diff --git a/tempfile.c b/tempfile.c
index 7414c81e31..29e61077a8 100644
--- a/tempfile.c
+++ b/tempfile.c
@@ -86,8 +86,6 @@ static void remove_tempfiles(int in_signal_handler)
 		else
 			unlink_or_warn(p->filename.buf);
 		remove_template_directory(p, in_signal_handler);
-
-		p->active = 0;
 	}
 }
 
@@ -108,7 +106,6 @@ static struct tempfile *new_tempfile(void)
 	struct tempfile *tempfile = xmalloc(sizeof(*tempfile));
 	tempfile->fd = -1;
 	tempfile->fp = NULL;
-	tempfile->active = 0;
 	tempfile->owner = 0;
 	INIT_LIST_HEAD(&tempfile->list);
 	strbuf_init(&tempfile->filename, 0);
@@ -120,9 +117,6 @@ static void activate_tempfile(struct tempfile *tempfile)
 {
 	static int initialized;
 
-	if (is_tempfile_active(tempfile))
-		BUG("activate_tempfile called for active object");
-
 	if (!initialized) {
 		sigchain_push_common(remove_tempfiles_on_signal);
 		atexit(remove_tempfiles_on_exit);
@@ -131,15 +125,13 @@ static void activate_tempfile(struct tempfile *tempfile)
 
 	volatile_list_add(&tempfile->list, &tempfile_list);
 	tempfile->owner = getpid();
-	tempfile->active = 1;
 }
 
 static void deactivate_tempfile(struct tempfile *tempfile)
 {
-	tempfile->active = 0;
+	volatile_list_del(&tempfile->list);
 	strbuf_release(&tempfile->filename);
 	free(tempfile->directory);
-	volatile_list_del(&tempfile->list);
 	free(tempfile);
 }
 
diff --git a/tempfile.h b/tempfile.h
index 5b9e8743dd..d0413af733 100644
--- a/tempfile.h
+++ b/tempfile.h
@@ -77,7 +77,6 @@
 
 struct tempfile {
 	volatile struct volatile_list_head list;
-	volatile sig_atomic_t active;
 	volatile int fd;
 	FILE *volatile fp;
 	volatile pid_t owner;
@@ -221,7 +220,7 @@ FILE *fdopen_tempfile(struct tempfile *tempfile, const char *mode);
 
 static inline int is_tempfile_active(struct tempfile *tempfile)
 {
-	return tempfile && tempfile->active;
+	return !!tempfile;
 }
 
 /*