diff --git a/plugins/mergePaths.js b/plugins/mergePaths.js
index 31203765c..bcfc294f9 100644
--- a/plugins/mergePaths.js
+++ b/plugins/mergePaths.js
@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
 /**
+ * @typedef {import('../lib/types.js').ComputedStyles} ComputedStyles
+ * @typedef {import('../lib/types.js').StaticStyle} StaticStyle
+ * @typedef {import('../lib/types.js').DynamicStyle} DynamicStyle
  * @typedef {import("../lib/types.js").PathDataItem} PathDataItem
  * @typedef {import('../lib/types.js').XastChild} XastChild
  * @typedef {import('../lib/types.js').XastElement} XastElement
@@ -6,10 +9,26 @@
 
 import { collectStylesheet, computeStyle } from '../lib/style.js';
 import { path2js, js2path, intersects } from './_path.js';
+import { includesUrlReference } from '../lib/svgo/tools.js';
 
 export const name = 'mergePaths';
 export const description = 'merges multiple paths in one if possible';
 
+/**
+ * @param {ComputedStyles} computedStyle
+ * @param {string} attName
+ * @returns {boolean}
+ */
+function elementHasUrl(computedStyle, attName) {
+  const style = computedStyle[attName];
+
+  if (style?.type === 'static') {
+    return includesUrlReference(style.value);
+  }
+
+  return false;
+}
+
 /**
  * Merge multiple Paths into one.
  *
@@ -82,7 +101,13 @@ export const fn = (root, params) => {
           if (
             computedStyle['marker-start'] ||
             computedStyle['marker-mid'] ||
-            computedStyle['marker-end']
+            computedStyle['marker-end'] ||
+            computedStyle['clip-path'] ||
+            computedStyle['mask'] ||
+            computedStyle['mask-image'] ||
+            ['fill', 'filter', 'stroke'].some((attName) =>
+              elementHasUrl(computedStyle, attName),
+            )
           ) {
             if (prevPathData) {
               updatePreviousPath(prevChild, prevPathData);
diff --git a/test/plugins/mergePaths.08.svg.txt b/test/plugins/mergePaths.08.svg.txt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..f29f30612
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/plugins/mergePaths.08.svg.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+Don't merge paths with a linearGradient fill (issue #1267).
+
+===
+
+<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 300 300">
+    <style>
+        path.lg{fill:url(#gradient);}
+    </style>
+    <linearGradient id="gradient">
+        <stop offset="0" stop-color="#ff0000"/>
+        <stop offset="1" stop-color="#0000ff"/>
+    </linearGradient>
+    <path fill="url(#gradient)" d="M 0 0 H 100 V 80 H 0 z"/>
+    <path fill="url(#gradient)" d="M 200 0 H 300 V 80 H 200 z"/>
+    <path style="fill:url(#gradient)" d="M 0 100 h 100 v 80 H 0 z"/>
+    <path style="fill:url(#gradient)" d="M 200 100 H 300 v 80 H 200 z"/>
+    <path class="lg" d="M 0 200 h 100 v 80 H 0 z"/>
+    <path class="lg" d="M 200 200 H 300 v 80 H 200 z"/>
+</svg>
+
+@@@
+
+<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="0 0 300 300">
+    <style>
+        path.lg{fill:url(#gradient);}
+    </style>
+    <linearGradient id="gradient">
+        <stop offset="0" stop-color="#ff0000"/>
+        <stop offset="1" stop-color="#0000ff"/>
+    </linearGradient>
+    <path fill="url(#gradient)" d="M 0 0 H 100 V 80 H 0 z"/>
+    <path fill="url(#gradient)" d="M 200 0 H 300 V 80 H 200 z"/>
+    <path style="fill:url(#gradient)" d="M 0 100 h 100 v 80 H 0 z"/>
+    <path style="fill:url(#gradient)" d="M 200 100 H 300 v 80 H 200 z"/>
+    <path class="lg" d="M 0 200 h 100 v 80 H 0 z"/>
+    <path class="lg" d="M 200 200 H 300 v 80 H 200 z"/>
+</svg>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/plugins/mergePaths.09.svg.txt b/test/plugins/mergePaths.09.svg.txt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fc0c71090
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/plugins/mergePaths.09.svg.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+Don't merge paths with a linearGradient stroke (issue #1267).
