diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/cassandra/db/CommitLog.java b/src/java/org/apache/cassandra/db/CommitLog.java
index 9ad515cb11..27691657dd 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/cassandra/db/CommitLog.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/cassandra/db/CommitLog.java
@@ -246,6 +246,16 @@ public class CommitLog
         return CommitLogHeader.serializer().deserialize(new DataInputStream(byteStream));
     }
 
+    /*
+     * Write the serialized commit log header into the specified commit log.
+    */
+    private static void writeCommitLogHeader(String commitLogFileName, byte[] bytes) throws IOException
+    {
+        RandomAccessFile logWriter = CommitLog.createWriter(commitLogFileName);
+        writeCommitLogHeader(logWriter, bytes);
+        logWriter.close();
+    }
+
     /*
      * This is invoked on startup via the ctor. It basically
      * writes a header with all bits set to zero.
@@ -499,7 +509,7 @@ public class CommitLog
                  * perform & operation and then turn on with the new position.
                 */
                 commitLogHeader.turnOn(id, cLogCtx.position);
-                writeCommitLogHeader(logWriter_, commitLogHeader.toByteArray());
+                writeCommitLogHeader(cLogCtx.file, commitLogHeader.toByteArray());
                 break;
             }
             else
@@ -515,9 +525,7 @@ public class CommitLog
                 }
                 else
                 {
-                    RandomAccessFile logWriter = CommitLog.createWriter(oldFile);
-                    writeCommitLogHeader(logWriter, oldCommitLogHeader.toByteArray());
-                    logWriter.close();
+                    writeCommitLogHeader(oldFile, oldCommitLogHeader.toByteArray());
                 }
             }
         }