diff --git a/cpp/ql/lib/semmle/code/cpp/ir/dataflow/internal/DataFlowPrivate.qll b/cpp/ql/lib/semmle/code/cpp/ir/dataflow/internal/DataFlowPrivate.qll
index 85a4a224e52..838a660432f 100644
--- a/cpp/ql/lib/semmle/code/cpp/ir/dataflow/internal/DataFlowPrivate.qll
+++ b/cpp/ql/lib/semmle/code/cpp/ir/dataflow/internal/DataFlowPrivate.qll
@@ -785,11 +785,10 @@ predicate clearsContent(Node n, Content c) {
       p.getAnOperand() = op.getUse().getAst()
     )
     or
-    not exists(PostUpdateNode pun, Content d |
-      d.impliesClearOf(c) and
-      storeStepImpl(_, d, pun, true) and
-      c.getIndirectionIndex() > d.getIndirectionIndex() and
-      pun.getPreUpdateNode() = n
+    forex(PostUpdateNode pun, Content d |
+      d.impliesClearOf(c) and storeStepImpl(_, d, pun, true) and pun.getPreUpdateNode() = n
+    |
+      c.getIndirectionIndex() = d.getIndirectionIndex()
     )
   )
 }