diff --git a/convert.c b/convert.c
index deaf0ba7b3..040123b4fe 100644
--- a/convert.c
+++ b/convert.c
@@ -1104,10 +1104,12 @@ int convert_to_git(const struct index_state *istate,
 		src = dst->buf;
 		len = dst->len;
 	}
-	ret |= crlf_to_git(istate, path, src, len, dst, ca.crlf_action, checksafe);
-	if (ret && dst) {
-		src = dst->buf;
-		len = dst->len;
+	if (checksafe != SAFE_CRLF_KEEP_CRLF) {
+		ret |= crlf_to_git(istate, path, src, len, dst, ca.crlf_action, checksafe);
+		if (ret && dst) {
+			src = dst->buf;
+			len = dst->len;
+		}
 	}
 	return ret | ident_to_git(path, src, len, dst, ca.ident);
 }
diff --git a/convert.h b/convert.h
index cecf59d1aa..cabd5ed6dd 100644
--- a/convert.h
+++ b/convert.h
@@ -10,7 +10,8 @@ enum safe_crlf {
 	SAFE_CRLF_FALSE = 0,
 	SAFE_CRLF_FAIL = 1,
 	SAFE_CRLF_WARN = 2,
-	SAFE_CRLF_RENORMALIZE = 3
+	SAFE_CRLF_RENORMALIZE = 3,
+	SAFE_CRLF_KEEP_CRLF = 4
 };
 
 extern enum safe_crlf safe_crlf;