diff --git a/josh-core/src/cache.rs b/josh-core/src/cache.rs
index 77e4aaf19..e2262fb2e 100644
--- a/josh-core/src/cache.rs
+++ b/josh-core/src/cache.rs
@@ -9,9 +9,20 @@ use std::sync::{LazyLock, RwLock};
 pub(crate) const CACHE_VERSION: u64 = 24;
 
 pub trait CacheBackend: Send + Sync {
-    fn read(&self, filter: filter::Filter, from: git2::Oid) -> JoshResult<Option<git2::Oid>>;
-
-    fn write(&self, filter: filter::Filter, from: git2::Oid, to: git2::Oid) -> JoshResult<()>;
+    fn read(
+        &self,
+        filter: filter::Filter,
+        from: git2::Oid,
+        sequence_number: u128,
+    ) -> JoshResult<Option<git2::Oid>>;
+
+    fn write(
+        &self,
+        filter: filter::Filter,
+        from: git2::Oid,
+        to: git2::Oid,
+        sequence_number: u128,
+    ) -> JoshResult<()>;
 }
 
 pub trait FilterHook {
@@ -323,6 +334,11 @@ impl Transaction {
     }
 
     pub fn insert(&self, filter: filter::Filter, from: git2::Oid, to: git2::Oid, store: bool) {
+        let sequence_number = if filter != filter::sequence_number() {
+            compute_sequence_number(self, from).expect("compute_sequence_number failed")
+        } else {
+            0
+        };
         let mut t2 = self.t2.borrow_mut();
         t2.commit_map
             .entry(filter.id())
@@ -334,14 +350,13 @@ impl Transaction {
         // the history length by a very large factor.
         if store || from.as_bytes()[0] == 0 {
             t2.cache
-                .write_all(filter, from, to)
+                .write_all(filter, from, to, sequence_number)
                 .expect("Failed to write cache");
         }
     }
 
     pub fn get_missing(&self) -> Vec<(filter::Filter, git2::Oid)> {
         let mut missing = self.t2.borrow().missing.clone();
-        missing.sort_by_key(|(f, i)| (filter::nesting(*f), *f, *i));
         missing.dedup();
         missing.retain(|(f, i)| !self.known(*f, *i));
         self.t2.borrow_mut().missing = missing.clone();
@@ -358,7 +373,9 @@ impl Transaction {
         } else {
             let mut t2 = self.t2.borrow_mut();
             t2.misses += 1;
-            t2.missing.push((filter, from));
+            if !t2.missing.contains(&(filter, from)) {
+                t2.missing.insert(0, (filter, from));
+            }
             None
         }
     }
@@ -367,6 +384,11 @@ impl Transaction {
         if filter == filter::nop() {
             return Some(from);
         }
+        let sequence_number = if filter != filter::sequence_number() {
+            compute_sequence_number(self, from).expect("compute_sequence_number failed")
+        } else {
+            0
+        };
         let t2 = self.t2.borrow_mut();
         if let Some(m) = t2.commit_map.get(&filter.id()) {
             if let Some(oid) = m.get(&from).cloned() {
@@ -376,7 +398,7 @@ impl Transaction {
 
         let oid = t2
             .cache
-            .read_propagate(filter, from)
+            .read_propagate(filter, from, sequence_number)
             .expect("Failed to read from cache backend");
 
         let oid = if let Some(oid) = oid { Some(oid) } else { None };
@@ -385,6 +407,9 @@ impl Transaction {
             if oid == git2::Oid::zero() {
                 return Some(oid);
             }
+            if filter == filter::sequence_number() {
+                return Some(oid);
+            }
 
             if self.repo.odb().unwrap().exists(oid) {
                 // Only report an object as cached if it exists in the object database.
@@ -396,3 +421,70 @@ impl Transaction {
         None
     }
 }
+
+/// Encode a `u128` into a 20-byte git OID (SHA-1 sized).
+/// The high 4 bytes of the OID are zero; the low 16 bytes
+/// contain the big-endian integer.
+pub fn oid_from_u128(n: u128) -> git2::Oid {
+    let mut bytes = [0u8; 20];
+    // place the 16 integer bytes at the end (big-endian)
+    bytes[20 - 16..].copy_from_slice(&n.to_be_bytes());
+    // Safe: length is exactly 20
+    git2::Oid::from_bytes(&bytes).expect("20-byte OID construction cannot fail")
+}
+
+/// Decode a `u128` previously encoded by `oid_from_u128`.
+pub fn u128_from_oid(oid: git2::Oid) -> u128 {
+    let b = oid.as_bytes();
+    let mut n = [0u8; 16];
+    n.copy_from_slice(&b[20 - 16..]); // take the last 16 bytes
+    u128::from_be_bytes(n)
+}
+
+pub fn compute_sequence_number(
+    transaction: &cache::Transaction,
+    input: git2::Oid,
+) -> JoshResult<u128> {
+    if let Some(count) = transaction.get(filter::sequence_number(), input) {
+        return Ok(u128_from_oid(count));
+    }
+
+    let commit = transaction.repo().find_commit(input)?;
+    if let Some(p) = commit.parent_ids().next() {
+        if let Some(count) = transaction.get(filter::sequence_number(), p) {
+            let pc = u128_from_oid(count);
+            transaction.insert(
+                filter::sequence_number(),
+                input,
+                oid_from_u128(pc + 1),
+                true,
+            );
+            return Ok(pc + 1);
+        }
+    }
+
+    let mut walk = transaction.repo().revwalk()?;
+    walk.set_sorting(git2::Sort::REVERSE | git2::Sort::TOPOLOGICAL)?;
+    walk.push(input)?;
+
+    for c in walk {
+        let commit = transaction.repo().find_commit(c?)?;
+        let pc = if let Some(p) = commit.parent_ids().next() {
+            compute_sequence_number(transaction, p)?
+        } else {
+            0
+        };
+
+        transaction.insert(
+            filter::sequence_number(),
+            commit.id(),
+            oid_from_u128(pc + 1),
+            true,
+        );
+    }
+    if let Some(count) = transaction.get(filter::sequence_number(), input) {
+        Ok(u128_from_oid(count))
+    } else {
+        Err(josh_error("missing sequence_number"))
+    }
+}
diff --git a/josh-core/src/cache_notes.rs b/josh-core/src/cache_notes.rs
index 1096000ae..b2c6abf2c 100644
--- a/josh-core/src/cache_notes.rs
+++ b/josh-core/src/cache_notes.rs
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 use crate::JoshResult;
 use crate::cache::{CACHE_VERSION, CacheBackend};
+use crate::filter;
 use crate::filter::Filter;
 
 pub struct NotesCacheBackend {
@@ -15,24 +16,53 @@ impl NotesCacheBackend {
     }
 }
 
-fn is_note_eligible(oid: git2::Oid) -> bool {
-    oid.as_bytes()[0] == 0
+// The notes cache is meant to be sparse. That is, not all entries are actually persisted.
+// This makes it smaller and faster to download.
+// It is expected that on any node (server, proxy, local repo) a full "dense" local cache
+// is used in addition to the sparse note cache.
+// The note cache is mostly only used for initial "cold starts" or longer "catch up".
+// For incremental filtering it's fine re-filter commits and rely on the local "dense" cache.
+// We store entries for 1% of all commits, and additionally all merges and orphans.
+fn is_note_eligible(repo: &git2::Repository, oid: git2::Oid, sequence_number: u128) -> bool {
+    let parent_count = if let Ok(c) = repo.find_commit(oid) {
+        c.parent_ids().count()
+    } else {
+        return false;
+    };
+
+    sequence_number % 100 == 0 || parent_count != 1
 }
 
