diff --git a/lib/ansible/module_utils/k8s/raw.py b/lib/ansible/module_utils/k8s/raw.py
index 9b2cfa75b30..f2bfada0474 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/module_utils/k8s/raw.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/module_utils/k8s/raw.py
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ class KubernetesRawModule(KubernetesAnsibleModule):
     def argspec(self):
         argument_spec = copy.deepcopy(COMMON_ARG_SPEC)
         argument_spec.update(copy.deepcopy(AUTH_ARG_SPEC))
-        argument_spec['merge_type'] = dict(choices=['json', 'merge', 'strategic-merge'])
+        argument_spec['merge_type'] = dict(type='list', choices=['json', 'merge', 'strategic-merge'])
         return argument_spec
 
     def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
@@ -210,19 +210,21 @@ class KubernetesRawModule(KubernetesAnsibleModule):
             if self.check_mode:
                 k8s_obj = dict_merge(existing.to_dict(), definition)
             else:
-                try:
-                    params = dict(name=name, namespace=namespace)
-                    if self.params['merge_type']:
-                        from distutils.version import LooseVersion
-                        if LooseVersion(self.openshift_version) < LooseVersion("0.6.2"):
-                            self.fail_json(msg="openshift >= 0.6.2 is required for merge_type")
-                        params['content_type'] = 'application/{0}-patch+json'.format(self.params['merge_type'])
-                    k8s_obj = resource.patch(definition, **params).to_dict()
-                    match, diffs = self.diff_objects(existing.to_dict(), k8s_obj)
-                    result['result'] = k8s_obj
-                except DynamicApiError as exc:
-                    self.fail_json(msg="Failed to patch object: {0}".format(exc.body),
-                                   error=exc.status, status=exc.status, reason=exc.reason)
+                if self.params['merge_type']:
+                    from distutils.version import LooseVersion
+                    if LooseVersion(self.openshift_version) < LooseVersion("0.6.2"):
+                        self.fail_json(msg="openshift >= 0.6.2 is required for merge_type")
+                    for merge_type in self.params['merge_type']:
+                        k8s_obj, error = self.patch_resource(resource, definition, existing, name,
+                                                             namespace, merge_type=merge_type)
+                        if not error:
+                            break
+                else:
+                    k8s_obj, error = self.patch_resource(resource, definition, existing, name,
+                                                         namespace)
+                if error:
+                    self.fail_json(**error)
+
             match, diffs = self.diff_objects(existing.to_dict(), k8s_obj)
             result['result'] = k8s_obj
             result['changed'] = not match
@@ -230,6 +232,20 @@ class KubernetesRawModule(KubernetesAnsibleModule):
             result['diff'] = diffs
             return result
 
+    def patch_resource(self, resource, definition, existing, name, namespace, merge_type=None):
+        try:
+            params = dict(name=name, namespace=namespace)
+            if merge_type:
+                params['content_type'] = 'application/{0}-patch+json'.format(merge_type)
+            k8s_obj = resource.patch(definition, **params).to_dict()
+            match, diffs = self.diff_objects(existing.to_dict(), k8s_obj)
+            error = {}
+            return k8s_obj, {}
+        except DynamicApiError as exc:
+            error = dict(msg="Failed to patch object: {0}".format(exc.body),
+                         error=exc.status, status=exc.status, reason=exc.reason)
+            return None, error
+
     def create_project_request(self, definition):
         definition['kind'] = 'ProjectRequest'
         result = {'changed': False, 'result': {}}
diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/clustering/k8s/k8s.py b/lib/ansible/modules/clustering/k8s/k8s.py
index fe2f9efc24f..825c206db1b 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/clustering/k8s/k8s.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/clustering/k8s/k8s.py
@@ -49,10 +49,12 @@ options:
       want to use C(merge) if you see "strategic merge patch format is not supported"
     - See U(https://kubernetes.io/docs/tasks/run-application/update-api-object-kubectl-patch/#use-a-json-merge-patch-to-update-a-deployment)
     - Requires openshift >= 0.6.2
+    - If more than one merge_type is given, the merge_types will be tried in order
     choices:
     - json
     - merge
     - strategic-merge
+    type: list
     version_added: "2.7"
 
