diff --git a/apply.c b/apply.c
index 49752cde44..2594927248 100644
--- a/apply.c
+++ b/apply.c
@@ -4093,12 +4093,12 @@ static int build_fake_ancestor(struct apply_state *state, struct patch *list)
 			return error(_("sha1 information is lacking or useless "
 				       "(%s)."), name);
 
-		ce = make_cache_entry(patch->old_mode, oid.hash, name, 0, 0);
+		ce = make_cache_entry(&result, patch->old_mode, &oid, name, 0, 0);
 		if (!ce)
 			return error(_("make_cache_entry failed for path '%s'"),
 				     name);
 		if (add_index_entry(&result, ce, ADD_CACHE_OK_TO_ADD)) {
-			free(ce);
+			discard_cache_entry(ce);
 			return error(_("could not add %s to temporary index"),
 				     name);
 		}
@@ -4266,9 +4266,8 @@ static int add_index_file(struct apply_state *state,
 	struct stat st;
 	struct cache_entry *ce;
 	int namelen = strlen(path);
-	unsigned ce_size = cache_entry_size(namelen);
 
-	ce = xcalloc(1, ce_size);
+	ce = make_empty_cache_entry(&the_index, namelen);
 	memcpy(ce->name, path, namelen);
 	ce->ce_mode = create_ce_mode(mode);
 	ce->ce_flags = create_ce_flags(0);
@@ -4281,13 +4280,13 @@ static int add_index_file(struct apply_state *state,
 
 		if (!skip_prefix(buf, "Subproject commit ", &s) ||
 		    get_oid_hex(s, &ce->oid)) {
-			free(ce);
-		       return error(_("corrupt patch for submodule %s"), path);
+			discard_cache_entry(ce);
+			return error(_("corrupt patch for submodule %s"), path);
 		}
 	} else {
 		if (!state->cached) {
 			if (lstat(path, &st) < 0) {
-				free(ce);
+				discard_cache_entry(ce);
 				return error_errno(_("unable to stat newly "
 						     "created file '%s'"),
 						   path);
@@ -4295,13 +4294,13 @@ static int add_index_file(struct apply_state *state,
 			fill_stat_cache_info(ce, &st);
 		}
 		if (write_object_file(buf, size, blob_type, &ce->oid) < 0) {
-			free(ce);
+			discard_cache_entry(ce);
 			return error(_("unable to create backing store "
 				       "for newly created file %s"), path);
 		}
 	}
 	if (add_cache_entry(ce, ADD_CACHE_OK_TO_ADD) < 0) {
-		free(ce);
+		discard_cache_entry(ce);
 		return error(_("unable to add cache entry for %s"), path);
 	}
 
@@ -4425,27 +4424,26 @@ static int add_conflicted_stages_file(struct apply_state *state,
 				       struct patch *patch)
 {
 	int stage, namelen;
-	unsigned ce_size, mode;
+	unsigned mode;
 	struct cache_entry *ce;
 
 	if (!state->update_index)
 		return 0;
 	namelen = strlen(patch->new_name);
-	ce_size = cache_entry_size(namelen);
 	mode = patch->new_mode ? patch->new_mode : (S_IFREG | 0644);
 
 	remove_file_from_cache(patch->new_name);
 	for (stage = 1; stage < 4; stage++) {
 		if (is_null_oid(&patch->threeway_stage[stage - 1]))
 			continue;
-		ce = xcalloc(1, ce_size);
+		ce = make_empty_cache_entry(&the_index, namelen);
 		memcpy(ce->name, patch->new_name, namelen);
 		ce->ce_mode = create_ce_mode(mode);
 		ce->ce_flags = create_ce_flags(stage);
 		ce->ce_namelen = namelen;
 		oidcpy(&ce->oid, &patch->threeway_stage[stage - 1]);
 		if (add_cache_entry(ce, ADD_CACHE_OK_TO_ADD) < 0) {
-			free(ce);
+			discard_cache_entry(ce);
 			return error(_("unable to add cache entry for %s"),
 				     patch->new_name);
 		}
diff --git a/blame.c b/blame.c
index 4229bcd384..58a7036847 100644
--- a/blame.c
+++ b/blame.c
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ static struct commit *fake_working_tree_commit(struct diff_options *opt,
 	struct strbuf buf = STRBUF_INIT;
 	const char *ident;
 	time_t now;
-	int size, len;
+	int len;
 	struct cache_entry *ce;
 	unsigned mode;
 	struct strbuf msg = STRBUF_INIT;
@@ -274,8 +274,7 @@ static struct commit *fake_working_tree_commit(struct diff_options *opt,
 			/* Let's not bother reading from HEAD tree */
 			mode = S_IFREG | 0644;
 	}
-	size = cache_entry_size(len);
-	ce = xcalloc(1, size);
+	ce = make_empty_cache_entry(&the_index, len);
 	oidcpy(&ce->oid, &origin->blob_oid);
 	memcpy(ce->name, path, len);
 	ce->ce_flags = create_ce_flags(0);
diff --git a/builtin/checkout.c b/builtin/checkout.c
index 923b8cbd82..516136a23a 100644
--- a/builtin/checkout.c
+++ b/builtin/checkout.c
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ static int update_some(const struct object_id *oid, struct strbuf *base,
 		return READ_TREE_RECURSIVE;
 
 	len = base->len + strlen(pathname);
-	ce = xcalloc(1, cache_entry_size(len));
+	ce = make_empty_cache_entry(&the_index, len);
 	oidcpy(&ce->oid, oid);
 	memcpy(ce->name, base->buf, base->len);
 	memcpy(ce->name + base->len, pathname, len - base->len);
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ static int update_some(const struct object_id *oid, struct strbuf *base,
 		if (ce->ce_mode == old->ce_mode &&
 		    !oidcmp(&ce->oid, &old->oid)) {
 			old->ce_flags |= CE_UPDATE;
-			free(ce);
+			discard_cache_entry(ce);
 			return 0;
 		}
 	}
@@ -232,11 +232,11 @@ static int checkout_merged(int pos, const struct checkout *state)
 	if (write_object_file(result_buf.ptr, result_buf.size, blob_type, &oid))
 		die(_("Unable to add merge result for '%s'"), path);
 	free(result_buf.ptr);
-	ce = make_cache_entry(mode, oid.hash, path, 2, 0);
+	ce = make_transient_cache_entry(mode, &oid, path, 2);
 	if (!ce)
 		die(_("make_cache_entry failed for path '%s'"), path);
 	status = checkout_entry(ce, state, NULL);
-	free(ce);
+	discard_cache_entry(ce);
 	return status;
 }
 
diff --git a/builtin/difftool.c b/builtin/difftool.c
index 51f6c9cdb4..3018e61d04 100644
--- a/builtin/difftool.c
+++ b/builtin/difftool.c
@@ -322,10 +322,10 @@ static int checkout_path(unsigned mode, struct object_id *oid,
 	struct cache_entry *ce;
 	int ret;
 
