diff --git a/libmscore/rest.cpp b/libmscore/rest.cpp
index 0ec471d5b2e84..f37f7f5c01843 100644
--- a/libmscore/rest.cpp
+++ b/libmscore/rest.cpp
@@ -436,7 +436,7 @@ int Rest::computeLineOffset(int lines)
             }
         }
     }
-#if 0
+
     if (offsetVoices && staff()->mergeMatchingRests()) {
         // automatically merge matching rests in voices 1 & 2 if nothing in any other voice
         // this is not always the right thing to do do, but is useful in choral music
@@ -454,7 +454,7 @@ int Rest::computeLineOffset(int lines)
                 // try to find match in other voice (1 or 2)
                 if (e && e->type() == ElementType::REST) {
                     Rest* r = toRest(e);
-                    if (r->globalDuration() == globalDuration()) {
+                    if (r->globalTicks() == globalTicks()) {
                         matchFound = true;
                         continue;
                     }
@@ -473,7 +473,6 @@ int Rest::computeLineOffset(int lines)
             offsetVoices = false;
         }
     }
-#endif
 
     int lineOffset    = 0;
     int assumedCenter = 4;
diff --git a/libmscore/staff.cpp b/libmscore/staff.cpp
index 8ab267a2e5e9a..efe6b3b784498 100644
--- a/libmscore/staff.cpp
+++ b/libmscore/staff.cpp
@@ -698,6 +698,9 @@ void Staff::write(XmlWriter& xml) const
     if (_hideSystemBarLine) {
         xml.tag("hideSystemBarLine", _hideSystemBarLine);
     }
+    if (_mergeMatchingRests) {
+        xml.tag("mergeMatchingRests", _mergeMatchingRests);
+    }
 
     for (const BracketItem* i : _brackets) {
         BracketType a = i->bracketType();
@@ -766,6 +769,8 @@ bool Staff::readProperties(XmlReader& e)
         setShowIfEmpty(e.readInt());
     } else if (tag == "hideSystemBarLine") {
         _hideSystemBarLine = e.readInt();
+    } else if (tag == "mergeMatchingRests") {
+        _mergeMatchingRests = e.readInt();
     } else if (tag == "keylist") {
         _keys.read(e, score());
     } else if (tag == "bracket") {
@@ -1169,6 +1174,7 @@ void Staff::init(const Staff* s)
     _cutaway           = s->_cutaway;
     _showIfEmpty       = s->_showIfEmpty;
     _hideSystemBarLine = s->_hideSystemBarLine;
+    _mergeMatchingRests = s->_mergeMatchingRests;
     _color             = s->_color;
     _userDist          = s->_userDist;
 }
diff --git a/libmscore/staff.h b/libmscore/staff.h
index 4801af23b8f27..b981d1b7bf0dc 100644
--- a/libmscore/staff.h
+++ b/libmscore/staff.h
@@ -180,6 +180,8 @@ class Staff final : public Element
     void setHideSystemBarLine(bool val) { _hideSystemBarLine = val; }
     HideMode hideWhenEmpty() const { return _hideWhenEmpty; }
     void setHideWhenEmpty(HideMode v) { _hideWhenEmpty = v; }
+    bool mergeMatchingRests() const { return _mergeMatchingRests; }
+    void setMergeMatchingRests(bool val) { _mergeMatchingRests = val; }
 
     int barLineSpan() const { return _barLineSpan; }
     int barLineFrom() const { return _barLineFrom; }
diff --git a/libmscore/undo.cpp b/libmscore/undo.cpp
index 95bbc0b9f13ae..a70ac81061c67 100644
--- a/libmscore/undo.cpp
+++ b/libmscore/undo.cpp
@@ -1559,7 +1559,8 @@ void SetUserBankController::flip(EditData*)
 //---------------------------------------------------------
 
 ChangeStaff::ChangeStaff(Staff* _staff,  bool _invisible, ClefTypeList _clefType,
-                         qreal _userDist, Staff::HideMode _hideMode, bool _showIfEmpty, bool _cutaway, bool hide)
+                         qreal _userDist, Staff::HideMode _hideMode, bool _showIfEmpty, bool _cutaway,
+                         bool _hideSystemBarLine, bool _mergeMatchingRests)
 {
     staff       = _staff;
     invisible   = _invisible;
@@ -1568,7 +1569,8 @@ ChangeStaff::ChangeStaff(Staff* _staff,  bool _invisible, ClefTypeList _clefType
     hideMode    = _hideMode;
     showIfEmpty = _showIfEmpty;
     cutaway     = _cutaway;
-    hideSystemBarLine = hide;
+    hideSystemBarLine  = _hideSystemBarLine;
+    mergeMatchingRests = _mergeMatchingRests;
 }
 
