diff --git a/docs-master/Config.md b/docs-master/Config.md
index 882baec638b..138d63d88a5 100644
--- a/docs-master/Config.md
+++ b/docs-master/Config.md
@@ -391,7 +391,9 @@ git:
     squashMergeMessage: Squash merge {{selectedRef}} into {{currentBranch}}
 
   # list of branches that are considered 'main' branches, used when displaying
-  # commits
+  # commits and for determining each branch's base. Lazygit prompts when a branch
+  # could be based on more than one of these (typical when one is regularly merged
+  # into another).
   mainBranches:
     - master
     - main
diff --git a/pkg/commands/git_commands/branch_loader.go b/pkg/commands/git_commands/branch_loader.go
index b41b0564ff7..8e9e26c7c31 100644
--- a/pkg/commands/git_commands/branch_loader.go
+++ b/pkg/commands/git_commands/branch_loader.go
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ func (self *BranchLoader) GetBehindBaseBranchValuesForAllBranches(
 	}
 
 	if self.version.IsAtLeast(2, 41, 0) {
-		return self.getBehindBaseBranchValuesFast(branches, mainBranchRefs, renderFunc)
+		return self.getBehindBaseBranchValuesFast(branches, mainBranches, renderFunc)
 	}
 	return self.getBehindBaseBranchValuesLegacy(branches, mainBranches, renderFunc)
 }
@@ -171,31 +171,11 @@ func (self *BranchLoader) getBehindBaseBranchValuesLegacy(
 
 	for _, branch := range branches {
 		errg.Go(func() error {
-			baseBranch, err := self.GetBaseBranch(branch, mainBranches)
+			_, behinds, err := self.baseBranchCandidatesAndBehinds(branch, mainBranches)
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
-			behind := 0 // prime it in case something below fails
-			if baseBranch != "" {
-				output, err := self.cmd.New(
-					NewGitCmd("rev-list").
-						Arg("--left-right").
-						Arg("--count").
-						Arg(fmt.Sprintf("%s...%s", branch.FullRefName(), baseBranch)).
-						ToArgv(),
-				).DontLog().RunWithOutput()
-				if err != nil {
-					return err
-				}
-				// The format of the output is "<ahead>\t<behind>"
-				aheadBehindStr := strings.Split(strings.TrimSpace(output), "\t")
-				if len(aheadBehindStr) == 2 {
-					if value, err := strconv.Atoi(aheadBehindStr[1]); err == nil {
-						behind = value
-					}
-				}
-			}
-			branch.BehindBaseBranch.Store(int32(behind))
+			branch.BehindBaseBranch.Store(classifyBehind(behinds))
 			return nil
 		})
 	}
@@ -206,9 +186,13 @@ func (self *BranchLoader) getBehindBaseBranchValuesLegacy(
 	return err
 }
 
-// Holds parsed values from a single %(ahead-behind:<base>) field.
+// Holds parsed values from a single %(ahead-behind:<base>) field. `valid`
+// is false when the field failed to parse (e.g. the base was unreachable
+// from this ref); the entry is preserved so that the slice stays index-
+// aligned with the configured main branches.
 type aheadBehind struct {
 	ahead, behind int
+	valid         bool
 }
 
 type branchAheadBehind struct {
@@ -222,7 +206,7 @@ type branchAheadBehind struct {
 //
 // Lines whose NUL-split column count doesn't match (1 + numBases) are dropped.
 // Blank lines are ignored.
-// Individual malformed ahead-behind fields produce {valid: false} entries
+// Individual malformed ahead-behind fields produce {valid: false} entries.
 func parseAheadBehindForEachRefOutput(
 	output string,
 	numBases int, // number of %(ahead-behind:...) tokens
@@ -238,7 +222,7 @@ func parseAheadBehindForEachRefOutput(
 			continue
 		}
 		refName := cols[0]
-		aheadBehinds := lo.FilterMap(cols[1:], func(col string, _ int) (aheadBehind, bool) {
+		aheadBehinds := lo.Map(cols[1:], func(col string, _ int) aheadBehind {
 			return parseAheadBehindField(col)
 		})
 		entry := branchAheadBehind{
@@ -250,27 +234,77 @@ func parseAheadBehindForEachRefOutput(
 	return result
 }
 
-func parseAheadBehindField(s string) (aheadBehind, bool) {
+func parseAheadBehindField(s string) aheadBehind {
 	parts := strings.Fields(s)
 	if len(parts) != 2 {
-		return aheadBehind{}, false
+		return aheadBehind{}
 	}
 	ahead, err1 := strconv.Atoi(parts[0])
 	behind, err2 := strconv.Atoi(parts[1])
 	if err1 != nil || err2 != nil {
-		return aheadBehind{}, false
+		return aheadBehind{}
+	}
+	return aheadBehind{ahead: ahead, behind: behind, valid: true}
+}
+
+// selectBaseForBranch picks the closest base(s) for a branch given
+// (ahead, behind) measurements against each configured main branch.
+// "Closest" = smallest ahead value (fewest branch commits not in the
+// base). Ties are broken by the order of mainRefs (i.e. config order).
+//
+// aheadBehinds must be index-aligned with mainRefs; invalid entries are
+// skipped. Returns parallel slices: the refs tied at the minimum ahead
+// (in config order) and their behind values. The caller picks
+// candidates[0] for a single answer, or detects ambiguity via
+// `len(candidates) > 1`.
+func selectBaseForBranch(
+	aheadBehinds []aheadBehind, mainRefs []string,
+) (candidates []string, behinds []int) {
+	bestAhead := -1
+	for i, ab := range aheadBehinds {
+		if !ab.valid {
+			continue
+		}
+		switch {
+		case bestAhead < 0 || ab.ahead < bestAhead:
+			bestAhead = ab.ahead
+			candidates = []string{mainRefs[i]}
+			behinds = []int{ab.behind}
+		case ab.ahead == bestAhead:
+			candidates = append(candidates, mainRefs[i])
+			behinds = append(behinds, ab.behind)
+		}
 	}
-	return aheadBehind{ahead: ahead, behind: behind}, true
+	return candidates, behinds
 }
 
-// Picks the "closest" base by smallest ahead value (commits the branch
-// has that the base doesn't = roughly "since fork point") and returns
-// its behind value.
-// Ties are broken by index order
-func selectBehindForBranch(aheadBehinds []aheadBehind) int {
-	return lo.MinBy(aheadBehinds, func(a, b aheadBehind) bool {
-		return a.ahead < b.ahead
-	}).behind
+// classifyBehind condenses per-candidate behind values into the single
+// number stored on Branch.BehindBaseBranch for column display. When the
+// candidates all agree (possibly on 0), return that value; otherwise
+// return one of the BehindBaseAmbiguous* sentinels so the renderer can
+// show "?" or "↓?" instead of a misleadingly precise count.
+func classifyBehind(behinds []int) int32 {
+	if len(behinds) == 0 {
+		return 0
+	}
+	first := behinds[0]
+	allEqual := true
+	anyZero := first == 0
+	for _, b := range behinds[1:] {
+		if b != first {
+			allEqual = false
+		}
+		if b == 0 {
+			anyZero = true
+		}
+	}
+	if allEqual {
+		return int32(first)
+	}
+	if anyZero {
+		return models.BehindBaseAmbiguousMaybeUpToDate
+	}
+	return models.BehindBaseAmbiguousDefinitelyBehind
 }
 