-	ce = make_cache_entry(mode, oid->hash, path, 0, 0);
+	ce = make_transient_cache_entry(mode, oid, path, 0);
 	ret = checkout_entry(ce, state, NULL);
 
-	free(ce);
+	discard_cache_entry(ce);
 	return ret;
 }
 
@@ -489,7 +489,7 @@ static int run_dir_diff(const char *extcmd, int symlinks, const char *prefix,
 				 * index.
 				 */
 				struct cache_entry *ce2 =
-					make_cache_entry(rmode, roid.hash,
+					make_cache_entry(&wtindex, rmode, &roid,
 							 dst_path, 0, 0);
 
 				add_index_entry(&wtindex, ce2,
diff --git a/builtin/reset.c b/builtin/reset.c
index d9871e5b6c..11cd0dcb8c 100644
--- a/builtin/reset.c
+++ b/builtin/reset.c
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ static void update_index_from_diff(struct diff_queue_struct *q,
 			continue;
 		}
 
-		ce = make_cache_entry(one->mode, one->oid.hash, one->path,
+		ce = make_cache_entry(&the_index, one->mode, &one->oid, one->path,
 				      0, 0);
 		if (!ce)
 			die(_("make_cache_entry failed for path '%s'"),
diff --git a/builtin/update-index.c b/builtin/update-index.c
index 3206c5ad45..f5c0b6a1d2 100644
--- a/builtin/update-index.c
+++ b/builtin/update-index.c
@@ -268,15 +268,14 @@ static int process_lstat_error(const char *path, int err)
 
 static int add_one_path(const struct cache_entry *old, const char *path, int len, struct stat *st)
 {
-	int option, size;
+	int option;
 	struct cache_entry *ce;
 
 	/* Was the old index entry already up-to-date? */
 	if (old && !ce_stage(old) && !ce_match_stat(old, st, 0))
 		return 0;
 
-	size = cache_entry_size(len);
-	ce = xcalloc(1, size);
+	ce = make_empty_cache_entry(&the_index, len);
 	memcpy(ce->name, path, len);
 	ce->ce_flags = create_ce_flags(0);
 	ce->ce_namelen = len;
@@ -285,13 +284,13 @@ static int add_one_path(const struct cache_entry *old, const char *path, int len
 
 	if (index_path(&ce->oid, path, st,
 		       info_only ? 0 : HASH_WRITE_OBJECT)) {
-		free(ce);
+		discard_cache_entry(ce);
 		return -1;
 	}
 	option = allow_add ? ADD_CACHE_OK_TO_ADD : 0;
 	option |= allow_replace ? ADD_CACHE_OK_TO_REPLACE : 0;
 	if (add_cache_entry(ce, option)) {
-		free(ce);
+		discard_cache_entry(ce);
 		return error("%s: cannot add to the index - missing --add option?", path);
 	}
 	return 0;
@@ -402,15 +401,14 @@ static int process_path(const char *path, struct stat *st, int stat_errno)
 static int add_cacheinfo(unsigned int mode, const struct object_id *oid,
 			 const char *path, int stage)
 {
-	int size, len, option;
+	int len, option;
 	struct cache_entry *ce;
 
 	if (!verify_path(path, mode))
 		return error("Invalid path '%s'", path);
 
 	len = strlen(path);
-	size = cache_entry_size(len);
-	ce = xcalloc(1, size);
+	ce = make_empty_cache_entry(&the_index, len);
 
 	oidcpy(&ce->oid, oid);
 	memcpy(ce->name, path, len);
@@ -600,7 +598,6 @@ static struct cache_entry *read_one_ent(const char *which,
 {
 	unsigned mode;
 	struct object_id oid;
-	int size;
 	struct cache_entry *ce;
 
 	if (get_tree_entry(ent, path, &oid, &mode)) {
@@ -613,8 +610,7 @@ static struct cache_entry *read_one_ent(const char *which,
 			error("%s: not a blob in %s branch.", path, which);
 		return NULL;
 	}
-	size = cache_entry_size(namelen);
-	ce = xcalloc(1, size);
+	ce = make_empty_cache_entry(&the_index, namelen);
 
 	oidcpy(&ce->oid, &oid);
 	memcpy(ce->name, path, namelen);
@@ -691,8 +687,8 @@ static int unresolve_one(const char *path)
 	error("%s: cannot add their version to the index.", path);
 	ret = -1;
  free_return:
-	free(ce_2);
-	free(ce_3);
+	discard_cache_entry(ce_2);
+	discard_cache_entry(ce_3);
 	return ret;
 }
 
@@ -759,7 +755,7 @@ static int do_reupdate(int ac, const char **av,
 					   ce->name, ce_namelen(ce), 0);
 		if (old && ce->ce_mode == old->ce_mode &&
 		    !oidcmp(&ce->oid, &old->oid)) {
-			free(old);
+			discard_cache_entry(old);
 			continue; /* unchanged */
 		}
 		/* Be careful.  The working tree may not have the
@@ -770,7 +766,7 @@ static int do_reupdate(int ac, const char **av,
 		path = xstrdup(ce->name);
 		update_one(path);
 		free(path);
-		free(old);
+		discard_cache_entry(old);
 		if (save_nr != active_nr)
 			goto redo;
 	}
diff --git a/cache.h b/cache.h
index ebfe59d01c..05388e597b 100644
--- a/cache.h
+++ b/cache.h
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 #include "path.h"
 #include "sha1-array.h"
 #include "repository.h"
+#include "mem-pool.h"
 
 #include <zlib.h>
 typedef struct git_zstream {
@@ -156,6 +157,7 @@ struct cache_entry {
 	struct stat_data ce_stat_data;
 	unsigned int ce_mode;
 	unsigned int ce_flags;
+	unsigned int mem_pool_allocated;
 	unsigned int ce_namelen;
 	unsigned int index;	/* for link extension */
 	struct object_id oid;
@@ -227,6 +229,7 @@ static inline void copy_cache_entry(struct cache_entry *dst,
 				    const struct cache_entry *src)
 {
 	unsigned int state = dst->ce_flags & CE_HASHED;
+	int mem_pool_allocated = dst->mem_pool_allocated;
 
 	/* Don't copy hash chain and name */
 	memcpy(&dst->ce_stat_data, &src->ce_stat_data,
@@ -235,6 +238,9 @@ static inline void copy_cache_entry(struct cache_entry *dst,
 
