diff --git a/apply.c b/apply.c
index c022af53a2..d676debd59 100644
--- a/apply.c
+++ b/apply.c
@@ -75,13 +75,10 @@ static int parse_ignorewhitespace_option(struct apply_state *state,
 }
 
 int init_apply_state(struct apply_state *state,
-		     const char *prefix,
-		     struct lock_file *lock_file)
+		     const char *prefix)
 {
 	memset(state, 0, sizeof(*state));
 	state->prefix = prefix;
-	state->lock_file = lock_file;
-	state->newfd = -1;
 	state->apply = 1;
 	state->line_termination = '\n';
 	state->p_value = 1;
@@ -146,8 +143,6 @@ int check_apply_state(struct apply_state *state, int force_apply)
 	}
 	if (state->check_index)
 		state->unsafe_paths = 0;
-	if (!state->lock_file)
-		return error("BUG: state->lock_file should not be NULL");
 
 	if (state->apply_verbosity <= verbosity_silent) {
 		state->saved_error_routine = get_error_routine();
@@ -4709,13 +4704,13 @@ static int apply_patch(struct apply_state *state,
 		state->apply = 0;
 
 	state->update_index = state->check_index && state->apply;
-	if (state->update_index && state->newfd < 0) {
+	if (state->update_index && !is_lock_file_locked(&state->lock_file)) {
 		if (state->index_file)
-			state->newfd = hold_lock_file_for_update(state->lock_file,
-								 state->index_file,
-								 LOCK_DIE_ON_ERROR);
+			hold_lock_file_for_update(&state->lock_file,
+						  state->index_file,
+						  LOCK_DIE_ON_ERROR);
 		else
-			state->newfd = hold_locked_index(state->lock_file, LOCK_DIE_ON_ERROR);
+			hold_locked_index(&state->lock_file, LOCK_DIE_ON_ERROR);
 	}
 
 	if (state->check_index && read_apply_cache(state) < 0) {
@@ -4911,22 +4906,18 @@ int apply_all_patches(struct apply_state *state,
 	}
 
 	if (state->update_index) {
-		res = write_locked_index(&the_index, state->lock_file, COMMIT_LOCK);
+		res = write_locked_index(&the_index, &state->lock_file, COMMIT_LOCK);
 		if (res) {
 			error(_("Unable to write new index file"));
 			res = -128;
 			goto end;
 		}
-		state->newfd = -1;
 	}
 
 	res = !!errs;
 
 end:
-	if (state->newfd >= 0) {
-		rollback_lock_file(state->lock_file);
-		state->newfd = -1;
-	}
+	rollback_lock_file(&state->lock_file);
 
 	if (state->apply_verbosity <= verbosity_silent) {
 		set_error_routine(state->saved_error_routine);
diff --git a/apply.h b/apply.h
index d9b3957703..dc4a019057 100644
--- a/apply.h
+++ b/apply.h
@@ -36,9 +36,8 @@ enum apply_verbosity {
 struct apply_state {
 	const char *prefix;
 
-	/* These are lock_file related */
-	struct lock_file *lock_file;
-	int newfd;
+	/* Lock file */
+	struct lock_file lock_file;
 
 	/* These control what gets looked at and modified */
 	int apply; /* this is not a dry-run */
@@ -116,8 +115,7 @@ extern int apply_parse_options(int argc, const char **argv,
 			       int *force_apply, int *options,
 			       const char * const *apply_usage);
 extern int init_apply_state(struct apply_state *state,
-			    const char *prefix,
-			    struct lock_file *lock_file);
+			    const char *prefix);
 extern void clear_apply_state(struct apply_state *state);
 extern int check_apply_state(struct apply_state *state, int force_apply);
 
diff --git a/builtin/am.c b/builtin/am.c
index d7513f5375..40968428dd 100644
--- a/builtin/am.c
+++ b/builtin/am.c
@@ -1134,11 +1134,11 @@ static const char *msgnum(const struct am_state *state)
  */
 static void refresh_and_write_cache(void)
 {
-	struct lock_file *lock_file = xcalloc(1, sizeof(struct lock_file));
+	struct lock_file lock_file = LOCK_INIT;
 
-	hold_locked_index(lock_file, LOCK_DIE_ON_ERROR);
+	hold_locked_index(&lock_file, LOCK_DIE_ON_ERROR);
 	refresh_cache(REFRESH_QUIET);
-	if (write_locked_index(&the_index, lock_file, COMMIT_LOCK))
+	if (write_locked_index(&the_index, &lock_file, COMMIT_LOCK))
 		die(_("unable to write index file"));
 }
 
