diff --git a/.gitignore b/.gitignore
index 766e80e65a..6b80c6e442 100644
--- a/.gitignore
+++ b/.gitignore
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@
 /git-interpret-trailers
 /git-instaweb
 /git-legacy-rebase
+/git-legacy-rebase--interactive
 /git-legacy-stash
 /git-log
 /git-ls-files
diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 29120fbfaf..a551152289 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -639,6 +639,7 @@ SCRIPT_SH += git-request-pull.sh
 SCRIPT_SH += git-submodule.sh
 SCRIPT_SH += git-web--browse.sh
 
+SCRIPT_LIB += git-legacy-rebase--interactive
 SCRIPT_LIB += git-mergetool--lib
 SCRIPT_LIB += git-parse-remote
 SCRIPT_LIB += git-rebase--am
diff --git a/builtin/rebase--interactive.c b/builtin/rebase--interactive.c
index 888390f911..4a44dc286b 100644
--- a/builtin/rebase--interactive.c
+++ b/builtin/rebase--interactive.c
@@ -143,7 +143,8 @@ int cmd_rebase__interactive(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	char *raw_strategies = NULL;
 	enum {
 		NONE = 0, CONTINUE, SKIP, EDIT_TODO, SHOW_CURRENT_PATCH,
-		SHORTEN_OIDS, EXPAND_OIDS, CHECK_TODO_LIST, REARRANGE_SQUASH, ADD_EXEC
+		SHORTEN_OIDS, EXPAND_OIDS, CHECK_TODO_LIST, REARRANGE_SQUASH, ADD_EXEC,
+		MAKE_SCRIPT, SKIP_UNNECESSARY_PICKS,
 	} command = 0;
 	struct option options[] = {
 		OPT_BOOL(0, "ff", &opts.allow_ff, N_("allow fast-forward")),
@@ -196,6 +197,10 @@ int cmd_rebase__interactive(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 		OPT_RERERE_AUTOUPDATE(&opts.allow_rerere_auto),
 		OPT_BOOL(0, "reschedule-failed-exec", &opts.reschedule_failed_exec,
 			 N_("automatically re-schedule any `exec` that fails")),
+		OPT_CMDMODE(0, "make-script", &command,
+			N_("make rebase script"), MAKE_SCRIPT),
+		OPT_CMDMODE(0, "skip-unnecessary-picks", &command,
+			N_("skip unnecessary picks"), SKIP_UNNECESSARY_PICKS),
 		OPT_END()
 	};
 
@@ -267,6 +272,18 @@ int cmd_rebase__interactive(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	case ADD_EXEC:
 		ret = sequencer_add_exec_commands(the_repository, cmd);
 		break;
+	case MAKE_SCRIPT:
+		ret = sequencer_make_script(the_repository,
+					    stdout, argc, argv, flags);
+		break;
+	case SKIP_UNNECESSARY_PICKS: {
+		struct object_id oid;
+
+		ret = skip_unnecessary_picks(the_repository, &oid);
+		if (!ret)
+			printf("%s\n", oid_to_hex(&oid));
+		break;
+	}
 	default:
 		BUG("invalid command '%d'", command);
 	}
diff --git a/git-legacy-rebase--interactive.sh b/git-legacy-rebase--interactive.sh
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..9740875ad5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/git-legacy-rebase--interactive.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,283 @@
+# This shell script fragment is sourced by git-rebase to implement
+# its interactive mode.  "git rebase --interactive" makes it easy
+# to fix up commits in the middle of a series and rearrange commits.
+#
+# Copyright (c) 2006 Johannes E. Schindelin
+#
+# The original idea comes from Eric W. Biederman, in
+# https://public-inbox.org/git/m1odwkyuf5.fsf_-_@ebiederm.dsl.xmission.com/
+#
+# The file containing rebase commands, comments, and empty lines.
+# This file is created by "git rebase -i" then edited by the user.  As
+# the lines are processed, they are removed from the front of this
+# file and written to the tail of $done.
+todo="$state_dir"/git-rebase-todo
+
+GIT_CHERRY_PICK_HELP="$resolvemsg"
+export GIT_CHERRY_PICK_HELP
+
+comment_char=$(git config --get core.commentchar 2>/dev/null)
+case "$comment_char" in
+'' | auto)
+	comment_char="#"
+	;;
+?)
