diff --git a/builtin/worktree.c b/builtin/worktree.c
index c1130be5890c905c0b648782a834eb8dfcd79ba5..bb06830d6fe82aa97833c6e87f034115dfaa23bd 100644
--- a/builtin/worktree.c
+++ b/builtin/worktree.c
@@ -417,8 +417,7 @@ static int add_worktree(const char *path, const char *refname,
 			const struct add_opts *opts)
 {
 	struct strbuf sb_git = STRBUF_INIT, sb_repo = STRBUF_INIT;
-	struct strbuf sb = STRBUF_INIT, sb_tmp = STRBUF_INIT;
-	struct strbuf sb_path_realpath = STRBUF_INIT, sb_repo_realpath = STRBUF_INIT;
+	struct strbuf sb = STRBUF_INIT;
 	const char *name;
 	struct strvec child_env = STRVEC_INIT;
 	unsigned int counter = 0;
@@ -494,10 +493,7 @@ static int add_worktree(const char *path, const char *refname,
 
 	strbuf_reset(&sb);
 	strbuf_addf(&sb, "%s/gitdir", sb_repo.buf);
-	strbuf_realpath(&sb_path_realpath, path, 1);
-	strbuf_realpath(&sb_repo_realpath, sb_repo.buf, 1);
-	write_file(sb.buf, "%s/.git", relative_path(sb_path_realpath.buf, sb_repo_realpath.buf, &sb_tmp));
-	write_file(sb_git.buf, "gitdir: %s", relative_path(sb_repo_realpath.buf, sb_path_realpath.buf, &sb_tmp));
+	write_worktree_linking_files(sb_git, sb);
 	strbuf_reset(&sb);
 	strbuf_addf(&sb, "%s/commondir", sb_repo.buf);
 	write_file(sb.buf, "../..");
@@ -581,12 +577,9 @@ static int add_worktree(const char *path, const char *refname,
 
 	strvec_clear(&child_env);
 	strbuf_release(&sb);
-	strbuf_release(&sb_tmp);
 	strbuf_release(&symref);
 	strbuf_release(&sb_repo);
-	strbuf_release(&sb_repo_realpath);
 	strbuf_release(&sb_git);
-	strbuf_release(&sb_path_realpath);
 	strbuf_release(&sb_name);
 	free_worktree(wt);
 	return ret;
diff --git a/worktree.c b/worktree.c
index de5c5e53a5f2a758ddf470b5d6a9ad6c66247181..f4cee73d7a1edecafdff30b6d5e2d9dd1365b93e 100644
--- a/worktree.c
+++ b/worktree.c
@@ -381,29 +381,24 @@ int validate_worktree(const struct worktree *wt, struct strbuf *errmsg,
 void update_worktree_location(struct worktree *wt, const char *path_)
 {
 	struct strbuf path = STRBUF_INIT;
-	struct strbuf repo = STRBUF_INIT;
-	struct strbuf file = STRBUF_INIT;
-	struct strbuf tmp = STRBUF_INIT;
+	struct strbuf dotgit = STRBUF_INIT;
+	struct strbuf gitdir = STRBUF_INIT;
 
 	if (is_main_worktree(wt))
 		BUG("can't relocate main worktree");
 
-	strbuf_realpath(&repo, git_common_path("worktrees/%s", wt->id), 1);
+	strbuf_realpath(&gitdir, git_common_path("worktrees/%s/gitdir", wt->id), 1);
 	strbuf_realpath(&path, path_, 1);
+	strbuf_addf(&dotgit, "%s/.git", path.buf);
 	if (fspathcmp(wt->path, path.buf)) {
-		strbuf_addf(&file, "%s/gitdir", repo.buf);
-		write_file(file.buf, "%s/.git", relative_path(path.buf, repo.buf, &tmp));
-		strbuf_reset(&file);
-		strbuf_addf(&file, "%s/.git", path.buf);
-		write_file(file.buf, "gitdir: %s", relative_path(repo.buf, path.buf, &tmp));
+		write_worktree_linking_files(dotgit, gitdir);
 
 		free(wt->path);
 		wt->path = strbuf_detach(&path, NULL);
 	}
 	strbuf_release(&path);
-	strbuf_release(&repo);
-	strbuf_release(&file);
-	strbuf_release(&tmp);
+	strbuf_release(&dotgit);
+	strbuf_release(&gitdir);
 }
 