@@ -1488,11 +1488,10 @@ static int run_apply(const struct am_state *state, const char *index_file)
 	struct argv_array apply_opts = ARGV_ARRAY_INIT;
 	struct apply_state apply_state;
 	int res, opts_left;
-	static struct lock_file lock_file;
 	int force_apply = 0;
 	int options = 0;
 
-	if (init_apply_state(&apply_state, NULL, &lock_file))
+	if (init_apply_state(&apply_state, NULL))
 		die("BUG: init_apply_state() failed");
 
 	argv_array_push(&apply_opts, "apply");
@@ -1946,15 +1945,14 @@ static void am_resolve(struct am_state *state)
  */
 static int fast_forward_to(struct tree *head, struct tree *remote, int reset)
 {
-	struct lock_file *lock_file;
+	struct lock_file lock_file = LOCK_INIT;
 	struct unpack_trees_options opts;
 	struct tree_desc t[2];
 
 	if (parse_tree(head) || parse_tree(remote))
 		return -1;
 
-	lock_file = xcalloc(1, sizeof(struct lock_file));
-	hold_locked_index(lock_file, LOCK_DIE_ON_ERROR);
+	hold_locked_index(&lock_file, LOCK_DIE_ON_ERROR);
 
 	refresh_cache(REFRESH_QUIET);
 
@@ -1970,11 +1968,11 @@ static int fast_forward_to(struct tree *head, struct tree *remote, int reset)
 	init_tree_desc(&t[1], remote->buffer, remote->size);
 
 	if (unpack_trees(2, t, &opts)) {
-		rollback_lock_file(lock_file);
+		rollback_lock_file(&lock_file);
 		return -1;
 	}
 
-	if (write_locked_index(&the_index, lock_file, COMMIT_LOCK))
+	if (write_locked_index(&the_index, &lock_file, COMMIT_LOCK))
 		die(_("unable to write new index file"));
 
 	return 0;
@@ -1986,15 +1984,14 @@ static int fast_forward_to(struct tree *head, struct tree *remote, int reset)
  */
 static int merge_tree(struct tree *tree)
 {
-	struct lock_file *lock_file;
+	struct lock_file lock_file = LOCK_INIT;
 	struct unpack_trees_options opts;
 	struct tree_desc t[1];
 
 	if (parse_tree(tree))
 		return -1;
 
-	lock_file = xcalloc(1, sizeof(struct lock_file));
-	hold_locked_index(lock_file, LOCK_DIE_ON_ERROR);
+	hold_locked_index(&lock_file, LOCK_DIE_ON_ERROR);
 
 	memset(&opts, 0, sizeof(opts));
 	opts.head_idx = 1;
@@ -2005,11 +2002,11 @@ static int merge_tree(struct tree *tree)
 	init_tree_desc(&t[0], tree->buffer, tree->size);
 
 	if (unpack_trees(1, t, &opts)) {
-		rollback_lock_file(lock_file);
+		rollback_lock_file(&lock_file);
 		return -1;
 	}
 
-	if (write_locked_index(&the_index, lock_file, COMMIT_LOCK))
+	if (write_locked_index(&the_index, &lock_file, COMMIT_LOCK))
 		die(_("unable to write new index file"));
 
 	return 0;
diff --git a/builtin/apply.c b/builtin/apply.c
index 81b9a61c37..48d3989331 100644
--- a/builtin/apply.c
+++ b/builtin/apply.c
@@ -9,8 +9,6 @@ static const char * const apply_usage[] = {
 	NULL
 };
 
-static struct lock_file lock_file;
-
 int cmd_apply(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 {
 	int force_apply = 0;
@@ -18,7 +16,7 @@ int cmd_apply(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	int ret;
 	struct apply_state state;
 
-	if (init_apply_state(&state, prefix, &lock_file))
+	if (init_apply_state(&state, prefix))
 		exit(128);
 
 	argc = apply_parse_options(argc, argv,
diff --git a/builtin/checkout-index.c b/builtin/checkout-index.c
index 39c8be05dc..b0e78b819d 100644
--- a/builtin/checkout-index.c
+++ b/builtin/checkout-index.c
@@ -129,8 +129,6 @@ static const char * const builtin_checkout_index_usage[] = {
 	NULL
 };
 
-static struct lock_file lock_file;
-
 static int option_parse_stage(const struct option *opt,
 			      const char *arg, int unset)
 {
@@ -150,7 +148,7 @@ static int option_parse_stage(const struct option *opt,
 int cmd_checkout_index(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 {
 	int i;
-	int newfd = -1;
+	struct lock_file lock_file = LOCK_INIT;
 	int all = 0;
 	int read_from_stdin = 0;
 	int prefix_length;
@@ -206,7 +204,7 @@ int cmd_checkout_index(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	if (index_opt && !state.base_dir_len && !to_tempfile) {
 		state.refresh_cache = 1;
 		state.istate = &the_index;
-		newfd = hold_locked_index(&lock_file, LOCK_DIE_ON_ERROR);
+		hold_locked_index(&lock_file, LOCK_DIE_ON_ERROR);
 	}
 