+
+===
+
+<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="-5 -5 300 300">
+    <style>
+        path.lg{stroke:url(#gradient);}
+    </style>
+    <linearGradient id="gradient">
+        <stop offset="0" stop-color="#ff0000"/>
+        <stop offset="1" stop-color="#0000ff"/>
+    </linearGradient>
+    <path stroke="url(#gradient)" stroke-width="10" d="M 0 0 H 100 V 80 H 0 z"/>
+    <path stroke="url(#gradient)" stroke-width="10" d="M 200 0 H 300 V 80 H 200 z"/>
+    <path style="stroke:url(#gradient)" stroke-width="10" d="M 0 100 h 100 v 80 H 0 z"/>
+    <path style="stroke:url(#gradient)" stroke-width="10" d="M 200 100 H 300 v 80 H 200 z"/>
+    <path class="lg" stroke-width="10" d="M 0 200 h 100 v 80 H 0 z"/>
+    <path class="lg" stroke-width="10" d="M 200 200 H 300 v 80 H 200 z"/>
+</svg>
+
+@@@
+
+<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="-5 -5 300 300">
+    <style>
+        path.lg{stroke:url(#gradient);}
+    </style>
+    <linearGradient id="gradient">
+        <stop offset="0" stop-color="#ff0000"/>
+        <stop offset="1" stop-color="#0000ff"/>
+    </linearGradient>
+    <path stroke="url(#gradient)" stroke-width="10" d="M 0 0 H 100 V 80 H 0 z"/>
+    <path stroke="url(#gradient)" stroke-width="10" d="M 200 0 H 300 V 80 H 200 z"/>
+    <path style="stroke:url(#gradient)" stroke-width="10" d="M 0 100 h 100 v 80 H 0 z"/>
+    <path style="stroke:url(#gradient)" stroke-width="10" d="M 200 100 H 300 v 80 H 200 z"/>
+    <path class="lg" stroke-width="10" d="M 0 200 h 100 v 80 H 0 z"/>
+    <path class="lg" stroke-width="10" d="M 200 200 H 300 v 80 H 200 z"/>
+</svg>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/plugins/mergePaths.10.svg.txt b/test/plugins/mergePaths.10.svg.txt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..72f55c0e8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/plugins/mergePaths.10.svg.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+Don't merge paths with a filter URL (issue #1267).
+
+===
+
+<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="-5 -5 300 300">
+    <style>
+        path.lg{filter:url(#blurMe);}
+    </style>
+    <filter id="blurMe" x=".1">
+        <feGaussianBlur stdDeviation="5"/>
+    </filter>
+    <path filter="url(#blurMe)" fill="red" d="M 0 0 H 100 V 80 H 0 z"/>
+    <path filter="url(#blurMe)" fill="red" d="M 200 0 H 300 V 80 H 200 z"/>
+    <path style="filter:url(#blurMe)" fill="red" d="M 0 100 h 100 v 80 H 0 z"/>
+    <path style="filter:url(#blurMe)" fill="red" d="M 200 100 H 300 v 80 H 200 z"/>
+    <path class="lg" fill="red" d="M 0 200 h 100 v 80 H 0 z"/>
+    <path class="lg" fill="red" d="M 200 200 H 300 v 80 H 200 z"/>
+</svg>
+
+@@@
+
+<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="-5 -5 300 300">
+    <style>
+        path.lg{filter:url(#blurMe);}
+    </style>
+    <filter id="blurMe" x=".1">
+        <feGaussianBlur stdDeviation="5"/>
+    </filter>
+    <path filter="url(#blurMe)" fill="red" d="M 0 0 H 100 V 80 H 0 z"/>
+    <path filter="url(#blurMe)" fill="red" d="M 200 0 H 300 V 80 H 200 z"/>
+    <path style="filter:url(#blurMe)" fill="red" d="M 0 100 h 100 v 80 H 0 z"/>
+    <path style="filter:url(#blurMe)" fill="red" d="M 200 100 H 300 v 80 H 200 z"/>
+    <path class="lg" fill="red" d="M 0 200 h 100 v 80 H 0 z"/>
+    <path class="lg" fill="red" d="M 200 200 H 300 v 80 H 200 z"/>
+</svg>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/plugins/mergePaths.11.svg.txt b/test/plugins/mergePaths.11.svg.txt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..96645b792
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/plugins/mergePaths.11.svg.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+Don't merge paths with a clip-path (issue #1267).
