diff --git a/sequencer.c b/sequencer.c
index 42313f8de6..ec7ea8d9e5 100644
--- a/sequencer.c
+++ b/sequencer.c
@@ -2342,6 +2342,16 @@ void sequencer_post_commit_cleanup(struct repository *r, int verbose)
 	sequencer_remove_state(&opts);
 }
 
+static void todo_list_write_total_nr(struct todo_list *todo_list)
+{
+	FILE *f = fopen_or_warn(rebase_path_msgtotal(), "w");
+
+	if (f) {
+		fprintf(f, "%d\n", todo_list->total_nr);
+		fclose(f);
+	}
+}
+
 static int read_populate_todo(struct repository *r,
 			      struct todo_list *todo_list,
 			      struct replay_opts *opts)
@@ -2387,7 +2397,6 @@ static int read_populate_todo(struct repository *r,
 
 	if (is_rebase_i(opts)) {
 		struct todo_list done = TODO_LIST_INIT;
-		FILE *f = fopen_or_warn(rebase_path_msgtotal(), "w");
 
 		if (strbuf_read_file(&done.buf, rebase_path_done(), 0) > 0 &&
 		    !todo_list_parse_insn_buffer(r, done.buf.buf, &done))
@@ -2399,10 +2408,7 @@ static int read_populate_todo(struct repository *r,
 			+ count_commands(todo_list);
 		todo_list_release(&done);
 
-		if (f) {
-			fprintf(f, "%d\n", todo_list->total_nr);
-			fclose(f);
-		}
+		todo_list_write_total_nr(todo_list);
 	}
 
 	return 0;