 // The output format is:
@@ -296,11 +330,12 @@ func buildAheadBehindForEachRefArgs(mainBranchRefs []string) []string {
 
 func (self *BranchLoader) getBehindBaseBranchValuesFast(
 	branches []*models.Branch,
-	mainBranchRefs []string,
+	mainBranches *MainBranches,
 	renderFunc func(),
 ) error {
 	t := time.Now()
 
+	mainBranchRefs := mainBranches.Get()
 	output, err := self.cmd.New(
 		buildAheadBehindForEachRefArgs(mainBranchRefs),
 	).DontLog().RunWithOutput()
@@ -313,8 +348,8 @@ func (self *BranchLoader) getBehindBaseBranchValuesFast(
 
 	for _, p := range parsed {
 		if branch, ok := branchByRef[p.refName]; ok {
-			behind := selectBehindForBranch(p.aheadBehinds)
-			branch.BehindBaseBranch.Store(int32(behind))
+			_, behinds := selectBaseForBranch(p.aheadBehinds, mainBranchRefs)
+			branch.BehindBaseBranch.Store(classifyBehind(behinds))
 			delete(branchByRef, p.refName)
 		}
 	}
@@ -329,37 +364,83 @@ func (self *BranchLoader) getBehindBaseBranchValuesFast(
 	return nil
 }
 
-// Find the base branch for the given branch (i.e. the main branch that the
-// given branch was forked off of)
-//
-// Note that this function may return an empty string even if the returned error
-// is nil, e.g. when none of the configured main branches exist. This is not
-// considered an error condition, so callers need to check both the returned
-// error and whether the returned base branch is empty (and possibly react
-// differently in both cases).
-func (self *BranchLoader) GetBaseBranch(branch *models.Branch, mainBranches *MainBranches) (string, error) {
+// GetBaseBranchCandidates returns the configured main branches that are the
+// closest base for the given branch — typically a single ref, but more
+// when the closeness rule (smallest ahead value) leaves a tie. Candidates
+// are returned in config order, so callers wanting one answer can use
+// candidates[0] as the config-order tiebreak. An empty slice (with nil
+// error) means no configured main branch contains the branch's merge-base.
+func (self *BranchLoader) GetBaseBranchCandidates(branch *models.Branch, mainBranches *MainBranches) ([]string, error) {
+	candidates, _, err := self.baseBranchCandidatesAndBehinds(branch, mainBranches)
+	return candidates, err
+}
+
+// baseBranchCandidatesAndBehinds is the full computation behind
+// GetBaseBranchCandidates: it also reports the behind count for each
+// returned candidate, which the legacy behind-base loader needs in order
+// to classify the column display when the candidates disagree. Slices
+// are parallel and in config order.
+func (self *BranchLoader) baseBranchCandidatesAndBehinds(branch *models.Branch, mainBranches *MainBranches) ([]string, []int, error) {
 	mergeBase := mainBranches.GetMergeBase(branch.FullRefName())
 	if mergeBase == "" {
-		return "", nil
+		return nil, nil, nil
 	}
 
+	mainBranchRefs := mainBranches.Get()
 	output, err := self.cmd.New(
 		NewGitCmd("for-each-ref").
 			Arg("--contains").
 			Arg(mergeBase).
 			Arg("--format=%(refname)").
-			Arg(mainBranches.Get()...).
+			Arg(mainBranchRefs...).
 			ToArgv(),
 	).DontLog().RunWithOutput()
 	if err != nil {
-		return "", err
+		return nil, nil, err
 	}
 	trimmedOutput := strings.TrimSpace(output)
-	split := strings.Split(trimmedOutput, "\n")
-	if len(split) == 0 || split[0] == "" {
-		return "", nil
+	if trimmedOutput == "" {
+		return nil, nil, nil
+	}
+	contained := strings.Split(trimmedOutput, "\n")
+
+	// for-each-ref sorts its output alphabetically by refname regardless of
+	// the order we passed the refs in. Restore the user's configured order so
+	// it can serve as the natural tiebreaker.
+	containing := lo.Filter(mainBranchRefs, func(ref string, _ int) bool {
+		return lo.Contains(contained, ref)
+	})
+	if len(containing) == 0 {
+		return nil, nil, nil
+	}
+
+	// Measure ahead/behind against each containing ref and hand off to
+	// selectBaseForBranch — the same selector the fast path uses — so
+	// both paths agree on the closeness rule and the config-order
+	// tiebreak. We do this even when there's only one containing ref,
+	// because the legacy column display still needs the behind value.
+	aheadBehinds := make([]aheadBehind, len(containing))
+	for i, ref := range containing {
+		revListOutput, err := self.cmd.New(
+			NewGitCmd("rev-list").
+				Arg("--left-right").
+				Arg("--count").
+				Arg(fmt.Sprintf("%s...%s", branch.FullRefName(), ref)).
+				ToArgv(),
+		).DontLog().RunWithOutput()
+		if err != nil {
+			return nil, nil, err
+		}
+		aheadBehinds[i] = parseAheadBehindField(strings.TrimSpace(revListOutput))
+	}
+
+	candidates, behinds := selectBaseForBranch(aheadBehinds, containing)
+	if len(candidates) == 0 {
+		// Every rev-list output was malformed; fall back to config order
+		// with no reliable behinds.
+		return containing, nil, nil
 	}
-	return split[0], nil
+	return candidates, behinds, nil
 }
 