 //---------------------------------------------------------
@@ -1584,7 +1586,8 @@ void ChangeStaff::flip(EditData*)
     Staff::HideMode oldHideMode    = staff->hideWhenEmpty();
     bool oldShowIfEmpty = staff->showIfEmpty();
     bool oldCutaway     = staff->cutaway();
-    bool hide           = staff->hideSystemBarLine();
+    bool oldHideSystemBarLine  = staff->hideSystemBarLine();
+    bool oldMergeMatchingRests = staff->mergeMatchingRests();
 
     staff->setInvisible(invisible);
     staff->setDefaultClefType(clefType);
@@ -1600,7 +1603,8 @@ void ChangeStaff::flip(EditData*)
     hideMode    = oldHideMode;
     showIfEmpty = oldShowIfEmpty;
     cutaway     = oldCutaway;
-    hideSystemBarLine = hide;
+    hideSystemBarLine  = oldHideSystemBarLine;
+    mergeMatchingRests = oldMergeMatchingRests;
 
     Score* score = staff->score();
     if (invisibleChanged) {
diff --git a/libmscore/undo.h b/libmscore/undo.h
index be7153f17c8aa..576d3df05a70e 100644
--- a/libmscore/undo.h
+++ b/libmscore/undo.h
@@ -657,12 +657,13 @@ class ChangeStaff : public UndoCommand
     bool showIfEmpty;
     bool cutaway;
     bool hideSystemBarLine;
+    bool mergeMatchingRests;
 
     void flip(EditData*) override;
 
 public:
     ChangeStaff(Staff*, bool invisible, ClefTypeList _clefType, qreal userDist, Staff::HideMode _hideMode,bool _showIfEmpty, bool _cutaway,
-                bool hide);
+                bool hide, bool mergeRests);
     UNDO_NAME("ChangeStaff")
 };
 
diff --git a/mscore/editstaff.cpp b/mscore/editstaff.cpp
index dbb9fbf4342de..5ebc6f68e7a63 100644
--- a/mscore/editstaff.cpp
+++ b/mscore/editstaff.cpp
@@ -110,6 +110,7 @@ void EditStaff::setStaff(Staff* s, const Fraction& tick)
     staff->setShowIfEmpty(orgStaff->showIfEmpty());
     stt->setUserMag(orgStaff->staffType(Fraction(0,1))->userMag());
     staff->setHideSystemBarLine(orgStaff->hideSystemBarLine());
+    staff->setMergeMatchingRests(orgStaff->mergeMatchingRests());
 
     // get tick range for instrument
     auto i = part->instruments()->upper_bound(tick.ticks());
@@ -135,6 +136,7 @@ void EditStaff::setStaff(Staff* s, const Fraction& tick)
     hideMode->setCurrentIndex(int(staff->hideWhenEmpty()));
     showIfEmpty->setChecked(staff->showIfEmpty());
     hideSystemBarLine->setChecked(staff->hideSystemBarLine());
+    mergeMatchingRests->setChecked(staff->mergeMatchingRests());
     mag->setValue(stt->userMag() * 100.0);
     updateStaffType();
     updateInstrument();
@@ -364,6 +366,7 @@ void EditStaff::apply()
     qreal userDist = spinExtraDistance->value();
     bool ifEmpty   = showIfEmpty->isChecked();
     bool hideSystemBL = hideSystemBarLine->isChecked();
+    bool mergeRests = mergeMatchingRests->isChecked();
     bool cutAway      = cutaway->isChecked();
     Staff::HideMode hideEmpty = Staff::HideMode(hideMode->currentIndex());
 
@@ -422,9 +425,10 @@ void EditStaff::apply()
         || hideEmpty != orgStaff->hideWhenEmpty()
         || ifEmpty != orgStaff->showIfEmpty()
         || hideSystemBL != orgStaff->hideSystemBarLine()
+        || mergeRests != orgStaff->mergeMatchingRests()
         ) {
         score->undo(new ChangeStaff(orgStaff, inv, clefType, userDist * score->spatium(), hideEmpty, ifEmpty, cutAway,
-                                    hideSystemBL));
+                                    hideSystemBL, mergeRests));
     }
 
     if (!(*orgStaff->staffType(Fraction(0,1)) == *staff->staffType(Fraction(0,1)))) {
diff --git a/mscore/editstaff.ui b/mscore/editstaff.ui
index 3951494485998..a120372e5ea65 100644
--- a/mscore/editstaff.ui
+++ b/mscore/editstaff.ui
@@ -298,6 +298,13 @@
           </item>
          </layout>
         </item>
+        <item row="5" column="1">
+          <widget class="QCheckBox" name="mergeMatchingRests">
+            <property name="text">
+              <string>Merge matching rests</string>
+            </property>
+          </widget>
+        </item>
        </layout>
       </item>
      </layout>