-fn note_path(key: git2::Oid) -> String {
-    format!("refs/josh/{}/{}", CACHE_VERSION, key)
+// To additionally limit the size of the note trees the cache is also sharded by sequence
+// number in groups of 10000. Note that this does not limit the number of entried per bucket
+// as branches mean many commits share the same sequence number.
+fn note_path(key: git2::Oid, sequence_number: u128) -> String {
+    format!(
+        "refs/josh/{}/{}/{}",
+        CACHE_VERSION,
+        sequence_number / 10000,
+        key,
+    )
 }
 
 impl CacheBackend for NotesCacheBackend {
-    fn read(&self, filter: Filter, from: git2::Oid) -> JoshResult<Option<git2::Oid>> {
+    fn read(
+        &self,
+        filter: Filter,
+        from: git2::Oid,
+        sequence_number: u128,
+    ) -> JoshResult<Option<git2::Oid>> {
+        if filter == filter::sequence_number() {
+            return Ok(None);
+        }
         let repo = self.repo.lock()?;
-        let key = crate::filter::as_tree(&repo, filter)?;
-
-        if !is_note_eligible(from) {
+        if !is_note_eligible(&repo, from, sequence_number) {
             return Ok(None);
         }
 
-        if let Ok(note) = repo.find_note(Some(&note_path(key)), from) {
+        let key = crate::filter::as_tree(&*repo, filter)?;
+
+        if let Ok(note) = repo.find_note(Some(&note_path(key, sequence_number)), from) {
             let message = note.message().unwrap_or("");
             let result = git2::Oid::from_str(message)?;
 
@@ -42,20 +72,29 @@ impl CacheBackend for NotesCacheBackend {
         }
     }
 
-    fn write(&self, filter: Filter, from: git2::Oid, to: git2::Oid) -> JoshResult<()> {
-        let repo = self.repo.lock()?;
-        let key = crate::filter::as_tree(&repo, filter)?;
+    fn write(
+        &self,
+        filter: Filter,
+        from: git2::Oid,
+        to: git2::Oid,
+        sequence_number: u128,
+    ) -> JoshResult<()> {
+        if filter == filter::sequence_number() {
+            return Ok(());
+        }
 
-        if !is_note_eligible(from) {
+        let repo = self.repo.lock()?;
+        if !is_note_eligible(&*repo, from, sequence_number) {
             return Ok(());
         }
 
+        let key = crate::filter::as_tree(&*repo, filter)?;
         let signature = crate::cache::josh_commit_signature()?;
 
         repo.note(
             &signature,
             &signature,
-            Some(&note_path(key)),
+            Some(&note_path(key, sequence_number)),
             from,
             &to.to_string(),
             true,
diff --git a/josh-core/src/cache_sled.rs b/josh-core/src/cache_sled.rs
index d7bd595a6..9ea94e352 100644
--- a/josh-core/src/cache_sled.rs
+++ b/josh-core/src/cache_sled.rs
@@ -80,7 +80,12 @@ fn insert_sled_tree(filter: Filter) -> sled::Tree {
 }
 
 impl CacheBackend for SledCacheBackend {
-    fn read(&self, filter: Filter, from: git2::Oid) -> JoshResult<Option<git2::Oid>> {
+    fn read(
+        &self,
+        filter: Filter,
+        from: git2::Oid,
+        _sequence_number: u128,
+    ) -> JoshResult<Option<git2::Oid>> {
         let mut trees = self.trees.lock()?;
         let tree = trees
             .entry(filter.id())
@@ -94,7 +99,13 @@ impl CacheBackend for SledCacheBackend {
         }
     }
 
-    fn write(&self, filter: Filter, from: git2::Oid, to: git2::Oid) -> JoshResult<()> {
+    fn write(
+        &self,
+        filter: Filter,
+        from: git2::Oid,
+        to: git2::Oid,
+        _sequence_number: u128,
+    ) -> JoshResult<()> {
         let mut trees = self.trees.lock()?;
         let tree = trees
             .entry(filter.id())
diff --git a/josh-core/src/cache_stack.rs b/josh-core/src/cache_stack.rs
index 8b71b4382..613fbe97a 100644
--- a/josh-core/src/cache_stack.rs
+++ b/josh-core/src/cache_stack.rs
@@ -33,9 +33,10 @@ impl CacheStack {
         filter: filter::Filter,
         from: git2::Oid,
         to: git2::Oid,
+        sequence_number: u128,
     ) -> JoshResult<()> {
         for backend in &self.backends {
-            backend.write(filter, from, to)?;
+            backend.write(filter, from, to, sequence_number)?;
         }
 
         Ok(())
@@ -51,16 +52,19 @@ impl CacheStack {
         &self,
         filter: filter::Filter,
         from: git2::Oid,
+        sequence_number: u128,
     ) -> JoshResult<Option<git2::Oid>> {
         let values = self
             .backends
             .iter()
             .enumerate()
-            .find_map(|(index, backend)| match backend.read(filter, from) {
-                Ok(None) => None,
-                Ok(Some(oid)) => Some(Ok((index, oid))),
-                Err(e) => Some(Err(e)),
-            });
+            .find_map(
+                |(index, backend)| match backend.read(filter, from, sequence_number) {
+                    Ok(None) => None,
+                    Ok(Some(oid)) => Some(Ok((index, oid))),
+                    Err(e) => Some(Err(e)),
+                },
+            );
 
         let (index, oid) = match values {
             // None of the backends had the value
@@ -74,7 +78,7 @@ impl CacheStack {
         self.backends
             .iter()
             .take(index)
-            .try_for_each(|backend| backend.write(filter, from, oid))?;
+            .try_for_each(|backend| backend.write(filter, from, oid, sequence_number))?;
 
         Ok(Some(oid))
     }
diff --git a/josh-core/src/filter/mod.rs b/josh-core/src/filter/mod.rs
index 09bc74897..777db2d3c 100644
--- a/josh-core/src/filter/mod.rs
+++ b/josh-core/src/filter/mod.rs
@@ -51,6 +51,10 @@ impl Filter {
     }
 }
 
+pub fn sequence_number() -> Filter {
+    Filter(git2::Oid::zero())
+}
+
 impl std::fmt::Debug for Filter {
     fn fmt(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
         to_op(*self).fmt(f)
@@ -224,6 +228,9 @@ fn to_filter(op: Op) -> Filter {
 }
 
 fn to_op(filter: Filter) -> Op {
+    if filter == sequence_number() {
+        return Op::Nop;
+    }
     FILTERS
         .lock()
         .unwrap()
@@ -391,36 +398,6 @@ fn pretty2(op: &Op, indent: usize, compose: bool) -> String {
     }
 }
 
-pub fn nesting(filter: Filter) -> usize {
-    nesting2(&to_op(filter))
-}
-
-fn nesting2(op: &Op) -> usize {
-    match op {
-        Op::Compose(filters) => 1 + filters.iter().map(|f| nesting(*f)).fold(0, |a, b| a.max(b)),
-        Op::Exclude(filter) | Op::Pin(filter) => 1 + nesting(*filter),
-        Op::Workspace(_) => usize::MAX / 2, // divide by 2 to make sure there is enough headroom to avoid overflows
-        Op::Hook(_) => usize::MAX / 2, // divide by 2 to make sure there is enough headroom to avoid overflows
-        Op::Chain(a, b) => 1 + nesting(*a).max(nesting(*b)),
-        Op::Subtract(a, b) => 1 + nesting(*a).max(nesting(*b)),
-        Op::Rev(filters) => {
-            1 + filters
-                .values()
-                .map(|filter| nesting(*filter))
-                .max()
-                .unwrap_or(0)
-        }
-        Op::Join(filters) => {
-            1 + filters
-                .values()
-                .map(|filter| nesting(*filter))
-                .max()
-                .unwrap_or(0)
-        }
-        _ => 0,
-    }
-}
-
 pub fn lazy_refs(filter: Filter) -> Vec<String> {
     lazy_refs2(&to_op(filter))
 }
@@ -550,6 +527,9 @@ fn resolve_refs2(refs: &std::collections::HashMap<String, git2::Oid>, op: &Op) -
 /// Compact, single line string representation of a filter so that `parse(spec(F)) == F`
 /// Note that this is will not be the best human readable representation. For that see `pretty(...)`
 pub fn spec(filter: Filter) -> String {
+    if filter == sequence_number() {
+        return "sequence_number".to_string();
+    }
     let filter = opt::simplify(filter);
     spec2(&to_op(filter))
 }
@@ -1261,13 +1241,7 @@ pub fn apply_to_commit(
 
         let missing = transaction.get_missing();
 