 	/* Restore the hash state */
 	dst->ce_flags = (dst->ce_flags & ~CE_HASHED) | state;
+
+	/* Restore the mem_pool_allocated flag */
+	dst->mem_pool_allocated = mem_pool_allocated;
 }
 
 static inline unsigned create_ce_flags(unsigned stage)
@@ -328,6 +334,7 @@ struct index_state {
 	struct untracked_cache *untracked;
 	uint64_t fsmonitor_last_update;
 	struct ewah_bitmap *fsmonitor_dirty;
+	struct mem_pool *ce_mem_pool;
 };
 
 extern struct index_state the_index;
@@ -339,6 +346,60 @@ extern void remove_name_hash(struct index_state *istate, struct cache_entry *ce)
 extern void free_name_hash(struct index_state *istate);
 
 
+/* Cache entry creation and cleanup */
+
+/*
+ * Create cache_entry intended for use in the specified index. Caller
+ * is responsible for discarding the cache_entry with
+ * `discard_cache_entry`.
+ */
+struct cache_entry *make_cache_entry(struct index_state *istate,
+				     unsigned int mode,
+				     const struct object_id *oid,
+				     const char *path,
+				     int stage,
+				     unsigned int refresh_options);
+
+struct cache_entry *make_empty_cache_entry(struct index_state *istate,
+					   size_t name_len);
+
+/*
+ * Create a cache_entry that is not intended to be added to an index.
+ * Caller is responsible for discarding the cache_entry
+ * with `discard_cache_entry`.
+ */
+struct cache_entry *make_transient_cache_entry(unsigned int mode,
+					       const struct object_id *oid,
+					       const char *path,
+					       int stage);
+
+struct cache_entry *make_empty_transient_cache_entry(size_t name_len);
+
+/*
+ * Discard cache entry.
+ */
+void discard_cache_entry(struct cache_entry *ce);
+
+/*
+ * Check configuration if we should perform extra validation on cache
+ * entries.
+ */
+int should_validate_cache_entries(void);
+
+/*
+ * Duplicate a cache_entry. Allocate memory for the new entry from a
+ * memory_pool. Takes into account cache_entry fields that are meant
+ * for managing the underlying memory allocation of the cache_entry.
+ */
+struct cache_entry *dup_cache_entry(const struct cache_entry *ce, struct index_state *istate);
+
+/*
+ * Validate the cache entries in the index.  This is an internal
+ * consistency check that the cache_entry structs are allocated from
+ * the expected memory pool.
+ */
+void validate_cache_entries(const struct index_state *istate);
+
 #ifndef NO_THE_INDEX_COMPATIBILITY_MACROS
 #define active_cache (the_index.cache)
 #define active_nr (the_index.cache_nr)
@@ -698,7 +759,6 @@ extern int remove_file_from_index(struct index_state *, const char *path);
 extern int add_to_index(struct index_state *, const char *path, struct stat *, int flags);
 extern int add_file_to_index(struct index_state *, const char *path, int flags);
 
-extern struct cache_entry *make_cache_entry(unsigned int mode, const unsigned char *sha1, const char *path, int stage, unsigned int refresh_options);
 extern int chmod_index_entry(struct index_state *, struct cache_entry *ce, char flip);
 extern int ce_same_name(const struct cache_entry *a, const struct cache_entry *b);
 extern void set_object_name_for_intent_to_add_entry(struct cache_entry *ce);
@@ -751,7 +811,7 @@ extern void fill_stat_cache_info(struct cache_entry *ce, struct stat *st);
 #define REFRESH_IGNORE_SUBMODULES	0x0010	/* ignore submodules */
 #define REFRESH_IN_PORCELAIN	0x0020	/* user friendly output, not "needs update" */
 extern int refresh_index(struct index_state *, unsigned int flags, const struct pathspec *pathspec, char *seen, const char *header_msg);
-extern struct cache_entry *refresh_cache_entry(struct cache_entry *, unsigned int);
+extern struct cache_entry *refresh_cache_entry(struct index_state *, struct cache_entry *, unsigned int);
 
 /*
  * Opportunistically update the index but do not complain if we can't.
diff --git a/git.c b/git.c
index 3fded74519..fc7d15d549 100644
--- a/git.c
+++ b/git.c
@@ -414,7 +414,10 @@ static int run_builtin(struct cmd_struct *p, int argc, const char **argv)
 
 	trace_argv_printf(argv, "trace: built-in: git");
 
+	validate_cache_entries(&the_index);
 	status = p->fn(argc, argv, prefix);
+	validate_cache_entries(&the_index);
+
 	if (status)
 		return status;
 
diff --git a/mem-pool.c b/mem-pool.c
index 389d7af447..a2841a4a9a 100644
--- a/mem-pool.c
+++ b/mem-pool.c
@@ -5,40 +5,88 @@
 #include "cache.h"
 #include "mem-pool.h"
 
-static struct mp_block *mem_pool_alloc_block(struct mem_pool *mem_pool, size_t block_alloc)
+#define BLOCK_GROWTH_SIZE 1024*1024 - sizeof(struct mp_block);
+
+/*
+ * Allocate a new mp_block and insert it after the block specified in
+ * `insert_after`. If `insert_after` is NULL, then insert block at the
+ * head of the linked list.
+ */
+static struct mp_block *mem_pool_alloc_block(struct mem_pool *mem_pool, size_t block_alloc, struct mp_block *insert_after)
 {
 	struct mp_block *p;
 
 	mem_pool->pool_alloc += sizeof(struct mp_block) + block_alloc;
 	p = xmalloc(st_add(sizeof(struct mp_block), block_alloc));
-	p->next_block = mem_pool->mp_block;
+
 	p->next_free = (char *)p->space;
 	p->end = p->next_free + block_alloc;
-	mem_pool->mp_block = p;
+
+	if (insert_after) {
+		p->next_block = insert_after->next_block;
+		insert_after->next_block = p;
+	} else {
+		p->next_block = mem_pool->mp_block;
+		mem_pool->mp_block = p;
+	}
 
 	return p;
 }
 
+void mem_pool_init(struct mem_pool **mem_pool, size_t initial_size)
+{
+	struct mem_pool *pool;
+
+	if (*mem_pool)
+		return;
+
+	pool = xcalloc(1, sizeof(*pool));
+
+	pool->block_alloc = BLOCK_GROWTH_SIZE;
+
+	if (initial_size > 0)
+		mem_pool_alloc_block(pool, initial_size, NULL);
+
+	*mem_pool = pool;
+}
+
+void mem_pool_discard(struct mem_pool *mem_pool, int invalidate_memory)
+{
+	struct mp_block *block, *block_to_free;
+
+	block = mem_pool->mp_block;
+	while (block)
+	{
+		block_to_free = block;
+		block = block->next_block;
+
+		if (invalidate_memory)
+			memset(block_to_free->space, 0xDD, ((char *)block_to_free->end) - ((char *)block_to_free->space));
+
+		free(block_to_free);
+	}
+
+	free(mem_pool);
+}
+
 void *mem_pool_alloc(struct mem_pool *mem_pool, size_t len)
 {
-	struct mp_block *p;
+	struct mp_block *p = NULL;
 	void *r;
 
