diff --git a/builtin/commit.c b/builtin/commit.c
index 06ef99e215b4d3..59064d2178f207 100644
--- a/builtin/commit.c
+++ b/builtin/commit.c
@@ -163,6 +163,7 @@ static int opt_parse_porcelain(const struct option *opt, const char *arg, int un
 static int do_serialize = 0;
 static char *serialize_path = NULL;
 
+static int reject_implicit = 0;
 static int do_implicit_deserialize = 0;
 static int do_explicit_deserialize = 0;
 static char *deserialize_path = NULL;
@@ -226,7 +227,7 @@ static int opt_parse_deserialize(const struct option *opt, const char *arg, int
 		}
 		if (!deserialize_path || !*deserialize_path)
 			do_explicit_deserialize = 1; /* read stdin */
-		else if (access(deserialize_path, R_OK) == 0)
+		else if (wt_status_deserialize_access(deserialize_path, R_OK) == 0)
 			do_explicit_deserialize = 1; /* can read from this file */
 		else {
 			/*
@@ -1564,6 +1565,8 @@ static int git_status_config(const char *k, const char *v, void *cb)
 		if (v && *v && access(v, R_OK) == 0) {
 			do_implicit_deserialize = 1;
 			deserialize_path = xstrdup(v);
+		} else {
+			reject_implicit = 1;
 		}
 		return 0;
 	}
@@ -1718,6 +1721,17 @@ int cmd_status(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 
 	if (try_deserialize)
 		goto skip_init;
+	/*
+	 * If we implicitly received a status cache pathname from the config
+	 * and the file does not exist, we silently reject it and do the normal
+	 * status "collect".  Fake up some trace2 messages to reflect this and
+	 * assist post-processors know this case is different.
+	 */
+	if (!do_serialize && reject_implicit) {
+		trace2_cmd_mode("implicit-deserialize");
+		trace2_data_string("status", the_repository, "deserialize/reject",
+				   "status-cache/access");
+	}
 
 	enable_fscache(0);
 	if (status_format != STATUS_FORMAT_PORCELAIN &&
@@ -1761,6 +1775,7 @@ int cmd_status(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		if (s.relative_paths)
 			s.prefix = prefix;
 
+		trace2_cmd_mode("deserialize");
 		result = wt_status_deserialize(&s, deserialize_path, dw);
 		if (result == DESERIALIZE_OK)
 			return 0;
@@ -1778,6 +1793,7 @@ int cmd_status(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 			fd = -1;
 	}
 
+	trace2_cmd_mode("collect");
 	wt_status_collect(&s);
 
 	if (0 <= fd)
@@ -1792,6 +1808,7 @@ int cmd_status(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		if (fd_serialize < 0)
 			die_errno(_("could not serialize to '%s'"),
 				  serialize_path);
+		trace2_cmd_mode("serialize");
 		wt_status_serialize_v1(fd_serialize, &s);
 		close(fd_serialize);
 	}
diff --git a/wt-status-deserialize.c b/wt-status-deserialize.c
index 2957b56f6d11cc..31c53508b2720e 100644
--- a/wt-status-deserialize.c
+++ b/wt-status-deserialize.c
@@ -3,6 +3,22 @@
 #include "pkt-line.h"
 #include "trace.h"
 
+static void set_deserialize_reject_reason(const char *reason)
+{
+	trace2_data_string("status", the_repository, "deserialize/reject",
+			   reason);
+}
+
+int wt_status_deserialize_access(const char *path, int mode)
+{
+	int a = access(path, mode);
+
+	if (a != 0)
+		set_deserialize_reject_reason("status-cache/access");
+
+	return a;
+}
+
 static struct trace_key trace_deserialize = TRACE_KEY_INIT(DESERIALIZE);
 
 enum deserialize_parse_strategy {
@@ -49,6 +65,7 @@ static int my_validate_index(const struct cache_time *mtime_reported)
 	struct cache_time mtime_observed_on_disk;
 