 func (self *BranchLoader) obtainBranches() []*models.Branch {
diff --git a/pkg/commands/git_commands/branch_loader_test.go b/pkg/commands/git_commands/branch_loader_test.go
index f20ce6186e0..b3a3ade40f1 100644
--- a/pkg/commands/git_commands/branch_loader_test.go
+++ b/pkg/commands/git_commands/branch_loader_test.go
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ func TestParseAheadBehindForEachRefOutput(t *testing.T) {
 			expected: []branchAheadBehind{
 				{
 					refName:      "refs/heads/feat",
-					aheadBehinds: []aheadBehind{{ahead: 2, behind: 5}},
+					aheadBehinds: []aheadBehind{{ahead: 2, behind: 5, valid: true}},
 				},
 			},
 		},
@@ -155,15 +155,15 @@ func TestParseAheadBehindForEachRefOutput(t *testing.T) {
 				{
 					refName: "refs/heads/feat",
 					aheadBehinds: []aheadBehind{
-						{ahead: 2, behind: 5},
-						{ahead: 10, behind: 1},
+						{ahead: 2, behind: 5, valid: true},
+						{ahead: 10, behind: 1, valid: true},
 					},
 				},
 				{
 					refName: "refs/heads/main",
 					aheadBehinds: []aheadBehind{
-						{ahead: 0, behind: 0},
-						{ahead: 0, behind: 0},
+						{ahead: 0, behind: 0, valid: true},
+						{ahead: 0, behind: 0, valid: true},
 					},
 				},
 			},
@@ -176,7 +176,8 @@ func TestParseAheadBehindForEachRefOutput(t *testing.T) {
 				{
 					refName: "refs/heads/feat",
 					aheadBehinds: []aheadBehind{
-						{ahead: 2, behind: 5},
+						{valid: false},
+						{ahead: 2, behind: 5, valid: true},
 					},
 				},
 			},
@@ -188,7 +189,7 @@ func TestParseAheadBehindForEachRefOutput(t *testing.T) {
 			expected: []branchAheadBehind{
 				{
 					refName:      "refs/heads/feat/foo-bar",
-					aheadBehinds: []aheadBehind{{ahead: 1, behind: 2}},
+					aheadBehinds: []aheadBehind{{ahead: 1, behind: 2, valid: true}},
 				},
 			},
 		},
@@ -199,7 +200,7 @@ func TestParseAheadBehindForEachRefOutput(t *testing.T) {
 			expected: []branchAheadBehind{
 				{
 					refName:      "refs/heads/feat",
-					aheadBehinds: []aheadBehind{{ahead: 1, behind: 2}},
+					aheadBehinds: []aheadBehind{{ahead: 1, behind: 2, valid: true}},
 				},
 			},
 		},
@@ -212,11 +213,11 @@ func TestParseAheadBehindForEachRefOutput(t *testing.T) {
 			expected: []branchAheadBehind{
 				{
 					refName:      "refs/heads/good",
-					aheadBehinds: []aheadBehind{{ahead: 1, behind: 2}},
+					aheadBehinds: []aheadBehind{{ahead: 1, behind: 2, valid: true}},
 				},
 				{
 					refName:      "refs/heads/also_good",
-					aheadBehinds: []aheadBehind{{ahead: 3, behind: 4}},
+					aheadBehinds: []aheadBehind{{ahead: 3, behind: 4, valid: true}},
 				},
 			},
 		},
@@ -227,7 +228,7 @@ func TestParseAheadBehindForEachRefOutput(t *testing.T) {
 			expected: []branchAheadBehind{
 				{
 					refName:      "refs/heads/feat",
-					aheadBehinds: []aheadBehind{},
+					aheadBehinds: []aheadBehind{{valid: false}},
 				},
 			},
 		},
@@ -247,26 +248,58 @@ func TestParseAheadBehindForEachRefOutput(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestSelectBehindForBranch(t *testing.T) {
+func TestClassifyBehind(t *testing.T) {
 	type scenario struct {
-		testName     string
-		aheadBehinds []aheadBehind
-		expected     int
+		testName string
+		behinds  []int
+		expected int32
+	}
+
+	scenarios := []scenario{
+		{"empty", nil, 0},
+		{"single zero", []int{0}, 0},
+		{"single non-zero", []int{5}, 5},
+		{"all equal zero", []int{0, 0, 0}, 0},
+		{"all equal non-zero", []int{7, 7}, 7},
+		{"mixed zero and non-zero → ?", []int{0, 5}, models.BehindBaseAmbiguousMaybeUpToDate},
+		{"mixed zero and non-zero, reversed → ?", []int{5, 0}, models.BehindBaseAmbiguousMaybeUpToDate},
+		{"all non-zero, different → ↓?", []int{3, 5}, models.BehindBaseAmbiguousDefinitelyBehind},
+		{"all non-zero, different (three) → ↓?", []int{3, 5, 7}, models.BehindBaseAmbiguousDefinitelyBehind},
+	}
+
+	for _, s := range scenarios {
+		t.Run(s.testName, func(t *testing.T) {
+			assert.Equal(t, s.expected, classifyBehind(s.behinds))
+		})
+	}
+}
+
+func TestSelectBaseForBranch(t *testing.T) {
+	type scenario struct {
+		testName           string
+		aheadBehinds       []aheadBehind
+		mainRefs           []string
+		expectedCandidates []string
+		expectedBehinds    []int
 	}
 
 	scenarios := []scenario{
 		{
-			testName:     "single base, valid value",
-			aheadBehinds: []aheadBehind{{ahead: 3, behind: 7}},
-			expected:     7,
+			testName:           "single base, valid value",
+			aheadBehinds:       []aheadBehind{{ahead: 3, behind: 7, valid: true}},
+			mainRefs:           []string{"refs/heads/master"},
+			expectedCandidates: []string{"refs/heads/master"},
+			expectedBehinds:    []int{7},
 		},
 		{
 			testName: "multi-base, clear winner by ahead",
 			aheadBehinds: []aheadBehind{
-				{ahead: 50, behind: 10}, // master
-				{ahead: 5, behind: 2},   // develop  ← smallest ahead
+				{ahead: 50, behind: 10, valid: true}, // master
+				{ahead: 5, behind: 2, valid: true},   // develop  ← smallest ahead
 			},
-			expected: 2,
+			mainRefs:           []string{"refs/heads/master", "refs/heads/develop"},
+			expectedCandidates: []string{"refs/heads/develop"},
+			expectedBehinds:    []int{2},
 		},
 		{
 			testName: "develop forked from master case (ancestor-of-each-other)",
@@ -275,42 +308,60 @@ func TestSelectBehindForBranch(t *testing.T) {
 			// ahead vs master = 5 + 50 = 55; behind vs master = 0
 			// ahead vs develop = 5;          behind vs develop = 5
 			aheadBehinds: []aheadBehind{
-				{ahead: 55, behind: 0}, // master
-				{ahead: 5, behind: 5},  // develop  ← smallest ahead
+				{ahead: 55, behind: 0, valid: true}, // master
+				{ahead: 5, behind: 5, valid: true},  // develop  ← smallest ahead
 			},
-			expected: 5,
+			mainRefs:           []string{"refs/heads/master", "refs/heads/develop"},
+			expectedCandidates: []string{"refs/heads/develop"},
+			expectedBehinds:    []int{5},
 		},
 		{
-			testName: "tie on ahead - first base wins (config order)",
+			testName: "tie on ahead - both candidates returned in config order",
 			aheadBehinds: []aheadBehind{
-				{ahead: 5, behind: 10}, // first
-				{ahead: 5, behind: 99}, // second, same ahead
+				{ahead: 5, behind: 10, valid: true}, // first
+				{ahead: 5, behind: 99, valid: true}, // second, same ahead
+			},
+			mainRefs: []string{"refs/heads/main", "refs/heads/develop"},
+			expectedCandidates: []string{
+				"refs/heads/main",
+				"refs/heads/develop",
 			},
-			expected: 10,
+			expectedBehinds: []int{10, 99},
 		},
 		{
 			testName: "first base invalid, second valid",
 			aheadBehinds: []aheadBehind{
-				{ahead: 3, behind: 8},
+				{valid: false},
+				{ahead: 3, behind: 8, valid: true},
 			},
-			expected: 8,
+			mainRefs:           []string{"refs/heads/master", "refs/heads/develop"},
+			expectedCandidates: []string{"refs/heads/develop"},
+			expectedBehinds:    []int{8},
 		},
 		{
-			testName:     "all invalid - returns 0",
-			aheadBehinds: []aheadBehind{},
-			expected:     0,
+			testName: "all invalid - returns empty",
+			aheadBehinds: []aheadBehind{
+				{valid: false},
+				{valid: false},
+			},
+			mainRefs:           []string{"refs/heads/master", "refs/heads/develop"},
+			expectedCandidates: nil,
+			expectedBehinds:    nil,
 		},
 		{
-			testName:     "empty - returns 0",
-			aheadBehinds: nil,
-			expected:     0,
+			testName:           "empty - returns empty",
+			aheadBehinds:       nil,
+			mainRefs:           nil,
+			expectedCandidates: nil,
+			expectedBehinds:    nil,
 		},
 	}
 
 	for _, s := range scenarios {
 		t.Run(s.testName, func(t *testing.T) {
-			result := selectBehindForBranch(s.aheadBehinds)
-			assert.Equal(t, s.expected, result)
+			candidates, behinds := selectBaseForBranch(s.aheadBehinds, s.mainRefs)
+			assert.Equal(t, s.expectedCandidates, candidates)
+			assert.Equal(t, s.expectedBehinds, behinds)
 		})
 	}
 }
@@ -458,8 +509,8 @@ func TestGetBehindBaseBranchValuesForAllBranches_LegacyPath(t *testing.T) {
 		{Name: "feat-x"},
 	}
 