-        // Since 'missing' is sorted by nesting, the first is always the minimal
-        let minimal_nesting = missing.first().map(|(f, _)| nesting(*f)).unwrap_or(0);
-
         for (f, i) in missing {
-            if nesting(f) != minimal_nesting {
-                break;
-            }
             history::walk2(f, i, transaction)?;
         }
     }
diff --git a/josh-core/src/history.rs b/josh-core/src/history.rs
index cf0a3b743..0629de311 100644
--- a/josh-core/src/history.rs
+++ b/josh-core/src/history.rs
@@ -8,15 +8,13 @@ pub fn walk2(
 ) -> JoshResult<()> {
     rs_tracing::trace_scoped!("walk2","spec":filter::spec(filter), "id": input.to_string());
 
-    ok_or!(transaction.repo().find_commit(input), {
-        return Ok(());
-    });
-
     if transaction.known(filter, input) {
         return Ok(());
     }
 
-    let (known, n_new) = find_known(filter, input, transaction)?;
+    ok_or!(transaction.repo().find_commit(input), {
+        return Ok(());
+    });
 
     let walk = {
         let mut walk = transaction.repo().revwalk()?;
@@ -24,51 +22,52 @@ pub fn walk2(
             walk.simplify_first_parent()?;
         }
         walk.set_sorting(git2::Sort::REVERSE | git2::Sort::TOPOLOGICAL)?;
+
         walk.push(input)?;
-        for k in known.iter() {
-            walk.hide(*k)?;
-        }
         walk
     };
+    let mut hide_callback = |id| {
+        let k = transaction.known(filter, id);
+        k
+    };
+    let walk = walk.with_hide_callback(&mut hide_callback)?;
 
     log::info!(
         "Walking {} new commits for:\n{}\n",
-        n_new,
+        0,
         filter::pretty(filter, 4),
     );
-    let mut n_commits = 0;
-    let mut n_misses = transaction.misses();
+    let mut n_in = 0;
+    let mut n_out = 0;
 
     let walks = transaction.new_walk();
 
     for original_commit_id in walk {
-        if !filter::apply_to_commit3(
+        if filter::apply_to_commit3(
             filter,
             &transaction.repo().find_commit(original_commit_id?)?,
             transaction,
         )? {
-            break;
+            n_out += 1;
         }
 
-        n_commits += 1;
-        if n_commits % 1000 == 0 {
+        n_in += 1;
+        if n_in % 1000 == 0 {
             log::debug!(
-                "{} {} commits filtered, {} misses",
+                "{} {} commits filtered, {} written",
                 " ->".repeat(walks),
-                n_commits,
-                transaction.misses() - n_misses,
+                n_in,
+                n_out,
             );
-            n_misses = transaction.misses();
         }
     }
 
     log::info!(
-        "{} {} commits filtered, {} misses",
+        "{} {} commits filtered, {} written",
         " ->".repeat(walks),
-        n_commits,
-        transaction.misses() - n_misses,
+        n_in,
+        n_out,
     );
-
     transaction.end_walk();
 
     Ok(())
@@ -166,29 +165,6 @@ pub fn find_original(
     Ok(git2::Oid::zero())
 }
 
-fn find_known(
-    filter: filter::Filter,
-    input: git2::Oid,
-    transaction: &cache::Transaction,
-) -> JoshResult<(Vec<git2::Oid>, usize)> {
-    log::debug!("find_known");
-    let mut known = vec![];
-    let mut walk = transaction.repo().revwalk()?;
-    walk.push(input)?;
-
-    let n_new = walk
-        .with_hide_callback(&mut |id| {
-            let k = transaction.known(filter, id);
-            if k {
-                known.push(id)
-            }
-            k
-        })?
-        .count();
-    log::debug!("/find_known {}", n_new);
-    Ok((known, n_new))
-}
-
 // takes everything from base except its tree and replaces it with the tree
 // given
 pub fn rewrite_commit(
diff --git a/tests/experimental/indexer.t b/tests/experimental/indexer.t
index d91f25e36..8efb6b437 100644
--- a/tests/experimental/indexer.t
+++ b/tests/experimental/indexer.t
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 
   $ josh-filter -s :INDEX --update refs/heads/index
   [3] :INDEX
+  [3] sequence_number
   [6] _trigram_index
 
   $ josh-filter :/ --search "Another"
diff --git a/tests/filter/ambiguous_merge.t b/tests/filter/ambiguous_merge.t
index 55a223473..b89f59e0d 100644
--- a/tests/filter/ambiguous_merge.t
+++ b/tests/filter/ambiguous_merge.t
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
   $ josh-filter -s ::sub1/ branch1 --update refs/heads/hidden_branch1
   [2] :prefix=sub1
   [3] :/sub1
+  [5] sequence_number
   $ git checkout hidden_branch1
   Switched to branch 'hidden_branch1'
   $ git log --graph --oneline --decorate
@@ -54,6 +55,7 @@
   $ josh-filter -s ::sub1/ master --update refs/heads/hidden_master
   [3] :prefix=sub1
   [4] :/sub1
+  [7] sequence_number
   $ git checkout hidden_master
   Switched to branch 'hidden_master'
   $ git log --graph --oneline --decorate
@@ -86,6 +88,7 @@
   $ josh-filter -s ::sub1/ --reverse master --update refs/heads/hidden_master
   [3] :prefix=sub1
   [4] :/sub1
+  [7] sequence_number
 
   $ git checkout master
   Switched to branch 'master'
diff --git a/tests/filter/cmdline.t b/tests/filter/cmdline.t
index 1f8a88e61..172a5f51d 100644
--- a/tests/filter/cmdline.t
+++ b/tests/filter/cmdline.t
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
   $ josh-filter -s c=:/sub1 --update refs/josh/filter/libs/master libs/master
   [2] :/sub1
   [2] :prefix=c
+  [4] sequence_number
   $ git log --graph --pretty=%s josh/filter/libs/master
   * add file2
   * add file1
@@ -45,6 +46,7 @@
   [2] :/sub1
   [2] :/sub2
   [2] :prefix=c
+  [7] sequence_number
   $ git log --graph --pretty=%s josh/filter/libs/foo
   * add file3
 
@@ -63,6 +65,13 @@
   |-- heads
   |   `-- master
   |-- josh
+  |   |-- 24
+  |   |   `-- 0
+  |   |       |-- 5a4a73be0065ab74681f8302fd032224a32ffaed
+  |   |       |-- c37f9b5c5d2022cce0acbae87682f3eb5cdf29fb
+  |   |       |-- d14715b1358e12e9fb4132036e06049fd1ddf88f
+  |   |       |-- d6fc41eeb18ee6e3acf23e9a49bd4f10136d1db0
+  |   |       `-- fcdb5e527e610ecf5ad7e25a5b388fffc2af7240
   |   `-- filter
   |       `-- libs
   |           |-- foo
@@ -74,7 +83,7 @@
   |       `-- master
   `-- tags
   
