diff --git a/builtin/gc.c b/builtin/gc.c
index d24cc7105b..ba4b30c24b 100644
--- a/builtin/gc.c
+++ b/builtin/gc.c
@@ -52,15 +52,9 @@ static const char * const builtin_gc_usage[] = {
 };
 
 static timestamp_t gc_log_expire_time;
-
 static struct strvec repack = STRVEC_INIT;
-static struct strvec prune = STRVEC_INIT;
-static struct strvec prune_worktrees = STRVEC_INIT;
-static struct strvec rerere = STRVEC_INIT;
-
 static struct tempfile *pidfile;
 static struct lock_file log_lock;
-
 static struct string_list pack_garbage = STRING_LIST_INIT_DUP;
 
 static void clean_pack_garbage(void)
@@ -779,9 +773,6 @@ int cmd_gc(int argc,
 					 builtin_gc_usage, builtin_gc_options);
 
 	strvec_pushl(&repack, "repack", "-d", "-l", NULL);
-	strvec_pushl(&prune, "prune", "--expire", NULL);
-	strvec_pushl(&prune_worktrees, "worktree", "prune", "--expire", NULL);
-	strvec_pushl(&rerere, "rerere", "gc", NULL);
 
 	gc_config(&cfg);
 
@@ -907,34 +898,36 @@ int cmd_gc(int argc,
 		if (cfg.prune_expire) {
 			struct child_process prune_cmd = CHILD_PROCESS_INIT;
 
+			strvec_pushl(&prune_cmd.args, "prune", "--expire", NULL);
 			/* run `git prune` even if using cruft packs */
-			strvec_push(&prune, cfg.prune_expire);
+			strvec_push(&prune_cmd.args, cfg.prune_expire);
 			if (quiet)
-				strvec_push(&prune, "--no-progress");
+				strvec_push(&prune_cmd.args, "--no-progress");
 			if (repo_has_promisor_remote(the_repository))
-				strvec_push(&prune,
+				strvec_push(&prune_cmd.args,
 					    "--exclude-promisor-objects");
 			prune_cmd.git_cmd = 1;
-			strvec_pushv(&prune_cmd.args, prune.v);
+
 			if (run_command(&prune_cmd))
-				die(FAILED_RUN, prune.v[0]);
+				die(FAILED_RUN, prune_cmd.args.v[0]);
 		}
 	}
 
 	if (cfg.prune_worktrees_expire) {
 		struct child_process prune_worktrees_cmd = CHILD_PROCESS_INIT;
 
-		strvec_push(&prune_worktrees, cfg.prune_worktrees_expire);
 		prune_worktrees_cmd.git_cmd = 1;
-		strvec_pushv(&prune_worktrees_cmd.args, prune_worktrees.v);
+		strvec_pushl(&prune_worktrees_cmd.args, "worktree", "prune", "--expire", NULL);
+		strvec_push(&prune_worktrees_cmd.args, cfg.prune_worktrees_expire);
+
 		if (run_command(&prune_worktrees_cmd))
-			die(FAILED_RUN, prune_worktrees.v[0]);
+			die(FAILED_RUN, prune_worktrees_cmd.args.v[0]);
 	}
 
 	rerere_cmd.git_cmd = 1;
-	strvec_pushv(&rerere_cmd.args, rerere.v);
+	strvec_pushl(&rerere_cmd.args, "rerere", "gc", NULL);
 	if (run_command(&rerere_cmd))
-		die(FAILED_RUN, rerere.v[0]);
+		die(FAILED_RUN, rerere_cmd.args.v[0]);
 
 	report_garbage = report_pack_garbage;
 	reprepare_packed_git(the_repository);