diff --git a/lib/filestorage/stored_file.php b/lib/filestorage/stored_file.php
index e1c3e738d09..aec547d3cfe 100644
--- a/lib/filestorage/stored_file.php
+++ b/lib/filestorage/stored_file.php
@@ -297,7 +297,9 @@ class stored_file {
         $filerecord->filesize = $newfile->get_filesize();
         $filerecord->referencefileid = $newfile->get_referencefileid();
         $filerecord->userid = $newfile->get_userid();
+        $oldcontenthash = $this->get_contenthash();
         $this->update($filerecord);
+        $this->filesystem->remove_file($oldcontenthash);
     }
 
     /**