struct directory *bottom;
 };
 
+static const struct attr_check *get_archive_attrs(const char *path)
+{
+       static struct attr_check *check;
+       if (!check)
+               check = attr_check_initl("export-ignore", "export-subst", NULL);
+       return git_check_attr(path, check) ? NULL : check;
+}
+
+static int check_attr_export_ignore(const struct attr_check *check)
+{
+       return check && ATTR_TRUE(check->items[0].value);
+}
+
+static int check_attr_export_subst(const struct attr_check *check)
+{
+       return check && ATTR_TRUE(check->items[1].value);
+}
+
 static int write_archive_entry(const unsigned char *sha1, const char *base,
                int baselen, const char *filename, unsigned mode, int stage,
                void *context)
 {
        static struct strbuf path = STRBUF_INIT;
-       static struct attr_check *check;
+       const struct attr_check *check;
        struct archiver_context *c = context;
        struct archiver_args *args = c->args;
        write_archive_entry_fn_t write_entry = c->write_entry;
                strbuf_addch(&path, '/');
        path_without_prefix = path.buf + args->baselen;
 
-       if (!check)
-               check = attr_check_initl("export-ignore", "export-subst", NULL);
-       if (!git_check_attr(path_without_prefix, check)) {
-               if (ATTR_TRUE(check->items[0].value))
-                       return 0;
-               args->convert = ATTR_TRUE(check->items[1].value);
-       }
+       check = get_archive_attrs(path_without_prefix);
+       if (check_attr_export_ignore(check))
+               return 0;
+       args->convert = check_attr_export_subst(check);
 
        if (S_ISDIR(mode) || S_ISGITLINK(mode)) {
                if (args->verbose)