diff --git a/icechunk/src/format/snapshot.rs b/icechunk/src/format/snapshot.rs
index 9ba0c9da6..2992a7900 100644
--- a/icechunk/src/format/snapshot.rs
+++ b/icechunk/src/format/snapshot.rs
@@ -313,6 +313,7 @@ impl Snapshot {
         message: String,
         properties: Option<SnapshotProperties>,
         mut manifest_files: Vec<ManifestFileInfo>,
+        flushed_at: Option<DateTime<Utc>>,
         sorted_iter: I,
     ) -> IcechunkResult<Self>
     where
@@ -349,7 +350,7 @@ impl Snapshot {
 
         let message = builder.create_string(&message);
         let parent_id = parent_id.map(|oid| generated::ObjectId12::new(&oid.0));
-        let flushed_at = Utc::now().timestamp_micros() as u64;
+        let flushed_at = flushed_at.unwrap_or_else(Utc::now).timestamp_micros() as u64;
         let id = generated::ObjectId12::new(&id.unwrap_or_else(SnapshotId::random).0);
 
         let nodes: Vec<_> = sorted_iter
@@ -387,6 +388,7 @@ impl Snapshot {
             Self::INITIAL_COMMIT_MESSAGE.to_string(),
             Some(properties),
             Default::default(),
+            None,
             nodes,
         )
     }
@@ -459,6 +461,7 @@ impl Snapshot {
             new_child.message().clone(),
             Some(new_child.metadata()?.clone()),
             new_child.manifest_files().collect(),
+            Some(new_child.flushed_at()?),
             new_child.iter(),
         )
     }
@@ -736,6 +739,7 @@ mod tests {
             String::default(),
             Default::default(),
             manifests,
+            None,
             nodes.into_iter().map(Ok::<NodeSnapshot, Infallible>),
         )
         .unwrap();
diff --git a/icechunk/src/ops/gc.rs b/icechunk/src/ops/gc.rs
index 109b8662f..a7943764f 100644
--- a/icechunk/src/ops/gc.rs
+++ b/icechunk/src/ops/gc.rs
@@ -344,9 +344,12 @@ async fn gc_transaction_logs(
 
 #[derive(Debug, PartialEq, Eq, Clone)]
 pub enum ExpireRefResult {
-    RefIsExpired,
     NothingToDo,
-    Done { released_snapshots: HashSet<SnapshotId>, edited_snapshot: SnapshotId },
+    Done {
+        released_snapshots: HashSet<SnapshotId>,
+        edited_snapshot: SnapshotId,
+        ref_is_expired: bool,
+    },
 }
 
 /// Expire snapshots older than a threshold.
@@ -394,10 +397,10 @@ pub async fn expire_ref(
 
     pin!(ancestry);
 
-    // If we point to an expired snapshot already, there is nothing to do
+    let mut ref_is_expired = false;
     if let Some(Ok(info)) = ancestry.as_mut().peek().await {
         if info.flushed_at < older_than {
-            return Ok(ExpireRefResult::RefIsExpired);
+            ref_is_expired = true;
         }
     }
 
@@ -434,8 +437,6 @@ pub async fn expire_ref(
     // and, we only set a root as parent
     assert!(root.parent_id().is_none());
 
-    assert!(editable_snap.flushed_at()? >= older_than);
-
     // TODO: add properties to the snapshot that tell us it was history edited
     let new_snapshot = Arc::new(root.adopt(&editable_snap)?);
     asset_manager.write_snapshot(new_snapshot).await?;
@@ -443,6 +444,7 @@ pub async fn expire_ref(
     Ok(ExpireRefResult::Done {
         released_snapshots: released,
         edited_snapshot: editable_snap.id().clone(),
+        ref_is_expired,
     })
 }
 