-  8 directories, 6 files
+  10 directories, 11 files
 
   $ git read-tree HEAD josh/filter/libs/master josh/filter/libs/foo
   $ git commit -m "sync"
diff --git a/tests/filter/commit_message_raw.t b/tests/filter/commit_message_raw.t
index d352f924e..208acbc26 100644
--- a/tests/filter/commit_message_raw.t
+++ b/tests/filter/commit_message_raw.t
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
   $ josh-filter -s c=:prefix=pre master --update refs/josh/filter/master
   [1] :prefix=c
   [1] :prefix=pre
+  [2] sequence_number
   $ git cat-file commit master
   tree 2f407f8ecb16a66b85e2c84d3889720b7a0e3762
   author Josh <josh@example.com> 1112911993 +0000
diff --git a/tests/filter/compose_shadow_dir_same_name.t b/tests/filter/compose_shadow_dir_same_name.t
index 9602b9455..b4c1bd5dd 100644
--- a/tests/filter/compose_shadow_dir_same_name.t
+++ b/tests/filter/compose_shadow_dir_same_name.t
@@ -92,6 +92,7 @@
       :/xx
       :/sub/xx
   ]
+  [3] sequence_number
   $ git diff ${EMPTY_TREE}..FILTERED_HEAD
   diff --git a/file1 b/file1
   new file mode 100644
diff --git a/tests/filter/deleted_dir.t b/tests/filter/deleted_dir.t
index a5d4c658b..0b08e0150 100644
--- a/tests/filter/deleted_dir.t
+++ b/tests/filter/deleted_dir.t
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ in that subtree repo should have an empty tree
   $ josh-filter -s c=:/sub1 master --update refs/josh/filter/master
   [2] :/sub1
   [2] :prefix=c
+  [4] sequence_number
 
   $ git log refs/josh/filter/master --graph --pretty=%s
   * add file2
@@ -36,6 +37,7 @@ in that subtree repo should have an empty tree
   $ josh-filter -s c=:/sub1 master --update refs/josh/filter/master
   [3] :/sub1
   [3] :prefix=c
+  [6] sequence_number
 
   $ git log refs/josh/filter/master --graph --pretty=%s
   * rm sub1
diff --git a/tests/filter/empty_head.t b/tests/filter/empty_head.t
index 03a5975c2..6d11db7d3 100644
--- a/tests/filter/empty_head.t
+++ b/tests/filter/empty_head.t
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 
   $ josh-filter -s :/sub1 master --update refs/josh/filter/master
   [2] :/sub1
+  [3] sequence_number
   $ git log --graph --pretty=%s josh/filter/master
   * add file2
   * add file1
@@ -27,6 +28,7 @@
   $ josh-filter -s :/sub2 master --update refs/josh/filter/master
   [2] :/sub1
   [2] :/sub2
+  [3] sequence_number
   $ git log --graph --pretty=%s josh/filter/master
   * add file3
 
@@ -38,5 +40,6 @@
   Warning: reference refs/josh/filter/master wasn't updated
   [2] :/sub1
   [2] :/sub2
+  [4] sequence_number
   $ git log --graph --pretty=%s josh/filter/master
   * add file3
diff --git a/tests/filter/empty_orphan.t b/tests/filter/empty_orphan.t
index fb7647d26..95eb2f026 100644
--- a/tests/filter/empty_orphan.t
+++ b/tests/filter/empty_orphan.t
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@ Empty root commits from unrelated parts of the tree should not be included
   $ josh-filter -s c=:/sub1 master --update refs/josh/filter/master
   [3] :/sub1
   [3] :prefix=c
+  [6] sequence_number
 
   $ git log refs/josh/filter/master --graph --pretty=%s
   * add file3
@@ -83,6 +84,7 @@ Empty root commits from unrelated parts of the tree should not be included
   $ josh-filter -s c=:/sub1 master
   [3] :prefix=c
   [5] :/sub1
+  [10] sequence_number
 
   $ git log FILTERED_HEAD --graph --pretty=%s
   * add file3
@@ -98,6 +100,7 @@ Empty root commits from unrelated parts of the tree should not be included
   [5] :/sub1
   [5] :exclude[::sub1/]
   [6] :prefix=c
+  [10] sequence_number
 
   $ git log FILTERED_HEAD --graph --pretty=%s
   * add some_other_file
@@ -113,6 +116,7 @@ Empty root commits from unrelated parts of the tree should not be included
   [5] :/sub1
   [5] :exclude[::sub1/]
   [6] :prefix=c
+  [12] sequence_number
 
   $ git ls-tree --name-only -r FILTERED_HEAD
   x/c/some_file
diff --git a/tests/filter/empty_reimport.t b/tests/filter/empty_reimport.t
index 3021af81e..86ac5a3fd 100644
--- a/tests/filter/empty_reimport.t
+++ b/tests/filter/empty_reimport.t
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@
   $ josh-filter -s c=:/pre master --update refs/josh/filter/master
   [2] :prefix=c
   [4] :/pre
+  [7] sequence_number
 
   $ git log josh/filter/master --graph --pretty=%s
   * change on other 2
@@ -82,6 +83,7 @@
   $ josh-filter -s c=:/pre master --update refs/josh/filter/master
   [5] :prefix=c
   [7] :/pre
+  [14] sequence_number
 
   $ git log josh/filter/master --graph --pretty=%s
   *   Merge branch 'other_branch'
diff --git a/tests/filter/exclude_compose.t b/tests/filter/exclude_compose.t
index cbfa187fc..0dc2aa8e3 100644
--- a/tests/filter/exclude_compose.t
+++ b/tests/filter/exclude_compose.t
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 
   $ josh-filter -s :exclude[::sub2/] master --update refs/heads/hidden
   [2] :exclude[::sub2/]
+  [3] sequence_number
   $ git checkout -q hidden 1> /dev/null
   $ tree
   .
@@ -44,6 +45,7 @@
       ::sub2/
   ]
   [2] :exclude[::sub2/]
+  [3] sequence_number
 
   $ git checkout -q refs/josh/filtered
   $ tree
@@ -60,6 +62,7 @@
   ]
   [2] :exclude[::sub2/]
   [3] :exclude[:/sub3:prefix=sub1]
+  [3] sequence_number
 
   $ git checkout -q refs/josh/filtered
   $ tree
diff --git a/tests/filter/file.t b/tests/filter/file.t
index 11b435f09..7b445eed5 100644
--- a/tests/filter/file.t
+++ b/tests/filter/file.t
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
       c = :/sub1
       a/b = :/sub2
   ]
+  [4] sequence_number
   $ git log --graph --pretty=%s FILTERED_HEAD
   * add file3
   * add file2
@@ -43,6 +44,7 @@
       c = :/sub1
       a/b = :/sub2
   ]
+  [5] sequence_number
   $ git log --graph --pretty=%s FILTERED_HEAD
   * initial
 
@@ -50,7 +52,11 @@
   .git/refs/
   |-- heads
   |   `-- master
+  |-- josh
+  |   `-- 24
+  |       `-- 0
+  |           `-- 8d28f139b3f76b91bc4e6146a5943eb1635bfb11
   `-- tags
   