 int is_worktree_being_rebased(const struct worktree *wt,
@@ -582,9 +577,9 @@ static void repair_gitfile(struct worktree *wt,
 			   worktree_repair_fn fn, void *cb_data)
 {
 	struct strbuf dotgit = STRBUF_INIT;
+	struct strbuf gitdir = STRBUF_INIT;
 	struct strbuf repo = STRBUF_INIT;
 	struct strbuf backlink = STRBUF_INIT;
-	struct strbuf tmp = STRBUF_INIT;
 	char *dotgit_contents = NULL;
 	const char *repair = NULL;
 	int err;
@@ -600,6 +595,7 @@ static void repair_gitfile(struct worktree *wt,
 
 	strbuf_realpath(&repo, git_common_path("worktrees/%s", wt->id), 1);
 	strbuf_addf(&dotgit, "%s/.git", wt->path);
+	strbuf_addf(&gitdir, "%s/gitdir", repo.buf);
 	dotgit_contents = xstrdup_or_null(read_gitfile_gently(dotgit.buf, &err));
 
 	if (dotgit_contents) {
@@ -617,18 +613,20 @@ static void repair_gitfile(struct worktree *wt,
 		repair = _(".git file broken");
 	else if (fspathcmp(backlink.buf, repo.buf))
 		repair = _(".git file incorrect");
+	else if (use_relative_paths == is_absolute_path(dotgit_contents))
+		repair = _(".git file absolute/relative path mismatch");
 
 	if (repair) {
 		fn(0, wt->path, repair, cb_data);
-		write_file(dotgit.buf, "gitdir: %s", relative_path(repo.buf, wt->path, &tmp));
+		write_worktree_linking_files(dotgit, gitdir);
 	}
 
 done:
 	free(dotgit_contents);
 	strbuf_release(&repo);
 	strbuf_release(&dotgit);
+	strbuf_release(&gitdir);
 	strbuf_release(&backlink);
-	strbuf_release(&tmp);
 }
 
 static void repair_noop(int iserr UNUSED,
@@ -653,45 +651,30 @@ void repair_worktrees(worktree_repair_fn fn, void *cb_data)
 
 void repair_worktree_after_gitdir_move(struct worktree *wt, const char *old_path)
 {
-	struct strbuf path = STRBUF_INIT;
-	struct strbuf repo = STRBUF_INIT;
 	struct strbuf gitdir = STRBUF_INIT;
 	struct strbuf dotgit = STRBUF_INIT;
-	struct strbuf olddotgit = STRBUF_INIT;
-	struct strbuf tmp = STRBUF_INIT;
 
 	if (is_main_worktree(wt))
 		goto done;
 
-	strbuf_realpath(&repo, git_common_path("worktrees/%s", wt->id), 1);
-	strbuf_addf(&gitdir, "%s/gitdir", repo.buf);
+	strbuf_realpath(&gitdir, git_common_path("worktrees/%s/gitdir", wt->id), 1);
 
-	if (strbuf_read_file(&olddotgit, gitdir.buf, 0) < 0)
+	if (strbuf_read_file(&dotgit, gitdir.buf, 0) < 0)
 		goto done;
 
-	strbuf_rtrim(&olddotgit);
-	if (is_absolute_path(olddotgit.buf)) {
-		strbuf_addbuf(&dotgit, &olddotgit);
-	} else {
-		strbuf_addf(&dotgit, "%s/worktrees/%s/%s", old_path, wt->id, olddotgit.buf);
+	strbuf_rtrim(&dotgit);
+	if (!is_absolute_path(dotgit.buf)) {
+		strbuf_insertf(&dotgit, 0, "%s/worktrees/%s/", old_path, wt->id);
 		strbuf_realpath_forgiving(&dotgit, dotgit.buf, 0);
 	}
 
 	if (!file_exists(dotgit.buf))
 		goto done;
 