 	/* Check out named files first */
@@ -251,7 +249,7 @@ int cmd_checkout_index(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 	if (all)
 		checkout_all(prefix, prefix_length);
 
-	if (0 <= newfd &&
+	if (is_lock_file_locked(&lock_file) &&
 	    write_locked_index(&the_index, &lock_file, COMMIT_LOCK))
 		die("Unable to write new index file");
 	return 0;
diff --git a/builtin/checkout.c b/builtin/checkout.c
index fc4f8fd2ea..fcff0de198 100644
--- a/builtin/checkout.c
+++ b/builtin/checkout.c
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ static int checkout_paths(const struct checkout_opts *opts,
 	struct object_id rev;
 	struct commit *head;
 	int errs = 0;
-	struct lock_file *lock_file;
+	struct lock_file lock_file = LOCK_INIT;
 
 	if (opts->track != BRANCH_TRACK_UNSPECIFIED)
 		die(_("'%s' cannot be used with updating paths"), "--track");
@@ -275,9 +275,7 @@ static int checkout_paths(const struct checkout_opts *opts,
 		return run_add_interactive(revision, "--patch=checkout",
 					   &opts->pathspec);
 
-	lock_file = xcalloc(1, sizeof(struct lock_file));
-
-	hold_locked_index(lock_file, LOCK_DIE_ON_ERROR);
+	hold_locked_index(&lock_file, LOCK_DIE_ON_ERROR);
 	if (read_cache_preload(&opts->pathspec) < 0)
 		return error(_("index file corrupt"));
 
@@ -376,7 +374,7 @@ static int checkout_paths(const struct checkout_opts *opts,
 	}
 	errs |= finish_delayed_checkout(&state);
 
-	if (write_locked_index(&the_index, lock_file, COMMIT_LOCK))
+	if (write_locked_index(&the_index, &lock_file, COMMIT_LOCK))
 		die(_("unable to write new index file"));
 
 	read_ref_full("HEAD", 0, rev.hash, NULL);
@@ -472,9 +470,9 @@ static int merge_working_tree(const struct checkout_opts *opts,
 			      int *writeout_error)
 {
 	int ret;
-	struct lock_file *lock_file = xcalloc(1, sizeof(struct lock_file));
+	struct lock_file lock_file = LOCK_INIT;
 
-	hold_locked_index(lock_file, LOCK_DIE_ON_ERROR);
+	hold_locked_index(&lock_file, LOCK_DIE_ON_ERROR);
 	if (read_cache_preload(NULL) < 0)
 		return error(_("index file corrupt"));
 
@@ -591,7 +589,7 @@ static int merge_working_tree(const struct checkout_opts *opts,
 	if (!cache_tree_fully_valid(active_cache_tree))
 		cache_tree_update(&the_index, WRITE_TREE_SILENT | WRITE_TREE_REPAIR);
 
-	if (write_locked_index(&the_index, lock_file, COMMIT_LOCK))
+	if (write_locked_index(&the_index, &lock_file, COMMIT_LOCK))
 		die(_("unable to write new index file"));
 
 	if (!opts->force && !opts->quiet)
diff --git a/builtin/clone.c b/builtin/clone.c
index dbddd98f80..96a3aaaa1f 100644
--- a/builtin/clone.c
+++ b/builtin/clone.c
@@ -706,7 +706,7 @@ static int checkout(int submodule_progress)
 {
 	struct object_id oid;
 	char *head;
-	struct lock_file *lock_file;
+	struct lock_file lock_file = LOCK_INIT;
 	struct unpack_trees_options opts;
 	struct tree *tree;
 	struct tree_desc t;
@@ -733,8 +733,7 @@ static int checkout(int submodule_progress)
 	/* We need to be in the new work tree for the checkout */
 	setup_work_tree();
 
-	lock_file = xcalloc(1, sizeof(struct lock_file));
-	hold_locked_index(lock_file, LOCK_DIE_ON_ERROR);
+	hold_locked_index(&lock_file, LOCK_DIE_ON_ERROR);
 
 	memset(&opts, 0, sizeof opts);
 	opts.update = 1;
@@ -750,7 +749,7 @@ static int checkout(int submodule_progress)
 	if (unpack_trees(1, &t, &opts) < 0)
 		die(_("unable to checkout working tree"));
 