+	;;
+*)
+	comment_char=$(echo "$comment_char" | cut -c1)
+	;;
+esac
+
+orig_reflog_action="$GIT_REFLOG_ACTION"
+
+comment_for_reflog () {
+	case "$orig_reflog_action" in
+	''|rebase*)
+		GIT_REFLOG_ACTION="rebase -i ($1)"
+		export GIT_REFLOG_ACTION
+		;;
+	esac
+}
+
+append_todo_help () {
+	gettext "
+Commands:
+p, pick <commit> = use commit
+r, reword <commit> = use commit, but edit the commit message
+e, edit <commit> = use commit, but stop for amending
+s, squash <commit> = use commit, but meld into previous commit
+f, fixup <commit> = like \"squash\", but discard this commit's log message
+x, exec <command> = run command (the rest of the line) using shell
+d, drop <commit> = remove commit
+l, label <label> = label current HEAD with a name
+t, reset <label> = reset HEAD to a label
+m, merge [-C <commit> | -c <commit>] <label> [# <oneline>]
+.       create a merge commit using the original merge commit's
+.       message (or the oneline, if no original merge commit was
+.       specified). Use -c <commit> to reword the commit message.
+
+These lines can be re-ordered; they are executed from top to bottom.
+" | git stripspace --comment-lines >>"$todo"
+
+	if test $(get_missing_commit_check_level) = error
+	then
+		gettext "
+Do not remove any line. Use 'drop' explicitly to remove a commit.
+" | git stripspace --comment-lines >>"$todo"
+	else
+		gettext "
+If you remove a line here THAT COMMIT WILL BE LOST.
+" | git stripspace --comment-lines >>"$todo"
+	fi
+}
+
+die_abort () {
+	apply_autostash
+	rm -rf "$state_dir"
+	die "$1"
+}
+
+has_action () {
+	test -n "$(git stripspace --strip-comments <"$1")"
+}
+
+git_sequence_editor () {
+	if test -z "$GIT_SEQUENCE_EDITOR"
+	then
+		GIT_SEQUENCE_EDITOR="$(git config sequence.editor)"
+		if [ -z "$GIT_SEQUENCE_EDITOR" ]
+		then
+			GIT_SEQUENCE_EDITOR="$(git var GIT_EDITOR)" || return $?
+		fi
+	fi
+
+	eval "$GIT_SEQUENCE_EDITOR" '"$@"'
+}
+
+expand_todo_ids() {
+	git rebase--interactive --expand-ids
+}
+
+collapse_todo_ids() {
+	git rebase--interactive --shorten-ids
+}
+
+# Switch to the branch in $into and notify it in the reflog
+checkout_onto () {
+	GIT_REFLOG_ACTION="$GIT_REFLOG_ACTION: checkout $onto_name"
+	output git checkout $onto || die_abort "$(gettext "could not detach HEAD")"
+	git update-ref ORIG_HEAD $orig_head
+}
+
+get_missing_commit_check_level () {
+	check_level=$(git config --get rebase.missingCommitsCheck)
+	check_level=${check_level:-ignore}
+	# Don't be case sensitive
+	printf '%s' "$check_level" | tr 'A-Z' 'a-z'
+}
+
+# Initiate an action. If the cannot be any
+# further action it  may exec a command
+# or exit and not return.
+#
+# TODO: Consider a cleaner return model so it
+# never exits and always return 0 if process
+# is complete.
+#
+# Parameter 1 is the action to initiate.
+#
+# Returns 0 if the action was able to complete
+# and if 1 if further processing is required.
+initiate_action () {
+	case "$1" in
+	continue)
+		exec git rebase--interactive ${force_rebase:+--no-ff} $allow_empty_message \
+		     --continue
+		;;
+	skip)
+		git rerere clear
+		exec git rebase--interactive ${force_rebase:+--no-ff} $allow_empty_message \
+		     --continue
+		;;
+	edit-todo)
+		git stripspace --strip-comments <"$todo" >"$todo".new
+		mv -f "$todo".new "$todo"
+		collapse_todo_ids
+		append_todo_help
+		gettext "
+You are editing the todo file of an ongoing interactive rebase.
