diff --git a/mercurial/filemerge.py b/mercurial/filemerge.py
--- a/mercurial/filemerge.py
+++ b/mercurial/filemerge.py
@@ -348,9 +348,7 @@
             return 0
         if premerge not in validkeep:
             # restore from backup and try again
-            # TODO: Add a workingfilectx.write(otherfilectx) path so we can use
-            # util.copy here instead.
-            fcd.write(util.readfile(back), fcd.flags())
+            _restorebackup(fcd, back)
     return 1 # continue merging
 
 def _mergecheck(repo, mynode, orig, fcd, fco, fca, toolconf):
@@ -591,6 +589,11 @@
         "o": " [%s]" % labels[1],
     }
 
+def _restorebackup(fcd, back):
+    # TODO: Add a workingfilectx.write(otherfilectx) path so we can use
+    # util.copy here instead.
+    fcd.write(util.readfile(back), fcd.flags())
+
 def _makebackup(repo, ui, fcd, premerge):
     """Makes a backup of the local `fcd` file prior to merging.
     """