlus(Some(prefix), _), _) => Some(config.plus_style.paint(prefix)),
+        // But if there is no prefix we honor keep_plus_minus_markers.
+        (_, false) => None,
+        (State::HunkMinus(None, _), true) => Some(config.minus_style.paint("-".to_string())),
+        (State::HunkZero(None), true) => Some(config.zero_style.paint(" ".to_string())),
+        (State::HunkPlus(None, _), true) => Some(config.plus_style.paint("+".to_string())),
+        _ => None,
+    }
+}
+
 // Parse ANSI styles encountered in `raw_line` and apply `styles_map`.
 pub fn parse_style_sections<'a>(
     raw_line: &'a str,
diff --git a/src/subcommands/show_colors.rs b/src/subcommands/show_colors.rs
index fd1943771..45a701567 100644
--- a/src/subcommands/show_colors.rs
+++ b/src/subcommands/show_colors.rs
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ pub fn show_colors() -> std::io::Result<()> {
                 painter.syntax_highlight_and_paint_line(
                     line,
                     paint::StyleSectionSpecifier::Style(style),
-                    delta::State::HunkZero,
+                    delta::State::HunkZero(None),
                     BgShouldFill::default(),
                 )
             }
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ pub fn show_colors() -> std::io::Result<()> {
                 painter.syntax_highlight_and_paint_line(
                     line,
                     paint::StyleSectionSpecifier::Style(style),
-                    delta::State::HunkZero,
+                    delta::State::HunkZero(None),
                     BgShouldFill::default(),
                 )
             }
diff --git a/src/tests/ansi_test_utils.rs b/src/tests/ansi_test_utils.rs
index 04555b51b..552088cff 100644
--- a/src/tests/ansi_test_utils.rs
+++ b/src/tests/ansi_test_utils.rs
@@ -136,12 +136,6 @@ pub mod ansi_test_utils {
             config,
         );
         let diff_style_sections = vec![vec![(syntax_highlighted_style, lines[0].0.as_str())]];
-        let prefix = match (&state, config.keep_plus_minus_markers) {
-            (State::HunkMinus(_), true) => "-",
-            (State::HunkZero, true) => " ",
-            (State::HunkPlus(_), true) => "+",
-            _ => "",
-        };
         paint::Painter::paint_lines(
             &lines,
             &syntax_style_sections,
@@ -150,7 +144,6 @@ pub mod ansi_test_utils {
             &mut output_buffer,
             config,
             &mut None,
-            Some(config.null_style.paint(prefix)),
             None,
             paint::BgShouldFill::default(),
         );
diff --git a/src/tests/test_example_diffs.rs b/src/tests/test_example_diffs.rs
index 6e2a94ec3..a7a0c347b 100644
--- a/src/tests/test_example_diffs.rs
+++ b/src/tests/test_example_diffs.rs
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 mod tests {
     use crate::ansi::{self, strip_ansi_codes};
     use crate::cli::InspectRawLines;
-    use crate::delta::State;
+    use crate::delta::{DiffType, State};
     use crate::style;
     use crate::tests::ansi_test_utils::ansi_test_utils;
     use crate::tests::integration_test_utils;
@@ -1384,7 +1384,7 @@ src/align.rs:71: impl<'a> Alignment<'a> { │
             4,
             "impl<'a> Alignment<'a> { ",
             "rs",
-            State::HunkHeader("".to_owned(), "".to_owned()),
+            State::HunkHeader(DiffType::Unified, "".to_owned(), "".to_owned()),
             &config,
         );
         ansi_test_utils::assert_line_has_no_color(&output, 12, "─────────────────────────────┘");
@@ -1539,7 +1539,7 @@ src/align.rs:71: impl<'a> Alignment<'a> { │
             1,
             "        for (i, x_i) in self.x.iter().enumerate() {",
             "rs",
-            State::HunkZero,
+            State::HunkZero(None),
             &config,
         );
     }
diff --git a/src/wrapping.rs b/src/wrapping.rs
index 119aef386..7d198aee9 100644
--- a/src/wrapping.rs
+++ b/src/wrapping.rs
@@ -449,13 +449,13 @@ pub fn wrap_minusplus_block<'c: 'a, 'a>(
         };
 
         if minus_extended > 0 {
-            new_states[Left].push(State::HunkMinus(None));
+            new_states[Left].push(State::HunkMinus(None, None));
             for _ in 1..minus_extended {
                 new_states[Left].push(State::HunkMinusWrapped);
             }
         }
         if plus_extended > 0 {
-            new_states[Right].push(State::HunkPlus(None));
+            new_states[Right].push(State::HunkPlus(None, None));
             for _ in 1..plus_extended {
                 new_states[Right].push(State::HunkPlusWrapped);
             }