-	// In legacy path: per-branch GetBaseBranch (merge-base + for-each-ref --contains)
-	// then rev-list --left-right --count.
+	// In legacy path: per-branch GetBaseBranchCandidates (merge-base +
+	// for-each-ref --contains) then rev-list --left-right --count.
 	runner := oscommands.NewFakeRunner(t).
 		ExpectGitArgs([]string{"merge-base", "refs/heads/feat-x", "refs/heads/master"}, "abc123\n", nil).
 		ExpectGitArgs([]string{"for-each-ref", "--contains", "abc123", "--format=%(refname)", "refs/heads/master"}, "refs/heads/master\n", nil).
@@ -491,3 +542,98 @@ func TestGetBehindBaseBranchValuesForAllBranches_LegacyPath(t *testing.T) {
 
 	runner.CheckForMissingCalls()
 }
+
+// When the branch's merge-base is contained in more than one configured main
+// branch and the ahead counts are equal, the candidate list must preserve
+// the user's configured order rather than the alphabetical order of
+// for-each-ref's output.
+func TestGetBaseBranchCandidates_AmbiguousReturnsAllInConfigOrder(t *testing.T) {
+	mainBranchRefs := []string{"refs/heads/main", "refs/heads/develop"}
+	branch := &models.Branch{Name: "feat-x"}
+
+	runner := oscommands.NewFakeRunner(t).
+		ExpectGitArgs(
+			[]string{"merge-base", "refs/heads/feat-x", "refs/heads/main", "refs/heads/develop"},
+			"abc123\n", nil).
+		ExpectGitArgs(
+			[]string{
+				"for-each-ref", "--contains", "abc123", "--format=%(refname)",
+				"refs/heads/main", "refs/heads/develop",
+			},
+			"refs/heads/develop\nrefs/heads/main\n", nil).
+		ExpectGitArgs(
+			[]string{"rev-list", "--left-right", "--count", "refs/heads/feat-x...refs/heads/main"},
+			"5\t10\n", nil).
+		ExpectGitArgs(
+			[]string{"rev-list", "--left-right", "--count", "refs/heads/feat-x...refs/heads/develop"},
+			"5\t8\n", nil)
+
+	gitCommon := buildGitCommon(commonDeps{runner: runner})
+
+	loader := &BranchLoader{
+		Common:    gitCommon.Common,
+		GitCommon: gitCommon,
+		cmd:       gitCommon.cmd,
+	}
+
+	mainBranches := &MainBranches{
+		c:                    gitCommon.Common,
+		cmd:                  gitCommon.cmd,
+		existingMainBranches: mainBranchRefs,
+		previousMainBranches: gitCommon.Common.UserConfig().Git.MainBranches,
+	}
+
+	candidates, err := loader.GetBaseBranchCandidates(branch, mainBranches)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, []string{"refs/heads/main", "refs/heads/develop"}, candidates)
+
+	runner.CheckForMissingCalls()
+}
+
+// When a configured main branch has a strictly smaller ahead count than any
+// other (e.g. the branch was forked off `main` after main's last merge into
+// `develop`, so `develop` doesn't yet contain the fork point's recent main
+// history), that base wins outright regardless of config order, so only
+// that one ref is returned.
+func TestGetBaseBranchCandidates_UnambiguousReturnsSmallestAheadOnly(t *testing.T) {
+	mainBranchRefs := []string{"refs/heads/develop", "refs/heads/main"}
+	branch := &models.Branch{Name: "feat-x"}
+
+	runner := oscommands.NewFakeRunner(t).
+		ExpectGitArgs(
+			[]string{"merge-base", "refs/heads/feat-x", "refs/heads/develop", "refs/heads/main"},
+			"abc123\n", nil).
+		ExpectGitArgs(
+			[]string{
+				"for-each-ref", "--contains", "abc123", "--format=%(refname)",
+				"refs/heads/develop", "refs/heads/main",
+			},
+			"refs/heads/develop\nrefs/heads/main\n", nil).
+		ExpectGitArgs(
+			[]string{"rev-list", "--left-right", "--count", "refs/heads/feat-x...refs/heads/develop"},
+			"8\t3\n", nil).
+		ExpectGitArgs(
+			[]string{"rev-list", "--left-right", "--count", "refs/heads/feat-x...refs/heads/main"},
+			"5\t10\n", nil)
+
+	gitCommon := buildGitCommon(commonDeps{runner: runner})
+
+	loader := &BranchLoader{
+		Common:    gitCommon.Common,
+		GitCommon: gitCommon,
+		cmd:       gitCommon.cmd,
+	}
+
+	mainBranches := &MainBranches{
+		c:                    gitCommon.Common,
+		cmd:                  gitCommon.cmd,
+		existingMainBranches: mainBranchRefs,
+		previousMainBranches: gitCommon.Common.UserConfig().Git.MainBranches,
+	}
+
+	candidates, err := loader.GetBaseBranchCandidates(branch, mainBranches)
+	assert.NoError(t, err)
+	assert.Equal(t, []string{"refs/heads/main"}, candidates)
+
+	runner.CheckForMissingCalls()
+}
diff --git a/pkg/commands/models/branch.go b/pkg/commands/models/branch.go
index 4dc48a88d8d..c8afa6de241 100644
--- a/pkg/commands/models/branch.go
+++ b/pkg/commands/models/branch.go
@@ -39,9 +39,26 @@ type Branch struct {
 	// How far we have fallen behind our base branch. 0 means either not
 	// determined yet, or up to date with base branch. (We don't need to
 	// distinguish the two, as we don't draw anything in both cases.)
+	// Negative values are sentinels for the ambiguous case where we can't
+	// pick a single base; see BehindBase* constants below.
 	BehindBaseBranch atomic.Int32
 }
 
