diff --git a/src/copy.c b/src/copy.c
index 1096fba23..bc4b41065 100644
--- a/src/copy.c
+++ b/src/copy.c
@@ -653,13 +653,7 @@ copy_internal (const char *src_path, const char *dst_path,
 		}
 
 	      if (x->update && MTIME_CMP (src_sb, dst_sb) <= 0)
-		{
-		  /* Pretend the rename succeeded, so the caller (mv)
-		     doesn't end up removing the source file.  */
-		  if (rename_succeeded)
-		    *rename_succeeded = 1;
-		  return 0;
-		}
+		return 0;
 	    }
 
 	  if (!S_ISDIR (src_type) && x->interactive)