diff --git a/weed/filer/filerstore_hardlink.go b/weed/filer/filerstore_hardlink.go
index 144b7286e..316c76a0c 100644
--- a/weed/filer/filerstore_hardlink.go
+++ b/weed/filer/filerstore_hardlink.go
@@ -19,7 +19,8 @@ func (fsw *FilerStoreWrapper) handleUpdateToHardLinks(ctx context.Context, entry
 
 	// check what is existing entry
 	glog.V(4).Infof("handleUpdateToHardLinks FindEntry %s", entry.FullPath)
-	existingEntry, err := fsw.getActualStore(entry.FullPath).FindEntry(ctx, entry.FullPath)
+	actualStore := fsw.getActualStore(entry.FullPath)
+	existingEntry, err := actualStore.FindEntry(ctx, entry.FullPath)
 	if err != nil && err != filer_pb.ErrNotFound {
 		return fmt.Errorf("update existing entry %s: %v", entry.FullPath, err)
 	}