+// Sentinel values stored in Branch.BehindBaseBranch when the base branch
+// is ambiguous (more than one configured main branch tied at the closest
+// position) and the candidates disagree on the behind count.
+const (
+	// BehindBaseAmbiguousMaybeUpToDate means at least one candidate has
+	// the branch up to date and at least one has it behind; we don't
+	// know which. Rendered as "?".
+	BehindBaseAmbiguousMaybeUpToDate int32 = -1
+
+	// BehindBaseAmbiguousDefinitelyBehind means every candidate has the
+	// branch behind by a non-zero amount, but the amounts differ — so we
+	// know the branch is behind, just not by how much. Rendered as "↓?".
+	BehindBaseAmbiguousDefinitelyBehind int32 = -2
+)
+
 func (b *Branch) FullRefName() string {
 	if b.DetachedHead {
 		return b.Name
diff --git a/pkg/config/app_config_test.go b/pkg/config/app_config_test.go
index 1109256a9d3..cdec617ff68 100644
--- a/pkg/config/app_config_test.go
+++ b/pkg/config/app_config_test.go
@@ -640,7 +640,7 @@ git:
     # The commit message to use for a squash merge commit. Can contain "{{selectedRef}}" and "{{currentBranch}}" placeholders.
     squashMergeMessage: Squash merge {{selectedRef}} into {{currentBranch}}
 
-  # list of branches that are considered 'main' branches, used when displaying commits
+  # list of branches that are considered 'main' branches, used when displaying commits and for determining each branch's base. Lazygit prompts when a branch could be based on more than one of these (typical when one is regularly merged into another).
   mainBranches:
     - master
     - main
diff --git a/pkg/config/user_config.go b/pkg/config/user_config.go
index 0b2dcac0ce0..dba988e2e86 100644
--- a/pkg/config/user_config.go
+++ b/pkg/config/user_config.go
@@ -281,7 +281,7 @@ type GitConfig struct {
 	Commit CommitConfig `yaml:"commit"`
 	// Config relating to merging
 	Merging MergingConfig `yaml:"merging"`
-	// list of branches that are considered 'main' branches, used when displaying commits
+	// list of branches that are considered 'main' branches, used when displaying commits and for determining each branch's base. Lazygit prompts when a branch could be based on more than one of these (typical when one is regularly merged into another).
 	MainBranches []string `yaml:"mainBranches" jsonschema:"uniqueItems=true"`
 	// Prefix to use when skipping hooks. E.g. if set to 'WIP', then pre-commit hooks will be skipped when the commit message starts with 'WIP'
 	SkipHookPrefix string `yaml:"skipHookPrefix"`
diff --git a/pkg/gui/controllers.go b/pkg/gui/controllers.go
index 51e240a5d55..d83d31a3c1c 100644
--- a/pkg/gui/controllers.go
+++ b/pkg/gui/controllers.go
@@ -25,8 +25,9 @@ func (gui *Gui) resetHelpersAndControllers() {
 	helperCommon := gui.c
 	recordDirectoryHelper := helpers.NewRecordDirectoryHelper(helperCommon)
 	reposHelper := helpers.NewRecentReposHelper(helperCommon, recordDirectoryHelper, gui.onSwitchToNewRepo)
-	rebaseHelper := helpers.NewMergeAndRebaseHelper(helperCommon)
-	refsHelper := helpers.NewRefsHelper(helperCommon, rebaseHelper)
+	baseBranchHelper := helpers.NewBaseBranchHelper(helperCommon)
+	rebaseHelper := helpers.NewMergeAndRebaseHelper(helperCommon, baseBranchHelper)
+	refsHelper := helpers.NewRefsHelper(helperCommon, rebaseHelper, baseBranchHelper)
 	suggestionsHelper := helpers.NewSuggestionsHelper(helperCommon)
 	worktreeHelper := helpers.NewWorktreeHelper(helperCommon, reposHelper, refsHelper, suggestionsHelper)
 
@@ -129,6 +130,7 @@ func (gui *Gui) resetHelpersAndControllers() {
 		Search:     searchHelper,
 		Worktree:   worktreeHelper,
 		SubCommits: helpers.NewSubCommitsHelper(helperCommon, refreshHelper),
+		BaseBranch: helpers.NewBaseBranchHelper(helperCommon),
 	}
 
 	gui.CustomCommandsClient = custom_commands.NewClient(
diff --git a/pkg/gui/controllers/branches_controller.go b/pkg/gui/controllers/branches_controller.go
index 24ef84d5406..b2454b2c4ee 100644
--- a/pkg/gui/controllers/branches_controller.go
+++ b/pkg/gui/controllers/branches_controller.go
@@ -285,18 +285,26 @@ func (self *BranchesController) viewUpstreamOptions(selectedBranch *models.Branc
 	}
 