+To continue rebase after editing, run:
+    git rebase --continue
+
+" | git stripspace --comment-lines >>"$todo"
+
+		git_sequence_editor "$todo" ||
+			die "$(gettext "Could not execute editor")"
+		expand_todo_ids
+
+		exit
+		;;
+	show-current-patch)
+		exec git show REBASE_HEAD --
+		;;
+	*)
+		return 1 # continue
+		;;
+	esac
+}
+
+setup_reflog_action () {
+	comment_for_reflog start
+
+	if test ! -z "$switch_to"
+	then
+		GIT_REFLOG_ACTION="$GIT_REFLOG_ACTION: checkout $switch_to"
+		output git checkout "$switch_to" -- ||
+			die "$(eval_gettext "Could not checkout \$switch_to")"
+
+		comment_for_reflog start
+	fi
+}
+
+init_basic_state () {
+	orig_head=$(git rev-parse --verify HEAD) || die "$(gettext "No HEAD?")"
+	mkdir -p "$state_dir" || die "$(eval_gettext "Could not create temporary \$state_dir")"
+	rm -f "$(git rev-parse --git-path REBASE_HEAD)"
+
+	: > "$state_dir"/interactive || die "$(gettext "Could not mark as interactive")"
+	write_basic_state
+}
+
+init_revisions_and_shortrevisions () {
+	shorthead=$(git rev-parse --short $orig_head)
+	shortonto=$(git rev-parse --short $onto)
+	if test -z "$rebase_root"
+		# this is now equivalent to ! -z "$upstream"
+	then
+		shortupstream=$(git rev-parse --short $upstream)
+		revisions=$upstream...$orig_head
+		shortrevisions=$shortupstream..$shorthead
+	else
+		revisions=$onto...$orig_head
+		shortrevisions=$shorthead
+		test -z "$squash_onto" ||
+		echo "$squash_onto" >"$state_dir"/squash-onto
+	fi
+}
+
+complete_action() {
+	test -s "$todo" || echo noop >> "$todo"
+	test -z "$autosquash" || git rebase--interactive --rearrange-squash || exit
+	test -n "$cmd" && git rebase--interactive --add-exec-commands --cmd "$cmd"
+
+	todocount=$(git stripspace --strip-comments <"$todo" | wc -l)
+	todocount=${todocount##* }
+
+cat >>"$todo" <<EOF
+
+$comment_char $(eval_ngettext \
+	"Rebase \$shortrevisions onto \$shortonto (\$todocount command)" \
+	"Rebase \$shortrevisions onto \$shortonto (\$todocount commands)" \
+	"$todocount")
+EOF
+	append_todo_help
+	gettext "
+	However, if you remove everything, the rebase will be aborted.
+
+	" | git stripspace --comment-lines >>"$todo"
+
+	if test -z "$keep_empty"
+	then
+		printf '%s\n' "$comment_char $(gettext "Note that empty commits are commented out")" >>"$todo"
+	fi
+
+
+	has_action "$todo" ||
+		return 2
+
+	cp "$todo" "$todo".backup
+	collapse_todo_ids
+	git_sequence_editor "$todo" ||
+		die_abort "$(gettext "Could not execute editor")"
+
+	has_action "$todo" ||
+		return 2
+
+	git rebase--interactive --check-todo-list || {
+		ret=$?
+		checkout_onto
+		exit $ret
+	}
+
+	expand_todo_ids
+
+	test -n "$force_rebase" ||
+	onto="$(git rebase--interactive --skip-unnecessary-picks)" ||
+	die "Could not skip unnecessary pick commands"
+
+	checkout_onto
+	require_clean_work_tree "rebase"
+	exec git rebase--interactive ${force_rebase:+--no-ff} $allow_empty_message \
+	     --continue
+}
+
+git_rebase__interactive () {
+	initiate_action "$action"
+	ret=$?
