diff --git a/mercurial/copies.py b/mercurial/copies.py
--- a/mercurial/copies.py
+++ b/mercurial/copies.py
@@ -552,7 +552,6 @@
         tca = _c1.ancestor(_c2)
 
     limit = _findlimit(repo, c1, c2)
-    repo.ui.debug("  searching for copies back to rev %d\n" % limit)
 
     m1 = c1.manifest()
     m2 = c2.manifest()
diff --git a/tests/test-copy-move-merge.t b/tests/test-copy-move-merge.t
--- a/tests/test-copy-move-merge.t
+++ b/tests/test-copy-move-merge.t
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@
   $ hg ci -qAm "other"
 
   $ hg merge --debug
-    searching for copies back to rev 1
     unmatched files in other:
      b
      c
diff --git a/tests/test-double-merge.t b/tests/test-double-merge.t
--- a/tests/test-double-merge.t
+++ b/tests/test-double-merge.t
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@
   summary:     cp foo bar; change both
   
   $ hg merge --debug
-    searching for copies back to rev 1
     unmatched files in other:
      bar
     all copies found (* = to merge, ! = divergent, % = renamed and deleted):
diff --git a/tests/test-graft.t b/tests/test-graft.t
--- a/tests/test-graft.t
+++ b/tests/test-graft.t
@@ -199,7 +199,6 @@
   scanning for duplicate grafts
   skipping revision 2:5c095ad7e90f (already grafted to 7:ef0ef43d49e7)
   grafting 1:5d205f8b35b6 "1"
-    searching for copies back to rev 1
     unmatched files in local:
      b
     all copies found (* = to merge, ! = divergent, % = renamed and deleted):
@@ -221,7 +220,6 @@
   committing changelog
   updating the branch cache
   grafting 5:97f8bfe72746 "5"
-    searching for copies back to rev 1
     unmatched files in other (from topological common ancestor):
      c
   resolving manifests
@@ -237,7 +235,6 @@
   $ HGEDITOR=cat hg graft 4 3 --log --debug
   scanning for duplicate grafts
   grafting 4:9c233e8e184d "4"
-    searching for copies back to rev 1
     unmatched files in other (from topological common ancestor):
      c
   resolving manifests
@@ -744,7 +741,6 @@
   $ hg graft -q 13 --debug
   scanning for duplicate grafts
   grafting 13:7a4785234d87 "2"
-    searching for copies back to rev 12
     unmatched files in other (from topological common ancestor):
      g
     unmatched files new in both:
diff --git a/tests/test-issue1802.t b/tests/test-issue1802.t
--- a/tests/test-issue1802.t
+++ b/tests/test-issue1802.t
@@ -52,7 +52,6 @@
 Simulate a Windows merge:
 
   $ hg --config extensions.n=$TESTTMP/noexec.py merge --debug
-    searching for copies back to rev 1
     unmatched files in local:
      b
   resolving manifests
diff --git a/tests/test-issue522.t b/tests/test-issue522.t
--- a/tests/test-issue522.t
+++ b/tests/test-issue522.t
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@
   $ hg ci -qAm 'add bar'
 
   $ hg merge --debug
-    searching for copies back to rev 1
     unmatched files in local:
      bar
   resolving manifests
diff --git a/tests/test-issue672.t b/tests/test-issue672.t
--- a/tests/test-issue672.t
+++ b/tests/test-issue672.t
@@ -25,7 +25,6 @@
   created new head
 
   $ hg merge --debug 1
-    searching for copies back to rev 1
     unmatched files in other:
      1a
     all copies found (* = to merge, ! = divergent, % = renamed and deleted):
@@ -54,7 +53,6 @@
   1 files updated, 0 files merged, 1 files removed, 0 files unresolved
 
   $ hg merge -y --debug 4
-    searching for copies back to rev 1
     unmatched files in local:
      1a
     all copies found (* = to merge, ! = divergent, % = renamed and deleted):
@@ -64,8 +62,8 @@
    branchmerge: True, force: False, partial: False
    ancestor: c64f439569a9, local: e327dca35ac8+, remote: 746e9549ea96
    preserving 1a for resolve of 1a
+   1a: local copied/moved from 1 -> m (premerge)
   starting 4 threads for background file closing (?)
-   1a: local copied/moved from 1 -> m (premerge)
   picked tool ':merge' for 1a (binary False symlink False changedelete False)
   merging 1a and 1 to 1a
   my 1a@e327dca35ac8+ other 1@746e9549ea96 ancestor 1@c64f439569a9
@@ -77,7 +75,6 @@
   1 files updated, 0 files merged, 1 files removed, 0 files unresolved
 