-	if (write_locked_index(&the_index, lock_file, COMMIT_LOCK))
+	if (write_locked_index(&the_index, &lock_file, COMMIT_LOCK))
 		die(_("unable to write new index file"));
 
 	err |= run_hook_le(NULL, "post-checkout", sha1_to_hex(null_sha1),
diff --git a/builtin/commit.c b/builtin/commit.c
index d75b3805ea..af034553fc 100644
--- a/builtin/commit.c
+++ b/builtin/commit.c
@@ -355,7 +355,7 @@ static const char *prepare_index(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix
 
 		refresh_cache_or_die(refresh_flags);
 
-		if (write_locked_index(&the_index, &index_lock, CLOSE_LOCK))
+		if (write_locked_index(&the_index, &index_lock, 0))
 			die(_("unable to create temporary index"));
 
 		old_index_env = getenv(INDEX_ENVIRONMENT);
@@ -374,7 +374,7 @@ static const char *prepare_index(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix
 		if (update_main_cache_tree(WRITE_TREE_SILENT) == 0) {
 			if (reopen_lock_file(&index_lock) < 0)
 				die(_("unable to write index file"));
-			if (write_locked_index(&the_index, &index_lock, CLOSE_LOCK))
+			if (write_locked_index(&the_index, &index_lock, 0))
 				die(_("unable to update temporary index"));
 		} else
 			warning(_("Failed to update main cache tree"));
@@ -401,7 +401,7 @@ static const char *prepare_index(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix
 		add_files_to_cache(also ? prefix : NULL, &pathspec, 0);
 		refresh_cache_or_die(refresh_flags);
 		update_main_cache_tree(WRITE_TREE_SILENT);
-		if (write_locked_index(&the_index, &index_lock, CLOSE_LOCK))
+		if (write_locked_index(&the_index, &index_lock, 0))
 			die(_("unable to write new_index file"));
 		commit_style = COMMIT_NORMAL;
 		ret = get_lock_file_path(&index_lock);
@@ -474,7 +474,7 @@ static const char *prepare_index(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix
 	add_remove_files(&partial);
 	refresh_cache(REFRESH_QUIET);
 	update_main_cache_tree(WRITE_TREE_SILENT);
-	if (write_locked_index(&the_index, &index_lock, CLOSE_LOCK))
+	if (write_locked_index(&the_index, &index_lock, 0))
 		die(_("unable to write new_index file"));
 
 	hold_lock_file_for_update(&false_lock,
@@ -486,7 +486,7 @@ static const char *prepare_index(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix
 	add_remove_files(&partial);
 	refresh_cache(REFRESH_QUIET);
 
-	if (write_locked_index(&the_index, &false_lock, CLOSE_LOCK))
+	if (write_locked_index(&the_index, &false_lock, 0))
 		die(_("unable to write temporary index file"));
 
 	discard_cache();
diff --git a/builtin/diff.c b/builtin/diff.c
index f5bbd4d757..aa6f746795 100644
--- a/builtin/diff.c
+++ b/builtin/diff.c
@@ -203,17 +203,16 @@ static int builtin_diff_combined(struct rev_info *revs,
 
 static void refresh_index_quietly(void)
 {
-	struct lock_file *lock_file;
+	struct lock_file lock_file = LOCK_INIT;
 	int fd;
 
-	lock_file = xcalloc(1, sizeof(struct lock_file));
-	fd = hold_locked_index(lock_file, 0);
+	fd = hold_locked_index(&lock_file, 0);
 	if (fd < 0)
 		return;
 	discard_cache();
 	read_cache();
 	refresh_cache(REFRESH_QUIET|REFRESH_UNMERGED);
-	update_index_if_able(&the_index, lock_file);
+	update_index_if_able(&the_index, &lock_file);
 }
 
 static int builtin_diff_files(struct rev_info *revs, int argc, const char **argv)
diff --git a/builtin/difftool.c b/builtin/difftool.c
index b2d3ba7539..bcc79d1888 100644
--- a/builtin/difftool.c
+++ b/builtin/difftool.c
@@ -616,7 +616,6 @@ static int run_dir_diff(const char *extcmd, int symlinks, const char *prefix,
 			if (hold_lock_file_for_update(&lock, buf.buf, 0) < 0 ||
 			    write_locked_index(&wtindex, &lock, COMMIT_LOCK)) {
 				ret = error("could not write %s", buf.buf);
-				rollback_lock_file(&lock);
 				goto finish;
 			}
 			changed_files(&wt_modified, buf.buf, workdir);
diff --git a/cache-tree.c b/cache-tree.c
index d3f7401278..e03e72c34a 100644
--- a/cache-tree.c
+++ b/cache-tree.c
@@ -602,11 +602,11 @@ static struct cache_tree *cache_tree_find(struct cache_tree *it, const char *pat
 
 int write_index_as_tree(unsigned char *sha1, struct index_state *index_state, const char *index_path, int flags, const char *prefix)
 {
-	int entries, was_valid, newfd;
+	int entries, was_valid;
 	struct lock_file lock_file = LOCK_INIT;
 	int ret = 0;
 