-	strbuf_addbuf(&path, &dotgit);
-	strbuf_strip_suffix(&path, "/.git");
-
-	write_file(dotgit.buf, "gitdir: %s", relative_path(repo.buf, path.buf, &tmp));
-	write_file(gitdir.buf, "%s", relative_path(dotgit.buf, repo.buf, &tmp));
+	write_worktree_linking_files(dotgit, gitdir);
 done:
-	strbuf_release(&path);
-	strbuf_release(&repo);
 	strbuf_release(&gitdir);
 	strbuf_release(&dotgit);
-	strbuf_release(&olddotgit);
-	strbuf_release(&tmp);
 }
 
 void repair_worktrees_after_gitdir_move(const char *old_path)
@@ -766,13 +749,10 @@ void repair_worktree_at_path(const char *path,
 			     worktree_repair_fn fn, void *cb_data)
 {
 	struct strbuf dotgit = STRBUF_INIT;
-	struct strbuf realdotgit = STRBUF_INIT;
 	struct strbuf backlink = STRBUF_INIT;
 	struct strbuf inferred_backlink = STRBUF_INIT;
 	struct strbuf gitdir = STRBUF_INIT;
 	struct strbuf olddotgit = STRBUF_INIT;
-	struct strbuf realolddotgit = STRBUF_INIT;
-	struct strbuf tmp = STRBUF_INIT;
 	char *dotgit_contents = NULL;
 	const char *repair = NULL;
 	int err;
@@ -784,25 +764,25 @@ void repair_worktree_at_path(const char *path,
 		goto done;
 
 	strbuf_addf(&dotgit, "%s/.git", path);
-	if (!strbuf_realpath(&realdotgit, dotgit.buf, 0)) {
+	if (!strbuf_realpath(&dotgit, dotgit.buf, 0)) {
 		fn(1, path, _("not a valid path"), cb_data);
 		goto done;
 	}
 
-	infer_backlink(realdotgit.buf, &inferred_backlink);
+	infer_backlink(dotgit.buf, &inferred_backlink);
 	strbuf_realpath_forgiving(&inferred_backlink, inferred_backlink.buf, 0);
-	dotgit_contents = xstrdup_or_null(read_gitfile_gently(realdotgit.buf, &err));
+	dotgit_contents = xstrdup_or_null(read_gitfile_gently(dotgit.buf, &err));
 	if (dotgit_contents) {
 		if (is_absolute_path(dotgit_contents)) {
 			strbuf_addstr(&backlink, dotgit_contents);
 		} else {
-			strbuf_addbuf(&backlink, &realdotgit);
+			strbuf_addbuf(&backlink, &dotgit);
 			strbuf_strip_suffix(&backlink, ".git");
 			strbuf_addstr(&backlink, dotgit_contents);
 			strbuf_realpath_forgiving(&backlink, backlink.buf, 0);
 		}
 	} else if (err == READ_GITFILE_ERR_NOT_A_FILE) {
-		fn(1, realdotgit.buf, _("unable to locate repository; .git is not a file"), cb_data);
+		fn(1, dotgit.buf, _("unable to locate repository; .git is not a file"), cb_data);
 		goto done;
 	} else if (err == READ_GITFILE_ERR_NOT_A_REPO) {
 		if (inferred_backlink.len) {
@@ -815,11 +795,11 @@ void repair_worktree_at_path(const char *path,
 			 */
 			strbuf_swap(&backlink, &inferred_backlink);
 		} else {
-			fn(1, realdotgit.buf, _("unable to locate repository; .git file does not reference a repository"), cb_data);
+			fn(1, dotgit.buf, _("unable to locate repository; .git file does not reference a repository"), cb_data);
 			goto done;
 		}
 	} else {
-		fn(1, realdotgit.buf, _("unable to locate repository; .git file broken"), cb_data);
+		fn(1, dotgit.buf, _("unable to locate repository; .git file broken"), cb_data);
 		goto done;
 	}
 
