diff --git a/java/ql/lib/semmle/code/java/controlflow/Guards.qll b/java/ql/lib/semmle/code/java/controlflow/Guards.qll
index 321af254c35..7152c65191c 100644
--- a/java/ql/lib/semmle/code/java/controlflow/Guards.qll
+++ b/java/ql/lib/semmle/code/java/controlflow/Guards.qll
@@ -232,6 +232,7 @@ predicate guardControls_v2(Guard guard, BasicBlock controlled, boolean branch) {
   )
 }
 
+pragma[nomagic]
 private predicate guardControls_v3(Guard guard, BasicBlock controlled, boolean branch) {
   guard.directlyControls(controlled, branch)
   or