-  3 directories, 1 file
+  6 directories, 2 files
 
diff --git a/tests/filter/gpgsig.t b/tests/filter/gpgsig.t
index cfdd817e8..8fe4b2b79 100644
--- a/tests/filter/gpgsig.t
+++ b/tests/filter/gpgsig.t
@@ -39,11 +39,13 @@ If 0b4cf6c9efbbda1eada39fa9c1d21d2525b027bb shows up then the signature was lost
 Remove the signature, the shas are different.
   $ josh-filter :unsign refs/heads/master --update refs/heads/filtered -s
   [1] :unsign
+  [1] sequence_number
   $ git rev-parse master filtered
   cb22ebb8e47b109f7add68b1043e561e0db09802
   0b4cf6c9efbbda1eada39fa9c1d21d2525b027bb
   $ josh-filter --reverse :unsign refs/heads/double-filtered --update refs/heads/filtered -s
   [1] :unsign
+  [1] sequence_number
   $ git rev-parse master double-filtered
   cb22ebb8e47b109f7add68b1043e561e0db09802
   cb22ebb8e47b109f7add68b1043e561e0db09802
diff --git a/tests/filter/hide_view.t b/tests/filter/hide_view.t
index e20ba1b59..ec51249f8 100644
--- a/tests/filter/hide_view.t
+++ b/tests/filter/hide_view.t
@@ -36,6 +36,7 @@
   $ josh-filter -s c=:exclude[::sub1/] master --update refs/josh/filter/master
   [1] :prefix=c
   [2] :exclude[::sub1/]
+  [4] sequence_number
   $ git checkout josh/filter/master 2> /dev/null
   $ git log --graph --pretty=%s
   * add file3
@@ -51,6 +52,7 @@
   [2] :exclude[::sub1/]
   [2] :exclude[::sub1/file2]
   [3] :prefix=c
+  [5] sequence_number
   $ git checkout josh/filter/master 2> /dev/null
   $ git log --graph --pretty=%s
   * add file3
@@ -70,6 +72,7 @@
   [2] :exclude[::sub1/file2]
   [2] :exclude[::sub2/file3]
   [4] :prefix=c
+  [5] sequence_number
   $ git checkout josh/filter/master 2> /dev/null
   $ git log --graph --pretty=%s
   * add file2
diff --git a/tests/filter/hook_notes.t b/tests/filter/hook_notes.t
index 9253d884b..50794fb15 100644
--- a/tests/filter/hook_notes.t
+++ b/tests/filter/hook_notes.t
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
   $ josh-filter -s :hook=commits HEAD --update refs/josh/filtered
   [2] ::b
   [3] :hook="commits"
+  [3] sequence_number
 
   $ git log --graph --pretty=%s refs/josh/filtered
   *   add f3
diff --git a/tests/filter/infofile.t b/tests/filter/infofile.t
index d2a41e65a..26ef765a6 100644
--- a/tests/filter/infofile.t
+++ b/tests/filter/infofile.t
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
   $ josh-filter -s c=:/sub1 master --update refs/josh/filter/master
   [2] :/sub1
   [2] :prefix=c
+  [6] sequence_number
   $ git log --graph --pretty=%s josh/filter/master
   * add file2
   * add file1
@@ -33,6 +34,7 @@
   Warning: reference refs/josh/filter/master wasn't updated
   [2] :/sub1
   [2] :prefix=c
+  [6] sequence_number
   $ git log --graph --pretty=%s josh/filter/master
   * add file2
   * add file1
@@ -41,6 +43,7 @@
   [2] :/sub1
   [2] :/sub2
   [3] :prefix=c
+  [7] sequence_number
   $ git log --graph --pretty=%s josh/filter/master
   * add file3
 
@@ -53,5 +56,6 @@
   [2] :/sub1
   [2] :/sub2
   [3] :prefix=c
+  [8] sequence_number
   $ git log --graph --pretty=%s josh/filter/master
   * add file3
diff --git a/tests/filter/join.t b/tests/filter/join.t
index 1a21dfca7..a08cfdd2f 100644
--- a/tests/filter/join.t
+++ b/tests/filter/join.t
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ Initial commit
 Apply prefix filter
   $ josh-filter -s :prefix=subtree refs/heads/master --update refs/heads/filtered
   [1] :prefix=subtree
+  [1] sequence_number
 
   $ git log --graph --pretty=%s refs/heads/filtered
   * add file1
diff --git a/tests/filter/linear.t b/tests/filter/linear.t
index 27f8538f9..6f287362e 100644
--- a/tests/filter/linear.t
+++ b/tests/filter/linear.t
@@ -32,7 +32,8 @@
   * add file1
 
   $ josh-filter -s :linear refs/heads/master --update refs/heads/filtered
-  [3] :linear
+  [4] :linear
+  [4] sequence_number
 
   $ git log --graph --pretty=%s refs/heads/filtered
   * Merge branch 'branch2'
@@ -57,7 +58,8 @@
   * add file1
 
   $ josh-filter -s :linear refs/heads/master --update refs/heads/filtered --reverse
-  [3] :linear
+  [4] :linear
+  [4] sequence_number
 
   $ git log --graph --pretty=%s refs/heads/master
   * mod file2
diff --git a/tests/filter/moved_dir.t b/tests/filter/moved_dir.t
index c594ee6a2..bbc24b640 100644
--- a/tests/filter/moved_dir.t
+++ b/tests/filter/moved_dir.t
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ in that subtree repo should have an empty tree
   $ josh-filter -s c=:/sub1 master --update refs/josh/filter/master
   [2] :/sub1
   [2] :prefix=c
+  [4] sequence_number
 
   $ git log refs/josh/filter/master --graph --pretty=%s
   * add file2
@@ -38,6 +39,7 @@ in that subtree repo should have an empty tree
   $ josh-filter -s c=:/sub1 master --update refs/josh/filter/master
   [3] :/sub1
   [3] :prefix=c
+  [6] sequence_number
 
   $ git log refs/josh/filter/master --graph --pretty=%s
   * mv sub1
@@ -52,6 +54,7 @@ in that subtree repo should have an empty tree
   $ josh-filter -s c=:/sub1 master --update refs/josh/filter/master2
   [3] :/sub1
   [3] :prefix=c
+  [7] sequence_number
   $ git log refs/josh/filter/master2 --graph --pretty=%s
   * mv sub1
   * add file2
diff --git a/tests/filter/prefix.t b/tests/filter/prefix.t
index dae646ece..1c5a98216 100644
--- a/tests/filter/prefix.t
+++ b/tests/filter/prefix.t
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ Initial commit
 Apply prefix filter
   $ josh-filter -s :prefix=subtree refs/heads/master --update refs/heads/filtered
   [1] :prefix=subtree
+  [1] sequence_number
 
   $ git log --graph --pretty=%s refs/heads/filtered
   * add file1
diff --git a/tests/filter/prune_trivial_merge.t b/tests/filter/prune_trivial_merge.t
index d52ca62ca..9572b366f 100644
--- a/tests/filter/prune_trivial_merge.t
+++ b/tests/filter/prune_trivial_merge.t
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
 
   $ josh-filter -s ::file1
   [4] ::file1
+  [5] sequence_number
   $ git log --graph --pretty=%s FILTERED_HEAD
   *   Merge branch 'branch1'
   |\  
@@ -45,6 +46,7 @@
   $ josh-filter -s ::file1:prune=trivial-merge
   [3] :prune=trivial-merge
   [4] ::file1
+  [6] sequence_number
 
   $ git log --graph --pretty=%s FILTERED_HEAD
   * empty commit
diff --git a/tests/filter/rev.t b/tests/filter/rev.t
index d44906acc..e48451dad 100644
--- a/tests/filter/rev.t
+++ b/tests/filter/rev.t
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
   $ josh-filter -s :prefix=x/y --update refs/heads/filtered
   [5] :prefix=x
   [5] :prefix=y
+  [10] sequence_number
   $ git log --graph --decorate --pretty=%H:%T refs/heads/filtered
   *   37f8b29c9e892ea0eb7abac2759ddc6fb0337203:dcbbddf47649f8e73f59fae92896c0d2cd02b6ec
   |\  
@@ -51,6 +52,7 @@
   $ josh-filter -s ":rev(ffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff:prefix=x/y)" --update refs/heads/filtered
   [5] :prefix=x
   [5] :prefix=y
+  [10] sequence_number
   ERROR: `:rev(...)` with nonexistent OID: ffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffffff
   [1]
 