 requirements:
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/k8s/files/crd-resource.yml b/test/integration/targets/k8s/files/crd-resource.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..9804d4d14e1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/k8s/files/crd-resource.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+apiVersion: certmanager.k8s.io/v1alpha1
+kind: Certificate
+metadata:
+  name: acme-crt
+spec:
+  secretName: acme-crt-secret
+  dnsNames:
+  - foo.example.com
+  - bar.example.com
+  acme:
+    config:
+    - ingressClass: nginx
+      domains:
+      - foo.example.com
+      - bar.example.com
+  issuerRef:
+    name: letsencrypt-prod
+    # We can reference ClusterIssuers by changing the kind here.
+    # The default value is Issuer (i.e. a locally namespaced Issuer)
+    kind: Issuer
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/k8s/files/setup-crd.yml b/test/integration/targets/k8s/files/setup-crd.yml
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a8e2d51e806
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/integration/targets/k8s/files/setup-crd.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+apiVersion: apiextensions.k8s.io/v1beta1
+kind: CustomResourceDefinition
+metadata:
+  name: certificates.certmanager.k8s.io
+spec:
+  group: certmanager.k8s.io
+  version: v1alpha1
+  scope: Namespaced
+  names:
+    kind: Certificate
+    plural: certificates
+    shortNames:
+      - cert
+      - certs
diff --git a/test/integration/targets/k8s/tasks/main.yml b/test/integration/targets/k8s/tasks/main.yml
index 73b917fab93..dcd4c82530a 100644
--- a/test/integration/targets/k8s/tasks/main.yml
+++ b/test/integration/targets/k8s/tasks/main.yml
@@ -1,292 +1,402 @@
 # TODO: This is the only way I could get the kubeconfig, I don't know why. Running the lookup outside of debug seems to return an empty string
-- debug: msg={{ lookup('env', 'K8S_AUTH_KUBECONFIG') }}
-  register: kubeconfig
+#- debug: msg={{ lookup('env', 'K8S_AUTH_KUBECONFIG') }}
+#  register: kubeconfig
 
 # Kubernetes resources
-- name: Create a namespace
-  k8s:
-    name: testing
-    kind: namespace
-  register: output
 
-- debug: msg={{ lookup("k8s", kind="Namespace", api_version="v1", resource_name='testing', kubeconfig=kubeconfig.msg) }}
+- block:
+    - name: Create a namespace
+      k8s:
+        name: testing
+        kind: namespace
+      register: output
 
-- name: show output
-  debug:
-    var: output
+    - name: show output
+      debug:
+        var: output
 
-- name: Create a service
-  k8s:
-    state: present
-    resource_definition: &svc
-      apiVersion: v1
-      kind: Service
-      metadata:
-        name: web
-        namespace: testing
-        labels:
-          app: galaxy
-          service: web
-      spec:
-        selector:
-          app: galaxy
-          service: web
-        ports:
-        - protocol: TCP
-          targetPort: 8000
-          name: port-8000-tcp
-          port: 8000
-  register: output
-
-- name: show output
-  debug:
-    var: output
-
-- name: Create the service again
-  k8s:
-    state: present
-    resource_definition: *svc
-  register: output
-
-- name: Service creation should be idempotent
-  assert:
-    that: not output.changed
-
-- name: Create PVC
-  k8s:
-    state: present
-    inline: &pvc
-      apiVersion: v1
-      kind: PersistentVolumeClaim
-      metadata:
-        name: elastic-volume
-        namespace: testing
-      spec:
-        resources:
-          requests:
-            storage: 5Gi
-        accessModes:
-        - ReadWriteOnce
-
-- name: Show output
-  debug:
-    var: output
-
-- name: Create the PVC again
-  k8s:
-    state: present
-    inline: *pvc
-
-- name: PVC creation should be idempotent
-  assert:
-    that: not output.changed
-
-- name: Create deployment
-  k8s:
-    state: present
-    inline: &deployment
-      apiVersion: apps/v1beta1
-      kind: Deployment
-      metadata:
-        name: elastic
-        labels:
-          app: galaxy
-          service: elastic
-        namespace: testing
-      spec:
-        template:
+    - name: Create a service
+      k8s:
+        state: present
+        resource_definition: &svc
+          apiVersion: v1
+          kind: Service
           metadata:
+            name: web
+            namespace: testing
+            labels:
+              app: galaxy
+              service: web
+          spec:
+            selector:
+              app: galaxy
+              service: web
+            ports:
+            - protocol: TCP
+              targetPort: 8000
+              name: port-8000-tcp
+              port: 8000
+      register: output
+
+    - name: show output
+      debug:
+        var: output
+
+    - name: Create the service again
+      k8s:
+        state: present
+        resource_definition: *svc
+      register: output
+
+    - name: Service creation should be idempotent
+      assert:
+        that: not output.changed
+
+    - name: Create PVC
+      k8s:
+        state: present
+        inline: &pvc
+          apiVersion: v1
+          kind: PersistentVolumeClaim
+          metadata:
+            name: elastic-volume
+            namespace: testing
+          spec:
+            resources:
+              requests:
+                storage: 5Gi
+            accessModes:
+            - ReadWriteOnce
+
+    - name: Show output
+      debug:
+        var: output
+
+    - name: Create the PVC again
+      k8s:
+        state: present
+        inline: *pvc
+
+    - name: PVC creation should be idempotent
+      assert:
+        that: not output.changed
+
+    - name: Create deployment
+      k8s:
+        state: present
+        inline: &deployment
+          apiVersion: apps/v1beta1
+          kind: Deployment
+          metadata:
+            name: elastic
             labels:
               app: galaxy
               service: elastic
+            namespace: testing
           spec:
-            containers:
-              - name: elastic
-                volumeMounts:
-                - mountPath: /usr/share/elasticsearch/data
-                  name: elastic-volume
-                command: ['elasticsearch']
-                image: 'ansible/galaxy-elasticsearch:2.4.6'
-            volumes:
-            - name: elastic-volume
-              persistentVolumeClaim:
-                claimName: elastic-volume
-        replicas: 1
-        strategy:
-          type: RollingUpdate
-  register: output
+            template:
+              metadata:
+                labels:
+                  app: galaxy
+                  service: elastic
+              spec:
+                containers:
+                  - name: elastic
+                    volumeMounts:
+                    - mountPath: /usr/share/elasticsearch/data
+                      name: elastic-volume
+                    command: ['elasticsearch']
+                    image: 'ansible/galaxy-elasticsearch:2.4.6'
+                volumes:
+                - name: elastic-volume
+                  persistentVolumeClaim:
+                    claimName: elastic-volume
+            replicas: 1
+            strategy:
+              type: RollingUpdate
+      register: output
 
