diff --git a/net/art/stride_table.go b/net/art/stride_table.go
index fad89a8d6..5d5ae5c9e 100644
--- a/net/art/stride_table.go
+++ b/net/art/stride_table.go
@@ -85,16 +85,12 @@ func (t *strideTable[T]) deleteChild(idx int) {
 
 // setChild replaces the child strideTable for addr (if any) with child.
 func (t *strideTable[T]) setChild(addr uint8, child *strideTable[T]) {
-	idx := hostIndex(addr)
-	if t.entries[idx].child == nil {
-		t.childRefs++
-	}
-	t.entries[idx].child = child
+	t.setChildByIndex(hostIndex(addr), child)
 }
 
-// setChildByIdx replaces the child strideTable at idx (if any) with
+// setChildByIndex replaces the child strideTable at idx (if any) with
 // child. idx should be obtained via a call to getChild.
-func (t *strideTable[T]) setChildByIdx(idx int, child *strideTable[T]) {
+func (t *strideTable[T]) setChildByIndex(idx int, child *strideTable[T]) {
 	if t.entries[idx].child == nil {
 		t.childRefs++
 	}
diff --git a/net/art/table.go b/net/art/table.go
index 59c158fb2..380ae2376 100644
--- a/net/art/table.go
+++ b/net/art/table.go
@@ -468,7 +468,7 @@ func (t *Table[T]) Delete(pfx netip.Prefix) {
 			if debugDelete {
 				fmt.Printf("delete: compact parent.prefix=%s st.prefix=%s child.prefix=%s\n", parent.prefix, cur.prefix, child.prefix)
 			}
-			strideTables[strideIdx-1].setChildByIdx(strideIndexes[strideIdx-1], child)
+			strideTables[strideIdx-1].setChildByIndex(strideIndexes[strideIdx-1], child)
 			return
 		default:
 			// This table has two or more children, so it's acting as a "fork in