diff --git a/spring-data-jpa/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/jpa/repository/support/SimpleJpaRepository.java b/spring-data-jpa/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/jpa/repository/support/SimpleJpaRepository.java
index 31abc19187..28030634b4 100644
--- a/spring-data-jpa/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/jpa/repository/support/SimpleJpaRepository.java
+++ b/spring-data-jpa/src/main/java/org/springframework/data/jpa/repository/support/SimpleJpaRepository.java
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ public void delete(T entity) {
 			return;
 		}
 
-		entityManager.remove(entityManager.contains(entity) ? entity : entityManager.merge(entity));
+		entityManager.remove(existing);
 	}
 
 	@Override