   $ hg merge -y --debug 3
-    searching for copies back to rev 1
     unmatched files in other:
      1a
     all copies found (* = to merge, ! = divergent, % = renamed and deleted):
@@ -88,8 +85,8 @@
    ancestor: c64f439569a9, local: 746e9549ea96+, remote: e327dca35ac8
    preserving 1 for resolve of 1a
   removing 1
+   1a: remote moved from 1 -> m (premerge)
   starting 4 threads for background file closing (?)
-   1a: remote moved from 1 -> m (premerge)
   picked tool ':merge' for 1a (binary False symlink False changedelete False)
   merging 1 and 1a to 1a
   my 1a@746e9549ea96+ other 1a@e327dca35ac8 ancestor 1@c64f439569a9
diff --git a/tests/test-merge-commit.t b/tests/test-merge-commit.t
--- a/tests/test-merge-commit.t
+++ b/tests/test-merge-commit.t
@@ -67,7 +67,6 @@
 This should use bar@rev2 as the ancestor:
 
   $ hg --debug merge 3
-    searching for copies back to rev 1
   resolving manifests
    branchmerge: True, force: False, partial: False
    ancestor: 0f2ff26688b9, local: 2263c1be0967+, remote: 0555950ead28
@@ -155,7 +154,6 @@
 This should use bar@rev2 as the ancestor:
 
   $ hg --debug merge 3
-    searching for copies back to rev 1
   resolving manifests
    branchmerge: True, force: False, partial: False
    ancestor: 0f2ff26688b9, local: 2263c1be0967+, remote: 3ffa6b9e35f0
diff --git a/tests/test-merge-criss-cross.t b/tests/test-merge-criss-cross.t
--- a/tests/test-merge-criss-cross.t
+++ b/tests/test-merge-criss-cross.t
@@ -75,7 +75,6 @@
   $ hg merge -v --debug --tool internal:dump 5 --config merge.preferancestor='!'
   note: using 0f6b37dbe527 as ancestor of 3b08d01b0ab5 and adfe50279922
         alternatively, use --config merge.preferancestor=40663881a6dd
-    searching for copies back to rev 3
   resolving manifests
    branchmerge: True, force: False, partial: False
    ancestor: 0f6b37dbe527, local: 3b08d01b0ab5+, remote: adfe50279922
@@ -137,7 +136,6 @@
   note: merging 3b08d01b0ab5+ and adfe50279922 using bids from ancestors 0f6b37dbe527 and 40663881a6dd
   
   calculating bids for ancestor 0f6b37dbe527
-    searching for copies back to rev 3
   resolving manifests
    branchmerge: True, force: False, partial: False
    ancestor: 0f6b37dbe527, local: 3b08d01b0ab5+, remote: adfe50279922
@@ -145,7 +143,6 @@
    f2: versions differ -> m
   
   calculating bids for ancestor 40663881a6dd
-    searching for copies back to rev 3
   resolving manifests
    branchmerge: True, force: False, partial: False
    ancestor: 40663881a6dd, local: 3b08d01b0ab5+, remote: adfe50279922
@@ -182,7 +179,6 @@
   note: merging adfe50279922+ and 3b08d01b0ab5 using bids from ancestors 0f6b37dbe527 and 40663881a6dd
   
   calculating bids for ancestor 0f6b37dbe527
-    searching for copies back to rev 3
   resolving manifests
    branchmerge: True, force: False, partial: False
    ancestor: 0f6b37dbe527, local: adfe50279922+, remote: 3b08d01b0ab5
@@ -190,7 +186,6 @@
    f2: versions differ -> m
   
   calculating bids for ancestor 40663881a6dd
-    searching for copies back to rev 3
   resolving manifests
    branchmerge: True, force: False, partial: False
    ancestor: 40663881a6dd, local: adfe50279922+, remote: 3b08d01b0ab5
@@ -249,7 +244,6 @@
   note: merging 3b08d01b0ab5+ and adfe50279922 using bids from ancestors 0f6b37dbe527 and 40663881a6dd
   
   calculating bids for ancestor 0f6b37dbe527
-    searching for copies back to rev 3
   resolving manifests
    branchmerge: True, force: False, partial: False
    ancestor: 0f6b37dbe527, local: 3b08d01b0ab5+, remote: adfe50279922
@@ -257,7 +251,6 @@
    f2: versions differ -> m
   
