diff --git a/README.markdown b/README.markdown
index f43856daf6..b9aaf8193c 100644
--- a/README.markdown
+++ b/README.markdown
@@ -1,4 +1,3 @@
-[![Build status](https://badge.buildkite.com/e18473fffac95ed2735ca75700673bd301cac5cffc64de821a.svg?branch=master)](https://buildkite.com/open-food-foundation/open-food-network)
 [![Code Climate](https://codeclimate.com/github/openfoodfoundation/openfoodnetwork.png)](https://codeclimate.com/github/openfoodfoundation/openfoodnetwork)
 
 # Open Food Network
diff --git a/script/ci/includes.sh b/script/ci/includes.sh
index ee59a732d7..d7619f7d23 100644
--- a/script/ci/includes.sh
+++ b/script/ci/includes.sh
@@ -12,6 +12,13 @@ function exit_unless_master_merged {
     fi
 }
 
+function succeed_if_master_merged {
+    if [[ `git branch -a --merged origin/$BUILDKITE_BRANCH` == *origin/master* ]]; then
+	echo "This branch already has the current master merged."
+	exit 0
+    fi
+}
+
 function drop_and_recreate_database {
     # Adapted from: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/12924466/capistrano-with-postgresql-error-database-is-being-accessed-by-other-users
     psql -U openfoodweb postgres <<EOF
diff --git a/script/ci/merge_branch_to_master.sh b/script/ci/merge_branch_to_master.sh
index 6e40ed4ef9..3eaae17d56 100755
--- a/script/ci/merge_branch_to_master.sh
+++ b/script/ci/merge_branch_to_master.sh
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
-set -e
+set -ex
 source ./script/ci/includes.sh
 
 echo "--- Verifying branch is based on current master"
diff --git a/script/ci/merge_master_into_branch.sh b/script/ci/merge_master_into_branch.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000000..a5e05c7759
--- /dev/null
+++ b/script/ci/merge_master_into_branch.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+#!/bin/bash
+
+set -e
+source ./script/ci/includes.sh
+
+echo "--- Checking if master has already been merged"
+succeed_if_master_merged
+
+echo "--- Merging master into this branch"
+git checkout $BUILDKITE_BRANCH
+git merge origin/$BUILDKITE_BRANCH
+git merge origin/master -m "Auto-merge from CI [skip ci]"
+git push origin $BUILDKITE_BRANCH
+git checkout origin/$BUILDKITE_BRANCH
diff --git a/script/ci/push_to_production.sh b/script/ci/push_to_production.sh
index 8a8d4bf318..00ade0af07 100755
--- a/script/ci/push_to_production.sh
+++ b/script/ci/push_to_production.sh
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
-set -e
+set -ex
 
 # Add production git remote if required
 PROD_TEST=`git remote | grep -s 'production' || true`
@@ -12,6 +12,4 @@ echo "--- Saving baseline data for staging"
 ssh ofn-staging2 "/home/openfoodweb/apps/openfoodweb/current/script/ci/save_staging_baseline.sh $BUILDKITE_COMMIT"
 
 echo "--- Pushing to production"
-output=$(git push production $BUILDKITE_COMMIT:master --force 2>&1)
-echo $output
-[[ $output =~ "Done" ]]
+[[ $(git push production $BUILDKITE_COMMIT:master --force 2>&1) =~ "Done" ]]
diff --git a/script/ci/push_to_staging.sh b/script/ci/push_to_staging.sh
index 0a5a11235a..c634ca53a4 100755
--- a/script/ci/push_to_staging.sh
+++ b/script/ci/push_to_staging.sh
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 #!/bin/bash
 
-set -e
+set -ex
 source ./script/ci/includes.sh
 
 # Add staging git remote if required
@@ -16,6 +16,4 @@ echo "--- Loading baseline data"
 ssh ofn-staging2 "/home/openfoodweb/apps/openfoodweb/current/script/ci/load_staging_baseline.sh"
 
 echo "--- Pushing to staging"
-output=$(git push staging2 $BUILDKITE_COMMIT:master --force 2>&1)
-echo $output
-[[ $output =~ "Done" ]]
+[[ $(git push staging2 $BUILDKITE_COMMIT:master --force 2>&1) =~ "Done" ]]