diff --git a/src/crimson/tools/store_nbd/tm_driver.cc b/src/crimson/tools/store_nbd/tm_driver.cc
index bd216fd58ec..62891aa864c 100644
--- a/src/crimson/tools/store_nbd/tm_driver.cc
+++ b/src/crimson/tools/store_nbd/tm_driver.cc
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ seastar::future<> TMDriver::write(
         "write",
         [this, offset, &ptr](auto& t)
       {
-        return tm->dec_ref(t, offset
+        return tm->remove(t, offset
         ).si_then([](auto){}).handle_error_interruptible(
           crimson::ct_error::enoent::handle([](auto) { return seastar::now(); }),
           crimson::ct_error::pass_further_all{}