   calculating bids for ancestor 40663881a6dd
-    searching for copies back to rev 3
   resolving manifests
    branchmerge: True, force: False, partial: False
    ancestor: 40663881a6dd, local: 3b08d01b0ab5+, remote: adfe50279922
@@ -417,7 +410,6 @@
   note: merging c0ef19750a22+ and 6ca01f7342b9 using bids from ancestors 11b5b303e36c and 154e6000f54e
   
   calculating bids for ancestor 11b5b303e36c
-    searching for copies back to rev 3
     unmatched files in local:
      d1/a
      d1/b
@@ -429,7 +421,6 @@
    d2/b: remote created -> g
   
   calculating bids for ancestor 154e6000f54e
-    searching for copies back to rev 3
     unmatched files in other:
      d2/b
     all copies found (* = to merge, ! = divergent, % = renamed and deleted):
diff --git a/tests/test-merge-types.t b/tests/test-merge-types.t
--- a/tests/test-merge-types.t
+++ b/tests/test-merge-types.t
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@
 Symlink is local parent, executable is other:
 
   $ hg merge --debug
-    searching for copies back to rev 1
   resolving manifests
    branchmerge: True, force: False, partial: False
    ancestor: c334dc3be0da, local: 521a1e40188f+, remote: 3574f3e69b1c
@@ -63,7 +62,6 @@
   1 files updated, 0 files merged, 0 files removed, 0 files unresolved
 
   $ hg merge --debug --tool :union
-    searching for copies back to rev 1
   resolving manifests
    branchmerge: True, force: False, partial: False
    ancestor: c334dc3be0da, local: 3574f3e69b1c+, remote: 521a1e40188f
@@ -86,7 +84,6 @@
   1 files updated, 0 files merged, 0 files removed, 0 files unresolved
 
   $ hg merge --debug --tool :merge3
-    searching for copies back to rev 1
   resolving manifests
    branchmerge: True, force: False, partial: False
    ancestor: c334dc3be0da, local: 3574f3e69b1c+, remote: 521a1e40188f
@@ -109,7 +106,6 @@
   1 files updated, 0 files merged, 0 files removed, 0 files unresolved
 
   $ hg merge --debug --tool :merge-local
-    searching for copies back to rev 1
   resolving manifests
    branchmerge: True, force: False, partial: False
    ancestor: c334dc3be0da, local: 3574f3e69b1c+, remote: 521a1e40188f
@@ -131,7 +127,6 @@
   1 files updated, 0 files merged, 0 files removed, 0 files unresolved
 
   $ hg merge --debug --tool :merge-other
-    searching for copies back to rev 1
   resolving manifests
    branchmerge: True, force: False, partial: False
    ancestor: c334dc3be0da, local: 3574f3e69b1c+, remote: 521a1e40188f
@@ -165,7 +160,6 @@
   $ hg up -Cq 0
   $ echo data > a
   $ HGMERGE= hg up -y --debug --config ui.merge=
-    searching for copies back to rev 2
   resolving manifests
    branchmerge: False, force: False, partial: False
    ancestor: c334dc3be0da, local: c334dc3be0da+, remote: 521a1e40188f
diff --git a/tests/test-merge7.t b/tests/test-merge7.t
--- a/tests/test-merge7.t
+++ b/tests/test-merge7.t
@@ -81,7 +81,6 @@
   new changesets 40d11a4173a8
   (run 'hg heads' to see heads, 'hg merge' to merge)
   $ hg merge --debug
-    searching for copies back to rev 1
   resolving manifests
    branchmerge: True, force: False, partial: False
    ancestor: 96b70246a118, local: 50c3a7e29886+, remote: 40d11a4173a8
diff --git a/tests/test-rebase-conflicts.t b/tests/test-rebase-conflicts.t
--- a/tests/test-rebase-conflicts.t
+++ b/tests/test-rebase-conflicts.t
@@ -248,7 +248,6 @@
   getting f1.txt
    merge against 9:e31216eec445
      detach base 8:8e4e2c1a07ae
-    searching for copies back to rev 3
     unmatched files in other (from topological common ancestor):
      f2.txt
   resolving manifests
@@ -268,7 +267,6 @@
    already in destination
    merge against 10:2f2496ddf49d
      detach base 9:e31216eec445
-    searching for copies back to rev 3
     unmatched files in other (from topological common ancestor):
      f2.txt
   resolving manifests
diff --git a/tests/test-rename-dir-merge.t b/tests/test-rename-dir-merge.t
--- a/tests/test-rename-dir-merge.t
+++ b/tests/test-rename-dir-merge.t
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@
   created new head
 