 	if (lstat(path, &st)) {
+		set_deserialize_reject_reason("index/not-found");
 		trace_printf_key(&trace_deserialize, "could not stat index");
 		return DESERIALIZE_ERR;
 	}
@@ -56,6 +73,7 @@ static int my_validate_index(const struct cache_time *mtime_reported)
 	mtime_observed_on_disk.nsec = ST_MTIME_NSEC(st);
 	if ((mtime_observed_on_disk.sec != mtime_reported->sec) ||
 	    (mtime_observed_on_disk.nsec != mtime_reported->nsec)) {
+		set_deserialize_reject_reason("index/mtime-changed");
 		trace_printf_key(&trace_deserialize,
 				 "index mtime changed [des %d %d][obs %d %d]",
 			     mtime_reported->sec, mtime_reported->nsec,
@@ -81,10 +99,12 @@ static int my_validate_excludes(const char *path, const char *key, const char *l
 
 	r = (strcmp(line, sb.buf) ? DESERIALIZE_ERR : DESERIALIZE_OK);
 
-	if (r == DESERIALIZE_ERR)
+	if (r == DESERIALIZE_ERR) {
+		set_deserialize_reject_reason("excludes/changed");
 		trace_printf_key(&trace_deserialize,
 				 "%s changed [cached '%s'][observed '%s']",
 				 key, line, sb.buf);
+	}
 
 	strbuf_release(&sb);
 	return r;
@@ -140,6 +160,7 @@ static int wt_deserialize_v1_header(struct wt_status *s, int fd)
 					   &index_mtime.sec,
 					   &index_mtime.nsec);
 			if (nr_fields != 2) {
+				set_deserialize_reject_reason("v1-header/invalid-index-mtime");
 				trace_printf_key(&trace_deserialize, "invalid index_mtime (%d) '%s'",
 					     nr_fields, line);
 				return DESERIALIZE_ERR;
@@ -223,6 +244,7 @@ static int wt_deserialize_v1_header(struct wt_status *s, int fd)
 		/* status_format */
 		if (skip_prefix(line, "sha1_commit ", &arg)) {
 			if (get_oid_hex(arg, &s->oid_commit)) {
+				set_deserialize_reject_reason("v1-header/invalid-commit-sha");
 				trace_printf_key(&trace_deserialize, "invalid sha1_commit");
 				return DESERIALIZE_ERR;
 			}
@@ -238,19 +260,23 @@ static int wt_deserialize_v1_header(struct wt_status *s, int fd)
 		}
 		/* prefix */
 
+		set_deserialize_reject_reason("v1-header/unexpected-line");
 		trace_printf_key(&trace_deserialize, "unexpected line '%s'", line);
 		return DESERIALIZE_ERR;
 	}
 
 	if (!have_required_index_mtime) {
+		set_deserialize_reject_reason("v1-header/missing-index-mtime");
 		trace_printf_key(&trace_deserialize, "missing '%s'", "index_mtime");
 		return DESERIALIZE_ERR;
 	}
 	if (!have_required_core_excludes) {
+		set_deserialize_reject_reason("v1-header/missing-core-excludes");
 		trace_printf_key(&trace_deserialize, "missing '%s'", "core_excludes");
 		return DESERIALIZE_ERR;
 	}
 	if (!have_required_repo_excludes) {
+		set_deserialize_reject_reason("v1-header/missing-repo-excludes");
 		trace_printf_key(&trace_deserialize, "missing '%s'", "repo_excludes");
 		return DESERIALIZE_ERR;
 	}
@@ -337,6 +363,7 @@ static int wt_deserialize_v1_changed_items(const struct wt_status *cmd_s,
 			 * So we reject the status cache and let the fallback
 			 * code run.
 			 */
+			set_deserialize_reject_reason("v1-data/unmerged");
 			trace_printf_key(
 				&trace_deserialize,
 				"reject: V2 format and umerged file: %s",
@@ -478,6 +505,7 @@ static int wt_deserialize_v1(const struct wt_status *cmd_s, struct wt_status *s,
 	 * the serialized data
 	*/
 	if (validate_untracked_files_arg(cmd_s->show_untracked_files, &s->show_untracked_files, &untracked_strategy)) {
+		set_deserialize_reject_reason("args/untracked-files");
 		trace_printf_key(&trace_deserialize, "reject: show_untracked_file: command: %d, serialized : %d",
 				cmd_s->show_untracked_files,
 				s->show_untracked_files);
@@ -485,6 +513,7 @@ static int wt_deserialize_v1(const struct wt_status *cmd_s, struct wt_status *s,
 	}
 
