diff --git a/builtin/update-index.c b/builtin/update-index.c
index d180d80c04..c8f0d5f47c 100644
--- a/builtin/update-index.c
+++ b/builtin/update-index.c
@@ -274,36 +274,32 @@ static void chmod_path(int flip, const char *path)
 	die("git update-index: cannot chmod %cx '%s'", flip, path);
 }
 
-static void update_one(const char *path, const char *prefix, int prefix_length)
+static void update_one(const char *path)
 {
-	const char *p = prefix_path(prefix, prefix_length, path);
-	if (!verify_path(p)) {
+	if (!verify_path(path)) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "Ignoring path %s\n", path);
-		goto free_return;
+		return;
 	}
 	if (mark_valid_only) {
-		if (mark_ce_flags(p, CE_VALID, mark_valid_only == MARK_FLAG))
+		if (mark_ce_flags(path, CE_VALID, mark_valid_only == MARK_FLAG))
 			die("Unable to mark file %s", path);
-		goto free_return;
+		return;
 	}
 	if (mark_skip_worktree_only) {
-		if (mark_ce_flags(p, CE_SKIP_WORKTREE, mark_skip_worktree_only == MARK_FLAG))
+		if (mark_ce_flags(path, CE_SKIP_WORKTREE, mark_skip_worktree_only == MARK_FLAG))
 			die("Unable to mark file %s", path);
-		goto free_return;
+		return;
 	}
 
 	if (force_remove) {
-		if (remove_file_from_cache(p))
+		if (remove_file_from_cache(path))
 			die("git update-index: unable to remove %s", path);
 		report("remove '%s'", path);
-		goto free_return;
+		return;
 	}
-	if (process_path(p))
+	if (process_path(path))
 		die("Unable to process path %s", path);
 	report("add '%s'", path);
- free_return:
-	if (p < path || p > path + strlen(path))
-		free((char *)p);
 }
 
 static void read_index_info(int line_termination)
@@ -579,7 +575,7 @@ static int do_reupdate(int ac, const char **av,
 		 * or worse yet 'allow_replace', active_nr may decrease.
 		 */
 		save_nr = active_nr;
-		update_one(ce->name, NULL, 0);
+		update_one(ce->name);
 		if (save_nr != active_nr)
 			goto redo;
 	}
@@ -836,11 +832,10 @@ int cmd_update_index(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 
 			setup_work_tree();
 			p = prefix_path(prefix, prefix_length, path);
-			update_one(p, NULL, 0);
+			update_one(p);
 			if (set_executable_bit)
 				chmod_path(set_executable_bit, p);
-			if (p < path || p > path + strlen(path))
-				free((char *)p);
+			free((char *)p);
 			ctx.argc--;
 			ctx.argv++;
 			break;
@@ -879,11 +874,10 @@ int cmd_update_index(int argc, const char **argv, const char *prefix)
 				strbuf_swap(&buf, &nbuf);
 			}
 			p = prefix_path(prefix, prefix_length, buf.buf);
-			update_one(p, NULL, 0);
+			update_one(p);
 			if (set_executable_bit)
 				chmod_path(set_executable_bit, p);
-			if (p < buf.buf || p > buf.buf + buf.len)
-				free((char *)p);
+			free((char *)p);
 		}
 		strbuf_release(&nbuf);
 		strbuf_release(&buf);