diff --git a/docs/Config.md b/docs/Config.md
index 5e32f3605..11ddb4e1f 100644
--- a/docs/Config.md
+++ b/docs/Config.md
@@ -75,6 +75,8 @@ git:
     # one of always, never, when-maximised
     # this determines whether the git graph is rendered in the commits panel
     showGraph: 'when-maximised'
+    # displays the whole git graph by default in the commits panel
+    showWholeGraph: false
   skipHookPrefix: WIP
   autoFetch: true
   autoRefresh: true
diff --git a/pkg/config/user_config.go b/pkg/config/user_config.go
index 6ff3b36a1..1e42b0e15 100644
--- a/pkg/config/user_config.go
+++ b/pkg/config/user_config.go
@@ -106,6 +106,7 @@ type MergingConfig struct {
 type LogConfig struct {
 	Order     string `yaml:"order"`     // one of date-order, author-date-order, topo-order
 	ShowGraph string `yaml:"showGraph"` // one of always, never, when-maximised
+	ShowWholeGraph bool `yaml:"showWholeGraph"`
 }
 
 type CommitPrefixConfig struct {
@@ -385,6 +386,7 @@ func GetDefaultConfig() *UserConfig {
 			Log: LogConfig{
 				Order:     "topo-order",
 				ShowGraph: "when-maximised",
+				ShowWholeGraph: false,
 			},
 			SkipHookPrefix:      "WIP",
 			AutoFetch:           true,
diff --git a/pkg/gui/context/local_commits_context.go b/pkg/gui/context/local_commits_context.go
index 7432cab95..6653087c1 100644
--- a/pkg/gui/context/local_commits_context.go
+++ b/pkg/gui/context/local_commits_context.go
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ func NewLocalCommitsContext(
 
 	c *types.HelperCommon,
 ) *LocalCommitsContext {
-	viewModel := NewLocalCommitsViewModel(getModel)
+	viewModel := NewLocalCommitsViewModel(getModel, c)
 
 	return &LocalCommitsContext{
 		LocalCommitsViewModel: viewModel,
@@ -70,10 +70,11 @@ type LocalCommitsViewModel struct {
 	showWholeGitGraph bool
 }
 
-func NewLocalCommitsViewModel(getModel func() []*models.Commit) *LocalCommitsViewModel {
+func NewLocalCommitsViewModel(getModel func() []*models.Commit, c *types.HelperCommon) *LocalCommitsViewModel {
 	self := &LocalCommitsViewModel{
 		BasicViewModel: NewBasicViewModel(getModel),
 		limitCommits:   true,
+		showWholeGitGraph: c.UserConfig.Git.Log.ShowWholeGraph,
 	}
 
 	return self