diff --git a/pack-bitmap.c b/pack-bitmap.c
index 440407f1be7..982e286bace 100644
--- a/pack-bitmap.c
+++ b/pack-bitmap.c
@@ -411,9 +411,6 @@ static int open_pack_bitmap_1(struct bitmap_index *bitmap_git, struct packed_git
 	struct stat st;
 	char *bitmap_name;
 
-	if (open_pack_index(packfile))
-		return -1;
-
 	bitmap_name = pack_bitmap_filename(packfile);
 	fd = git_open(bitmap_name);