 	/* round up to a 'uintmax_t' alignment */
 	if (len & (sizeof(uintmax_t) - 1))
 		len += sizeof(uintmax_t) - (len & (sizeof(uintmax_t) - 1));
 
-	for (p = mem_pool->mp_block; p; p = p->next_block)
-		if (p->end - p->next_free >= len)
-			break;
+	if (mem_pool->mp_block &&
+	    mem_pool->mp_block->end - mem_pool->mp_block->next_free >= len)
+		p = mem_pool->mp_block;
 
 	if (!p) {
-		if (len >= (mem_pool->block_alloc / 2)) {
-			mem_pool->pool_alloc += len;
-			return xmalloc(len);
-		}
+		if (len >= (mem_pool->block_alloc / 2))
+			return mem_pool_alloc_block(mem_pool, len, mem_pool->mp_block);
 
-		p = mem_pool_alloc_block(mem_pool, mem_pool->block_alloc);
+		p = mem_pool_alloc_block(mem_pool, mem_pool->block_alloc, NULL);
 	}
 
 	r = p->next_free;
@@ -53,3 +101,45 @@ void *mem_pool_calloc(struct mem_pool *mem_pool, size_t count, size_t size)
 	memset(r, 0, len);
 	return r;
 }
+
+int mem_pool_contains(struct mem_pool *mem_pool, void *mem)
+{
+	struct mp_block *p;
+
+	/* Check if memory is allocated in a block */
+	for (p = mem_pool->mp_block; p; p = p->next_block)
+		if ((mem >= ((void *)p->space)) &&
+		    (mem < ((void *)p->end)))
+			return 1;
+
+	return 0;
+}
+
+void mem_pool_combine(struct mem_pool *dst, struct mem_pool *src)
+{
+	struct mp_block *p;
+
+	/* Append the blocks from src to dst */
+	if (dst->mp_block && src->mp_block) {
+		/*
+		 * src and dst have blocks, append
+		 * blocks from src to dst.
+		 */
+		p = dst->mp_block;
+		while (p->next_block)
+			p = p->next_block;
+
+		p->next_block = src->mp_block;
+	} else if (src->mp_block) {
+		/*
+		 * src has blocks, dst is empty.
+		 */
+		dst->mp_block = src->mp_block;
+	} else {
+		/* src is empty, nothing to do. */
+	}
+
+	dst->pool_alloc += src->pool_alloc;
+	src->pool_alloc = 0;
+	src->mp_block = NULL;
+}
diff --git a/mem-pool.h b/mem-pool.h
index 829ad58ecf..999d3c3a52 100644
--- a/mem-pool.h
+++ b/mem-pool.h
@@ -21,6 +21,16 @@ struct mem_pool {
 	size_t pool_alloc;
 };
 
+/*
+ * Initialize mem_pool with specified initial size.
+ */
+void mem_pool_init(struct mem_pool **mem_pool, size_t initial_size);
+
+/*
+ * Discard a memory pool and free all the memory it is responsible for.
+ */
+void mem_pool_discard(struct mem_pool *mem_pool, int invalidate_memory);
+
 /*
  * Alloc memory from the mem_pool.
  */
@@ -31,4 +41,17 @@ void *mem_pool_alloc(struct mem_pool *pool, size_t len);
  */
 void *mem_pool_calloc(struct mem_pool *pool, size_t count, size_t size);
 
+/*
+ * Move the memory associated with the 'src' pool to the 'dst' pool. The 'src'
+ * pool will be empty and not contain any memory. It still needs to be free'd
+ * with a call to `mem_pool_discard`.
+ */
+void mem_pool_combine(struct mem_pool *dst, struct mem_pool *src);
+
+/*
+ * Check if a memory pointed at by 'mem' is part of the range of
+ * memory managed by the specified mem_pool.
+ */
+int mem_pool_contains(struct mem_pool *mem_pool, void *mem);
+
 #endif
diff --git a/merge-recursive.c b/merge-recursive.c
index 3d6b34b4f7..07d792fd10 100644
--- a/merge-recursive.c
+++ b/merge-recursive.c
@@ -320,7 +320,7 @@ static int add_cacheinfo(struct merge_options *o,
 	struct cache_entry *ce;
 	int ret;
 
-	ce = make_cache_entry(mode, oid ? oid->hash : null_sha1, path, stage, 0);
+	ce = make_cache_entry(&the_index, mode, oid ? oid : &null_oid, path, stage, 0);
 	if (!ce)
 		return err(o, _("add_cacheinfo failed for path '%s'; merge aborting."), path);
 
@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@ static int add_cacheinfo(struct merge_options *o,
 	if (refresh) {
 		struct cache_entry *nce;
 
-		nce = refresh_cache_entry(ce, CE_MATCH_REFRESH | CE_MATCH_IGNORE_MISSING);
+		nce = refresh_cache_entry(&the_index, ce, CE_MATCH_REFRESH | CE_MATCH_IGNORE_MISSING);
 		if (!nce)
 			return err(o, _("add_cacheinfo failed to refresh for path '%s'; merge aborting."), path);
 		if (nce != ce)
diff --git a/read-cache.c b/read-cache.c
index e865254bea..56eac50836 100644
--- a/read-cache.c
+++ b/read-cache.c
@@ -47,6 +47,48 @@
 		 CE_ENTRY_ADDED | CE_ENTRY_REMOVED | CE_ENTRY_CHANGED | \
 		 SPLIT_INDEX_ORDERED | UNTRACKED_CHANGED | FSMONITOR_CHANGED)
 
+
+/*
+ * This is an estimate of the pathname length in the index.  We use
+ * this for V4 index files to guess the un-deltafied size of the index
+ * in memory because of pathname deltafication.  This is not required
+ * for V2/V3 index formats because their pathnames are not compressed.
+ * If the initial amount of memory set aside is not sufficient, the
+ * mem pool will allocate extra memory.
+ */
+#define CACHE_ENTRY_PATH_LENGTH 80
+
+static inline struct cache_entry *mem_pool__ce_alloc(struct mem_pool *mem_pool, size_t len)
+{
+	struct cache_entry *ce;
+	ce = mem_pool_alloc(mem_pool, cache_entry_size(len));
+	ce->mem_pool_allocated = 1;
+	return ce;
+}
+
+static inline struct cache_entry *mem_pool__ce_calloc(struct mem_pool *mem_pool, size_t len)
+{
+	struct cache_entry * ce;
+	ce = mem_pool_calloc(mem_pool, 1, cache_entry_size(len));
+	ce->mem_pool_allocated = 1;
+	return ce;
+}
+
+static struct mem_pool *find_mem_pool(struct index_state *istate)
+{
+	struct mem_pool **pool_ptr;
+
+	if (istate->split_index && istate->split_index->base)
+		pool_ptr = &istate->split_index->base->ce_mem_pool;
+	else
+		pool_ptr = &istate->ce_mem_pool;
+
+	if (!*pool_ptr)
+		mem_pool_init(pool_ptr, 0);
+
+	return *pool_ptr;
+}
+
 struct index_state the_index;
 static const char *alternate_index_output;
 