@@ -841,39 +821,35 @@ void repair_worktree_at_path(const char *path,
 	 * in the "copy" repository. In this case, point the "copy" worktree's
 	 * .git file at the "copy" repository.
 	 */
-	if (inferred_backlink.len && fspathcmp(backlink.buf, inferred_backlink.buf)) {
+	if (inferred_backlink.len && fspathcmp(backlink.buf, inferred_backlink.buf))
 		strbuf_swap(&backlink, &inferred_backlink);
-	}
 
 	strbuf_addf(&gitdir, "%s/gitdir", backlink.buf);
 	if (strbuf_read_file(&olddotgit, gitdir.buf, 0) < 0)
 		repair = _("gitdir unreadable");
+	else if (use_relative_paths == is_absolute_path(olddotgit.buf))
+		repair = _("gitdir absolute/relative path mismatch");
 	else {
 		strbuf_rtrim(&olddotgit);
-		if (is_absolute_path(olddotgit.buf)) {
-			strbuf_addbuf(&realolddotgit, &olddotgit);
-		} else {
-			strbuf_addf(&realolddotgit, "%s/%s", backlink.buf, olddotgit.buf);
-			strbuf_realpath_forgiving(&realolddotgit, realolddotgit.buf, 0);
+		if (!is_absolute_path(olddotgit.buf)) {
+			strbuf_insertf(&olddotgit, 0, "%s/", backlink.buf);
+			strbuf_realpath_forgiving(&olddotgit, olddotgit.buf, 0);
 		}
-		if (fspathcmp(realolddotgit.buf, realdotgit.buf))
+		if (fspathcmp(olddotgit.buf, dotgit.buf))
 			repair = _("gitdir incorrect");
 	}
 
 	if (repair) {
 		fn(0, gitdir.buf, repair, cb_data);
-		write_file(gitdir.buf, "%s", relative_path(realdotgit.buf, backlink.buf, &tmp));
+		write_worktree_linking_files(dotgit, gitdir);
 	}
 done:
 	free(dotgit_contents);
 	strbuf_release(&olddotgit);
-	strbuf_release(&realolddotgit);
 	strbuf_release(&backlink);
 	strbuf_release(&inferred_backlink);
 	strbuf_release(&gitdir);
-	strbuf_release(&realdotgit);
 	strbuf_release(&dotgit);
-	strbuf_release(&tmp);
 }
 
 int should_prune_worktree(const char *id, struct strbuf *reason, char **wtpath, timestamp_t expire)
@@ -1034,3 +1010,29 @@ int init_worktree_config(struct repository *r)
 	free(main_worktree_file);
 	return res;
 }
+
+void write_worktree_linking_files(struct strbuf dotgit, struct strbuf gitdir)
+{
+	struct strbuf path = STRBUF_INIT;
+	struct strbuf repo = STRBUF_INIT;
+	struct strbuf tmp = STRBUF_INIT;
+
+	strbuf_addbuf(&path, &dotgit);
+	strbuf_strip_suffix(&path, "/.git");
+	strbuf_realpath(&path, path.buf, 1);
+	strbuf_addbuf(&repo, &gitdir);
+	strbuf_strip_suffix(&repo, "/gitdir");
+	strbuf_realpath(&repo, repo.buf, 1);
+
+	if (use_relative_paths) {
+		write_file(gitdir.buf, "%s/.git", relative_path(path.buf, repo.buf, &tmp));
+		write_file(dotgit.buf, "gitdir: %s", relative_path(repo.buf, path.buf, &tmp));
+	} else {
+		write_file(gitdir.buf, "%s/.git", path.buf);
+		write_file(dotgit.buf, "gitdir: %s", repo.buf);
+	}
+
+	strbuf_release(&path);
+	strbuf_release(&repo);
+	strbuf_release(&tmp);
+}
diff --git a/worktree.h b/worktree.h
index 37e65d508ed23d3e7a29850bb938285072a3aaa6..5929089891c97318a8f5329f7938264c717050d5 100644
--- a/worktree.h
+++ b/worktree.h
@@ -217,4 +217,16 @@ void strbuf_worktree_ref(const struct worktree *wt,
  */
 int init_worktree_config(struct repository *r);
 
+/**
+ * Write the .git file and gitdir file that links the worktree to the repository.
+ *
+ * The `dotgit` parameter is the path to the worktree's .git file, and `gitdir`
+ * is the path to the repository's `gitdir` file.
+ *
+ * Example
+ *  dotgit: "/path/to/foo/.git"
+ *  gitdir: "/path/to/repo/worktrees/foo/gitdir"
+ */
+void write_worktree_linking_files(struct strbuf dotgit, struct strbuf gitdir);
+
 #endif
