diff --git a/kmod/src/btree.c b/kmod/src/btree.c
index 7a21afc7..d8a25f0f 100644
--- a/kmod/src/btree.c
+++ b/kmod/src/btree.c
@@ -2183,6 +2183,8 @@ static int merge_read_item(struct super_block *sb, struct scoutfs_key *key, u64
 		if (ret > 0) {
 			if (ret == SCOUTFS_DELTA_COMBINED) {
 				scoutfs_inc_counter(sb, btree_merge_delta_combined);
+				if (seq > found->seq)
+					found->seq = seq;
 			} else if (ret == SCOUTFS_DELTA_COMBINED_NULL) {
 				scoutfs_inc_counter(sb, btree_merge_delta_null);
 				free_mitem(rng, found);
@@ -2486,6 +2488,14 @@ int scoutfs_btree_merge(struct super_block *sb,
 			mitem = next_mitem(mitem);
 			free_mitem(&rng, tmp);
 		}
+
+		if (mitem && walk_val_len == 0 &&
+		    !(walk_flags & (BTW_INSERT | BTW_DELETE)) &&
+		    scoutfs_trigger(sb, LOG_MERGE_FORCE_PARTIAL)) {
+			ret = -ERANGE;
+			*next_ret = mitem->key;
+			goto out;
+		}
 	}
 
 	ret = 0;
diff --git a/kmod/src/forest.c b/kmod/src/forest.c
index 306f4841..38681273 100644
--- a/kmod/src/forest.c
+++ b/kmod/src/forest.c
@@ -239,9 +239,9 @@ static int forest_read_items(struct super_block *sb, struct scoutfs_key *key, u6
  * to reset their state and retry with a newer version of the btrees.
  */
 int scoutfs_forest_read_items_roots(struct super_block *sb, struct scoutfs_net_roots *roots,
-				    struct scoutfs_key *key, struct scoutfs_key *bloom_key,
-				    struct scoutfs_key *start, struct scoutfs_key *end,
-				    scoutfs_forest_item_cb cb, void *arg)
+				    u64 merge_input_seq, struct scoutfs_key *key,
+				    struct scoutfs_key *bloom_key, struct scoutfs_key *start,
+				    struct scoutfs_key *end, scoutfs_forest_item_cb cb, void *arg)
 {
 	struct forest_read_items_data rid = {
 		.cb = cb,
@@ -317,15 +317,17 @@ int scoutfs_forest_read_items_roots(struct super_block *sb, struct scoutfs_net_r
 
 		scoutfs_inc_counter(sb, forest_bloom_pass);
 
-		if ((le64_to_cpu(lt.flags) & SCOUTFS_LOG_TREES_FINALIZED))
-			rid.fic |= FIC_FINALIZED;
+		if ((le64_to_cpu(lt.flags) & SCOUTFS_LOG_TREES_FINALIZED) &&
+		    (merge_input_seq == 0 ||
+		     le64_to_cpu(lt.finalize_seq) < merge_input_seq))
+			rid.fic |= FIC_MERGE_INPUT;
 
 		ret = scoutfs_btree_read_items(sb, &lt.item_root, key, start,
 					       end, forest_read_items, &rid);
 		if (ret < 0)
 			goto out;
 
-		rid.fic &= ~FIC_FINALIZED;
+		rid.fic &= ~FIC_MERGE_INPUT;
 	}
 
 	ret = 0;
@@ -345,7 +347,7 @@ int scoutfs_forest_read_items(struct super_block *sb,
 