@@ -62,7 +104,7 @@ static void replace_index_entry(struct index_state *istate, int nr, struct cache
 
 	replace_index_entry_in_base(istate, old, ce);
 	remove_name_hash(istate, old);
-	free(old);
+	discard_cache_entry(old);
 	ce->ce_flags &= ~CE_HASHED;
 	set_index_entry(istate, nr, ce);
 	ce->ce_flags |= CE_UPDATE_IN_BASE;
@@ -75,7 +117,7 @@ void rename_index_entry_at(struct index_state *istate, int nr, const char *new_n
 	struct cache_entry *old_entry = istate->cache[nr], *new_entry;
 	int namelen = strlen(new_name);
 
-	new_entry = xmalloc(cache_entry_size(namelen));
+	new_entry = make_empty_cache_entry(istate, namelen);
 	copy_cache_entry(new_entry, old_entry);
 	new_entry->ce_flags &= ~CE_HASHED;
 	new_entry->ce_namelen = namelen;
@@ -624,7 +666,7 @@ static struct cache_entry *create_alias_ce(struct index_state *istate,
 
 	/* Ok, create the new entry using the name of the existing alias */
 	len = ce_namelen(alias);
-	new_entry = xcalloc(1, cache_entry_size(len));
+	new_entry = make_empty_cache_entry(istate, len);
 	memcpy(new_entry->name, alias->name, len);
 	copy_cache_entry(new_entry, ce);
 	save_or_free_index_entry(istate, ce);
@@ -641,7 +683,7 @@ void set_object_name_for_intent_to_add_entry(struct cache_entry *ce)
 
 int add_to_index(struct index_state *istate, const char *path, struct stat *st, int flags)
 {
-	int size, namelen, was_same;
+	int namelen, was_same;
 	mode_t st_mode = st->st_mode;
 	struct cache_entry *ce, *alias = NULL;
 	unsigned ce_option = CE_MATCH_IGNORE_VALID|CE_MATCH_IGNORE_SKIP_WORKTREE|CE_MATCH_RACY_IS_DIRTY;
@@ -663,8 +705,7 @@ int add_to_index(struct index_state *istate, const char *path, struct stat *st,
 		while (namelen && path[namelen-1] == '/')
 			namelen--;
 	}
-	size = cache_entry_size(namelen);
-	ce = xcalloc(1, size);
+	ce = make_empty_cache_entry(istate, namelen);
 	memcpy(ce->name, path, namelen);
 	ce->ce_namelen = namelen;
 	if (!intent_only)
@@ -705,13 +746,13 @@ int add_to_index(struct index_state *istate, const char *path, struct stat *st,
 				ce_mark_uptodate(alias);
 			alias->ce_flags |= CE_ADDED;
 
-			free(ce);
+			discard_cache_entry(ce);
 			return 0;
 		}
 	}
 	if (!intent_only) {
 		if (index_path(&ce->oid, path, st, newflags)) {
-			free(ce);
+			discard_cache_entry(ce);
 			return error("unable to index file %s", path);
 		}
 	} else
@@ -728,9 +769,9 @@ int add_to_index(struct index_state *istate, const char *path, struct stat *st,
 		    ce->ce_mode == alias->ce_mode);
 
 	if (pretend)
-		free(ce);
+		discard_cache_entry(ce);
 	else if (add_index_entry(istate, ce, add_option)) {
-		free(ce);
+		discard_cache_entry(ce);
 		return error("unable to add %s to index", path);
 	}
 	if (verbose && !was_same)
@@ -746,12 +787,25 @@ int add_file_to_index(struct index_state *istate, const char *path, int flags)
 	return add_to_index(istate, path, &st, flags);
 }
 
-struct cache_entry *make_cache_entry(unsigned int mode,
-		const unsigned char *sha1, const char *path, int stage,
-		unsigned int refresh_options)
+struct cache_entry *make_empty_cache_entry(struct index_state *istate, size_t len)
+{
+	return mem_pool__ce_calloc(find_mem_pool(istate), len);
+}
+
+struct cache_entry *make_empty_transient_cache_entry(size_t len)
+{
+	return xcalloc(1, cache_entry_size(len));
+}
+
+struct cache_entry *make_cache_entry(struct index_state *istate,
+				     unsigned int mode,
+				     const struct object_id *oid,
+				     const char *path,
+				     int stage,
+				     unsigned int refresh_options)
 {
-	int size, len;
 	struct cache_entry *ce, *ret;
+	int len;
 
 	if (!verify_path(path, mode)) {
 		error("Invalid path '%s'", path);
@@ -759,21 +813,43 @@ struct cache_entry *make_cache_entry(unsigned int mode,
 	}
 
 	len = strlen(path);
-	size = cache_entry_size(len);
-	ce = xcalloc(1, size);
+	ce = make_empty_cache_entry(istate, len);
 
-	hashcpy(ce->oid.hash, sha1);
+	oidcpy(&ce->oid, oid);
 	memcpy(ce->name, path, len);
 	ce->ce_flags = create_ce_flags(stage);
 	ce->ce_namelen = len;
 	ce->ce_mode = create_ce_mode(mode);
 
-	ret = refresh_cache_entry(ce, refresh_options);
+	ret = refresh_cache_entry(&the_index, ce, refresh_options);
 	if (ret != ce)
-		free(ce);
+		discard_cache_entry(ce);
 	return ret;
 }
 
+struct cache_entry *make_transient_cache_entry(unsigned int mode, const struct object_id *oid,
+					       const char *path, int stage)
+{
+	struct cache_entry *ce;
+	int len;
+
+	if (!verify_path(path, mode)) {
+		error("Invalid path '%s'", path);
+		return NULL;
+	}
+
+	len = strlen(path);
+	ce = make_empty_transient_cache_entry(len);
+
+	oidcpy(&ce->oid, oid);
+	memcpy(ce->name, path, len);
+	ce->ce_flags = create_ce_flags(stage);
+	ce->ce_namelen = len;
+	ce->ce_mode = create_ce_mode(mode);
+
+	return ce;
+}
+
 /*
  * Chmod an index entry with either +x or -x.
  *
@@ -1269,7 +1345,7 @@ static struct cache_entry *refresh_cache_ent(struct index_state *istate,
 {
 	struct stat st;
 	struct cache_entry *updated;
-	int changed, size;
+	int changed;
 	int refresh = options & CE_MATCH_REFRESH;
 	int ignore_valid = options & CE_MATCH_IGNORE_VALID;
 	int ignore_skip_worktree = options & CE_MATCH_IGNORE_SKIP_WORKTREE;
@@ -1349,8 +1425,7 @@ static struct cache_entry *refresh_cache_ent(struct index_state *istate,
 		return NULL;
 	}
 
