diff --git a/ftplugin/gitlog.lua b/ftplugin/gitlog.lua
index fa89303..e37f80d 100644
--- a/ftplugin/gitlog.lua
+++ b/ftplugin/gitlog.lua
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ vim.keymap.set("n", "<CR>", function()
             .nvim_get_current_line()
             :match("^[*|/\\_ ]*(%x%x%x%x%x%x%x+)")
     if sha then
-        require("git.show").open_commit(worktree, sha)
+        require("git.show").open_commit(worktree, sha, { split = false })
     else
         -- "n" mode = no remap, so this doesn't recurse into our mapping.
         vim.api.nvim_feedkeys(cr, "n", false)
diff --git a/lua/git/init.lua b/lua/git/init.lua
index 75b0f9f..4be10f8 100644
--- a/lua/git/init.lua
+++ b/lua/git/init.lua
@@ -28,9 +28,9 @@ end
 ---@class ow.Git.NewScratchOpts
 ---@field name string?
 ---@field bufhidden ("hide"|"wipe")?  defaults to "hide"
----@field split ("above"|"below"|"left"|"right")?  defaults to splitbelow-aware horizontal
+---@field split (false|"above"|"below"|"left"|"right")? defaults to splitbelow-aware horizontal. `false` places the buffer in the current window (drops a `'` mark first so the user can jump back).
 
----Open a split with a fresh non-modifiable scratch buffer. Default split
+---Create a fresh non-modifiable scratch buffer and place it. Default split
 ---direction is horizontal, honouring `splitbelow`. Caller flips
 ---`modifiable`, fills the buffer, and sets `filetype` once content lands.
 ---@param opts ow.Git.NewScratchOpts?
@@ -47,6 +47,11 @@ function M.new_scratch(opts)
     if opts.name then
         pcall(vim.api.nvim_buf_set_name, buf, opts.name)
     end
+    if opts.split == false then
+        vim.cmd.normal({ "m'", bang = true })
+        vim.api.nvim_set_current_buf(buf)
+        return buf, vim.api.nvim_get_current_win()
+    end
     local split = opts.split or (vim.o.splitbelow and "below" or "above")
     local win = vim.api.nvim_open_win(buf, true, { split = split })
     return buf, win
diff --git a/lua/git/show.lua b/lua/git/show.lua
index c19ff91..acf04fb 100644
--- a/lua/git/show.lua
+++ b/lua/git/show.lua
@@ -127,9 +127,14 @@ local function show_diff(ctx, section)
     vim.api.nvim_set_current_win(left_win)
 end
 
+---@class ow.Git.OpenCommitOpts
+---@field split (false|"above"|"below"|"left"|"right")?  forwarded to `git.new_scratch`. Default opens a new horizontal split.
+
 ---@param worktree string
 ---@param ref string
-function M.open_commit(worktree, ref)
+---@param opts ow.Git.OpenCommitOpts?
+function M.open_commit(worktree, ref, opts)
+    local split = opts and opts.split
     repo.rev_parse(worktree, ref, true, function(resolved)
         local sha = resolved or ref
         local name = "git://" .. sha .. "//"
@@ -137,13 +142,18 @@ function M.open_commit(worktree, ref)
         -- are immutable so the content is stable.
         local existing = vim.fn.bufnr(name)
         if existing ~= -1 and vim.api.nvim_buf_is_loaded(existing) then
-            vim.api.nvim_open_win(existing, true, {
-                split = vim.o.splitbelow and "below" or "above",
-            })
+            if split == false then
+                vim.cmd.normal({ "m'", bang = true })
+                vim.api.nvim_set_current_buf(existing)
+            else
+                vim.api.nvim_open_win(existing, true, {
+                    split = split or (vim.o.splitbelow and "below" or "above"),
+                })
+            end
             return
         end
 
-        local buf, win = git.new_scratch({ name = name })
+        local buf, win = git.new_scratch({ name = name, split = split })
         vim.b[buf].git_worktree = worktree
         vim.b[buf].git_ref = sha
 
@@ -157,10 +167,11 @@ function M.open_commit(worktree, ref)
                         ref,
                         vim.trim(result.stderr or "")
                     )
-                    -- Tear down the empty placeholder window+buffer so a
-                    -- retry runs a fresh fetch instead of hitting the
-                    -- cached-buffer branch and reopening an empty pane.
-                    if vim.api.nvim_win_is_valid(win) then
+                    -- Drop the empty placeholder so a retry runs a fresh
+                    -- fetch. With `split = false` the window falls back to
+                    -- its alternate buffer (the gitlog); for a real split
+                    -- we close the dedicated window to keep the layout tidy.
+                    if split ~= false and vim.api.nvim_win_is_valid(win) then
                         pcall(vim.api.nvim_win_close, win, true)
                     end
                     if vim.api.nvim_buf_is_valid(buf) then