diff --git a/Annex/Verify.hs b/Annex/Verify.hs
index 3df646b7a8..22cdf02c92 100644
--- a/Annex/Verify.hs
+++ b/Annex/Verify.hs
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ module Annex.Verify (
 	warnUnverifiableInsecure,
 	isVerifiable,
 	startVerifyKeyContentIncrementally,
+	finishVerifyKeyContentIncrementally,
 	IncrementalVerifier(..),
 	tailVerify,
 ) where
@@ -167,6 +168,17 @@ startVerifyKeyContentIncrementally verifyconfig k =
 		, return Nothing
 		)
 
+finishVerifyKeyContentIncrementally :: Maybe IncrementalVerifier -> Annex (Bool, Verification)
+finishVerifyKeyContentIncrementally Nothing = 
+	return (True, UnVerified)
+finishVerifyKeyContentIncrementally (Just iv) =
+	ifM (liftIO $ finalizeIncremental iv)
+		( return (True, Verified)
+		, do
+			warning "verification of content failed"
+			return (False, UnVerified)
+		)
+
 -- | Reads the file as it grows, and feeds it to the incremental verifier.
 -- 
 -- The TMVar must start out empty, and be filled once whatever is
diff --git a/Remote/Git.hs b/Remote/Git.hs
index 352b920069..08f7e90431 100644
--- a/Remote/Git.hs
+++ b/Remote/Git.hs
@@ -867,14 +867,7 @@ mkFileCopier remotewanthardlink (State _ _ copycowtried _ _) = do
 		iv <- startVerifyKeyContentIncrementally verifyconfig k
 		fileCopier copycowtried src dest p iv >>= \case
 			Copied -> ifM check
-				( case iv of
-					Just x -> ifM (liftIO $ finalizeIncremental x)
-						( return (True, Verified)
-						, do
-							warning "verification of content failed"
-							return (False, UnVerified)
-						)
-					Nothing -> return (True, UnVerified)
+				( finishVerifyKeyContentIncrementally iv
 				, return (False, UnVerified)
 				)
 			CopiedCoW -> unVerified check