-- name: Show output
-  debug:
-    var: output
+    - name: Show output
+      debug:
+        var: output
 
-- name: Create deployment again
-  k8s:
-    state: present
-    inline: *deployment
-  register: output
+    - name: Create deployment again
+      k8s:
+        state: present
+        inline: *deployment
+      register: output
 
-- name: Deployment creation should be idempotent
-  assert:
-    that: not output.changed
+    - name: Deployment creation should be idempotent
+      assert:
+        that: not output.changed
 
-# OpenShift Resources
-- name: Create a project
-  k8s:
-    name: testing
-    kind: project
-    api_version: v1
-  register: output
+    # OpenShift Resources
+    - name: Create a project
+      k8s:
+        name: testing
+        kind: project
+        api_version: v1
+      register: output
 
-- name: show output
-  debug:
-    var: output
+    - name: show output
+      debug:
+        var: output
 
-- name: Create deployment config
-  k8s:
-    state: present
-    inline: &dc
-      apiVersion: v1
-      kind: DeploymentConfig
-      metadata:
-        name: elastic
-        labels:
-          app: galaxy
-          service: elastic
-        namespace: testing
-      spec:
-        template:
+    - name: Create deployment config
+      k8s:
+        state: present
+        inline: &dc
+          apiVersion: v1
+          kind: DeploymentConfig
           metadata:
+            name: elastic
             labels:
               app: galaxy
               service: elastic
+            namespace: testing
           spec:
-            containers:
-              - name: elastic
-                volumeMounts:
-                - mountPath: /usr/share/elasticsearch/data
-                  name: elastic-volume
-                command: ['elasticsearch']
-                image: 'ansible/galaxy-elasticsearch:2.4.6'
-            volumes:
-            - name: elastic-volume
-              persistentVolumeClaim:
-                claimName: elastic-volume
-        replicas: 1
-        strategy:
-          type: Rolling
-  register: output
+            template:
+              metadata:
+                labels:
+                  app: galaxy
+                  service: elastic
+              spec:
+                containers:
+                  - name: elastic
+                    volumeMounts:
+                    - mountPath: /usr/share/elasticsearch/data
+                      name: elastic-volume
+                    command: ['elasticsearch']
+                    image: 'ansible/galaxy-elasticsearch:2.4.6'
+                volumes:
+                - name: elastic-volume
+                  persistentVolumeClaim:
+                    claimName: elastic-volume
+            replicas: 1
+            strategy:
+              type: Rolling
+      register: output
 
-- name: Show output
-  debug:
-    var: output
+    - name: Show output
+      debug:
+        var: output
 
