diff --git a/lua/octo/commands.lua b/lua/octo/commands.lua
index da2a05d9..3ee13106 100644
--- a/lua/octo/commands.lua
+++ b/lua/octo/commands.lua
@@ -1838,15 +1838,31 @@ function M.pr_checks()
   }
 end
 
+--- Merges a PR by number or from the current buffer
 function M.merge_pr(...)
-  local buffer = utils.get_current_buffer()
-  if not buffer or not buffer:isPullRequest() then
-    return
-  end
-
-  local args = { "pr", "merge", tostring(buffer.number) }
+  local args = { "pr", "merge" }
   local params = table.pack(...)
   local conf = config.values
+  local pr_number = nil
+
+  -- Get PR number from argument if valid
+  if utils.is_number_like(params[1]) then
+    pr_number = tostring(params[1])
+    table.remove(params, 1)
+  end
+
+  if not pr_number then
+    local buffer = utils.get_current_buffer()
+
+    if not buffer or not buffer:isPullRequest() then
+      utils.error("No PR number provided and buffer is not a PR")
+      return
+    end
+
+    pr_number = tostring(buffer.number)
+  end
+
+  table.insert(args, pr_number)
 
   local merge_method = conf.default_merge_method
   for _, param in ipairs(params) do
@@ -1876,8 +1892,17 @@ function M.merge_pr(...)
   gh.run {
     args = args,
     cb = function(output, stderr)
-      utils.info(output .. " " .. stderr)
-      writers.write_state(buffer.bufnr)
+      if not utils.is_blank(strerr) then
+        utils.error(stderr)
+      else
+        utils.info(output)
+      end
+
+      local buffer = utils.get_current_buffer()
+
+      if buffer and buffer:isPullRequest() then
+        writers.write_state(buffer.bufnr)
+      end
     end,
   }
 end
diff --git a/lua/octo/pickers/snacks/provider.lua b/lua/octo/pickers/snacks/provider.lua
index cf5515fb..617e1730 100644
--- a/lua/octo/pickers/snacks/provider.lua
+++ b/lua/octo/pickers/snacks/provider.lua
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ local gh = require "octo.gh"
 local graphql = require "octo.gh.graphql"
 local queries = require "octo.gh.queries"
 local utils = require "octo.utils"
+local commands = require "octo.commands"
 local octo_config = require "octo.config"
 local navigation = require "octo.navigation"
 local Snacks = require "snacks"
@@ -257,7 +258,7 @@ function M.pull_requests(opts)
 
         if not custom_actions_defined["merge_pr"] then
           final_actions["merge_pr"] = function(_picker, item)
-            utils.merge_pr(item.number)
+            commands.merge_pr(item.number)
           end
         end
         if not final_keys[cfg.picker_config.mappings.merge_pr.lhs] then
diff --git a/lua/octo/pickers/telescope/provider.lua b/lua/octo/pickers/telescope/provider.lua
index 462cc75f..648593f5 100644
--- a/lua/octo/pickers/telescope/provider.lua
+++ b/lua/octo/pickers/telescope/provider.lua
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ local previewers = require "octo.pickers.telescope.previewers"
 local entry_maker = require "octo.pickers.telescope.entry_maker"
 local reviews = require "octo.reviews"
 local utils = require "octo.utils"
+local commands = require "octo.command"
 local octo_config = require "octo.config"
 local notifications = require "octo.notifications"
 
@@ -305,7 +306,7 @@ local function merge_pull_request()
   return function(prompt_bufnr)
     local sel = action_state.get_selected_entry(prompt_bufnr)
     actions.close(prompt_bufnr)
-    utils.merge_pr(sel.obj.number)
+    commands.merge_pr(sel.obj.number)
   end
 end
 
diff --git a/lua/octo/utils.lua b/lua/octo/utils.lua
index 620545b1..9781eeab 100644
--- a/lua/octo/utils.lua
+++ b/lua/octo/utils.lua
@@ -625,36 +625,6 @@ function M.insert_delete_flag(args, delete)
   end
 end
 
----Merges a PR by number
-function M.merge_pr(pr_number)
-  if not Job then
-    M.error "Aborting PR merge"
-    return
-  end
-
-  local conf = config.values
-  local args = { "pr", "merge", pr_number }
-
-  M.insert_merge_flag(args, conf.default_merge_method)
-  M.insert_delete_flag(args, conf.default_delete_branch)
-
-  ---@diagnostic disable-next-line: missing-fields
-  Job:new({
-    command = "gh",
-    args = args,
-    on_exit = vim.schedule_wrap(function(job, code)
-      if code == 0 then
-        M.info("Merged PR " .. pr_number .. "!")
-      else
-        local stderr = table.concat(job:stderr_result(), "\n")
-        if not M.is_blank(stderr) then
-          M.error(stderr)
-        end
-      end
-    end),
-  }):start()
-end
-
 --- Formats a integer a large integer by taking the most significant digits with a suffix.
 --- e.g. 123456789 -> 12.3m
 ---@param n integer
@@ -2020,4 +1990,17 @@ function M.print_err(msg)
   vim.api.nvim_echo({ { msg } }, true, { err = true })
 end
 
+--- @param val string
+--- Check if a value is a number or numeric string (e.g. 123 or "456")
+function M.is_number_like(val)
+  if type(val) == "number" then
+    return true
+  end
+  if type(val) == "string" then
+    local n = tonumber(val)
+    return n ~= nil and tostring(n) == val
+  end
+  return false
+end
+
 return M