 	var disabledReason *types.DisabledReason
-	baseBranch, err := self.c.Git().Loaders.BranchLoader.GetBaseBranch(selectedBranch, self.c.Model().MainBranches)
+	baseBranch, baseAmbiguous, baseCandidates, err := self.c.Helpers().BaseBranch.ResolveBaseBranch(selectedBranch)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	if baseBranch == "" {
-		baseBranch = self.c.Tr.CouldNotDetermineBaseBranch
+	baseBranchLabel := helpers.BaseBranchDisplayName(baseBranch)
+	switch {
+	case baseBranch == "":
+		baseBranchLabel = self.c.Tr.CouldNotDetermineBaseBranch
 		disabledReason = &types.DisabledReason{Text: self.c.Tr.CouldNotDetermineBaseBranch}
+	case baseAmbiguous:
+		shortNames := lo.Map(baseCandidates, func(ref string, _ int) string {
+			return helpers.BaseBranchDisplayName(ref)
+		})
+		baseBranchLabel = utils.ResolvePlaceholderString(self.c.Tr.PickBaseBranchLabel,
+			map[string]string{"candidates": strings.Join(shortNames, ", ")},
+		)
 	}
-	shortBaseBranchName := helpers.ShortBranchName(baseBranch)
 	label := utils.ResolvePlaceholderString(
 		self.c.Tr.ViewDivergenceFromBaseBranch,
-		map[string]string{"baseBranch": shortBaseBranchName},
+		map[string]string{"baseBranch": baseBranchLabel},
 	)
 	viewDivergenceFromBaseBranchItem := &types.MenuItem{
 		LabelColumns: []string{label},
@@ -306,14 +314,19 @@ func (self *BranchesController) viewUpstreamOptions(selectedBranch *models.Branc
 			if branch == nil {
 				return nil
 			}
-
-			return self.c.Helpers().SubCommits.ViewSubCommits(helpers.ViewSubCommitsOpts{
-				Ref:                     branch,
-				TitleRef:                fmt.Sprintf("%s <-> %s", branch.RefName(), shortBaseBranchName),
-				RefToShowDivergenceFrom: baseBranch,
-				Context:                 self.context(),
-				ShowBranchHeads:         false,
-			})
+			showDivergence := func(base string) error {
+				return self.c.Helpers().SubCommits.ViewSubCommits(helpers.ViewSubCommitsOpts{
+					Ref:                     branch,
+					TitleRef:                fmt.Sprintf("%s <-> %s", branch.RefName(), helpers.BaseBranchDisplayName(base)),
+					RefToShowDivergenceFrom: base,
+					Context:                 self.context(),
+					ShowBranchHeads:         false,
+				})
+			}
+			if baseAmbiguous {
+				return self.c.Helpers().BaseBranch.ShowPicker(branch, baseCandidates, showDivergence)
+			}
+			return showDivergence(baseBranch)
 		},
 		DisabledReason: disabledReason,
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/gui/controllers/helpers/base_branch_helper.go b/pkg/gui/controllers/helpers/base_branch_helper.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..8db870e9601
--- /dev/null
+++ b/pkg/gui/controllers/helpers/base_branch_helper.go
@@ -0,0 +1,63 @@
+package helpers
+
+import (
+	"github.com/jesseduffield/lazygit/pkg/commands/models"
+	"github.com/jesseduffield/lazygit/pkg/gui/types"
+	"github.com/jesseduffield/lazygit/pkg/utils"
+	"github.com/samber/lo"
+)
+
+// BaseBranchHelper resolves the base branch for a given branch. The
+// closeness rule (smallest ahead value) usually picks a single answer
+// but can leave a tie when the branch's fork point is reachable from
+// more than one main branch — in that case the helper surfaces the
+// candidates so the caller can disambiguate.
+type BaseBranchHelper struct {
+	c *HelperCommon
+}
+
+func NewBaseBranchHelper(c *HelperCommon) *BaseBranchHelper {
+	return &BaseBranchHelper{c: c}
+}
+
+// ResolveBaseBranch returns the base branch for the given branch, the
+// full set of tied candidates (for any disambiguation UI), and whether
+// the answer is genuinely ambiguous (more than one candidate tied at
+// the closest position).
+//
+// An empty baseRef (with no error) means no configured main branch
+// contains the branch — not an error condition.
+func (self *BaseBranchHelper) ResolveBaseBranch(branch *models.Branch) (baseRef string, ambiguous bool, candidates []string, err error) {
+	mainBranches := self.c.Model().MainBranches
+	candidates, err = self.c.Git().Loaders.BranchLoader.GetBaseBranchCandidates(branch, mainBranches)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", false, nil, err
+	}
+	if len(candidates) == 0 {
+		return "", false, nil, nil
+	}
+	return candidates[0], len(candidates) > 1, candidates, nil
+}
+
+// ShowPicker presents a menu of candidate base branches and runs
+// onPicked with the user's selection. Callers should only invoke this
+// when ResolveBaseBranch reported ambiguous=true; for the
+// single-candidate case there is nothing to pick.
+func (self *BaseBranchHelper) ShowPicker(
+	branch *models.Branch,
+	candidates []string,
+	onPicked func(baseRef string) error,
+) error {
+	items := lo.Map(candidates, func(ref string, _ int) *types.MenuItem {
+		return &types.MenuItem{
+			Label:   BaseBranchDisplayName(ref),
+			OnPress: func() error { return onPicked(ref) },
+		}
+	})
+	return self.c.Menu(types.CreateMenuOptions{
+		Title: utils.ResolvePlaceholderString(self.c.Tr.PickBaseBranchTitle,
+			map[string]string{"branchName": branch.Name}),
+		Prompt: self.c.Tr.PickBaseBranchPrompt,
+		Items:  items,
+	})
+}
diff --git a/pkg/gui/controllers/helpers/branches_helper.go b/pkg/gui/controllers/helpers/branches_helper.go
index 8af447f79b2..1cc5b84301f 100644
--- a/pkg/gui/controllers/helpers/branches_helper.go
+++ b/pkg/gui/controllers/helpers/branches_helper.go
@@ -195,8 +195,30 @@ func (self *BranchesHelper) ConfirmLocalAndRemoteDelete(branches []*models.Branc
 	return nil
 }
 
-func ShortBranchName(fullBranchName string) string {
-	return strings.TrimPrefix(strings.TrimPrefix(fullBranchName, "refs/heads/"), "refs/remotes/")
+// BaseBranchDisplayName returns the user-facing name of a configured main
+// branch from its resolved full ref:
+//
+//	refs/heads/main             → main
+//	refs/remotes/origin/main    → main
+//	refs/remotes/origin/feat/x  → feat/x
+//
+// For remote-tracking refs the remote name is dropped along with the prefix:
+// the user configured plain "main" in mainBranches and shouldn't have to see
+// whether lazygit ultimately resolved it to a local or remote ref. The remote
+// is only meaningful internally, so this function is intended specifically for
+// base-branch display — don't use it where the local/remote distinction
+// matters.
+func BaseBranchDisplayName(fullBranchName string) string {
+	if name, ok := strings.CutPrefix(fullBranchName, "refs/heads/"); ok {
+		return name
+	}
+	if name, ok := strings.CutPrefix(fullBranchName, "refs/remotes/"); ok {
+		if _, withoutRemote, found := strings.Cut(name, "/"); found {
+			return withoutRemote
+		}
+		return name
+	}
+	return fullBranchName
 }
 
 func (self *BranchesHelper) checkedOutByOtherWorktree(branch *models.Branch) bool {
diff --git a/pkg/gui/controllers/helpers/helpers.go b/pkg/gui/controllers/helpers/helpers.go
index 4c9c79f3d81..a72c89263b5 100644
--- a/pkg/gui/controllers/helpers/helpers.go
+++ b/pkg/gui/controllers/helpers/helpers.go
@@ -53,6 +53,7 @@ type Helpers struct {
 	Search            *SearchHelper
 	Worktree          *WorktreeHelper
 	SubCommits        *SubCommitsHelper
+	BaseBranch        *BaseBranchHelper
 }
 
 func NewStubHelpers() *Helpers {
@@ -90,5 +91,6 @@ func NewStubHelpers() *Helpers {
 		Search:            &SearchHelper{},
 		Worktree:          &WorktreeHelper{},
 		SubCommits:        &SubCommitsHelper{},
+		BaseBranch:        &BaseBranchHelper{},
 	}
 }
diff --git a/pkg/gui/controllers/helpers/merge_and_rebase_helper.go b/pkg/gui/controllers/helpers/merge_and_rebase_helper.go
index cd141c69770..a419aa6ac17 100644
--- a/pkg/gui/controllers/helpers/merge_and_rebase_helper.go
+++ b/pkg/gui/controllers/helpers/merge_and_rebase_helper.go
@@ -17,14 +17,17 @@ import (
 )
 
 type MergeAndRebaseHelper struct {
-	c *HelperCommon
+	c                *HelperCommon
+	baseBranchHelper *BaseBranchHelper
 }
 
 func NewMergeAndRebaseHelper(
 	c *HelperCommon,
+	baseBranchHelper *BaseBranchHelper,
 ) *MergeAndRebaseHelper {
 	return &MergeAndRebaseHelper{
-		c: c,
+		c:                c,
+		baseBranchHelper: baseBranchHelper,
 	}
 }
 
@@ -270,13 +273,22 @@ func (self *MergeAndRebaseHelper) RebaseOntoRef(ref string) error {
 		disabledReason = &types.DisabledReason{Text: self.c.Tr.CantRebaseOntoSelf}
 	}
 