 	ret = scoutfs_client_get_roots(sb, &roots);
 	if (ret == 0)
-		ret = scoutfs_forest_read_items_roots(sb, &roots, key, bloom_key, start, end,
+		ret = scoutfs_forest_read_items_roots(sb, &roots, 0, key, bloom_key, start, end,
 						      cb, arg);
 	return ret;
 }
diff --git a/kmod/src/forest.h b/kmod/src/forest.h
index 151affb8..a3d5e4b2 100644
--- a/kmod/src/forest.h
+++ b/kmod/src/forest.h
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ struct scoutfs_lock;
 /* caller gives an item to the callback */
 enum {
 	FIC_FS_ROOT = (1 << 0),
-	FIC_FINALIZED = (1 << 1),
+	FIC_MERGE_INPUT = (1 << 1),
 };
 typedef int (*scoutfs_forest_item_cb)(struct super_block *sb, struct scoutfs_key *key, u64 seq,
 				      u8 flags, void *val, int val_len, int fic, void *arg);
@@ -25,9 +25,9 @@ int scoutfs_forest_read_items(struct super_block *sb,
 			      struct scoutfs_key *end,
 			      scoutfs_forest_item_cb cb, void *arg);
 int scoutfs_forest_read_items_roots(struct super_block *sb, struct scoutfs_net_roots *roots,
-				    struct scoutfs_key *key, struct scoutfs_key *bloom_key,
-				    struct scoutfs_key *start, struct scoutfs_key *end,
-				    scoutfs_forest_item_cb cb, void *arg);
+				    u64 merge_input_seq, struct scoutfs_key *key,
+				    struct scoutfs_key *bloom_key, struct scoutfs_key *start,
+				    struct scoutfs_key *end, scoutfs_forest_item_cb cb, void *arg);
 int scoutfs_forest_set_bloom_bits(struct super_block *sb,
 				  struct scoutfs_lock *lock);
 void scoutfs_forest_set_max_seq(struct super_block *sb, u64 max_seq);
diff --git a/kmod/src/totl.c b/kmod/src/totl.c
index cfa9b31a..50c6daca 100644
--- a/kmod/src/totl.c
+++ b/kmod/src/totl.c
@@ -30,6 +30,11 @@ void scoutfs_totl_merge_init(struct scoutfs_totl_merging *merg)
 	memset(merg, 0, sizeof(struct scoutfs_totl_merging));
 }
 
+/*
+ * bin the incoming merge inputs so that we can resolve delta items
+ * properly. Finalized logs that are merge inputs are kept separately
+ * from those that are not.
+ */
 void scoutfs_totl_merge_contribute(struct scoutfs_totl_merging *merg,
 				   u64 seq, u8 flags, void *val, int val_len, int fic)
 {
@@ -39,10 +44,10 @@ void scoutfs_totl_merge_contribute(struct scoutfs_totl_merging *merg,
 		merg->fs_seq = seq;
 		merg->fs_total = le64_to_cpu(tval->total);
 		merg->fs_count = le64_to_cpu(tval->count);
-	} else if (fic & FIC_FINALIZED) {
-		merg->fin_seq = seq;
-		merg->fin_total += le64_to_cpu(tval->total);
-		merg->fin_count += le64_to_cpu(tval->count);
+	} else if (fic & FIC_MERGE_INPUT) {
+		merg->inp_seq = seq;
+		merg->inp_total += le64_to_cpu(tval->total);
+		merg->inp_count += le64_to_cpu(tval->count);
 	} else {
 		merg->log_seq = seq;
 		merg->log_total += le64_to_cpu(tval->total);
@@ -53,15 +58,18 @@ void scoutfs_totl_merge_contribute(struct scoutfs_totl_merging *merg,
 /*
  * .totl. item merging has to be careful because the log btree merging
  * code can write partial results to the fs_root.  This means that a
- * reader can see both cases where new finalized logs should be applied
- * to the old fs items and where old finalized logs have already been
- * applied to the partially merged fs items.  Currently active logged
- * items are always applied on top of all cases.
+ * reader can see both cases where merge input deltas should be applied
+ * to the old fs items and where they have already been applied to the
+ * partially merged fs items.
+ *
+ * Only finalized log trees that are inputs to the current merge cycle
+ * are tracked in the inp_ bucket.  Finalized trees that aren't merge
+ * inputs and active log trees are always applied unconditionally since
+ * they cannot be in fs_root.
  *
  * These cases are differentiated with a combination of sequence numbers
- * in items, the count of contributing xattrs, and a flag
- * differentiating finalized and active logged items.  This lets us
- * recognize all cases, including when finalized logs were merged and
+ * in items and the count of contributing xattrs.  This lets us
+ * recognize all cases, including when merge inputs were merged and
  * deleted the fs item.
  */
 void scoutfs_totl_merge_resolve(struct scoutfs_totl_merging *merg, __u64 *total, __u64 *count)
@@ -75,14 +83,14 @@ void scoutfs_totl_merge_resolve(struct scoutfs_totl_merging *merg, __u64 *total,
 		*count = merg->fs_count;
 	}
 