   $ hg merge --debug 1
-    searching for copies back to rev 1
     unmatched files in local:
      a/c
     unmatched files in other:
@@ -70,7 +69,6 @@
   $ hg co -C 1
   0 files updated, 0 files merged, 1 files removed, 0 files unresolved
   $ hg merge --debug 2
-    searching for copies back to rev 1
     unmatched files in local:
      b/a
      b/b
diff --git a/tests/test-rename-merge1.t b/tests/test-rename-merge1.t
--- a/tests/test-rename-merge1.t
+++ b/tests/test-rename-merge1.t
@@ -22,7 +22,6 @@
   created new head
 
   $ hg merge -y --debug
-    searching for copies back to rev 1
     unmatched files in local:
      c2
     unmatched files in other:
@@ -168,7 +167,6 @@
   $ hg commit -m "deleted file"
   created new head
   $ hg merge --debug
-    searching for copies back to rev 1
     unmatched files in other:
      newfile
     all copies found (* = to merge, ! = divergent, % = renamed and deleted):
diff --git a/tests/test-rename-merge2.t b/tests/test-rename-merge2.t
--- a/tests/test-rename-merge2.t
+++ b/tests/test-rename-merge2.t
@@ -76,7 +76,6 @@
   --------------
   test L:up a   R:nc a b W:       - 1  get local a to b
   --------------
-    searching for copies back to rev 1
     unmatched files in other:
      b
     all copies found (* = to merge, ! = divergent, % = renamed and deleted):
@@ -115,7 +114,6 @@
   --------------
   test L:nc a b R:up a   W:       - 2  get rem change to a and b
   --------------
-    searching for copies back to rev 1
     unmatched files in local:
      b
     all copies found (* = to merge, ! = divergent, % = renamed and deleted):
@@ -155,7 +153,6 @@
   --------------
   test L:up a   R:nm a b W:       - 3  get local a change to b, remove a
   --------------
-    searching for copies back to rev 1
     unmatched files in other:
      b
     all copies found (* = to merge, ! = divergent, % = renamed and deleted):
@@ -194,7 +191,6 @@
   --------------
   test L:nm a b R:up a   W:       - 4  get remote change to b
   --------------
-    searching for copies back to rev 1
     unmatched files in local:
      b
     all copies found (* = to merge, ! = divergent, % = renamed and deleted):
@@ -232,7 +228,6 @@
   --------------
   test L:       R:nc a b W:       - 5  get b
   --------------
-    searching for copies back to rev 1
     unmatched files in other:
      b
     all copies found (* = to merge, ! = divergent, % = renamed and deleted):
@@ -265,7 +260,6 @@
   --------------
   test L:nc a b R:       W:       - 6  nothing
   --------------
-    searching for copies back to rev 1
     unmatched files in local:
      b
     all copies found (* = to merge, ! = divergent, % = renamed and deleted):
@@ -297,7 +291,6 @@
   --------------
   test L:       R:nm a b W:       - 7  get b
   --------------
-    searching for copies back to rev 1
     unmatched files in other:
      b
     all copies found (* = to merge, ! = divergent, % = renamed and deleted):
@@ -331,7 +324,6 @@
   --------------
   test L:nm a b R:       W:       - 8  nothing
   --------------
-    searching for copies back to rev 1
     unmatched files in local:
      b
     all copies found (* = to merge, ! = divergent, % = renamed and deleted):
@@ -362,7 +354,6 @@
   --------------
   test L:um a b R:um a b W:       - 9  do merge with ancestor in a
   --------------
-    searching for copies back to rev 1
     unmatched files new in both:
      b
     all copies found (* = to merge, ! = divergent, % = renamed and deleted):
@@ -406,7 +397,6 @@
   --------------
   test L:nm a b R:nm a c W:       - 11 get c, keep b
   --------------
-    searching for copies back to rev 1
     unmatched files in local:
      b
     unmatched files in other:
@@ -445,7 +435,6 @@
   --------------
   test L:nc a b R:up b   W:       - 12 merge b no ancestor
   --------------
-    searching for copies back to rev 1
     unmatched files new in both:
      b
   resolving manifests
@@ -484,7 +473,6 @@
   --------------
   test L:up b   R:nm a b W:       - 13 merge b no ancestor
   --------------
-    searching for copies back to rev 1
     unmatched files new in both:
      b
   resolving manifests