@@ -58,6 +60,7 @@
   [5] :prefix=x
   [5] :prefix=y
   [5] :rev(975d4c4975912729482cc864d321c5196a969271:prefix=x/y)
+  [10] sequence_number
   $ git log --graph --decorate --pretty=%H:%T refs/heads/filtered
   *   54651c29aa86e8512a7b9d39e3b8ea26da644247:5f47d9fdffdc726bb8ebcfea67531d2574243c5d
   |\  
@@ -73,6 +76,7 @@
   [5] :prefix=y
   [5] :rev(975d4c4975912729482cc864d321c5196a969271:prefix=x/y)
   [5] :rev(e707f76bb6a1390f28b2162da5b5eb6933009070:prefix=x/y)
+  [10] sequence_number
   $ git log --graph --decorate --pretty=%H:%T refs/heads/filtered
   *   5fe60a2d55b652822b3d3f25410714e9053ba72b:5f47d9fdffdc726bb8ebcfea67531d2574243c5d
   |\  
@@ -95,6 +99,7 @@
   [5] :rev(975d4c4975912729482cc864d321c5196a969271:prefix=x/y)
   [5] :rev(975d4c4975912729482cc864d321c5196a969271:prefix=x/y,e707f76bb6a1390f28b2162da5b5eb6933009070:prefix=x/y)
   [5] :rev(e707f76bb6a1390f28b2162da5b5eb6933009070:prefix=x/y)
+  [10] sequence_number
   $ git log --graph --decorate --pretty=%H:%T refs/heads/filtered
   *   63fea1234f375bd09019b676da8291f28d2ddb43:5f47d9fdffdc726bb8ebcfea67531d2574243c5d
   |\  
@@ -121,6 +126,7 @@
   [5] :rev(975d4c4975912729482cc864d321c5196a969271:prefix=x/z,e707f76bb6a1390f28b2162da5b5eb6933009070:prefix=x/y)
   [5] :rev(e707f76bb6a1390f28b2162da5b5eb6933009070:prefix=x/y)
   [6] :prefix=x
+  [11] sequence_number
   $ cat > filter.josh <<EOF
   > :rev(
   >   e707f76bb6a1390f28b2162da5b5eb6933009070:prefix=x/y
@@ -140,6 +146,7 @@
   [5] :rev(975d4c4975912729482cc864d321c5196a969271:prefix=x/z,e707f76bb6a1390f28b2162da5b5eb6933009070:prefix=x/y)
   [5] :rev(e707f76bb6a1390f28b2162da5b5eb6933009070:prefix=x/y)
   [6] :prefix=x
+  [11] sequence_number
   $ git log --graph --decorate --pretty=%H:%T refs/heads/filtered
   *   1c4fe25dc386c77adaae12d6b1cd3abfa296fc3c:5f47d9fdffdc726bb8ebcfea67531d2574243c5d
   |\  
@@ -155,13 +162,14 @@
   [2] :rev(0000000000000000000000000000000000000000:prefix=x/y,975d4c4975912729482cc864d321c5196a969271:prefix=x/z)
   [2] :rev(0000000000000000000000000000000000000000:prefix=x/y,e707f76bb6a1390f28b2162da5b5eb6933009070:prefix=x/y)
   [2] :rev(0000000000000000000000000000000000000000:prefix=x/z,e707f76bb6a1390f28b2162da5b5eb6933009070:prefix=x/y)
-  [3] :linear
+  [5] :linear
   [5] :prefix=y
   [5] :rev(975d4c4975912729482cc864d321c5196a969271:prefix=x/y)
   [5] :rev(975d4c4975912729482cc864d321c5196a969271:prefix=x/y,e707f76bb6a1390f28b2162da5b5eb6933009070:prefix=x/y)
   [5] :rev(975d4c4975912729482cc864d321c5196a969271:prefix=x/z,e707f76bb6a1390f28b2162da5b5eb6933009070:prefix=x/y)
   [5] :rev(e707f76bb6a1390f28b2162da5b5eb6933009070:prefix=x/y)
   [6] :prefix=x
+  [11] sequence_number
   $ git log --graph --decorate --pretty=%H:%T refs/heads/filtered
   * f8e8bc9daf54340c9fce647be467d2577b623bbe:5f47d9fdffdc726bb8ebcfea67531d2574243c5d
   * e707f76bb6a1390f28b2162da5b5eb6933009070:5d8a699f74b48c9c595f4615dd3755244e11d176
@@ -195,14 +203,15 @@
   [2] :rev(0000000000000000000000000000000000000000:prefix=x/y,e707f76bb6a1390f28b2162da5b5eb6933009070:prefix=x/y)
   [2] :rev(0000000000000000000000000000000000000000:prefix=x/z,e707f76bb6a1390f28b2162da5b5eb6933009070:prefix=x/y)
   [2] :rev(0000000000000000000000000000000000000000:prefix=y,0b4cf6c9efbbda1eada39fa9c1d21d2525b027bb:prefix=z)
-  [3] :linear
   [3] :rev(0000000000000000000000000000000000000000:prefix=x,0b4cf6c9efbbda1eada39fa9c1d21d2525b027bb:prefix=z,e707f76bb6a1390f28b2162da5b5eb6933009070:prefix=y)
+  [5] :linear
   [5] :prefix=y
   [5] :rev(975d4c4975912729482cc864d321c5196a969271:prefix=x/y)
   [5] :rev(975d4c4975912729482cc864d321c5196a969271:prefix=x/y,e707f76bb6a1390f28b2162da5b5eb6933009070:prefix=x/y)
   [5] :rev(975d4c4975912729482cc864d321c5196a969271:prefix=x/z,e707f76bb6a1390f28b2162da5b5eb6933009070:prefix=x/y)
   [5] :rev(e707f76bb6a1390f28b2162da5b5eb6933009070:prefix=x/y)
   [6] :prefix=x
+  [12] sequence_number
 
   $ git log --graph --decorate --pretty=%H:%T refs/heads/filtered
   * 2944f04c33ea037f7696282bf20b2e570524552e:047b1b6f39e8d95b62ef7f136189005d0e3c80b3
diff --git a/tests/filter/reverse_hide.t b/tests/filter/reverse_hide.t
index dc54f0a1a..37ee2d6c0 100644
--- a/tests/filter/reverse_hide.t
+++ b/tests/filter/reverse_hide.t
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 
   $ josh-filter -s :exclude[::sub2/] master --update refs/heads/hidden
   [1] :exclude[::sub2/]
+  [2] sequence_number
   $ git checkout hidden 1> /dev/null
   Switched to branch 'hidden'
   $ tree
@@ -33,6 +34,7 @@
 
   $ josh-filter -s :exclude[::sub2/] --reverse master --update refs/heads/hidden
   [1] :exclude[::sub2/]
+  [2] sequence_number
 
   $ git checkout master
   Switched to branch 'master'
@@ -67,6 +69,7 @@
 
   $ josh-filter -s :exclude[::sub2/] --reverse master --update refs/heads/hidden
   [2] :exclude[::sub2/]
+  [3] sequence_number
   $ git log --graph --pretty=%s refs/heads/master
   * empty commit
   * add sub1/file3
diff --git a/tests/filter/reverse_hide_edit.t b/tests/filter/reverse_hide_edit.t
index e3c63db88..404de8d7f 100644
--- a/tests/filter/reverse_hide_edit.t
+++ b/tests/filter/reverse_hide_edit.t
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 
   $ josh-filter -s :exclude[::sub2/] master --update refs/heads/hidden
   [1] :exclude[::sub2/]
+  [2] sequence_number
   $ git checkout hidden 1> /dev/null
   Switched to branch 'hidden'
   $ tree
@@ -33,6 +34,7 @@
 
   $ josh-filter -s :exclude[::sub2/] --reverse master --update refs/heads/hidden
   [1] :exclude[::sub2/]
+  [2] sequence_number
 
   $ git checkout master
   Switched to branch 'master'
diff --git a/tests/filter/reverse_hide_edit_missing_change.t b/tests/filter/reverse_hide_edit_missing_change.t
index 8c145d09d..0ec12fe70 100644
--- a/tests/filter/reverse_hide_edit_missing_change.t
+++ b/tests/filter/reverse_hide_edit_missing_change.t
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 
   $ josh-filter -s :exclude[::sub2/] master --update refs/heads/hidden
   [1] :exclude[::sub2/]
+  [2] sequence_number
   $ git checkout hidden 1> /dev/null
   Switched to branch 'hidden'
   $ tree
@@ -48,6 +49,7 @@
 