-	/* apply finalized logs if they're newer or creating */
-	if (((merg->fs_seq != 0) && (merg->fin_seq > merg->fs_seq)) ||
-	    ((merg->fs_seq == 0) && (merg->fin_count > 0))) {
-		*total += merg->fin_total;
-		*count += merg->fin_count;
+	/* apply merge input deltas if they're newer or creating */
+	if (((merg->fs_seq != 0) && (merg->inp_seq > merg->fs_seq)) ||
+	    ((merg->fs_seq == 0) && (merg->inp_count > 0))) {
+		*total += merg->inp_total;
+		*count += merg->inp_count;
 	}
 
-	/* always apply active logs which must be newer than fs and finalized */
+	/* always apply non-input finalized and active logs */
 	if (merg->log_seq > 0) {
 		*total += merg->log_total;
 		*count += merg->log_count;
diff --git a/kmod/src/totl.h b/kmod/src/totl.h
index 52de1fd6..abcb685e 100644
--- a/kmod/src/totl.h
+++ b/kmod/src/totl.h
@@ -7,9 +7,9 @@ struct scoutfs_totl_merging {
 	u64 fs_seq;
 	u64 fs_total;
 	u64 fs_count;
-	u64 fin_seq;
-	u64 fin_total;
-	s64 fin_count;
+	u64 inp_seq;
+	u64 inp_total;
+	s64 inp_count;
 	u64 log_seq;
 	u64 log_total;
 	s64 log_count;
diff --git a/kmod/src/triggers.c b/kmod/src/triggers.c
index 4616d013..15ddf907 100644
--- a/kmod/src/triggers.c
+++ b/kmod/src/triggers.c
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@ static char *names[] = {
 	[SCOUTFS_TRIGGER_SRCH_MERGE_STOP_SAFE] = "srch_merge_stop_safe",
 	[SCOUTFS_TRIGGER_STATFS_LOCK_PURGE] = "statfs_lock_purge",
 	[SCOUTFS_TRIGGER_RECLAIM_SKIP_FINALIZE] = "reclaim_skip_finalize",
+	[SCOUTFS_TRIGGER_LOG_MERGE_FORCE_PARTIAL] = "log_merge_force_partial",
 };
 
 bool scoutfs_trigger_test_and_clear(struct super_block *sb, unsigned int t)
diff --git a/kmod/src/triggers.h b/kmod/src/triggers.h
index 64a798b7..6d70cbea 100644
--- a/kmod/src/triggers.h
+++ b/kmod/src/triggers.h
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ enum scoutfs_trigger {
 	SCOUTFS_TRIGGER_SRCH_MERGE_STOP_SAFE,
 	SCOUTFS_TRIGGER_STATFS_LOCK_PURGE,
 	SCOUTFS_TRIGGER_RECLAIM_SKIP_FINALIZE,
+	SCOUTFS_TRIGGER_LOG_MERGE_FORCE_PARTIAL,
 	SCOUTFS_TRIGGER_NR,
 };
 
diff --git a/kmod/src/wkic.c b/kmod/src/wkic.c
index 44eef494..eee77f95 100644
--- a/kmod/src/wkic.c
+++ b/kmod/src/wkic.c
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@ struct wkic_info {
 	/* block reading slow path */
 	struct mutex roots_mutex;
 	struct scoutfs_net_roots roots;
+	u64 merge_input_seq;
 	u64 roots_read_seq;
 	ktime_t roots_expire;
 
