diff --git a/Documentation/config.txt b/Documentation/config.txt
index 0f668bbe11a..5f76e8cf4e5 100644
--- a/Documentation/config.txt
+++ b/Documentation/config.txt
@@ -2061,7 +2061,7 @@ pull.ff::
 	a case (equivalent to giving the `--no-ff` option from the command
 	line). When set to `only`, only such fast-forward merges are
 	allowed (equivalent to giving the `--ff-only` option from the
-	command line).
+	command line). This setting overrides `merge.ff` when pulling.
 
 pull.rebase::
 	When true, rebase branches on top of the fetched branch, instead
diff --git a/git-pull.sh b/git-pull.sh
index b8ae0059208..0917d0d0565 100755
--- a/git-pull.sh
+++ b/git-pull.sh
@@ -54,8 +54,11 @@ then
 fi
 
 # Setup default fast-forward options via `pull.ff`
-pull_ff=$(git config pull.ff)
+pull_ff=$(bool_or_string_config pull.ff)
 case "$pull_ff" in
+true)
+	no_ff=--ff
+	;;
 false)
 	no_ff=--no-ff
 	;;
diff --git a/t/t7601-merge-pull-config.sh b/t/t7601-merge-pull-config.sh
index f768c900abd..c6c44ec570d 100755
--- a/t/t7601-merge-pull-config.sh
+++ b/t/t7601-merge-pull-config.sh
@@ -45,6 +45,14 @@ test_expect_success 'fast-forward pull succeeds with "true" in pull.ff' '
 	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD)" = "$(git rev-parse c1)"
 '
 
+test_expect_success 'pull.ff=true overrides merge.ff=false' '
+	git reset --hard c0 &&
+	test_config merge.ff false &&
+	test_config pull.ff true &&
+	git pull . c1 &&
+	test "$(git rev-parse HEAD)" = "$(git rev-parse c1)"
+'
+
 test_expect_success 'fast-forward pull creates merge with "false" in pull.ff' '
 	git reset --hard c0 &&
 	test_config pull.ff false &&