diff --git a/tools/qfcc/source/dags.c b/tools/qfcc/source/dags.c
index 096ce0e82..65fab6044 100644
--- a/tools/qfcc/source/dags.c
+++ b/tools/qfcc/source/dags.c
@@ -777,10 +777,13 @@ dagnode_attach_label (dag_t *dag, dagnode_t *n, daglabel_t *l)
 			return 0;
 		}
 
-		// this assignment to  the variable must come after any previous uses,
+		// this assignment to the variable must come after any previous uses,
 		// which includes itself and its parents
 		set_add (n->edges, node->number);
 		set_union (n->edges, node->parents);
+		// nodes never need edges to themselves, but n might be one of node's
+		// parents
+		set_remove (n->edges, n->number);
 		dagnode_set_reachable (dag, n);
 	}
 	l->live = 0;	// remove live forcing on assignment