diff --git a/data/model/repository.py b/data/model/repository.py
index e94b8b4fa..0b0d4ac6d 100644
--- a/data/model/repository.py
+++ b/data/model/repository.py
@@ -194,17 +194,21 @@ def garbage_collect_repo(repo, extra_candidate_set=None):
     # directly referenced by a tag. This can be used in a subquery to directly
     # find which candidates are being referenced without any client side
     # computation or extra round trips.
+    direct_referenced = (RepositoryTag
+                         .select(RepositoryTag.image)
+                         .where(RepositoryTag.repository == repo.id,
+                                RepositoryTag.image << candidates_orphans))
+
+    cloned = direct_referenced.clone().alias('direct_ref')
+    directly_referenced_subquery = Image.alias().select(cloned.c.image_id).from_(cloned)
+
     ancestor_referenced = (Candidate
                            .select(Candidate.id)
                            .join(Tagged, on=ancestor_superset)
                            .join(RepositoryTag, on=(Tagged.id == RepositoryTag.image))
                            .where(RepositoryTag.repository == repo.id,
-                                  Candidate.id << candidates_orphans))
-
-    direct_referenced = (RepositoryTag
-                         .select(RepositoryTag.image)
-                         .where(RepositoryTag.repository == repo.id,
-                                RepositoryTag.image << candidates_orphans))
+                                  Candidate.id << candidates_orphans,
+                                  ~(Candidate.id << directly_referenced_subquery)))
 
     referenced_candidates = (direct_referenced | ancestor_referenced)
 
diff --git a/test/test_gc.py b/test/test_gc.py
index 1e5369675..a7085af04 100644
--- a/test/test_gc.py
+++ b/test/test_gc.py
@@ -314,38 +314,71 @@ class TestGarbageCollection(unittest.TestCase):
       repository = self.createRepository(latest=['i1', 'i2', 'i3'], other=['i1', 'f1', 'f2'],
                                          third=['t1', 't2', 't3'], fourth=['i1', 'f1'])
 
+      # Current state:
+      # latest -> i3->i2->i1
+      # other -> f2->f1->i1
+      # third -> t3->t2->t1
+      # fourth -> f1->i1
+
       # Delete tag other. Should delete f2, since it is not shared.
       self.deleteTag(repository, 'other')
       self.assertDeleted(repository, 'f2')
       self.assertNotDeleted(repository, 'i1', 'i2', 'i3', 't1', 't2', 't3', 'f1')
 
+      # Current state:
+      # latest -> i3->i2->i1
+      # third -> t3->t2->t1
+      # fourth -> f1->i1
+
       # Move tag fourth to i3. This should remove f1 since it is no longer referenced.
       self.moveTag(repository, 'fourth', 'i3')
       self.assertDeleted(repository, 'f1')
       self.assertNotDeleted(repository, 'i1', 'i2', 'i3', 't1', 't2', 't3')
 
+      # Current state:
+      # latest -> i3->i2->i1
+      # third -> t3->t2->t1
+      # fourth -> i3->i2->i1
+
       # Delete tag 'latest'. This should do nothing since fourth is on the same branch.
       self.deleteTag(repository, 'latest')
       self.assertNotDeleted(repository, 'i1', 'i2', 'i3', 't1', 't2', 't3')
 
+      # Current state:
+      # third -> t3->t2->t1
+      # fourth -> i3->i2->i1
+
       # Delete tag 'third'. This should remove t1->t3.
       self.deleteTag(repository, 'third')
       self.assertDeleted(repository, 't1', 't2', 't3')
       self.assertNotDeleted(repository, 'i1', 'i2', 'i3')
 
+      # Current state:
+      # fourth -> i3->i2->i1
+
       # Add tag to i1.
       self.moveTag(repository, 'newtag', 'i1')
       self.assertNotDeleted(repository, 'i1', 'i2', 'i3')
 
+      # Current state:
+      # fourth -> i3->i2->i1
+      # newtag -> i1
+
       # Delete tag 'fourth'. This should remove i2 and i3.
       self.deleteTag(repository, 'fourth')
       self.assertDeleted(repository, 'i2', 'i3')
       self.assertNotDeleted(repository, 'i1')
 
+      # Current state:
+      # newtag -> i1
+
       # Delete tag 'newtag'. This should remove the remaining image.
       self.deleteTag(repository, 'newtag')
       self.assertDeleted(repository, 'i1')
 
+      # Current state:
+      # (Empty)
+
   def test_empty_gc(self):
     with self.assert_gc_integrity(expect_storage_removed=False):
       repository = self.createRepository(latest=['i1', 'i2', 'i3'], other=['i1', 'f1', 'f2'],