-	size = ce_size(ce);
-	updated = xmalloc(size);
+	updated = make_empty_cache_entry(istate, ce_namelen(ce));
 	copy_cache_entry(updated, ce);
 	memcpy(updated->name, ce->name, ce->ce_namelen + 1);
 	fill_stat_cache_info(updated, &st);
@@ -1474,10 +1549,11 @@ int refresh_index(struct index_state *istate, unsigned int flags,
 	return has_errors;
 }
 
-struct cache_entry *refresh_cache_entry(struct cache_entry *ce,
-					       unsigned int options)
+struct cache_entry *refresh_cache_entry(struct index_state *istate,
+					struct cache_entry *ce,
+					unsigned int options)
 {
-	return refresh_cache_ent(&the_index, ce, options, NULL, NULL);
+	return refresh_cache_ent(istate, ce, options, NULL, NULL);
 }
 
 
@@ -1635,12 +1711,13 @@ int read_index(struct index_state *istate)
 	return read_index_from(istate, get_index_file(), get_git_dir());
 }
 
-static struct cache_entry *cache_entry_from_ondisk(struct ondisk_cache_entry *ondisk,
+static struct cache_entry *cache_entry_from_ondisk(struct mem_pool *mem_pool,
+						   struct ondisk_cache_entry *ondisk,
 						   unsigned int flags,
 						   const char *name,
 						   size_t len)
 {
-	struct cache_entry *ce = xmalloc(cache_entry_size(len));
+	struct cache_entry *ce = mem_pool__ce_alloc(mem_pool, len);
 
 	ce->ce_stat_data.sd_ctime.sec = get_be32(&ondisk->ctime.sec);
 	ce->ce_stat_data.sd_mtime.sec = get_be32(&ondisk->mtime.sec);
@@ -1682,7 +1759,8 @@ static unsigned long expand_name_field(struct strbuf *name, const char *cp_)
 	return (const char *)ep + 1 - cp_;
 }
 
-static struct cache_entry *create_from_disk(struct ondisk_cache_entry *ondisk,
+static struct cache_entry *create_from_disk(struct mem_pool *mem_pool,
+					    struct ondisk_cache_entry *ondisk,
 					    unsigned long *ent_size,
 					    struct strbuf *previous_name)
 {
@@ -1713,13 +1791,13 @@ static struct cache_entry *create_from_disk(struct ondisk_cache_entry *ondisk,
 		/* v3 and earlier */
 		if (len == CE_NAMEMASK)
 			len = strlen(name);
-		ce = cache_entry_from_ondisk(ondisk, flags, name, len);
+		ce = cache_entry_from_ondisk(mem_pool, ondisk, flags, name, len);
 
 		*ent_size = ondisk_ce_size(ce);
 	} else {
 		unsigned long consumed;
 		consumed = expand_name_field(previous_name, name);
-		ce = cache_entry_from_ondisk(ondisk, flags,
+		ce = cache_entry_from_ondisk(mem_pool, ondisk, flags,
 					     previous_name->buf,
 					     previous_name->len);
 
@@ -1793,6 +1871,22 @@ static void post_read_index_from(struct index_state *istate)
 	tweak_fsmonitor(istate);
 }
 
+static size_t estimate_cache_size_from_compressed(unsigned int entries)
+{
+	return entries * (sizeof(struct cache_entry) + CACHE_ENTRY_PATH_LENGTH);
+}
+
+static size_t estimate_cache_size(size_t ondisk_size, unsigned int entries)
+{
+	long per_entry = sizeof(struct cache_entry) - sizeof(struct ondisk_cache_entry);
+
+	/*
+	 * Account for potential alignment differences.
+	 */
+	per_entry += align_padding_size(sizeof(struct cache_entry), -sizeof(struct ondisk_cache_entry));
+	return ondisk_size + entries * per_entry;
+}
+
 /* remember to discard_cache() before reading a different cache! */
 int do_read_index(struct index_state *istate, const char *path, int must_exist)
 {
@@ -1839,10 +1933,15 @@ int do_read_index(struct index_state *istate, const char *path, int must_exist)
 	istate->cache = xcalloc(istate->cache_alloc, sizeof(*istate->cache));
 	istate->initialized = 1;
 
-	if (istate->version == 4)
+	if (istate->version == 4) {
 		previous_name = &previous_name_buf;
-	else
+		mem_pool_init(&istate->ce_mem_pool,
+			      estimate_cache_size_from_compressed(istate->cache_nr));
+	} else {
 		previous_name = NULL;
+		mem_pool_init(&istate->ce_mem_pool,
+			      estimate_cache_size(mmap_size, istate->cache_nr));
+	}
 
 	src_offset = sizeof(*hdr);
 	for (i = 0; i < istate->cache_nr; i++) {
@@ -1851,7 +1950,7 @@ int do_read_index(struct index_state *istate, const char *path, int must_exist)
 		unsigned long consumed;
 
 		disk_ce = (struct ondisk_cache_entry *)((char *)mmap + src_offset);
-		ce = create_from_disk(disk_ce, &consumed, previous_name);
+		ce = create_from_disk(istate->ce_mem_pool, disk_ce, &consumed, previous_name);
 		set_index_entry(istate, i, ce);
 
 		src_offset += consumed;
@@ -1948,17 +2047,15 @@ int is_index_unborn(struct index_state *istate)
 
 int discard_index(struct index_state *istate)
 {
-	int i;
+	/*
+	 * Cache entries in istate->cache[] should have been allocated
+	 * from the memory pool associated with this index, or from an
+	 * associated split_index. There is no need to free individual
+	 * cache entries. validate_cache_entries can detect when this
+	 * assertion does not hold.
+	 */
+	validate_cache_entries(istate);
 
-	for (i = 0; i < istate->cache_nr; i++) {
-		if (istate->cache[i]->index &&
-		    istate->split_index &&
-		    istate->split_index->base &&
-		    istate->cache[i]->index <= istate->split_index->base->cache_nr &&
-		    istate->cache[i] == istate->split_index->base->cache[istate->cache[i]->index - 1])
-			continue;
-		free(istate->cache[i]);
-	}
 	resolve_undo_clear_index(istate);
 	istate->cache_nr = 0;
 	istate->cache_changed = 0;
@@ -1972,9 +2069,47 @@ int discard_index(struct index_state *istate)
 	discard_split_index(istate);
 	free_untracked_cache(istate->untracked);
 	istate->untracked = NULL;
+
+	if (istate->ce_mem_pool) {
+		mem_pool_discard(istate->ce_mem_pool, should_validate_cache_entries());
+		istate->ce_mem_pool = NULL;
+	}
+
 	return 0;
 }
 