@@ -524,7 +512,6 @@
   --------------
   test L:nc a b R:up a b W:       - 14 merge b no ancestor
   --------------
-    searching for copies back to rev 1
     unmatched files new in both:
      b
   resolving manifests
@@ -564,7 +551,6 @@
   --------------
   test L:up b   R:nm a b W:       - 15 merge b no ancestor, remove a
   --------------
-    searching for copies back to rev 1
     unmatched files new in both:
      b
   resolving manifests
@@ -604,7 +590,6 @@
   --------------
   test L:nc a b R:up a b W:       - 16 get a, merge b no ancestor
   --------------
-    searching for copies back to rev 1
     unmatched files new in both:
      b
   resolving manifests
@@ -644,7 +629,6 @@
   --------------
   test L:up a b R:nc a b W:       - 17 keep a, merge b no ancestor
   --------------
-    searching for copies back to rev 1
     unmatched files new in both:
      b
   resolving manifests
@@ -683,7 +667,6 @@
   --------------
   test L:nm a b R:up a b W:       - 18 merge b no ancestor
   --------------
-    searching for copies back to rev 1
     unmatched files new in both:
      b
   resolving manifests
@@ -728,7 +711,6 @@
   --------------
   test L:up a b R:nm a b W:       - 19 merge b no ancestor, prompt remove a
   --------------
-    searching for copies back to rev 1
     unmatched files new in both:
      b
   resolving manifests
@@ -774,7 +756,6 @@
   --------------
   test L:up a   R:um a b W:       - 20 merge a and b to b, remove a
   --------------
-    searching for copies back to rev 1
     unmatched files in other:
      b
     all copies found (* = to merge, ! = divergent, % = renamed and deleted):
@@ -817,7 +798,6 @@
   --------------
   test L:um a b R:up a   W:       - 21 merge a and b to b
   --------------
-    searching for copies back to rev 1
     unmatched files in local:
      b
     all copies found (* = to merge, ! = divergent, % = renamed and deleted):
@@ -862,7 +842,6 @@
   --------------
   test L:nm a b R:up a c W:       - 23 get c, keep b
   --------------
-    searching for copies back to rev 1
     unmatched files in local:
      b
     unmatched files in other:
@@ -943,7 +922,6 @@
   $ echo m > 7/f
   $ echo m > 8/f
   $ hg merge -f --tool internal:dump -v --debug -r2 | sed '/^resolving manifests/,$d' 2> /dev/null
-    searching for copies back to rev 1
     unmatched files in local:
      5/g
      6/g
diff --git a/tests/test-subrepo.t b/tests/test-subrepo.t
--- a/tests/test-subrepo.t
+++ b/tests/test-subrepo.t
@@ -274,7 +274,6 @@
   $ hg ci -m9
   created new head
   $ hg merge 6 --debug # test change
-    searching for copies back to rev 2
   resolving manifests
    branchmerge: True, force: False, partial: False
    ancestor: 1f14a2e2d3ec, local: f0d2028bf86d+, remote: 1831e14459c4
@@ -301,7 +300,6 @@
   $ hg ci -m10
   committing subrepository t
   $ HGMERGE=internal:merge hg merge --debug 7 # test conflict
-    searching for copies back to rev 2
   resolving manifests
    branchmerge: True, force: False, partial: False
    ancestor: 1831e14459c4, local: e45c8b14af55+, remote: f94576341bcf
@@ -313,7 +311,6 @@
   starting 4 threads for background file closing (?)
   (M)erge, keep (l)ocal [working copy] or keep (r)emote [merge rev]? m
   merging subrepository "t"
-    searching for copies back to rev 2
   resolving manifests
    branchmerge: True, force: False, partial: False
    ancestor: 6747d179aa9a, local: 20a0db6fbf6c+, remote: 7af322bc1198
diff --git a/tests/test-up-local-change.t b/tests/test-up-local-change.t
--- a/tests/test-up-local-change.t
+++ b/tests/test-up-local-change.t
@@ -40,7 +40,6 @@
   summary:     1
   
   $ hg --debug up
-    searching for copies back to rev 1
     unmatched files in other:
      b
   resolving manifests
@@ -68,7 +67,6 @@
   
   $ hg --debug up 0
   starting 4 threads for background file closing (?)
-    searching for copies back to rev 0
     unmatched files in local (from topological common ancestor):
      b
   resolving manifests
@@ -95,7 +93,6 @@
   summary:     1
   
   $ hg --debug up
-    searching for copies back to rev 1
     unmatched files in other:
      b
   resolving manifests