diff --git a/mercurial/dirstate.py b/mercurial/dirstate.py
--- a/mercurial/dirstate.py
+++ b/mercurial/dirstate.py
@@ -733,7 +733,7 @@
                 if entry.merged_removed or entry.from_p2_removed:
                     source = self._map.copymap.get(f)
                     if entry.merged_removed:
-                        self._merge(f)
+                        self._otherparent(f)
                     elif entry.from_p2_removed:
                         self._otherparent(f)
                     if source is not None:
@@ -762,11 +762,6 @@
         self._addpath(filename, added=True)
         self._map.copymap.pop(filename, None)
 
-    def _merge(self, f):
-        if not self.in_merge:
-            return self._normallookup(f)
-        return self._otherparent(f)
-
     def _drop(self, filename):
         """internal function to drop a file from the dirstate"""
         if self._map.dropfile(filename):