diff --git a/send-pack.c b/send-pack.c
index efefb687b2..a7c53193c9 100644
--- a/send-pack.c
+++ b/send-pack.c
@@ -320,31 +320,6 @@ free_return:
 	return update_seen;
 }
 
-
-static int atomic_push_failure(struct send_pack_args *args,
-			       struct ref *remote_refs,
-			       struct ref *failing_ref)
-{
-	struct ref *ref;
-	/* Mark other refs as failed */
-	for (ref = remote_refs; ref; ref = ref->next) {
-		if (!ref->peer_ref && !args->send_mirror)
-			continue;
-
-		switch (ref->status) {
-		case REF_STATUS_NONE:
-		case REF_STATUS_OK:
-		case REF_STATUS_EXPECTING_REPORT:
-			ref->status = REF_STATUS_ATOMIC_PUSH_FAILED;
-			continue;
-		default:
-			break; /* do nothing */
-		}
-	}
-	return error("atomic push failed for ref %s. status: %d\n",
-		     failing_ref->name, failing_ref->status);
-}
-
 #define NONCE_LEN_LIMIT 256
 
 static void reject_invalid_nonce(const char *nonce, int len)
@@ -489,7 +464,9 @@ int send_pack(struct send_pack_args *args,
 			if (use_atomic) {
 				strbuf_release(&req_buf);
 				strbuf_release(&cap_buf);
-				atomic_push_failure(args, remote_refs, ref);
+				reject_atomic_push(remote_refs, args->send_mirror);
+				error("atomic push failed for ref %s. status: %d\n",
+				      ref->name, ref->status);
 				return args->porcelain ? 0 : -1;
 			}
 			/* else fallthrough */
diff --git a/transport-helper.c b/transport-helper.c
index ab3b52eb14..a46afcb69d 100644
--- a/transport-helper.c
+++ b/transport-helper.c
@@ -894,21 +894,7 @@ static int push_refs_with_push(struct transport *transport,
 		case REF_STATUS_REJECT_STALE:
 		case REF_STATUS_REJECT_ALREADY_EXISTS:
 			if (atomic) {
-				/* Mark other refs as failed */
-				for (ref = remote_refs; ref; ref = ref->next) {
-					if (!ref->peer_ref && !mirror)
-						continue;
-
-					switch (ref->status) {
-					case REF_STATUS_NONE:
-					case REF_STATUS_OK:
-					case REF_STATUS_EXPECTING_REPORT:
-						ref->status = REF_STATUS_ATOMIC_PUSH_FAILED;
-						continue;
-					default:
-						break; /* do nothing */
-					}
-				}
+				reject_atomic_push(remote_refs, mirror);
 				string_list_clear(&cas_options, 0);
 				return 0;
 			} else
@@ -1503,3 +1489,25 @@ int bidirectional_transfer_loop(int input, int output)
 
 	return tloop_spawnwait_tasks(&state);
 }
+
+void reject_atomic_push(struct ref *remote_refs, int mirror_mode)
+{
+	struct ref *ref;
+
+	/* Mark other refs as failed */
+	for (ref = remote_refs; ref; ref = ref->next) {
+		if (!ref->peer_ref && !mirror_mode)
+			continue;
+
+		switch (ref->status) {
+		case REF_STATUS_NONE:
+		case REF_STATUS_OK:
+		case REF_STATUS_EXPECTING_REPORT:
+			ref->status = REF_STATUS_ATOMIC_PUSH_FAILED;
+			continue;
+		default:
+			break; /* do nothing */
+		}
+	}
+	return;
+}
diff --git a/transport.h b/transport.h
index e0131daab9..4298c855be 100644
--- a/transport.h
+++ b/transport.h
@@ -265,4 +265,7 @@ int transport_refs_pushed(struct ref *ref);
 void transport_print_push_status(const char *dest, struct ref *refs,
 		  int verbose, int porcelain, unsigned int *reject_reasons);
 
+/* common method used by transport-helper.c and send-pack.c */
+void reject_atomic_push(struct ref *refs, int mirror_mode);
+
 #endif