@@ -805,29 +806,79 @@ static void free_page_list(struct super_block *sb, struct list_head *list)
  * read_seq number so that we can compare the age of the items in cached
  * pages.  Only one request to refresh the roots is in progress at a
  * time.  This is the slow path that's only used when the cache isn't
- * populated and the roots aren't cached.  The root request is fast
- * enough, especially compared to the resulting item reading IO, that we
- * don't mind hiding it behind a trivial mutex.
+ * populated and the roots aren't cached.
+ *
+ * We read roots directly from the on-disk superblock rather than
+ * requesting them from the server so that we can also read the
+ * log_merge btree from the same superblock.  The merge status item
+ * seq tells us which finalized log trees are inputs to the current
+ * merge, which is needed to correctly resolve totl delta items.
  */
-static int get_roots(struct super_block *sb, struct wkic_info *winf,
-		     struct scoutfs_net_roots *roots_ret, u64 *read_seq, bool force_new)
+static int refresh_roots(struct super_block *sb, struct wkic_info *winf)
+{
+	struct scoutfs_super_block *super;
+	struct scoutfs_log_merge_status *stat;
+	SCOUTFS_BTREE_ITEM_REF(iref);
+	struct scoutfs_key key;
+	int ret;
+
+	super = kmalloc(sizeof(*super), GFP_NOFS);
+	if (!super)
+		return -ENOMEM;
+
+	ret = scoutfs_read_super(sb, super);
+	if (ret < 0)
+		goto out;
+
+	winf->roots = (struct scoutfs_net_roots){
+		.fs_root = super->fs_root,
+		.logs_root = super->logs_root,
+		.srch_root = super->srch_root,
+	};
+
+	winf->merge_input_seq = 0;
+	if (super->log_merge.ref.blkno) {
+		scoutfs_key_set_zeros(&key);
+		key.sk_zone = SCOUTFS_LOG_MERGE_STATUS_ZONE;
+		ret = scoutfs_btree_lookup(sb, &super->log_merge, &key, &iref);
+		if (ret == 0) {
+			if (iref.val_len == sizeof(*stat)) {
+				stat = iref.val;
+				winf->merge_input_seq = le64_to_cpu(stat->seq);
+			} else {
+				ret = -EUCLEAN;
+			}
+			scoutfs_btree_put_iref(&iref);
+		} else if (ret == -ENOENT) {
+			ret = 0;
+		}
+		if (ret < 0)
+			goto out;
+	}
+
+	winf->roots_read_seq++;
+	winf->roots_expire = ktime_add_ms(ktime_get_raw(), WKIC_CACHE_LIFETIME_MS);
+out:
+	kfree(super);
+	return ret;
+}
+
+static int get_roots(struct super_block *sb, struct wkic_info *winf,
+		     struct scoutfs_net_roots *roots_ret, u64 *merge_input_seq,
+		     u64 *read_seq, bool force_new)
 {
-	struct scoutfs_net_roots roots;
 	int ret;
 
 	mutex_lock(&winf->roots_mutex);
 
 	if (force_new || ktime_before(winf->roots_expire, ktime_get_raw())) {
-		ret = scoutfs_client_get_roots(sb, &roots);
+		ret = refresh_roots(sb, winf);
 		if (ret < 0)
 			goto out;
-
-		winf->roots = roots;
-		winf->roots_read_seq++;
-		winf->roots_expire = ktime_add_ms(ktime_get_raw(), WKIC_CACHE_LIFETIME_MS);
 	}
 