+
+===
+
+<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="-5 -5 400 400">
+    <style>
+        path.lg{clip-path:url(#myClip);}
+    </style>
+    <clipPath id="myClip" clipPathUnits="objectBoundingBox">
+        <circle cx=".5" cy=".5" r=".5"/>
+    </clipPath>
+    <path clip-path="url(#myClip)" fill="red" d="M 0 0 H 100 V 80 H 0 z"/>
+    <path clip-path="url(#myClip)" fill="red" d="M 200 0 H 300 V 80 H 200 z"/>
+    <path style="clip-path:url(#myClip)" fill="red" d="M 0 100 h 100 v 80 H 0 z"/>
+    <path style="clip-path:url(#myClip)" fill="red" d="M 200 100 H 300 v 80 H 200 z"/>
+    <path class="lg" fill="red" d="M 0 200 h 100 v 80 H 0 z"/>
+    <path class="lg" fill="red" d="M 200 200 H 300 v 80 H 200 z"/>
+    <path style="clip-path:circle(25%)" fill="red" d="M 0 300 h 100 v 80 H 0 z"/>
+    <path style="clip-path:circle(25%)" fill="red" d="M 200 300 H 300 v 80 H 200 z"/>
+</svg>
+
+@@@
+
+<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="-5 -5 400 400">
+    <style>
+        path.lg{clip-path:url(#myClip);}
+    </style>
+    <clipPath id="myClip" clipPathUnits="objectBoundingBox">
+        <circle cx=".5" cy=".5" r=".5"/>
+    </clipPath>
+    <path clip-path="url(#myClip)" fill="red" d="M 0 0 H 100 V 80 H 0 z"/>
+    <path clip-path="url(#myClip)" fill="red" d="M 200 0 H 300 V 80 H 200 z"/>
+    <path style="clip-path:url(#myClip)" fill="red" d="M 0 100 h 100 v 80 H 0 z"/>
+    <path style="clip-path:url(#myClip)" fill="red" d="M 200 100 H 300 v 80 H 200 z"/>
+    <path class="lg" fill="red" d="M 0 200 h 100 v 80 H 0 z"/>
+    <path class="lg" fill="red" d="M 200 200 H 300 v 80 H 200 z"/>
+    <path style="clip-path:circle(25%)" fill="red" d="M 0 300 h 100 v 80 H 0 z"/>
+    <path style="clip-path:circle(25%)" fill="red" d="M 200 300 H 300 v 80 H 200 z"/>
+</svg>
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/test/plugins/mergePaths.12.svg.txt b/test/plugins/mergePaths.12.svg.txt
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..faf72aa5b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/plugins/mergePaths.12.svg.txt
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+Don't merge paths with a mask (issue #1267).
+
+===
+
+<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="-5 -5 400 400">
+    <style>
+        path.lg{mask:url(#mask);}
+    </style>
+    <mask id="mask" maskContentUnits="objectBoundingBox">
+        <rect fill="white" x="0" y="0" width="100%" height="100%"/>
+        <circle fill="black" cx=".5" cy=".5" r=".5"/>
+    </mask>
+    <path mask="url(#mask)" fill="red" d="M 0 0 H 100 V 80 H 0 z"/>
+    <path mask="url(#mask)" fill="red" d="M 200 0 H 300 V 80 H 200 z"/>
+    <path style="mask:url(#mask)" fill="red" d="M 0 100 h 100 v 80 H 0 z"/>
+    <path style="mask:url(#mask)" fill="red" d="M 200 100 H 300 v 80 H 200 z"/>
+    <path class="lg" fill="red" d="M 0 200 h 100 v 80 H 0 z"/>
+    <path class="lg" fill="red" d="M 200 200 H 300 v 80 H 200 z"/>
+    <path style="mask-image: linear-gradient(to left top,black, transparent)" fill="red" d="M 0 300 h 100 v 80 H 0 z"/>
+    <path style="mask-image: linear-gradient(to left top,black, transparent)" fill="red" d="M 200 300 H 300 v 80 H 200 z"/>
+</svg>
+
+@@@
+
+<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewBox="-5 -5 400 400">
+    <style>
+        path.lg{mask:url(#mask);}
+    </style>
+    <mask id="mask" maskContentUnits="objectBoundingBox">
+        <rect fill="white" x="0" y="0" width="100%" height="100%"/>
+        <circle fill="black" cx=".5" cy=".5" r=".5"/>
+    </mask>
+    <path mask="url(#mask)" fill="red" d="M 0 0 H 100 V 80 H 0 z"/>
+    <path mask="url(#mask)" fill="red" d="M 200 0 H 300 V 80 H 200 z"/>
+    <path style="mask:url(#mask)" fill="red" d="M 0 100 h 100 v 80 H 0 z"/>
+    <path style="mask:url(#mask)" fill="red" d="M 200 100 H 300 v 80 H 200 z"/>
+    <path class="lg" fill="red" d="M 0 200 h 100 v 80 H 0 z"/>
+    <path class="lg" fill="red" d="M 200 200 H 300 v 80 H 200 z"/>
+    <path style="mask-image: linear-gradient(to left top,black, transparent)" fill="red" d="M 0 300 h 100 v 80 H 0 z"/>
+    <path style="mask-image: linear-gradient(to left top,black, transparent)" fill="red" d="M 200 300 H 300 v 80 H 200 z"/>
+</svg>
\ No newline at end of file