diff --git a/attic/archive.py b/attic/archive.py
index 50bc674dc..59acfdfed 100644
--- a/attic/archive.py
+++ b/attic/archive.py
@@ -316,7 +316,7 @@ class Archive:
         elif not symlink:
             os.utime(path, (item[b'mtime'] / 10**9, item[b'mtime'] / 10**9))
 
-    def delete(self, cache):
+    def delete(self):
         unpacker = msgpack.Unpacker(use_list=False)
         for id_, data in zip(self.metadata[b'items'], self.repository.get_many(self.metadata[b'items'])):
             unpacker.feed(self.key.decrypt(id_, data))
@@ -328,9 +328,6 @@ class Archive:
 
         self.cache.chunk_decref(self.id)
         del self.manifest.archives[self.name]
-        self.manifest.write()
-        self.repository.commit()
-        cache.commit()
 
     def stat_attrs(self, st, path):
         item = {
diff --git a/attic/archiver.py b/attic/archiver.py
index 0293cdc65..20e4625cc 100644
--- a/attic/archiver.py
+++ b/attic/archiver.py
@@ -219,7 +219,10 @@ Type "Yes I am sure" if you understand this and want to continue.\n""")
         manifest, key = Manifest.load(repository)
         cache = Cache(repository, key, manifest)
         archive = Archive(repository, key, manifest, args.archive.archive, cache=cache)
-        archive.delete(cache)
+        archive.delete()
+        manifest.write()
+        repository.commit()
+        cache.commit()
         return self.exit_code
 
     def do_mount(self, args):
@@ -338,7 +341,11 @@ Type "Yes I am sure" if you understand this and want to continue.\n""")
                 self.print_verbose('Would prune:     %s' % format_archive(archive))
             else:
                 self.print_verbose('Pruning archive: %s' % format_archive(archive))
-                archive.delete(cache)
+                archive.delete()
+        if to_delete and not args.dry_run:
+            manifest.write()
+            repository.commit()
+            cache.commit()
         return self.exit_code
 
     helptext = {}