 	*roots_ret = winf->roots;
+	*merge_input_seq = winf->merge_input_seq;
 	*read_seq = winf->roots_read_seq;
 	ret = 0;
 out:
@@ -870,24 +921,30 @@ static int insert_read_pages(struct super_block *sb, struct wkic_info *winf,
 	struct scoutfs_key end;
 	struct wkic_page *wpage;
 	LIST_HEAD(pages);
+	u64 merge_input_seq;
 	u64 read_seq;
 	int ret;
 
 	ret = 0;
 retry_stale:
-	ret = get_roots(sb, winf, &roots, &read_seq, ret == -ESTALE);
+	ret = get_roots(sb, winf, &roots, &merge_input_seq, &read_seq, ret == -ESTALE);
 	if (ret < 0)
-		goto out;
+		goto check_stale;
 
 	start = *range_start;
 	end = *range_end;
-	ret = scoutfs_forest_read_items_roots(sb, &roots, key, range_start, &start, &end,
-					      read_items_cb, &root);
+	ret = scoutfs_forest_read_items_roots(sb, &roots, merge_input_seq, key, range_start,
+					      &start, &end, read_items_cb, &root);
 	trace_scoutfs_wkic_read_items(sb, key, &start, &end);
+check_stale:
 	ret = scoutfs_block_check_stale(sb, ret, &saved, &roots.fs_root.ref, &roots.logs_root.ref);
 	if (ret < 0) {
-		if (ret == -ESTALE)
+		if (ret == -ESTALE) {
+			/* not safe to retry due to delta items, must restart clean */
+			free_item_tree(&root);
+			root = RB_ROOT;
 			goto retry_stale;
+		}
 		goto out;
 	}
 
diff --git a/tests/golden/totl-merge-read b/tests/golden/totl-merge-read
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..931671e6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/golden/totl-merge-read
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+== setup
+expected 4681
+== cleanup
diff --git a/tests/sequence b/tests/sequence
index e296553a..bdd8aba7 100644
--- a/tests/sequence
+++ b/tests/sequence
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ simple-xattr-unit.sh
 retention-basic.sh
 totl-xattr-tag.sh
 quota.sh
+totl-merge-read.sh
 lock-refleak.sh
 lock-shrink-consistency.sh
 lock-shrink-read-race.sh
diff --git a/tests/tests/totl-merge-read.sh b/tests/tests/totl-merge-read.sh
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8c37c93a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/tests/totl-merge-read.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,50 @@
+#
+# Test that merge_read_item() correctly updates the sequence number when
+# combining delta items from multiple finalized log trees.  Each mount
+# sets a totl value in its own 3-bit lane (powers of 8) so that any
+# double-counting overflows the lane and is caught by: or(v, exp) != exp.
+#
+
+t_require_commands setfattr scoutfs
+t_require_mounts 5
+
+echo "== setup"
+for nr in $(t_fs_nrs); do
+	d=$(eval echo \$T_D$nr)
+	for i in $(seq 1 2500); do : > "$d/f$nr$i"; done
+done
+sync
+t_force_log_merge
+
+vals=(1 8 64 512 4096)
+expected=4681
+n=0
+for nr in $(t_fs_nrs); do
+	d=$(eval echo \$T_D$nr)
+	v=${vals[$((n++))]}
+	for i in $(seq 1 2500); do
+		setfattr -n "scoutfs.totl.t.$i.0.0" -v $v "$d/f$nr$i"
+	done
+done
+
+t_trigger_arm_silent log_merge_force_partial $(t_server_nr)
+
+bad="$T_TMPDIR/bad"
+for nr in $(t_fs_nrs); do
+	( while true; do
+		echo 1 > "$(t_debugfs_path $nr)/drop_weak_item_cache"
+		scoutfs read-xattr-totals -p "$(eval echo \$T_M$nr)" | \
+			awk -F'[ =,]+' -v e=$expected 'or($2+0,e) != e'
+	done ) >> "$bad" &
+done
+
+echo "expected $expected"
+t_force_log_merge
+t_silent_kill $(jobs -p)
+test -s "$bad" && echo "double-counted:" && cat "$bad"
+
+echo "== cleanup"
+for nr in $(t_fs_nrs); do
+	find "$(eval echo \$T_D$nr)" -name "f$nr*" -delete
+done
+t_pass