-	newfd = hold_lock_file_for_update(&lock_file, index_path, LOCK_DIE_ON_ERROR);
+	hold_lock_file_for_update(&lock_file, index_path, LOCK_DIE_ON_ERROR);
 
 	entries = read_index_from(index_state, index_path);
 	if (entries < 0) {
@@ -625,10 +625,7 @@ int write_index_as_tree(unsigned char *sha1, struct index_state *index_state, co
 			ret = WRITE_TREE_UNMERGED_INDEX;
 			goto out;
 		}
-		if (0 <= newfd) {
-			if (!write_locked_index(index_state, &lock_file, COMMIT_LOCK))
-				newfd = -1;
-		}
+		write_locked_index(index_state, &lock_file, COMMIT_LOCK);
 		/* Not being able to write is fine -- we are only interested
 		 * in updating the cache-tree part, and if the next caller
 		 * ends up using the old index with unupdated cache-tree part
@@ -650,8 +647,7 @@ int write_index_as_tree(unsigned char *sha1, struct index_state *index_state, co
 		hashcpy(sha1, index_state->cache_tree->oid.hash);
 
 out:
-	if (0 <= newfd)
-		rollback_lock_file(&lock_file);
+	rollback_lock_file(&lock_file);
 	return ret;
 }
 
diff --git a/cache.h b/cache.h
index 6440e2bf21..d74f00d8db 100644
--- a/cache.h
+++ b/cache.h
@@ -602,9 +602,28 @@ extern int do_read_index(struct index_state *istate, const char *path,
 extern int read_index_from(struct index_state *, const char *path);
 extern int is_index_unborn(struct index_state *);
 extern int read_index_unmerged(struct index_state *);
+
+/* For use with `write_locked_index()`. */
 #define COMMIT_LOCK		(1 << 0)
-#define CLOSE_LOCK		(1 << 1)
+
+/*
+ * Write the index while holding an already-taken lock. Close the lock,
+ * and if `COMMIT_LOCK` is given, commit it.
+ *
+ * Unless a split index is in use, write the index into the lockfile.
+ *
+ * With a split index, write the shared index to a temporary file,
+ * adjust its permissions and rename it into place, then write the
+ * split index to the lockfile. If the temporary file for the shared
+ * index cannot be created, fall back to the behavior described in
+ * the previous paragraph.
+ *
+ * With `COMMIT_LOCK`, the lock is always committed or rolled back.
+ * Without it, the lock is closed, but neither committed nor rolled
+ * back.
+ */
 extern int write_locked_index(struct index_state *, struct lock_file *lock, unsigned flags);
+
 extern int discard_index(struct index_state *);
 extern void move_index_extensions(struct index_state *dst, struct index_state *src);
 extern int unmerged_index(const struct index_state *);
@@ -716,6 +735,10 @@ extern void fill_stat_cache_info(struct cache_entry *ce, struct stat *st);
 extern int refresh_index(struct index_state *, unsigned int flags, const struct pathspec *pathspec, char *seen, const char *header_msg);
 extern struct cache_entry *refresh_cache_entry(struct cache_entry *, unsigned int);
 
+/*
+ * Opportunistically update the index but do not complain if we can't.
+ * The lockfile is always committed or rolled back.
+ */
 extern void update_index_if_able(struct index_state *, struct lock_file *);
 
 extern int hold_locked_index(struct lock_file *, int);
diff --git a/config.c b/config.c
index adb7d7a3e5..903abf9533 100644
--- a/config.c
+++ b/config.c
@@ -2751,7 +2751,7 @@ static int git_config_copy_or_rename_section_in_file(const char *config_filename
 {
 	int ret = 0, remove = 0;
 	char *filename_buf = NULL;
-	struct lock_file *lock;
+	struct lock_file lock = LOCK_INIT;
 	int out_fd;
 	char buf[1024];
 	FILE *config_file = NULL;
@@ -2766,8 +2766,7 @@ static int git_config_copy_or_rename_section_in_file(const char *config_filename
 	if (!config_filename)
 		config_filename = filename_buf = git_pathdup("config");
 
-	lock = xcalloc(1, sizeof(struct lock_file));
-	out_fd = hold_lock_file_for_update(lock, config_filename, 0);
+	out_fd = hold_lock_file_for_update(&lock, config_filename, 0);
 	if (out_fd < 0) {
 		ret = error("could not lock config file %s", config_filename);
 		goto out;
@@ -2786,9 +2785,9 @@ static int git_config_copy_or_rename_section_in_file(const char *config_filename
 		goto out;
 	}
 