+/*
+ * Validate the cache entries of this index.
+ * All cache entries associated with this index
+ * should have been allocated by the memory pool
+ * associated with this index, or by a referenced
+ * split index.
+ */
+void validate_cache_entries(const struct index_state *istate)
+{
+	int i;
+
+	if (!should_validate_cache_entries() ||!istate || !istate->initialized)
+		return;
+
+	for (i = 0; i < istate->cache_nr; i++) {
+		if (!istate) {
+			die("internal error: cache entry is not allocated from expected memory pool");
+		} else if (!istate->ce_mem_pool ||
+			!mem_pool_contains(istate->ce_mem_pool, istate->cache[i])) {
+			if (!istate->split_index ||
+				!istate->split_index->base ||
+				!istate->split_index->base->ce_mem_pool ||
+				!mem_pool_contains(istate->split_index->base->ce_mem_pool, istate->cache[i])) {
+				die("internal error: cache entry is not allocated from expected memory pool");
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	if (istate->split_index)
+		validate_cache_entries(istate->split_index->base);
+}
+
 int unmerged_index(const struct index_state *istate)
 {
 	int i;
@@ -2647,14 +2782,13 @@ int read_index_unmerged(struct index_state *istate)
 	for (i = 0; i < istate->cache_nr; i++) {
 		struct cache_entry *ce = istate->cache[i];
 		struct cache_entry *new_ce;
-		int size, len;
+		int len;
 
 		if (!ce_stage(ce))
 			continue;
 		unmerged = 1;
 		len = ce_namelen(ce);
-		size = cache_entry_size(len);
-		new_ce = xcalloc(1, size);
+		new_ce = make_empty_cache_entry(istate, len);
 		memcpy(new_ce->name, ce->name, len);
 		new_ce->ce_flags = create_ce_flags(0) | CE_CONFLICTED;
 		new_ce->ce_namelen = len;
@@ -2763,3 +2897,41 @@ void move_index_extensions(struct index_state *dst, struct index_state *src)
 	dst->untracked = src->untracked;
 	src->untracked = NULL;
 }
+
+struct cache_entry *dup_cache_entry(const struct cache_entry *ce,
+				    struct index_state *istate)
+{
+	unsigned int size = ce_size(ce);
+	int mem_pool_allocated;
+	struct cache_entry *new_entry = make_empty_cache_entry(istate, ce_namelen(ce));
+	mem_pool_allocated = new_entry->mem_pool_allocated;
+
+	memcpy(new_entry, ce, size);
+	new_entry->mem_pool_allocated = mem_pool_allocated;
+	return new_entry;
+}
+
+void discard_cache_entry(struct cache_entry *ce)
+{
+	if (ce && should_validate_cache_entries())
+		memset(ce, 0xCD, cache_entry_size(ce->ce_namelen));
+
+	if (ce && ce->mem_pool_allocated)
+		return;
+
+	free(ce);
+}
+
+int should_validate_cache_entries(void)
+{
+	static int validate_index_cache_entries = -1;
+
+	if (validate_index_cache_entries < 0) {
+		if (getenv("GIT_TEST_VALIDATE_INDEX_CACHE_ENTRIES"))
+			validate_index_cache_entries = 1;
+		else
+			validate_index_cache_entries = 0;
+	}
+
+	return validate_index_cache_entries;
+}
diff --git a/resolve-undo.c b/resolve-undo.c
index fc5b3b83d9..c30ae5cf49 100644
--- a/resolve-undo.c
+++ b/resolve-undo.c
@@ -146,7 +146,9 @@ int unmerge_index_entry_at(struct index_state *istate, int pos)
 		struct cache_entry *nce;
 		if (!ru->mode[i])
 			continue;
-		nce = make_cache_entry(ru->mode[i], ru->oid[i].hash,
+		nce = make_cache_entry(istate,
+				       ru->mode[i],
+				       &ru->oid[i],
 				       name, i + 1, 0);
 		if (matched)
 			nce->ce_flags |= CE_MATCHED;
diff --git a/split-index.c b/split-index.c
index 660c75f31f..84f067e10d 100644
--- a/split-index.c
+++ b/split-index.c
@@ -73,16 +73,31 @@ void move_cache_to_base_index(struct index_state *istate)
 	int i;
 
 	/*
-	 * do not delete old si->base, its index entries may be shared
-	 * with istate->cache[]. Accept a bit of leaking here because
-	 * this code is only used by short-lived update-index.
+	 * If there was a previous base index, then transfer ownership of allocated
+	 * entries to the parent index.
 	 */
+	if (si->base &&
+		si->base->ce_mem_pool) {
+
+		if (!istate->ce_mem_pool)
+			mem_pool_init(&istate->ce_mem_pool, 0);
+
+		mem_pool_combine(istate->ce_mem_pool, istate->split_index->base->ce_mem_pool);
+	}
+
 	si->base = xcalloc(1, sizeof(*si->base));
 	si->base->version = istate->version;
 	/* zero timestamp disables racy test in ce_write_index() */
 	si->base->timestamp = istate->timestamp;
 	ALLOC_GROW(si->base->cache, istate->cache_nr, si->base->cache_alloc);
 	si->base->cache_nr = istate->cache_nr;
+
+	/*
+	 * The mem_pool needs to move with the allocated entries.
+	 */
+	si->base->ce_mem_pool = istate->ce_mem_pool;
+	istate->ce_mem_pool = NULL;
+
 	COPY_ARRAY(si->base->cache, istate->cache, istate->cache_nr);
 	mark_base_index_entries(si->base);
 	for (i = 0; i < si->base->cache_nr; i++)
@@ -123,7 +138,7 @@ static void replace_entry(size_t pos, void *data)
 	src->ce_flags |= CE_UPDATE_IN_BASE;
 	src->ce_namelen = dst->ce_namelen;
 	copy_cache_entry(dst, src);
-	free(src);
+	discard_cache_entry(src);
 	si->nr_replacements++;
 }
 
