diff --git a/sha1_file.c b/sha1_file.c
index 1d0810c308..8264b391f0 100644
--- a/sha1_file.c
+++ b/sha1_file.c
@@ -2152,10 +2152,7 @@ static inline void release_delta_base_cache(struct delta_base_cache_entry *ent)
 {
 	if (ent->data) {
 		free(ent->data);
-		ent->data = NULL;
-		ent->lru.next->prev = ent->lru.prev;
-		ent->lru.prev->next = ent->lru.next;
-		delta_base_cached -= ent->size;
+		detach_delta_base_cache_entry(ent);
 	}
 }