-- name: Create deployment config again
-  k8s:
-    state: present
-    inline: *dc
-  register: output
+    - name: Create deployment config again
+      k8s:
+        state: present
+        inline: *dc
+      register: output
 
-- name: DC creation should be idempotent
-  assert:
-    that: not output.changed
+    - name: DC creation should be idempotent
+      assert:
+        that: not output.changed
 
-### Type tests
-- name: Create a namespace from a string
-  k8s:
-    definition: |+
-      ---
-      kind: Namespace
-      apiVersion: v1
-      metadata:
+    ### Type tests
+    - name: Create a namespace from a string
+      k8s:
+        definition: |+
+          ---
+          kind: Namespace
+          apiVersion: v1
+          metadata:
+            name: testing1
+
+    - name: Namespace should exist
+      k8s_facts:
+        kind: Namespace
+        api_version: v1
         name: testing1
+      register: k8s_facts_testing1
+      failed_when: not k8s_facts_testing1.resources or k8s_facts_testing1.resources[0].status.phase != "Active"
 
-- name: Namespace should exist
-  assert:
-    that: '{{ lookup("k8s", kind="Namespace", api_version="v1", resource_name="testing1", kubeconfig=kubeconfig.msg).status.phase == "Active" }}'
+    - name: Create resources from a multidocument yaml string
+      k8s:
+        definition: |+
+          ---
+          kind: Namespace
+          apiVersion: v1
+          metadata:
+            name: testing2
+          ---
+          kind: Namespace
+          apiVersion: v1
+          metadata:
+            name: testing3
 
-- name: Create resources from a multidocument yaml string
-  k8s:
-    definition: |+
-      ---
-      kind: Namespace
-      apiVersion: v1
-      metadata:
-        name: testing2
-      ---
-      kind: Namespace
-      apiVersion: v1
-      metadata:
-        name: testing3
+    - name: Lookup namespaces
+      k8s_facts:
+        api_version: v1
+        kind: Namespace
+        name: "{{ item }}"
+      loop:
+        - testing2
+        - testing3
+      register: k8s_namespaces
 
-- name: Resources should exist
-  assert:
-    that: lookup("k8s", kind="Namespace", api_version="v1", resource_name=item, kubeconfig=kubeconfig.msg).status.phase == "Active"
-  loop:
-    - testing2
-    - testing3
+    - name: Resources should exist
+      assert:
+        that: item.resources[0].status.phase == 'Active'
+      loop: "{{ k8s_namespaces.results }}"
 
-- name: Delete resources from a multidocument yaml string
-  k8s:
-    state: absent
-    definition: |+
-      ---
-      kind: Namespace
-      apiVersion: v1
-      metadata:
-        name: testing2
-      ---
-      kind: Namespace
-      apiVersion: v1
-      metadata:
-        name: testing3
+    - name: Delete resources from a multidocument yaml string
+      k8s:
+        state: absent
+        definition: |+
+          ---
+          kind: Namespace
+          apiVersion: v1
+          metadata:
+            name: testing2
+          ---
+          kind: Namespace
+          apiVersion: v1
+          metadata:
+            name: testing3
 
-- name: Resources should not exist
-  assert:
-    that: not ns or ns.status.phase == "Terminating"
-  loop:
-    - testing2
-    - testing3
-  vars:
-    ns: '{{ lookup("k8s", kind="Namespace", api_version="v1", resource_name=item, kubeconfig=kubeconfig.msg) }}'
+    - name: Lookup namespaces
+      k8s_facts:
+        api_version: v1
+        kind: Namespace
+        name: "{{ item }}"
+      loop:
+        - testing2
+        - testing3
+      register: k8s_namespaces
 
-- name: Create resources from a list
-  k8s:
-    definition:
-      - kind: Namespace
-        apiVersion: v1
-        metadata:
-          name: testing4
-      - kind: Namespace
-        apiVersion: v1
-        metadata:
-          name: testing5
+    - name: Resources should not exist
+      assert:
+        that:
+          - not item.resources or item.resources[0].status.phase == "Terminating"
+      loop: "{{ k8s_namespaces.results }}"
 
-- name: Resources should exist
-  assert:
-    that: lookup("k8s", kind="Namespace", api_version="v1", resource_name=item, kubeconfig=kubeconfig.msg).status.phase == "Active"
-  loop:
-    - testing4
-    - testing5
+    - name: Create resources from a list
+      k8s:
+        definition:
+          - kind: Namespace
+            apiVersion: v1
+            metadata:
+              name: testing4
+          - kind: Namespace
+            apiVersion: v1
+            metadata:
+              name: testing5
 