 	if (validate_ignored_files_arg(cmd_s->show_ignored_mode, s->show_ignored_mode, &ignored_strategy)) {
+		set_deserialize_reject_reason("args/ignored-mode");
 		trace_printf_key(&trace_deserialize, "reject: show_ignored_mode: command: %d, serialized: %d",
 				cmd_s->show_ignored_mode,
 				s->show_ignored_mode);
@@ -518,6 +547,7 @@ static int wt_deserialize_v1(const struct wt_status *cmd_s, struct wt_status *s,
 				return DESERIALIZE_ERR;
 			continue;
 		}
+		set_deserialize_reject_reason("v1-data/unexpected-line");
 		trace_printf_key(&trace_deserialize, "unexpected line '%s'", line);
 		return DESERIALIZE_ERR;
 	}
@@ -539,6 +569,7 @@ static int wt_deserialize_parse(const struct wt_status *cmd_s, struct wt_status
 		if (version == 1)
 			return wt_deserialize_v1(cmd_s, s, fd);
 	}
+	set_deserialize_reject_reason("status-cache/unsupported-version");
 	trace_printf_key(&trace_deserialize, "missing/unsupported version");
 	return DESERIALIZE_ERR;
 }
@@ -559,6 +590,7 @@ static int wt_deserialize_fd(const struct wt_status *cmd_s, struct wt_status *de
 	 * Check the path spec on the current command
 	 */
 	if (cmd_s->pathspec.nr > 1) {
+		set_deserialize_reject_reason("args/multiple-pathspecs");
 		trace_printf_key(&trace_deserialize, "reject: multiple pathspecs");
 		return DESERIALIZE_ERR;
 	}
@@ -569,6 +601,7 @@ static int wt_deserialize_fd(const struct wt_status *cmd_s, struct wt_status *de
 	 */
 	if (cmd_s->pathspec.nr == 1 &&
 		my_strcmp_null(cmd_s->pathspec.items[0].match, "")) {
+		set_deserialize_reject_reason("args/root-pathspec");
 		trace_printf_key(&trace_deserialize, "reject: pathspec");
 		return DESERIALIZE_ERR;
 	}
@@ -585,20 +618,24 @@ static int wt_deserialize_fd(const struct wt_status *cmd_s, struct wt_status *de
 	 * or "--ignored" settings).
 	 */
 	if (cmd_s->is_initial != des_s->is_initial) {
+		set_deserialize_reject_reason("args/is-initial-changed");
 		trace_printf_key(&trace_deserialize, "reject: is_initial");
 		return DESERIALIZE_ERR;
 	}
 	if (my_strcmp_null(cmd_s->branch, des_s->branch)) {
+		set_deserialize_reject_reason("args/branch-changed");
 		trace_printf_key(&trace_deserialize, "reject: branch");
 		return DESERIALIZE_ERR;
 	}
 	if (my_strcmp_null(cmd_s->reference, des_s->reference)) {
+		set_deserialize_reject_reason("args/reference-changed");
 		trace_printf_key(&trace_deserialize, "reject: reference");
 		return DESERIALIZE_ERR;
 	}
 	/* verbose */
 	/* amend */
 	if (cmd_s->whence != des_s->whence) {
+		set_deserialize_reject_reason("args/whence-changed");
 		trace_printf_key(&trace_deserialize, "reject: whence");
 		return DESERIALIZE_ERR;
 	}
@@ -632,19 +669,23 @@ static int wt_deserialize_fd(const struct wt_status *cmd_s, struct wt_status *de
 	/* hints */
 	/* ahead_behind_flags */
 	if (cmd_s->detect_rename != des_s->detect_rename) {
+		set_deserialize_reject_reason("args/detect-rename-changed");
 		trace_printf_key(&trace_deserialize, "reject: detect_rename");
 		return DESERIALIZE_ERR;
 	}
 	if (cmd_s->rename_score != des_s->rename_score) {
+		set_deserialize_reject_reason("args/rename-score-changed");
 		trace_printf_key(&trace_deserialize, "reject: rename_score");
 		return DESERIALIZE_ERR;
 	}
 	if (cmd_s->rename_limit != des_s->rename_limit) {
+		set_deserialize_reject_reason("args/rename-limit-changed");
 		trace_printf_key(&trace_deserialize, "reject: rename_limit");
 		return DESERIALIZE_ERR;
 	}
 	/* status_format */
 	if (!oideq(&cmd_s->oid_commit, &des_s->oid_commit)) {
+		set_deserialize_reject_reason("args/commit-changed");
 		trace_printf_key(&trace_deserialize, "reject: sha1_commit");
 		return DESERIALIZE_ERR;
 	}
@@ -733,15 +774,18 @@ static int try_deserialize_read_from_file(const struct wt_status *cmd_s,
 					  enum wt_status_deserialize_wait dw,
 					  struct wt_status *des_s)
 {
-	int k, limit;
+	int k = 0;
+	int limit;
 	int result = DESERIALIZE_ERR;
 
