diff --git a/builtin/remote.c b/builtin/remote.c
index c8dc724956..cc3c7410f3 100644
--- a/builtin/remote.c
+++ b/builtin/remote.c
@@ -1314,19 +1314,12 @@ static int prune_remote(const char *remote, int dry_run)
 		string_list_append(&refs_to_prune, item->util);
 	string_list_sort(&refs_to_prune);
 
-	if (!dry_run) {
-		struct strbuf err = STRBUF_INIT;
-		if (repack_without_refs(&refs_to_prune, &err))
-			result |= error("%s", err.buf);
-		strbuf_release(&err);
-	}
+	if (!dry_run)
+		result |= delete_refs(&refs_to_prune);
 
 	for_each_string_list_item(item, &states.stale) {
 		const char *refname = item->util;
 
-		if (!dry_run)
-			result |= delete_ref(refname, NULL, 0);
-
 		if (dry_run)
 			printf_ln(_(" * [would prune] %s"),
 			       abbrev_ref(refname, "refs/remotes/"));