diff --git a/log-tree.c b/log-tree.c
index 83a3c4bf9b..361dfadbb3 100644
--- a/log-tree.c
+++ b/log-tree.c
@@ -1043,10 +1043,9 @@ static int do_remerge_diff(struct rev_info *opt,
 	 * into the alternative object store list as the primary.
 	 */
 	if (opt->remerge_diff && !opt->remerge_objdir) {
-		opt->remerge_objdir = tmp_objdir_create(the_repository, "remerge-diff");
+		opt->remerge_objdir = tmp_objdir_create(the_repository, "remerge-diff", 1);
 		if (!opt->remerge_objdir)
 			return error(_("unable to create temporary object directory"));
-		tmp_objdir_replace_primary_odb(opt->remerge_objdir, 1);
 	}
 
 	/* Setup merge options */
diff --git a/object-file.c b/object-file.c
index fe9139c96d..02521afcaf 100644
--- a/object-file.c
+++ b/object-file.c
@@ -488,7 +488,6 @@ struct odb_transaction_files {
 	enum odb_transaction_flags flags;
 
 	struct tmp_objdir *objdir;
-	struct odb_files_dir *quarantine;
 	struct transaction_packfile packfile;
 	const char *prefix;
 
@@ -511,12 +510,10 @@ int odb_transaction_files_prepare(struct odb_transaction *base)
 	if (!transaction || transaction->objdir)
 		return 0;
 
-	transaction->objdir = tmp_objdir_create(base->source->odb->repo, transaction->prefix);
+	transaction->objdir = tmp_objdir_create(base->source->odb->repo, transaction->prefix, 0);
 	if (!transaction->objdir)
 		return error(_("unable to create temporary object directory"));
 
-	transaction->quarantine = tmp_objdir_replace_primary_odb(transaction->objdir, 0);
-
 	return 0;
 }
 
@@ -1443,8 +1440,7 @@ static int odb_transaction_files_write_pack(struct odb_transaction *base,
 			return -1;
 		}
 
-		odb_source_prepare(&transaction->quarantine->packed->base,
-				   ODB_PREPARE_FLUSH_CACHES);
+		odb_source_prepare(base->source, ODB_PREPARE_FLUSH_CACHES);
 	}
 
 	return 0;
diff --git a/tmp-objdir.c b/tmp-objdir.c
index a3903b6e6d..719b55e580 100644
--- a/tmp-objdir.c
+++ b/tmp-objdir.c
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ static void tmp_objdir_reparent(const char *old_cwd,
 
 /*
  * Restore the primary source that was previously replaced by
- * `tmp_objdir_replace_primary_odb()`.
+ * `tmp_objdir_create()`.
  */
 static void tmp_objdir_restore_source(struct tmp_objdir *t)
 {
@@ -157,8 +157,10 @@ static int setup_tmp_objdir(const char *root)
 }
 
 struct tmp_objdir *tmp_objdir_create(struct repository *r,
-				     const char *prefix)
+				     const char *prefix,
+				     int will_destroy)
 {
+	struct odb_source_files *files = odb_source_files_downcast(r->objects->sources);
 	static int installed_handlers;
 	struct tmp_objdir *t;
 
@@ -167,6 +169,7 @@ struct tmp_objdir *tmp_objdir_create(struct repository *r,
 
 	t = xcalloc(1, sizeof(*t));
 	t->repo = r;
+	t->will_destroy = will_destroy;
 	strbuf_init(&t->path, 0);
 	strvec_init(&t->env);
 
@@ -204,6 +207,20 @@ struct tmp_objdir *tmp_objdir_create(struct repository *r,
 	env_replace(&t->env, GIT_QUARANTINE_ENVIRONMENT,
 		    absolute_path(t->path.buf));
 
+	/*
+	 * Make a new primary source and link the old primary source in as an
+	 * alternate. Disable ref updates while a temporary source is active,
+	 * since the objects in the database may roll back.
+	 */
+	t->temp_dir = odb_files_dir_new(t->repo->objects, t->path.buf, false);
+	t->temp_dir->loose->base.will_destroy = will_destroy;
+	t->temp_dir->packed->base.will_destroy = will_destroy;
+	t->temp_dir->next = files->dirs;
+
+	t->orig_dir = files->dirs;
+	files->dirs = t->temp_dir;
+	t->repo->disable_ref_updates = true;
+
 	return t;
 }
 
@@ -345,29 +362,3 @@ const char **tmp_objdir_env(const struct tmp_objdir *t)
 		return NULL;
 	return t->env.v;
 }
-
-struct odb_files_dir *tmp_objdir_replace_primary_odb(struct tmp_objdir *t,
-						     int will_destroy)
-{
-	struct odb_source_files *files = odb_source_files_downcast(t->repo->objects->sources);
-
-	if (t->temp_dir)
-		BUG("the primary object database is already replaced");
-	t->will_destroy = will_destroy;
-
-	/*
-	 * Make a new primary source and link the old primary source in as an
-	 * alternate. Disable ref updates while a temporary source is active,
-	 * since the objects in the database may roll back.
-	 */
-	t->temp_dir = odb_files_dir_new(t->repo->objects, t->path.buf, false);
-	t->temp_dir->loose->base.will_destroy = will_destroy;
-	t->temp_dir->packed->base.will_destroy = will_destroy;
-	t->temp_dir->next = files->dirs;
-
-	t->orig_dir = files->dirs;
-	files->dirs = t->temp_dir;
-	t->repo->disable_ref_updates = true;
-
-	return t->temp_dir;
-}
diff --git a/tmp-objdir.h b/tmp-objdir.h
index 5ed0db1ee0..a301b01d84 100644
--- a/tmp-objdir.h
+++ b/tmp-objdir.h
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@
  * Example:
  *
  *	struct child_process child = CHILD_PROCESS_INIT;
- *	struct tmp_objdir *t = tmp_objdir_create(repo, "incoming");
+ *	struct tmp_objdir *t = tmp_objdir_create(repo, "incoming", 0);
  *	strvec_push(&child.args, cmd);
  *	strvec_pushv(&child.env, tmp_objdir_env(t));
  *	if (!run_command(&child)) && !tmp_objdir_migrate(t))
@@ -25,10 +25,11 @@ struct repository;
 struct tmp_objdir;
 
 /*
- * Create a new temporary object directory with the specified prefix;
- * returns NULL on failure.
+ * Create a new temporary object directory with the specified prefix and
+ * install the directory as the primary write target; returns NULL on failure.
  */
-struct tmp_objdir *tmp_objdir_create(struct repository *r, const char *prefix);
+struct tmp_objdir *tmp_objdir_create(struct repository *r, const char *prefix,
+				     int will_destroy);
 
 /*
  * Return a list of environment strings, suitable for use with
@@ -55,13 +56,4 @@ int tmp_objdir_destroy(struct tmp_objdir *);
  */
 void tmp_objdir_discard_objects(struct tmp_objdir *);
 
-/*
- * Replaces the writable object store in the current process with the temporary
- * object directory and makes the former main object store an alternate.
- * If will_destroy is nonzero, the object directory may not be migrated. Returns
- * the newly installed primary source.
- */
-struct odb_files_dir *tmp_objdir_replace_primary_odb(struct tmp_objdir *,
-						     int will_destroy);
-
 #endif /* TMP_OBJDIR_H */