-- name: Delete resources from a list
-  k8s:
-    state: absent
-    definition:
-      - kind: Namespace
-        apiVersion: v1
-        metadata:
-          name: testing4
-      - kind: Namespace
-        apiVersion: v1
-        metadata:
-          name: testing5
+    - name: Lookup namespaces
+      k8s_facts:
+        api_version: v1
+        kind: Namespace
+        name: "{{ item }}"
+      loop:
+        - testing4
+        - testing5
+      register: k8s_namespaces
 
-- name: Resources should not exist
-  assert:
-    that: not ns or ns.status.phase == "Terminating"
-  loop:
-    - testing4
-    - testing5
-  vars:
-    ns: '{{ lookup("k8s", kind="Namespace", api_version="v1", resource_name=item, kubeconfig=kubeconfig.msg) }}'
+    - name: Resources should exist
+      assert:
+        that: item.resources[0].status.phase == 'Active'
+      loop: "{{ k8s_namespaces.results }}"
+
+    - name: install custom resource definitions
+      k8s:
+        definition: "{{ lookup('file', role_path + '/files/setup-crd.yml') }}"
+
+    - name: create custom resource definition
+      k8s:
+        definition: "{{ lookup('file', role_path + '/files/crd-resource.yml') }}"
+        namespace: testing4
+      register: create_crd
+
+    - name: recreate custom resource definition
+      k8s:
+        definition: "{{ lookup('file', role_path + '/files/crd-resource.yml') }}"
+        namespace: testing4
+      register: recreate_crd
+      ignore_errors: yes
+
+    - name: assert that recreating crd fails
+      assert:
+        that:
+          - recreate_crd is failed
+
+    - name: recreate custom resource definition with merge_type
+      k8s:
+        definition: "{{ lookup('file', role_path + '/files/crd-resource.yml') }}"
+        merge_type: merge
+        namespace: testing4
+      register: recreate_crd_with_merge
+
+    - name: recreate custom resource definition with merge_type list
+      k8s:
+        definition: "{{ lookup('file', role_path + '/files/crd-resource.yml') }}"
+        merge_type:
+          - strategic-merge
+          - merge
+        namespace: testing4
+      register: recreate_crd_with_merge_list
+
+    - name: remove crd
+      k8s:
+        definition: "{{ lookup('file', role_path + '/files/crd-resource.yml') }}"
+        namespace: testing4
+        state: absent
+
+    - name: Delete resources from a list
+      k8s:
+        state: absent
+        definition:
+          - kind: Namespace
+            apiVersion: v1
+            metadata:
+              name: testing4
+          - kind: Namespace
+            apiVersion: v1
+            metadata:
+              name: testing5
+
+    - k8s_facts:
+        api_version: v1
+        kind: Namespace
+        name: "{{ item }}"
+      loop:
+        - testing4
+        - testing5
+      register: k8s_facts
+
+    - name: Resources are terminating if still in results
+      assert:
+        that: not item.resources or item.resources[0].status.phase == "Terminating"
+      loop: "{{ k8s_facts.results }}"
+
+  always:
+    - name: remove crd
+      k8s:
+        definition: "{{ lookup('file', role_path + '/files/crd-resource.yml') }}"
+        namespace: testing4
+        state: absent
+      ignore_errors: yes
+
+    - name: Delete all namespaces
+      k8s:
+        state: absent
+        definition:
+          - kind: Namespace
+            apiVersion: v1
+            metadata:
+              name: testing1
+          - kind: Namespace
+            apiVersion: v1
+            metadata:
+              name: testing2
+          - kind: Namespace
+            apiVersion: v1
+            metadata:
+              name: testing3
+          - kind: Namespace
+            apiVersion: v1
+            metadata:
+              name: testing4
+          - kind: Namespace
+            apiVersion: v1
+            metadata:
+              name: testing5
+      ignore_errors: yes
diff --git a/test/runner/requirements/constraints.txt b/test/runner/requirements/constraints.txt
index de0fbcbb99b..c12fbe334e8 100644
--- a/test/runner/requirements/constraints.txt
+++ b/test/runner/requirements/constraints.txt
@@ -17,3 +17,4 @@ ntlm-auth >= 1.0.6 # message encryption support
 requests-ntlm >= 1.1.0 # message encryption support
 requests-credssp >= 0.1.0 # message encryption support
 voluptuous >= 0.11.0 # Schema recursion via Self
+openshift >= 0.6.2 # merge_type support