diff --git a/icu4c/source/i18n/calendar.cpp b/icu4c/source/i18n/calendar.cpp
index 62ae3788fcb..7c0b5020100 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/i18n/calendar.cpp
+++ b/icu4c/source/i18n/calendar.cpp
@@ -195,18 +195,6 @@ Calendar::createInstance(UErrorCode& success)
 
 // -------------------------------------
 
-Calendar*
-Calendar::createInstance(TimeZone* zone, UErrorCode& success)
-{
-    if (FAILURE(success)) return 0;
-    // since the Locale isn't specified, use the default locale
-    Calendar* c = new GregorianCalendar(zone, Locale::getDefault(), success);
-    if (FAILURE(success)) { delete c; c = 0; }
-    return c;
-}
-
-// -------------------------------------
-
 Calendar*
 Calendar::createInstance(const TimeZone& zone, UErrorCode& success)
 {
@@ -234,9 +222,18 @@ Calendar::createInstance(const Locale& aLocale, UErrorCode& success)
 Calendar*
 Calendar::createInstance(TimeZone* zone, const Locale& aLocale, UErrorCode& success)
 {
-    if (FAILURE(success)) return 0;
+    if (FAILURE(success)) {
+        delete zone;
+        return 0;
+    }
     Calendar* c = new GregorianCalendar(zone, aLocale, success);
-    if (FAILURE(success)) { delete c; c = 0; }
+    if (c == 0) {
+        success = U_MEMORY_ALLOCATION_ERROR;
+        delete zone;
+    } else if (FAILURE(success)) {
+        delete c;
+        c = 0;
+    }
     return c;
 }
 
diff --git a/icu4c/source/i18n/calendar.h b/icu4c/source/i18n/calendar.h
index efc2e17bd87..c577a88f2de 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/i18n/calendar.h
+++ b/icu4c/source/i18n/calendar.h
@@ -237,9 +237,9 @@ public:
     static Calendar* createInstance(UErrorCode& success);
 
     /**
-     * Creates a Calendar using the given timezone and the default locale. If creation of
-     * a new Calendar is successful, the Calendar takes ownership of zoneToAdopt; the
-     * client should not delete it.
+     * Creates a Calendar using the given timezone and the default locale.
+     * The Calendar takes ownership of zoneToAdopt; the
+     * client must not delete it.
      *
      * @param zoneToAdopt  The given timezone to be adopted.
      * @param success      Indicates the success/failure of Calendar creation. Filled in
@@ -273,9 +273,9 @@ public:
     static Calendar* createInstance(const Locale& aLocale, UErrorCode& success);
 
     /**
-     * Creates a Calendar using the given timezone and given locale. If creation of
-     * a new Calendar is successful, the Calendar takes ownership of zoneToAdopt; the
-     * client should not delete it.
+     * Creates a Calendar using the given timezone and given locale.
+     * The Calendar takes ownership of zoneToAdopt; the
+     * client must not delete it.
      *
      * @param zoneToAdopt  The given timezone to be adopted.
      * @param aLocale      The given locale.
@@ -963,6 +963,15 @@ private:
 
 // -------------------------------------
 
+inline Calendar*
+Calendar::createInstance(TimeZone* zone, UErrorCode& errorCode)
+{
+    // since the Locale isn't specified, use the default locale
+    return createInstance(zone, Locale::getDefault(), errorCode);
+}
+
+// -------------------------------------
+
 inline void 
 Calendar::roll(EDateFields field, bool_t up, UErrorCode& status)
 {
diff --git a/icu4c/source/i18n/ucal.cpp b/icu4c/source/i18n/ucal.cpp
index 65035209461..1c66e77f2e6 100644
--- a/icu4c/source/i18n/ucal.cpp
+++ b/icu4c/source/i18n/ucal.cpp
@@ -94,15 +94,7 @@ ucal_open(    const    UChar*          zoneID,
     return 0;
   }
   
-  Calendar *cal = 0;
-  cal = Calendar::createInstance(zone, Locale().init(locale), *status);
-  if(cal == 0) {
-    *status = U_MEMORY_ALLOCATION_ERROR;
-    delete zone;
-    return 0;
-  }
-
-  return (UCalendar*)cal;
+  return (UCalendar*)Calendar::createInstance(zone, Locale().init(locale), *status);
 }
 
 CAPI void