   $ josh-filter -s :exclude[::sub2/] --reverse master --update refs/heads/hidden
   [1] :exclude[::sub2/]
+  [2] sequence_number
 
   $ git checkout master
   Switched to branch 'master'
diff --git a/tests/filter/reverse_merge.t b/tests/filter/reverse_merge.t
index 01a65ca0a..46e369964 100644
--- a/tests/filter/reverse_merge.t
+++ b/tests/filter/reverse_merge.t
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 
   $ josh-filter -s :exclude[::sub2/] branch1 --update refs/heads/hidden_branch1
   [2] :exclude[::sub2/]
+  [2] sequence_number
   $ git checkout hidden_branch1
   Switched to branch 'hidden_branch1'
   $ tree
@@ -40,6 +41,7 @@
 
   $ josh-filter -s :exclude[::sub2/] master --update refs/heads/hidden_master
   [3] :exclude[::sub2/]
+  [3] sequence_number
   $ git checkout hidden_master
   Switched to branch 'hidden_master'
   $ tree
@@ -73,6 +75,7 @@
 
   $ josh-filter -s :exclude[::sub2/] --reverse master --update refs/heads/hidden_master
   [3] :exclude[::sub2/]
+  [3] sequence_number
 
   $ git checkout master
   Switched to branch 'master'
diff --git a/tests/filter/reverse_split.t b/tests/filter/reverse_split.t
index 6e9d5c1b0..d5ac7bcef 100644
--- a/tests/filter/reverse_split.t
+++ b/tests/filter/reverse_split.t
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
       a = ::*.a
       :prefix=rest
   ]
+  [2] sequence_number
   $ git checkout filtered 1> /dev/null
   Switched to branch 'filtered'
   $ tree
@@ -42,6 +43,7 @@
       a = ::*.a
       :prefix=rest
   ]
+  [2] sequence_number
 
   $ git checkout master
   Switched to branch 'master'
diff --git a/tests/filter/roundtrip_custom_header.t b/tests/filter/roundtrip_custom_header.t
index 919e57886..f436cad48 100644
--- a/tests/filter/roundtrip_custom_header.t
+++ b/tests/filter/roundtrip_custom_header.t
@@ -130,3 +130,5 @@ Write a custom header into the commit (h/t https://github.com/Byron/gitoxide/blo
   f2fd7b2 (HEAD -> master, re-filtered) second
   73007fa initial
   7d7c929 initial
+  9340c45 Notes added by 'git_note_create' from libgit2
+  56a1fe0 Notes added by 'git_note_create' from libgit2
diff --git a/tests/filter/squash.t b/tests/filter/squash.t
index 2760b0f8d..dc30e4dd5 100644
--- a/tests/filter/squash.t
+++ b/tests/filter/squash.t
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 
   $ josh-filter -s --squash-pattern "refs/tags/*" --update refs/heads/filtered
   Warning: reference refs/heads/filtered wasn't updated
+  [5] sequence_number
 
   $ git log --graph --decorate --pretty=oneline refs/heads/filtered
   fatal: ambiguous argument 'refs/heads/filtered': unknown revision or path not in the working tree.
@@ -45,6 +46,7 @@ This one tag is an annotated tag, to make sure those are handled as well
   [1] :squash(
       1d69b7d2651f744be3416f2ad526aeccefb99310:"refs/tags/tag_a"
   )
+  [7] sequence_number
 
   $ git log --graph --decorate --pretty=oneline refs/heads/filtered
   * 977cc3ee14c0d6163ba63bd96f4aeedd43916ba7 (tag: filtered/tag_a, filtered) refs/tags/tag_a
@@ -73,6 +75,7 @@ This one tag is an annotated tag, to make sure those are handled as well
       977cc3ee14c0d6163ba63bd96f4aeedd43916ba7:"refs/tags/filtered/tag_a"
   )
   [4] :author="New Author";"new@e.mail"
+  [11] sequence_number
 
   $ git log --graph --decorate --pretty=oneline refs/heads/filtered
   * be41caf35896090033cfd103e06aae721a3ce541 (tag: filtered/tag_a, filtered) refs/tags/tag_a
@@ -115,6 +118,7 @@ This one tag is an annotated tag, to make sure those are handled as well
       a68763bdf2f45a44304067954855749e366a5533:"refs/tags/filtered/filtered/tag_a"
       be41caf35896090033cfd103e06aae721a3ce541:"refs/tags/filtered/tag_a"
   )
+  [16] sequence_number
   $ git log --graph --pretty=%an:%ae-%cn:%ce refs/heads/filtered
   * Josh:josh@example.com-New Author:new@e.mail
   |\
@@ -181,6 +185,7 @@ This one tag is an annotated tag, to make sure those are handled as well
       be41caf35896090033cfd103e06aae721a3ce541:"refs/tags/filtered/tag_a"
   )
   [6] :author="New Author";"new@e.mail"
+  [19] sequence_number
 
   $ git log --graph --decorate --pretty=oneline refs/heads/filtered
   *   2826b9a173c7a7d5c83d9ae2614de89c77205d83 (filtered) refs/tags/tag_a
diff --git a/tests/filter/squash_empty_initial.t b/tests/filter/squash_empty_initial.t
index b597b7f04..af32b7595 100644
--- a/tests/filter/squash_empty_initial.t
+++ b/tests/filter/squash_empty_initial.t
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@
 
   $ josh-filter -s --squash-pattern "refs/tags/*" --update refs/heads/filtered
   Warning: reference refs/heads/filtered wasn't updated
+  [5] sequence_number
   $ git log --graph --decorate --pretty=oneline refs/heads/filtered
   fatal: ambiguous argument 'refs/heads/filtered': unknown revision or path not in the working tree.
   Use '--' to separate paths from revisions, like this:
@@ -50,6 +51,7 @@
   [1] :squash(
       882f2656a5075936eb37bfefde740e0b453e4479:"refs/tags/tag_a"
   )
+  [7] sequence_number
 
   $ git log --graph --decorate --pretty=oneline refs/heads/filtered
   * 977cc3ee14c0d6163ba63bd96f4aeedd43916ba7 (tag: filtered/tag_a, filtered) refs/tags/tag_a
diff --git a/tests/filter/submodule.t b/tests/filter/submodule.t
index e9a2188af..c72816b2d 100644
--- a/tests/filter/submodule.t
+++ b/tests/filter/submodule.t
@@ -25,9 +25,11 @@
 
   $ josh-filter -s :/libs master --update refs/josh/filter/master
   [1] :/libs
+  [2] sequence_number
   $ git ls-tree --name-only -r refs/josh/filter/master 
   $ josh-filter -s c=:/libs master --update refs/josh/filter/master
   Warning: reference refs/josh/filter/master wasn't updated
   [1] :/libs
   [1] :prefix=c
+  [2] sequence_number
   $ git ls-tree --name-only -r refs/josh/filter/master 
diff --git a/tests/filter/subtree_prefix.t b/tests/filter/subtree_prefix.t
index dc3455aea..f496e784d 100644
--- a/tests/filter/subtree_prefix.t
+++ b/tests/filter/subtree_prefix.t
@@ -44,6 +44,7 @@ Rewrite the subtree part of the history
   $ josh-filter -s ":rev($SUBTREE_TIP:prefix=subtree)" refs/heads/master --update refs/heads/filtered
   [1] :prefix=subtree
   [4] :rev(c036f944faafb865e0585e4fa5e005afa0aeea3f:prefix=subtree)
+  [4] sequence_number
 