+	if test $ret = 0; then
+		return 0
+	fi
+
+	setup_reflog_action
+	init_basic_state
+
+	init_revisions_and_shortrevisions
+
+	git rebase--interactive --make-script ${keep_empty:+--keep-empty} \
+		${rebase_merges:+--rebase-merges} \
+		${rebase_cousins:+--rebase-cousins} \
+		$revisions ${restrict_revision+^$restrict_revision} >"$todo" ||
+	die "$(gettext "Could not generate todo list")"
+
+	complete_action
+}
diff --git a/git-legacy-rebase.sh b/git-legacy-rebase.sh
index 5c2c4e5276..5ef7166601 100755
--- a/git-legacy-rebase.sh
+++ b/git-legacy-rebase.sh
@@ -141,38 +141,6 @@ finish_rebase () {
 	rm -rf "$state_dir"
 }
 
-run_interactive () {
-	GIT_CHERRY_PICK_HELP="$resolvemsg"
-	export GIT_CHERRY_PICK_HELP
-
-	test -n "$keep_empty" && keep_empty="--keep-empty"
-	test -n "$rebase_merges" && rebase_merges="--rebase-merges"
-	test -n "$rebase_cousins" && rebase_cousins="--rebase-cousins"
-	test -n "$autosquash" && autosquash="--autosquash"
-	test -n "$verbose" && verbose="--verbose"
-	test -n "$force_rebase" && force_rebase="--no-ff"
-	test -n "$restrict_revision" && \
-		restrict_revision="--restrict-revision=^$restrict_revision"
-	test -n "$upstream" && upstream="--upstream=$upstream"
-	test -n "$onto" && onto="--onto=$onto"
-	test -n "$squash_onto" && squash_onto="--squash-onto=$squash_onto"
-	test -n "$onto_name" && onto_name="--onto-name=$onto_name"
-	test -n "$head_name" && head_name="--head-name=$head_name"
-	test -n "$strategy" && strategy="--strategy=$strategy"
-	test -n "$strategy_opts" && strategy_opts="--strategy-opts=$strategy_opts"
-	test -n "$switch_to" && switch_to="--switch-to=$switch_to"
-	test -n "$cmd" && cmd="--cmd=$cmd"
-	test -n "$action" && action="--$action"
-
-	exec git rebase--interactive "$action" "$keep_empty" "$rebase_merges" "$rebase_cousins" \
-		"$upstream" "$onto" "$squash_onto" "$restrict_revision" \
-		"$allow_empty_message" "$autosquash" "$verbose" \
-		"$force_rebase" "$onto_name" "$head_name" "$strategy" \
-		"$strategy_opts" "$cmd" "$switch_to" \
-		"$allow_rerere_autoupdate" "$gpg_sign_opt" "$signoff" \
-		"$reschedule_failed_exec"
-}
-
 run_specific_rebase () {
 	if [ "$interactive_rebase" = implied ]; then
 		GIT_SEQUENCE_EDITOR=:
@@ -182,7 +150,9 @@ run_specific_rebase () {
 
 	if test -n "$interactive_rebase" -a -z "$preserve_merges"
 	then
-		run_interactive
+		. git-legacy-rebase--$type
+
+		git_rebase__$type
 	else
 		. git-rebase--$type
 
@@ -202,7 +172,12 @@ run_specific_rebase () {
 	then
 		apply_autostash &&
 		rm -rf "$state_dir" &&
-		die "Nothing to do"
+		if test -n "$interactive_rebase" -a -z "$preserve_merges"
+		then
+			die "error: nothing to do"
+		else
+			die "Nothing to do"
+		fi
 	fi
 	exit $ret
 }
diff --git a/sequencer.c b/sequencer.c
index 0db410d590..291a8ba0d2 100644
--- a/sequencer.c
+++ b/sequencer.c
@@ -4793,7 +4793,7 @@ static int rewrite_file(const char *path, const char *buf, size_t len)
 }
 
 /* skip picking commits whose parents are unchanged */
-static int skip_unnecessary_picks(struct repository *r, struct object_id *output_oid)
+int skip_unnecessary_picks(struct repository *r, struct object_id *output_oid)
 {
 	const char *todo_file = rebase_path_todo();
 	struct strbuf buf = STRBUF_INIT;
diff --git a/sequencer.h b/sequencer.h
index 4d505b3590..549e658162 100644
--- a/sequencer.h
+++ b/sequencer.h
@@ -144,3 +144,5 @@ int read_author_script(const char *path, char **name, char **email, char **date,
 void parse_strategy_opts(struct replay_opts *opts, char *raw_opts);
 int write_basic_state(struct replay_opts *opts, const char *head_name,
 		      const char *onto, const char *orig_head);
+
+int skip_unnecessary_picks(struct repository *r, struct object_id *output_oid);