-	baseBranch, err := self.c.Git().Loaders.BranchLoader.GetBaseBranch(checkedOutBranch, self.c.Model().MainBranches)
+	baseBranch, baseAmbiguous, baseCandidates, err := self.baseBranchHelper.ResolveBaseBranch(checkedOutBranch)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	if baseBranch == "" {
-		baseBranch = self.c.Tr.CouldNotDetermineBaseBranch
+	baseBranchLabel := BaseBranchDisplayName(baseBranch)
+	switch {
+	case baseBranch == "":
+		baseBranchLabel = self.c.Tr.CouldNotDetermineBaseBranch
 		baseBranchDisabledReason = &types.DisabledReason{Text: self.c.Tr.CouldNotDetermineBaseBranch}
+	case baseAmbiguous:
+		shortNames := lo.Map(baseCandidates, func(ref string, _ int) string {
+			return BaseBranchDisplayName(ref)
+		})
+		baseBranchLabel = utils.ResolvePlaceholderString(self.c.Tr.PickBaseBranchLabel,
+			map[string]string{"candidates": strings.Join(shortNames, ", ")},
+		)
 	}
 
 	menuItems := []*types.MenuItem{
@@ -332,27 +344,33 @@ func (self *MergeAndRebaseHelper) RebaseOntoRef(ref string) error {
 		},
 		{
 			Label: utils.ResolvePlaceholderString(self.c.Tr.RebaseOntoBaseBranch,
-				map[string]string{"baseBranch": ShortBranchName(baseBranch)},
+				map[string]string{"baseBranch": baseBranchLabel},
 			),
 			Keys:           menuKey('b'),
 			DisabledReason: baseBranchDisabledReason,
 			Tooltip:        self.c.Tr.RebaseOntoBaseBranchTooltip,
 			OnPress: func() error {
-				self.c.LogAction(self.c.Tr.Actions.RebaseBranch)
-				return self.c.WithWaitingStatus(self.c.Tr.RebasingStatus, func(task gocui.Task) error {
-					baseCommit := self.c.Modes().MarkedBaseCommit.GetHash()
-					var err error
-					if baseCommit != "" {
-						err = self.c.Git().Rebase.RebaseBranchFromBaseCommit(baseBranch, baseCommit)
-					} else {
-						err = self.c.Git().Rebase.RebaseBranch(baseBranch)
-					}
-					err = self.CheckMergeOrRebase(err)
-					if err == nil {
-						return self.ResetMarkedBaseCommit()
-					}
-					return err
-				})
+				doRebase := func(base string) error {
+					self.c.LogAction(self.c.Tr.Actions.RebaseBranch)
+					return self.c.WithWaitingStatus(self.c.Tr.RebasingStatus, func(task gocui.Task) error {
+						baseCommit := self.c.Modes().MarkedBaseCommit.GetHash()
+						var err error
+						if baseCommit != "" {
+							err = self.c.Git().Rebase.RebaseBranchFromBaseCommit(base, baseCommit)
+						} else {
+							err = self.c.Git().Rebase.RebaseBranch(base)
+						}
+						err = self.CheckMergeOrRebase(err)
+						if err == nil {
+							return self.ResetMarkedBaseCommit()
+						}
+						return err
+					})
+				}
+				if baseAmbiguous {
+					return self.baseBranchHelper.ShowPicker(checkedOutBranch, baseCandidates, doRebase)
+				}
+				return doRebase(baseBranch)
 			},
 		},
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/gui/controllers/helpers/refs_helper.go b/pkg/gui/controllers/helpers/refs_helper.go
index a3db043ef66..6d12fb31df1 100644
--- a/pkg/gui/controllers/helpers/refs_helper.go
+++ b/pkg/gui/controllers/helpers/refs_helper.go
@@ -18,16 +18,19 @@ import (
 type RefsHelper struct {
 	c *HelperCommon
 
-	rebaseHelper *MergeAndRebaseHelper
+	rebaseHelper     *MergeAndRebaseHelper
+	baseBranchHelper *BaseBranchHelper
 }
 
 func NewRefsHelper(
 	c *HelperCommon,
 	rebaseHelper *MergeAndRebaseHelper,
+	baseBranchHelper *BaseBranchHelper,
 ) *RefsHelper {
 	return &RefsHelper{
-		c:            c,
-		rebaseHelper: rebaseHelper,
+		c:                c,
+		rebaseHelper:     rebaseHelper,
+		baseBranchHelper: baseBranchHelper,
 	}
 }
 
@@ -419,7 +422,7 @@ func (self *RefsHelper) NewBranch(from string, fromFormattedName string, suggest
 
