diff --git a/builtin/pack-objects.c b/builtin/pack-objects.c
index 0fc0680b40252a..82f4ca04000bc4 100644
--- a/builtin/pack-objects.c
+++ b/builtin/pack-objects.c
@@ -3167,6 +3167,33 @@ static int add_ref_tag(const char *tag UNUSED, const char *referent UNUSED, cons
 	return 0;
 }
 
+static int should_attempt_deltas(struct object_entry *entry)
+{
+	if (DELTA(entry))
+		return 0;
+
+	if (!entry->type_valid ||
+	    oe_size_less_than(&to_pack, entry, 50))
+		return 0;
+
+	if (entry->no_try_delta)
+		return 0;
+
+	if (!entry->preferred_base) {
+		if (oe_type(entry) < 0)
+			die(_("unable to get type of object %s"),
+				oid_to_hex(&entry->idx.oid));
+	} else if (oe_type(entry) < 0) {
+		/*
+		 * This object is not found, but we
+		 * don't have to include it anyway.
+		 */
+		return 0;
+	}
+
+	return 1;
+}
+
 static void prepare_pack(int window, int depth)
 {
 	struct object_entry **delta_list;
@@ -3197,33 +3224,11 @@ static void prepare_pack(int window, int depth)
 	for (i = 0; i < to_pack.nr_objects; i++) {
 		struct object_entry *entry = to_pack.objects + i;
 
-		if (DELTA(entry))
-			/* This happens if we decided to reuse existing
-			 * delta from a pack.  "reuse_delta &&" is implied.
-			 */
-			continue;
-
-		if (!entry->type_valid ||
-		    oe_size_less_than(&to_pack, entry, 50))
+		if (!should_attempt_deltas(entry))
 			continue;
 
-		if (entry->no_try_delta)
-			continue;
-
-		if (!entry->preferred_base) {
+		if (!entry->preferred_base)
 			nr_deltas++;
-			if (oe_type(entry) < 0)
-				die(_("unable to get type of object %s"),
-				    oid_to_hex(&entry->idx.oid));
-		} else {
-			if (oe_type(entry) < 0) {
-				/*
-				 * This object is not found, but we
-				 * don't have to include it anyway.
-				 */
-				continue;
-			}
-		}
 
 		delta_list[n++] = entry;
 	}