 	/*
 	 * For "fail" or "no", try exactly once to read the status cache.
 	 * Return an error if the file is stale.
 	 */
-	if (dw == DESERIALIZE_WAIT__FAIL || dw == DESERIALIZE_WAIT__NO)
-		return try_deserialize_read_from_file_1(cmd_s, path, des_s);
+	if (dw == DESERIALIZE_WAIT__FAIL || dw == DESERIALIZE_WAIT__NO) {
+		result = try_deserialize_read_from_file_1(cmd_s, path, des_s);
+		goto done;
+	}
 
 	/*
 	 * Wait for the status cache file to refresh.  Wait duration can
@@ -766,6 +810,12 @@ static int try_deserialize_read_from_file(const struct wt_status *cmd_s,
 		sleep_millisec(100);
 	}
 
+done:
+	trace2_data_string("status", the_repository, "deserialize/path", path);
+	trace2_data_intmax("status", the_repository, "deserialize/polled", k);
+	trace2_data_string("status", the_repository, "deserialize/result",
+			   ((result == DESERIALIZE_OK) ? "ok" : "reject"));
+
 	trace_printf_key(&trace_deserialize,
 			 "wait polled=%d result=%d '%s'",
 			 k, result, path);
@@ -791,6 +841,8 @@ int wt_status_deserialize(const struct wt_status *cmd_s,
 	struct wt_status des_s;
 	int result;
 
+	trace2_region_enter("status", "deserialize", the_repository);
+
 	if (path && *path && strcmp(path, "0")) {
 		result = try_deserialize_read_from_file(cmd_s, path, dw, &des_s);
 	} else {
@@ -801,8 +853,14 @@ int wt_status_deserialize(const struct wt_status *cmd_s,
 		 * term, since we cannot read stdin multiple times.
 		 */
 		result = wt_deserialize_fd(cmd_s, &des_s, 0);
+
+		trace2_data_string("status", the_repository, "deserialize/path", "STDIN");
+		trace2_data_string("status", the_repository, "deserialize/result",
+				   ((result == DESERIALIZE_OK) ? "ok" : "reject"));
 	}
 
+	trace2_region_leave("status", "deserialize", the_repository);
+
 	if (result == DESERIALIZE_OK) {
 		wt_status_get_state(cmd_s->repo, &des_s.state, des_s.branch &&
 				    !strcmp(des_s.branch, "HEAD"));
diff --git a/wt-status.h b/wt-status.h
index e6843d86068990..522e1236463a58 100644
--- a/wt-status.h
+++ b/wt-status.h
@@ -243,6 +243,8 @@ int wt_status_deserialize(const struct wt_status *cmd_s,
 			  const char *path,
 			  enum wt_status_deserialize_wait dw);
 
+int wt_status_deserialize_access(const char *path, int mode);
+
 /*
  * A helper routine for serialize and deserialize to compute
  * metadata for the user-global and repo-local excludes files.