 func (self *RefsHelper) MoveCommitsToNewBranch() error {
 	currentBranch := self.c.Model().Branches[0]
-	baseBranchRef, err := self.c.Git().Loaders.BranchLoader.GetBaseBranch(currentBranch, self.c.Model().MainBranches)
+	baseBranchRef, baseAmbiguous, baseCandidates, err := self.baseBranchHelper.ResolveBaseBranch(currentBranch)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -468,11 +471,19 @@ func (self *RefsHelper) MoveCommitsToNewBranch() error {
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	shortBaseBranchName := ShortBranchName(baseBranchRef)
+	baseBranchLabel := BaseBranchDisplayName(baseBranchRef)
+	if baseAmbiguous {
+		shortNames := lo.Map(baseCandidates, func(ref string, _ int) string {
+			return BaseBranchDisplayName(ref)
+		})
+		baseBranchLabel = utils.ResolvePlaceholderString(self.c.Tr.PickBaseBranchLabel,
+			map[string]string{"candidates": strings.Join(shortNames, ", ")},
+		)
+	}
 	prompt := utils.ResolvePlaceholderString(
 		self.c.Tr.MoveCommitsToNewBranchMenuPrompt,
 		map[string]string{
-			"baseBranchName": shortBaseBranchName,
+			"baseBranchName": baseBranchLabel,
 		},
 	)
 	return self.c.Menu(types.CreateMenuOptions{
@@ -480,11 +491,17 @@ func (self *RefsHelper) MoveCommitsToNewBranch() error {
 		Prompt: prompt,
 		Items: []*types.MenuItem{
 			{
-				Label: fmt.Sprintf(self.c.Tr.MoveCommitsToNewBranchFromBaseItem, shortBaseBranchName),
+				Label: fmt.Sprintf(self.c.Tr.MoveCommitsToNewBranchFromBaseItem, baseBranchLabel),
 				OnPress: func() error {
-					return withNewBranchNamePrompt(shortBaseBranchName, func(newBranchName string) error {
-						return self.moveCommitsToNewBranchOffOfMainBranch(newBranchName, baseBranchRef)
-					})
+					moveOff := func(base string) error {
+						return withNewBranchNamePrompt(BaseBranchDisplayName(base), func(newBranchName string) error {
+							return self.moveCommitsToNewBranchOffOfMainBranch(newBranchName, base)
+						})
+					}
+					if baseAmbiguous {
+						return self.baseBranchHelper.ShowPicker(currentBranch, baseCandidates, moveOff)
+					}
+					return moveOff(baseBranchRef)
 				},
 			},
 			{
diff --git a/pkg/gui/presentation/branches.go b/pkg/gui/presentation/branches.go
index 2e8ab01065a..d170f9e832d 100644
--- a/pkg/gui/presentation/branches.go
+++ b/pkg/gui/presentation/branches.go
@@ -253,12 +253,28 @@ func divergenceStr(
 	result := ""
 	if ItemOperationToString(itemOperation, tr) == "" && userConfig.Gui.ShowDivergenceFromBaseBranch != "none" {
 		behind := branch.BehindBaseBranch.Load()
-		if behind != 0 {
-			if userConfig.Gui.ShowDivergenceFromBaseBranch == "arrowAndNumber" {
+		showNumber := userConfig.Gui.ShowDivergenceFromBaseBranch == "arrowAndNumber"
+		switch {
+		case behind > 0:
+			if showNumber {
 				result += fmt.Sprintf("↓%d", behind)
 			} else {
 				result += "↓"
 			}
+		case behind == models.BehindBaseAmbiguousMaybeUpToDate:
+			// We don't know whether the branch is up to date or behind,
+			// because the candidate bases disagree. "?" intentionally has
+			// no arrow — we'd be implying "behind" if it did.
+			result += "?"
+		case behind == models.BehindBaseAmbiguousDefinitelyBehind:
+			// Every candidate has the branch behind, but by different
+			// amounts — show that it's behind without committing to a
+			// specific count.
+			if showNumber {
+				result += "↓?"
+			} else {
+				result += "↓"
+			}
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/pkg/gui/presentation/branches_test.go b/pkg/gui/presentation/branches_test.go
index b2c19a9ea6b..86e25df3cef 100644
--- a/pkg/gui/presentation/branches_test.go
+++ b/pkg/gui/presentation/branches_test.go
@@ -284,6 +284,66 @@ func Test_getBranchDisplayStrings(t *testing.T) {
 			showDivergenceCfg:    "none",
 			expected:             []string{"1m", "", "branc… Pushing |"},
 		},
+		// Ambiguous base, candidates disagree on whether branch is up to date
+		// → render "?" without an arrow (we don't know if it's behind).
+		{
+			branch: &models.Branch{
+				Name:             "branch_name",
+				Recency:          "1m",
+				BehindBaseBranch: *makeAtomic(models.BehindBaseAmbiguousMaybeUpToDate),
+			},
+			itemOperation:        types.ItemOperationNone,
+			fullDescription:      false,
+			viewWidth:            20,
+			useIcons:             false,
+			checkedOutByWorktree: false,
+			showDivergenceCfg:    "arrowAndNumber",
+			expected:             []string{"1m", "", "branch_name    ?"},
+		},
+		{
+			branch: &models.Branch{
+				Name:             "branch_name",
+				Recency:          "1m",
+				BehindBaseBranch: *makeAtomic(models.BehindBaseAmbiguousMaybeUpToDate),
+			},
+			itemOperation:        types.ItemOperationNone,
+			fullDescription:      false,
+			viewWidth:            20,
+			useIcons:             false,
+			checkedOutByWorktree: false,
+			showDivergenceCfg:    "onlyArrow",
+			expected:             []string{"1m", "", "branch_name    ?"},
+		},
+		// Ambiguous base, every candidate has branch behind by some non-zero
+		// amount → render "↓?" (arrowAndNumber) or "↓" (onlyArrow).
+		{
+			branch: &models.Branch{
+				Name:             "branch_name",
+				Recency:          "1m",
+				BehindBaseBranch: *makeAtomic(models.BehindBaseAmbiguousDefinitelyBehind),
+			},
+			itemOperation:        types.ItemOperationNone,
+			fullDescription:      false,
+			viewWidth:            20,
+			useIcons:             false,
+			checkedOutByWorktree: false,
+			showDivergenceCfg:    "arrowAndNumber",
+			expected:             []string{"1m", "", "branch_name   ↓?"},
+		},
+		{
+			branch: &models.Branch{
+				Name:             "branch_name",
+				Recency:          "1m",
+				BehindBaseBranch: *makeAtomic(models.BehindBaseAmbiguousDefinitelyBehind),
+			},
+			itemOperation:        types.ItemOperationNone,
+			fullDescription:      false,
+			viewWidth:            20,
+			useIcons:             false,
+			checkedOutByWorktree: false,
+			showDivergenceCfg:    "onlyArrow",
+			expected:             []string{"1m", "", "branch_name    ↓"},
+		},
 		{
 			branch:               &models.Branch{Name: "abc", Recency: "1m"},
 			itemOperation:        types.ItemOperationPushing,
diff --git a/pkg/i18n/english.go b/pkg/i18n/english.go
index ee5f4ceec15..e486c1973bb 100644
--- a/pkg/i18n/english.go
+++ b/pkg/i18n/english.go
@@ -560,6 +560,9 @@ type TranslationSet struct {
 	ViewDivergenceFromUpstream            string
 	ViewDivergenceFromBaseBranch          string
 	CouldNotDetermineBaseBranch           string
+	PickBaseBranchTitle                   string
+	PickBaseBranchPrompt                  string
+	PickBaseBranchLabel                   string
 	DivergenceSectionHeaderLocal          string
 	DivergenceSectionHeaderRemote         string
 	ViewUpstreamResetOptions              string
@@ -1686,6 +1689,9 @@ func EnglishTranslationSet() *TranslationSet {
 		ViewDivergenceFromUpstream:           "View divergence from upstream",
 		ViewDivergenceFromBaseBranch:         "View divergence from base branch ({{.baseBranch}})",
 		CouldNotDetermineBaseBranch:          "Couldn't determine base branch",
+		PickBaseBranchTitle:                  "Pick a base branch for {{.branchName}}",
+		PickBaseBranchPrompt:                 "More than one configured main branch is a candidate for this branch's base. Pick which one to treat as its base.",
+		PickBaseBranchLabel:                  "pick: {{.candidates}}",
 		DivergenceSectionHeaderLocal:         "Local",
 		DivergenceSectionHeaderRemote:        "Remote",
 		ViewUpstreamResetOptions:             "Reset checked-out branch onto {{.upstream}}",
diff --git a/pkg/integration/tests/branch/move_commits_to_new_branch_from_base_branch.go b/pkg/integration/tests/branch/move_commits_to_new_branch_from_base_branch.go
index 0b6bd71aa64..8c53fa9ccb8 100644
--- a/pkg/integration/tests/branch/move_commits_to_new_branch_from_base_branch.go
+++ b/pkg/integration/tests/branch/move_commits_to_new_branch_from_base_branch.go
@@ -37,11 +37,11 @@ var MoveCommitsToNewBranchFromBaseBranch = NewIntegrationTest(NewIntegrationTest
 
 		t.ExpectPopup().Menu().
 			Title(Equals("Move commits to new branch")).
-			Select(Contains("New branch from base branch (origin/master)")).
+			Select(Contains("New branch from base branch (master)")).
 			Confirm()
 
 		t.ExpectPopup().Prompt().
-			Title(Equals("New branch name (branch is off of 'origin/master')")).
+			Title(Equals("New branch name (branch is off of 'master')")).
 			Type("new branch").
 			Confirm()
 
diff --git a/schema-master/config.json b/schema-master/config.json
index 84fd2220e80..71e304957cf 100644
--- a/schema-master/config.json
+++ b/schema-master/config.json
@@ -337,7 +337,7 @@
           },
           "type": "array",
           "uniqueItems": true,
-          "description": "list of branches that are considered 'main' branches, used when displaying commits",
+          "description": "list of branches that are considered 'main' branches, used when displaying commits and for determining each branch's base. Lazygit prompts when a branch could be based on more than one of these (typical when one is regularly merged into another).",
           "default": [
             "master",
             "main"