diff --git a/hibernate-core/src/main/java/org/hibernate/engine/internal/StatefulPersistenceContext.java b/hibernate-core/src/main/java/org/hibernate/engine/internal/StatefulPersistenceContext.java
index ca96d0d891..f3e9bd8ea9 100644
--- a/hibernate-core/src/main/java/org/hibernate/engine/internal/StatefulPersistenceContext.java
+++ b/hibernate-core/src/main/java/org/hibernate/engine/internal/StatefulPersistenceContext.java
@@ -515,6 +515,7 @@ public class StatefulPersistenceContext implements PersistenceContext {
 		if ( holder != null ) {
 			final Object entity = holder.entity;
 			if ( holder.proxy != null ) {
+				holder.entity = null;
 				entitiesByKey.put( key, holder );
 			}
 			return entity;