-	if (chmod(get_lock_file_path(lock), st.st_mode & 07777) < 0) {
+	if (chmod(get_lock_file_path(&lock), st.st_mode & 07777) < 0) {
 		ret = error_errno("chmod on %s failed",
-				  get_lock_file_path(lock));
+				  get_lock_file_path(&lock));
 		goto out;
 	}
 
@@ -2812,7 +2811,7 @@ static int git_config_copy_or_rename_section_in_file(const char *config_filename
 			 */
 			if (copystr.len > 0) {
 				if (write_in_full(out_fd, copystr.buf, copystr.len) != copystr.len) {
-					ret = write_error(get_lock_file_path(lock));
+					ret = write_error(get_lock_file_path(&lock));
 					goto out;
 				}
 				strbuf_reset(&copystr);
@@ -2828,7 +2827,7 @@ static int git_config_copy_or_rename_section_in_file(const char *config_filename
 				store.baselen = strlen(new_name);
 				if (!copy) {
 					if (write_section(out_fd, new_name) < 0) {
-						ret = write_error(get_lock_file_path(lock));
+						ret = write_error(get_lock_file_path(&lock));
 						goto out;
 					}
 					/*
@@ -2862,7 +2861,7 @@ static int git_config_copy_or_rename_section_in_file(const char *config_filename
 		}
 
 		if (write_in_full(out_fd, output, length) < 0) {
-			ret = write_error(get_lock_file_path(lock));
+			ret = write_error(get_lock_file_path(&lock));
 			goto out;
 		}
 	}
@@ -2874,7 +2873,7 @@ static int git_config_copy_or_rename_section_in_file(const char *config_filename
 	 */
 	if (copystr.len > 0) {
 		if (write_in_full(out_fd, copystr.buf, copystr.len) != copystr.len) {
-			ret = write_error(get_lock_file_path(lock));
+			ret = write_error(get_lock_file_path(&lock));
 			goto out;
 		}
 		strbuf_reset(&copystr);
@@ -2883,13 +2882,13 @@ static int git_config_copy_or_rename_section_in_file(const char *config_filename
 	fclose(config_file);
 	config_file = NULL;
 commit_and_out:
-	if (commit_lock_file(lock) < 0)
+	if (commit_lock_file(&lock) < 0)
 		ret = error_errno("could not write config file %s",
 				  config_filename);
 out:
 	if (config_file)
 		fclose(config_file);
-	rollback_lock_file(lock);
+	rollback_lock_file(&lock);
 out_no_rollback:
 	free(filename_buf);
 	return ret;
diff --git a/lockfile.h b/lockfile.h
index 7c1c484d7c..f401c979f0 100644
--- a/lockfile.h
+++ b/lockfile.h
@@ -240,8 +240,8 @@ extern char *get_locked_file_path(struct lock_file *lk);
  * If the lockfile is still open, close it (and the file pointer if it
  * has been opened using `fdopen_lock_file()`) without renaming the
  * lockfile over the file being locked. Return 0 upon success. On
- * failure to `close(2)`, return a negative value and roll back the
- * lock file. Usually `commit_lock_file()`, `commit_lock_file_to()`,
+ * failure to `close(2)`, return a negative value (the lockfile is not
+ * rolled back). Usually `commit_lock_file()`, `commit_lock_file_to()`,
  * or `rollback_lock_file()` should eventually be called.
  */
 static inline int close_lock_file_gently(struct lock_file *lk)
diff --git a/merge-recursive.c b/merge-recursive.c
index 1d3f8f0d22..24c5c26a6a 100644
--- a/merge-recursive.c
+++ b/merge-recursive.c
@@ -2162,7 +2162,7 @@ int merge_recursive_generic(struct merge_options *o,
 			    struct commit **result)
 {
 	int clean;
-	struct lock_file *lock = xcalloc(1, sizeof(struct lock_file));
+	struct lock_file lock = LOCK_INIT;
 	struct commit *head_commit = get_ref(head, o->branch1);
 	struct commit *next_commit = get_ref(merge, o->branch2);
 	struct commit_list *ca = NULL;
@@ -2178,14 +2178,14 @@ int merge_recursive_generic(struct merge_options *o,
 		}
 	}
 