@@ -224,7 +239,7 @@ void prepare_to_write_split_index(struct index_state *istate)
 			base->ce_flags = base_flags;
 			if (ret)
 				ce->ce_flags |= CE_UPDATE_IN_BASE;
-			free(base);
+			discard_cache_entry(base);
 			si->base->cache[ce->index - 1] = ce;
 		}
 		for (i = 0; i < si->base->cache_nr; i++) {
@@ -301,7 +316,7 @@ void save_or_free_index_entry(struct index_state *istate, struct cache_entry *ce
 	    ce == istate->split_index->base->cache[ce->index - 1])
 		ce->ce_flags |= CE_REMOVE;
 	else
-		free(ce);
+		discard_cache_entry(ce);
 }
 
 void replace_index_entry_in_base(struct index_state *istate,
@@ -314,7 +329,7 @@ void replace_index_entry_in_base(struct index_state *istate,
 	    old_entry->index <= istate->split_index->base->cache_nr) {
 		new_entry->index = old_entry->index;
 		if (old_entry != istate->split_index->base->cache[new_entry->index - 1])
-			free(istate->split_index->base->cache[new_entry->index - 1]);
+			discard_cache_entry(istate->split_index->base->cache[new_entry->index - 1]);
 		istate->split_index->base->cache[new_entry->index - 1] = new_entry;
 	}
 }
@@ -331,12 +346,31 @@ void remove_split_index(struct index_state *istate)
 {
 	if (istate->split_index) {
 		/*
-		 * can't discard_split_index(&the_index); because that
-		 * will destroy split_index->base->cache[], which may
-		 * be shared with the_index.cache[]. So yeah we're
-		 * leaking a bit here.
+		 * When removing the split index, we need to move
+		 * ownership of the mem_pool associated with the
+		 * base index to the main index. There may be cache entries
+		 * allocated from the base's memory pool that are shared with
+		 * the_index.cache[].
 		 */
-		istate->split_index = NULL;
+		mem_pool_combine(istate->ce_mem_pool, istate->split_index->base->ce_mem_pool);
+
+		/*
+		 * The split index no longer owns the mem_pool backing
+		 * its cache array. As we are discarding this index,
+		 * mark the index as having no cache entries, so it
+		 * will not attempt to clean up the cache entries or
+		 * validate them.
+		 */
+		if (istate->split_index->base)
+			istate->split_index->base->cache_nr = 0;
+
+		/*
+		 * We can discard the split index because its
+		 * memory pool has been incorporated into the
+		 * memory pool associated with the the_index.
+		 */
+		discard_split_index(istate);
+
 		istate->cache_changed |= SOMETHING_CHANGED;
 	}
 }
diff --git a/tree.c b/tree.c
index 78d440a9c8..215d3fdc7c 100644
--- a/tree.c
+++ b/tree.c
@@ -19,15 +19,13 @@ static int read_one_entry_opt(struct index_state *istate,
 			      unsigned mode, int stage, int opt)
 {
 	int len;
-	unsigned int size;
 	struct cache_entry *ce;
 
 	if (S_ISDIR(mode))
 		return READ_TREE_RECURSIVE;
 
 	len = strlen(pathname);
-	size = cache_entry_size(baselen + len);
-	ce = xcalloc(1, size);
+	ce = make_empty_cache_entry(istate, baselen + len);
 
 	ce->ce_mode = create_ce_mode(mode);
 	ce->ce_flags = create_ce_flags(stage);
diff --git a/unpack-trees.c b/unpack-trees.c
index cd0680f11e..f9efee0836 100644
--- a/unpack-trees.c
+++ b/unpack-trees.c
@@ -204,20 +204,11 @@ static int do_add_entry(struct unpack_trees_options *o, struct cache_entry *ce,
 			       ADD_CACHE_OK_TO_ADD | ADD_CACHE_OK_TO_REPLACE);
 }
 
-static struct cache_entry *dup_entry(const struct cache_entry *ce)
-{
-	unsigned int size = ce_size(ce);
-	struct cache_entry *new_entry = xmalloc(size);
-
-	memcpy(new_entry, ce, size);
-	return new_entry;
-}
-
 static void add_entry(struct unpack_trees_options *o,
 		      const struct cache_entry *ce,
 		      unsigned int set, unsigned int clear)
 {
-	do_add_entry(o, dup_entry(ce), set, clear);
+	do_add_entry(o, dup_cache_entry(ce, &o->result), set, clear);
 }
 
 /*
@@ -798,10 +789,17 @@ static int ce_in_traverse_path(const struct cache_entry *ce,
 	return (info->pathlen < ce_namelen(ce));
 }
 
-static struct cache_entry *create_ce_entry(const struct traverse_info *info, const struct name_entry *n, int stage)
+static struct cache_entry *create_ce_entry(const struct traverse_info *info,
+	const struct name_entry *n,
+	int stage,
+	struct index_state *istate,
+	int is_transient)
 {
 	int len = traverse_path_len(info, n);
-	struct cache_entry *ce = xcalloc(1, cache_entry_size(len));
+	struct cache_entry *ce =
+		is_transient ?
+		make_empty_transient_cache_entry(len) :
+		make_empty_cache_entry(istate, len);
 
 	ce->ce_mode = create_ce_mode(n->mode);
 	ce->ce_flags = create_ce_flags(stage);
@@ -847,7 +845,15 @@ static int unpack_nondirectories(int n, unsigned long mask,
 			stage = 3;
 		else
 			stage = 2;
-		src[i + o->merge] = create_ce_entry(info, names + i, stage);
+
+		/*
+		 * If the merge bit is set, then the cache entries are
+		 * discarded in the following block.  In this case,
+		 * construct "transient" cache_entries, as they are
+		 * not stored in the index.  otherwise construct the
+		 * cache entry from the index aware logic.
+		 */
+		src[i + o->merge] = create_ce_entry(info, names + i, stage, &o->result, o->merge);
 	}
 
 	if (o->merge) {
@@ -856,7 +862,7 @@ static int unpack_nondirectories(int n, unsigned long mask,
 		for (i = 0; i < n; i++) {
 			struct cache_entry *ce = src[i + o->merge];
 			if (ce != o->df_conflict_entry)
-				free(ce);
+				discard_cache_entry(ce);
 		}
 		return rc;
 	}
@@ -1788,7 +1794,7 @@ static int merged_entry(const struct cache_entry *ce,
 			struct unpack_trees_options *o)
 {
 	int update = CE_UPDATE;
-	struct cache_entry *merge = dup_entry(ce);
+	struct cache_entry *merge = dup_cache_entry(ce, &o->result);
 
 	if (!old) {
 		/*
@@ -1808,7 +1814,7 @@ static int merged_entry(const struct cache_entry *ce,
 
 		if (verify_absent(merge,
 				  ERROR_WOULD_LOSE_UNTRACKED_OVERWRITTEN, o)) {
-			free(merge);
+			discard_cache_entry(merge);
 			return -1;
 		}
 		invalidate_ce_path(merge, o);
@@ -1834,7 +1840,7 @@ static int merged_entry(const struct cache_entry *ce,
 			update = 0;
 		} else {
 			if (verify_uptodate(old, o)) {
-				free(merge);
+				discard_cache_entry(merge);
 				return -1;
 			}
 			/* Migrate old flags over */