   $ git log --graph --pretty=%s refs/heads/filtered
   * subtree edit from main repo
@@ -70,6 +71,7 @@ Extract the subtree history
   [1] :prefix=subtree
   [4] :/subtree
   [4] :rev(c036f944faafb865e0585e4fa5e005afa0aeea3f:prefix=subtree)
+  [7] sequence_number
   $ git checkout subtree
   Switched to branch 'subtree'
   $ cat file2
@@ -83,6 +85,7 @@ Work in the subtree, and sync that back.
   [1] :prefix=subtree
   [4] :/subtree
   [4] :rev(c036f944faafb865e0585e4fa5e005afa0aeea3f:prefix=subtree)
+  [7] sequence_number
   $ git log --graph --pretty=%s  refs/heads/master
   * add even more content
   * subtree edit from main repo
@@ -105,6 +108,7 @@ And then re-extract, which should re-construct the same subtree.
   [1] :prefix=subtree
   [5] :/subtree
   [5] :rev(c036f944faafb865e0585e4fa5e005afa0aeea3f:prefix=subtree)
+  [9] sequence_number
   $ test $(git rev-parse subtree) = $(git rev-parse subtree2)
 
 Simulate a feature branch on the main repo that crosses subtree changes
@@ -179,6 +183,7 @@ And finally, sync first from main to sub and then back.
   [1] :prefix=subtree
   [9] :/subtree
   [9] :rev(c036f944faafb865e0585e4fa5e005afa0aeea3f:prefix=subtree)
+  [17] sequence_number
 
   $ git log --graph --pretty=%H:%s refs/heads/master
   *   6ac0ba56575859cfaacd5818084333e532ffc442:Merge branch 'subtree-sync' into subtree
@@ -225,6 +230,7 @@ taken back into the main history.
   [1] :prefix=subtree
   [13] :/subtree
   [13] :rev(c036f944faafb865e0585e4fa5e005afa0aeea3f:prefix=subtree)
+  [25] sequence_number
   $ git ls-tree --name-only -r refs/heads/master
   feature1
   feature2
diff --git a/tests/filter/workspace_combine_filter.t b/tests/filter/workspace_combine_filter.t
index c27fa8ffb..cabd731e5 100644
--- a/tests/filter/workspace_combine_filter.t
+++ b/tests/filter/workspace_combine_filter.t
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@
   ]
   [2] :prefix=x
   [2] :workspace=ws
+  [4] sequence_number
 
   $ git log --graph --pretty=%s FILTERED_HEAD
   * add ws
@@ -92,6 +93,7 @@
       blub = :/sub1
   ]
   [3] :prefix=xyz
+  [7] sequence_number
 
   $ git log --graph --pretty=%s FILTERED_HEAD
   * add ws
diff --git a/tests/filter/workspace_discover.t b/tests/filter/workspace_discover.t
index cb76163f8..5401d4889 100644
--- a/tests/filter/workspace_discover.t
+++ b/tests/filter/workspace_discover.t
@@ -65,6 +65,7 @@
   ]
   [2] :workspace=ws
   [2] :workspace=ws2
+  [9] sequence_number
 
   $ cat > workspace.josh <<EOF
   > :/sub1::file1
@@ -101,3 +102,4 @@
   ]
   [2] :workspace=ws
   [2] :workspace=ws2
+  [10] sequence_number
diff --git a/tests/filter/workspace_exclude.t b/tests/filter/workspace_exclude.t
index 8c24a4051..9d20f30bd 100644
--- a/tests/filter/workspace_exclude.t
+++ b/tests/filter/workspace_exclude.t
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
       ::sub2/subsub/
   ]
   [2] :workspace=ws
+  [3] sequence_number
 
   $ git log --graph --pretty=%s refs/heads/filtered
   * add ws
@@ -59,6 +60,7 @@
       ::sub2/subsub/
   ]
   [2] :workspace=ws
+  [3] sequence_number
   $ git checkout master
   Switched to branch 'master'
 
diff --git a/tests/filter/workspace_implicit_filter.t b/tests/filter/workspace_implicit_filter.t
index 784678438..e887c4168 100644
--- a/tests/filter/workspace_implicit_filter.t
+++ b/tests/filter/workspace_implicit_filter.t
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
       ::sub2/subsub/
   ]
   [2] :workspace=ws
+  [3] sequence_number
 
   $ git log --graph --pretty=%s refs/josh/master
   * add ws
diff --git a/tests/filter/workspace_modify_chain.t b/tests/filter/workspace_modify_chain.t
index 89d9c7b70..6801de9f0 100644
--- a/tests/filter/workspace_modify_chain.t
+++ b/tests/filter/workspace_modify_chain.t
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
   [1] :prefix=subsub
   [2] :workspace=ws
   [3] :/sub2
+  [7] sequence_number
 
   $ git log --graph --pretty=%s refs/heads/filtered
   * add file2
@@ -53,6 +54,7 @@
   [1] :prefix=subsub
   [2] :workspace=ws
   [3] :/sub2
+  [7] sequence_number
   $ git checkout master
   Switched to branch 'master'
 
diff --git a/tests/filter/workspace_multiple_globs.t b/tests/filter/workspace_multiple_globs.t
index 8f1889275..1440142b9 100644
--- a/tests/filter/workspace_multiple_globs.t
+++ b/tests/filter/workspace_multiple_globs.t
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
       b = ::**/file1
   ]
   [2] :workspace=ws
+  [3] sequence_number
 
   $ git log --graph --pretty=%s refs/josh/master
   * add ws
diff --git a/tests/filter/workspace_redirect.t b/tests/filter/workspace_redirect.t
index 64458ad6b..32becdfff 100644
--- a/tests/filter/workspace_redirect.t
+++ b/tests/filter/workspace_redirect.t
@@ -53,16 +53,18 @@
       ::sub2/subsub/
   ]
   [3] :workspace=ws
+  [7] sequence_number
   $ josh-filter -s :workspace=ws_new master --update refs/heads/filtered_new
   [1] :prefix=b
-  [1] :workspace=ws_new
   [2] :/sub3
   [2] :[
       a = :/sub1
       ::sub2/subsub/
   ]
+  [2] :workspace=ws_new
   [3] :workspace=ws
   [5] :exclude[::ws_new]
+  [7] sequence_number
 
   $ git log --graph --pretty=%s refs/heads/filtered
   *   edit ws
@@ -188,3 +190,4 @@
   [4] :exclude[::ws]
   [4] :workspace=ws
   [6] :exclude[::ws_new]
+  [10] sequence_number
diff --git a/tests/filter/workspace_single_file.t b/tests/filter/workspace_single_file.t
index 896ac7356..048807017 100644
--- a/tests/filter/workspace_single_file.t
+++ b/tests/filter/workspace_single_file.t
@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@
       ::sub2/subsub/
   ]
   [2] :workspace=ws
+  [4] sequence_number
 
   $ git log --graph --pretty=%s refs/josh/master
   * add ws
@@ -86,6 +87,7 @@
   ]
   [2] :workspace=ws
   [2] :workspace=ws2
+  [4] sequence_number
 
   $ git log --graph --pretty=%s refs/josh/master
   * add ws2
diff --git a/tests/filter/workspace_trailing_slash.t b/tests/filter/workspace_trailing_slash.t
index 19146136e..cd3eaf973 100644
--- a/tests/filter/workspace_trailing_slash.t
+++ b/tests/filter/workspace_trailing_slash.t
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
       a/b = :/sub2
   ]
   [2] :workspace=ws
+  [3] sequence_number
 
   $ git log --graph --pretty=%s refs/josh/master
   * add ws
@@ -48,6 +49,7 @@
       a/b = :/sub2
   ]
   [3] :workspace=ws
+  [4] sequence_number
 
   $ git log --graph --pretty=%s refs/josh/master
   * add trailing slash
diff --git a/tests/filter/workspace_unique.t b/tests/filter/workspace_unique.t
index cf20e025c..80ea10baf 100644
--- a/tests/filter/workspace_unique.t
+++ b/tests/filter/workspace_unique.t
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ so the workspace.josh will still appear in the root of the workspace
       b = ::ws/workspace.josh
   ]
   [2] :workspace=ws
+  [3] sequence_number
 
   $ git log --graph --pretty=%s refs/josh/master
   * add ws