-	hold_locked_index(lock, LOCK_DIE_ON_ERROR);
+	hold_locked_index(&lock, LOCK_DIE_ON_ERROR);
 	clean = merge_recursive(o, head_commit, next_commit, ca,
 			result);
 	if (clean < 0)
 		return clean;
 
 	if (active_cache_changed &&
-	    write_locked_index(&the_index, lock, COMMIT_LOCK))
+	    write_locked_index(&the_index, &lock, COMMIT_LOCK))
 		return err(o, _("Unable to write index."));
 
 	return clean ? 0 : 1;
diff --git a/merge.c b/merge.c
index 1d441ad942..e5d796c9f2 100644
--- a/merge.c
+++ b/merge.c
@@ -53,11 +53,11 @@ int checkout_fast_forward(const struct object_id *head,
 	struct tree_desc t[MAX_UNPACK_TREES];
 	int i, nr_trees = 0;
 	struct dir_struct dir;
-	struct lock_file *lock_file = xcalloc(1, sizeof(struct lock_file));
+	struct lock_file lock_file = LOCK_INIT;
 
 	refresh_cache(REFRESH_QUIET);
 
-	if (hold_locked_index(lock_file, LOCK_REPORT_ON_ERROR) < 0)
+	if (hold_locked_index(&lock_file, LOCK_REPORT_ON_ERROR) < 0)
 		return -1;
 
 	memset(&trees, 0, sizeof(trees));
@@ -91,9 +91,7 @@ int checkout_fast_forward(const struct object_id *head,
 	}
 	if (unpack_trees(nr_trees, t, &opts))
 		return -1;
-	if (write_locked_index(&the_index, lock_file, COMMIT_LOCK)) {
-		rollback_lock_file(lock_file);
+	if (write_locked_index(&the_index, &lock_file, COMMIT_LOCK))
 		return error(_("unable to write new index file"));
-	}
 	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/read-cache.c b/read-cache.c
index 65f4fe8375..87188d390d 100644
--- a/read-cache.c
+++ b/read-cache.c
@@ -2176,17 +2176,22 @@ static int has_racy_timestamp(struct index_state *istate)
 	return 0;
 }
 
-/*
- * Opportunistically update the index but do not complain if we can't
- */
 void update_index_if_able(struct index_state *istate, struct lock_file *lockfile)
 {
 	if ((istate->cache_changed || has_racy_timestamp(istate)) &&
-	    verify_index(istate) &&
-	    write_locked_index(istate, lockfile, COMMIT_LOCK))
+	    verify_index(istate))
+		write_locked_index(istate, lockfile, COMMIT_LOCK);
+	else
 		rollback_lock_file(lockfile);
 }
 
+/*
+ * On success, `tempfile` is closed. If it is the temporary file
+ * of a `struct lock_file`, we will therefore effectively perform
+ * a 'close_lock_file_gently()`. Since that is an implementation
+ * detail of lockfiles, callers of `do_write_index()` should not
+ * rely on it.
+ */
 static int do_write_index(struct index_state *istate, struct tempfile *tempfile,
 			  int strip_extensions)
 {
@@ -2314,7 +2319,6 @@ static int do_write_index(struct index_state *istate, struct tempfile *tempfile,
 		return -1;
 	if (close_tempfile_gently(tempfile)) {
 		error(_("could not close '%s'"), tempfile->filename.buf);
-		delete_tempfile(&tempfile);
 		return -1;
 	}
 	if (stat(tempfile->filename.buf, &st))
@@ -2343,14 +2347,9 @@ static int do_write_locked_index(struct index_state *istate, struct lock_file *l
 	int ret = do_write_index(istate, lock->tempfile, 0);
 	if (ret)
 		return ret;
-	assert((flags & (COMMIT_LOCK | CLOSE_LOCK)) !=
-	       (COMMIT_LOCK | CLOSE_LOCK));
 	if (flags & COMMIT_LOCK)
 		return commit_locked_index(lock);
-	else if (flags & CLOSE_LOCK)
-		return close_lock_file_gently(lock);
-	else
-		return ret;
+	return close_lock_file_gently(lock);
 }
 
 static int write_split_index(struct index_state *istate,
@@ -2499,7 +2498,8 @@ int write_locked_index(struct index_state *istate, struct lock_file *lock,
 	    (istate->cache_changed & ~EXTMASK)) {
 		if (si)
 			hashclr(si->base_sha1);
-		return do_write_locked_index(istate, lock, flags);
+		ret = do_write_locked_index(istate, lock, flags);
+		goto out;
 	}
 
 	if (getenv("GIT_TEST_SPLIT_INDEX")) {
@@ -2515,7 +2515,7 @@ int write_locked_index(struct index_state *istate, struct lock_file *lock,
 	if (new_shared_index) {
 		ret = write_shared_index(istate, lock, flags);
 		if (ret)
-			return ret;
+			goto out;
 	}
 
 	ret = write_split_index(istate, lock, flags);
@@ -2524,6 +2524,9 @@ int write_locked_index(struct index_state *istate, struct lock_file *lock,
 	if (!ret && !new_shared_index)
 		freshen_shared_index(sha1_to_hex(si->base_sha1), 1);
 
+out:
+	if (flags & COMMIT_LOCK)
+		rollback_lock_file(lock);
 	return ret;
 }
 
diff --git a/sequencer.c b/sequencer.c
index f2a10cc4f2..46c997e2df 100644
--- a/sequencer.c
+++ b/sequencer.c
@@ -1184,7 +1184,6 @@ static int read_and_refresh_cache(struct replay_opts *opts)
 	refresh_index(&the_index, REFRESH_QUIET|REFRESH_UNMERGED, NULL, NULL, NULL);
 	if (the_index.cache_changed && index_fd >= 0) {
 		if (write_locked_index(&the_index, &index_lock, COMMIT_LOCK)) {
-			rollback_lock_file(&index_lock);
 			return error(_("git %s: failed to refresh the index"),
 				_(action_name(opts)));
 		}
diff --git a/sha1_file.c b/sha1_file.c
index 10c3a0083d..00f5b9e0b2 100644
--- a/sha1_file.c
+++ b/sha1_file.c
@@ -456,19 +456,19 @@ struct alternate_object_database *alloc_alt_odb(const char *dir)
 
 void add_to_alternates_file(const char *reference)
 {
-	struct lock_file *lock = xcalloc(1, sizeof(struct lock_file));
+	struct lock_file lock = LOCK_INIT;
 	char *alts = git_pathdup("objects/info/alternates");
 	FILE *in, *out;
+	int found = 0;
 
-	hold_lock_file_for_update(lock, alts, LOCK_DIE_ON_ERROR);
-	out = fdopen_lock_file(lock, "w");
+	hold_lock_file_for_update(&lock, alts, LOCK_DIE_ON_ERROR);
+	out = fdopen_lock_file(&lock, "w");
 	if (!out)
 		die_errno("unable to fdopen alternates lockfile");
 
 	in = fopen(alts, "r");
 	if (in) {
 		struct strbuf line = STRBUF_INIT;
-		int found = 0;
 
 		while (strbuf_getline(&line, in) != EOF) {
 			if (!strcmp(reference, line.buf)) {
@@ -480,18 +480,15 @@ void add_to_alternates_file(const char *reference)
 
 		strbuf_release(&line);
 		fclose(in);
-
-		if (found) {
-			rollback_lock_file(lock);
-			lock = NULL;
-		}
 	}
 	else if (errno != ENOENT)
 		die_errno("unable to read alternates file");
 
-	if (lock) {
+	if (found) {
+		rollback_lock_file(&lock);
+	} else {
 		fprintf_or_die(out, "%s\n", reference);
-		if (commit_lock_file(lock))
+		if (commit_lock_file(&lock))
 			die_errno("unable to move new alternates file into place");
 		if (alt_odb_tail)
 			link_alt_odb_entries(reference, '\n', NULL, 0);
diff --git a/tempfile.h b/tempfile.h
index b8f4b5e145..450908b2e0 100644
--- a/tempfile.h
+++ b/tempfile.h
@@ -68,10 +68,10 @@
  * `create_tempfile()` returns an allocated tempfile on success or NULL
  * on failure. On errors, `errno` describes the reason for failure.
  *
- * `delete_tempfile()`, `rename_tempfile()`, and `close_tempfile_gently()`
- * return 0 on success. On failure they set `errno` appropriately and return
- * -1. `delete` and `rename` (but not `close`) do their best to delete the
- * temporary file before returning.
+ * `rename_tempfile()` and `close_tempfile_gently()` return 0 on success.
+ * On failure they set `errno` appropriately and return -1.
+ * `delete_tempfile()` and `rename` (but not `close`) do their best to
+ * delete the temporary file before returning.
  */
 
 struct tempfile {
diff --git a/wt-status.c b/wt-status.c
index 29bc64cc02..93ac645225 100644
--- a/wt-status.c
+++ b/wt-status.c
@@ -2297,14 +2297,14 @@ int has_uncommitted_changes(int ignore_submodules)
  */
 int require_clean_work_tree(const char *action, const char *hint, int ignore_submodules, int gently)
 {
-	struct lock_file *lock_file = xcalloc(1, sizeof(*lock_file));
+	struct lock_file lock_file = LOCK_INIT;
 	int err = 0, fd;
 
-	fd = hold_locked_index(lock_file, 0);
+	fd = hold_locked_index(&lock_file, 0);
 	refresh_cache(REFRESH_QUIET);
 	if (0 <= fd)
-		update_index_if_able(&the_index, lock_file);
-	rollback_lock_file(lock_file);
+		update_index_if_able(&the_index, &lock_file);
+	rollback_lock_file(&lock_file);
 
 	if (has_unstaged_changes(ignore_submodules)) {
 		/* TRANSLATORS: the action is e.g. "pull with rebase" */