@@ -500,33 +502,41 @@ pub async fn expire(
         })
         .try_fold(ExpireResult::default(), |mut result, (r, ref_result)| async move {
             match ref_result {
-                ExpireRefResult::Done { released_snapshots, edited_snapshot } => {
+                ExpireRefResult::Done {
+                    released_snapshots,
+                    edited_snapshot,
+                    ref_is_expired,
+                } => {
                     result.released_snapshots.extend(released_snapshots.into_iter());
                     result.edited_snapshots.insert(edited_snapshot);
-                    Ok(result)
-                }
-                ExpireRefResult::RefIsExpired => match &r {
-                    Ref::Tag(name) => {
-                        if expired_tags == ExpiredRefAction::Delete {
-                            delete_tag(storage, storage_settings, name.as_str())
-                                .await
-                                .map_err(GCError::Ref)?;
-                            result.deleted_refs.insert(r);
+                    if ref_is_expired {
+                        match &r {
+                            Ref::Tag(name) => {
+                                if expired_tags == ExpiredRefAction::Delete {
+                                    delete_tag(storage, storage_settings, name.as_str())
+                                        .await
+                                        .map_err(GCError::Ref)?;
+                                    result.deleted_refs.insert(r);
+                                }
+                            }
+                            Ref::Branch(name) => {
+                                if expired_branches == ExpiredRefAction::Delete
+                                    && name != Ref::DEFAULT_BRANCH
+                                {
+                                    delete_branch(
+                                        storage,
+                                        storage_settings,
+                                        name.as_str(),
+                                    )
+                                    .await
+                                    .map_err(GCError::Ref)?;
+                                    result.deleted_refs.insert(r);
+                                }
+                            }
                         }
-                        Ok(result)
                     }
-                    Ref::Branch(name) => {
-                        if expired_branches == ExpiredRefAction::Delete
-                            && name != Ref::DEFAULT_BRANCH
-                        {
-                            delete_branch(storage, storage_settings, name.as_str())
-                                .await
-                                .map_err(GCError::Ref)?;
-                            result.deleted_refs.insert(r);
-                        }
-                        Ok(result)
-                    }
-                },
+                    Ok(result)
+                }
                 ExpireRefResult::NothingToDo => Ok(result),
             }
         })
diff --git a/icechunk/src/session.rs b/icechunk/src/session.rs
index ce5293180..72c7d2c61 100644
--- a/icechunk/src/session.rs
+++ b/icechunk/src/session.rs
@@ -1576,6 +1576,7 @@ async fn flush(
         message.to_string(),
         Some(properties),
         flush_data.manifest_files.into_iter().collect(),
+        None,
         all_nodes.into_iter().map(Ok::<_, Infallible>),
     )?;
 
@@ -2080,6 +2081,7 @@ mod tests {
             "message".to_string(),
             None,
             manifests,
+            None,
             nodes.iter().cloned().map(Ok::<NodeSnapshot, Infallible>),
         )?);
         asset_manager.write_snapshot(Arc::clone(&snapshot)).await?;
diff --git a/icechunk/tests/test_gc.rs b/icechunk/tests/test_gc.rs
index e1700037f..2bd042b56 100644
--- a/icechunk/tests/test_gc.rs
+++ b/icechunk/tests/test_gc.rs
@@ -293,14 +293,12 @@ pub async fn test_expire_ref() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
     )
     .await?
     {
-        ExpireRefResult::RefIsExpired => {
-            panic!()
-        }
         ExpireRefResult::NothingToDo => {
             panic!()
         }
-        ExpireRefResult::Done { released_snapshots, .. } => {
+        ExpireRefResult::Done { released_snapshots, ref_is_expired, .. } => {
             assert_eq!(released_snapshots.len(), 4);
+            assert!(!ref_is_expired);
         }
     }
 
@@ -332,9 +330,9 @@ pub async fn test_expire_ref() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
     )
     .await?
     {
-        ExpireRefResult::RefIsExpired => panic!(),
         ExpireRefResult::NothingToDo => panic!(),
-        ExpireRefResult::Done { released_snapshots, .. } => {
+        ExpireRefResult::Done { released_snapshots, ref_is_expired, .. } => {
+            assert!(!ref_is_expired);
             assert_eq!(released_snapshots.len(), 4);
         }
     }
@@ -367,9 +365,9 @@ pub async fn test_expire_ref() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
     )
     .await?
     {
-        ExpireRefResult::RefIsExpired => panic!(),
         ExpireRefResult::NothingToDo => panic!(),
-        ExpireRefResult::Done { released_snapshots, .. } => {
+        ExpireRefResult::Done { released_snapshots, ref_is_expired, .. } => {
+            assert!(!ref_is_expired);
             assert_eq!(released_snapshots.len(), 5);
         }
     }
@@ -402,9 +400,9 @@ pub async fn test_expire_ref() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
     )
     .await?
     {
-        ExpireRefResult::RefIsExpired => panic!(),
         ExpireRefResult::NothingToDo => panic!(),
-        ExpireRefResult::Done { released_snapshots, .. } => {
+        ExpireRefResult::Done { released_snapshots, ref_is_expired, .. } => {
+            assert!(!ref_is_expired);
             assert_eq!(released_snapshots.len(), 5);
         }
     }
@@ -432,8 +430,8 @@ pub async fn test_expire_ref() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
 }
 
 #[tokio::test]
-pub async fn test_expire_ref_with_odd_timestamp() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>>
-{
+pub async fn test_expire_ref_with_odd_timestamps()
+-> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
     let storage: Arc<dyn Storage + Send + Sync> = new_in_memory_storage().await?;
     let storage_settings = storage.default_settings();
     let repo = Repository::create(None, Arc::clone(&storage), HashMap::new()).await?;
@@ -489,7 +487,16 @@ pub async fn test_expire_ref_with_odd_timestamp() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::err
     )
     .await?
     {
-        ExpireRefResult::RefIsExpired => {}
+        ExpireRefResult::Done { ref_is_expired, .. } => {
+            assert!(ref_is_expired);
+            // create another repo to avoid caching issues
+            let repo =
+                Repository::open(None, Arc::clone(&storage), HashMap::new()).await?;
+            assert_eq!(
+                branch_commit_messages(&repo, "main").await,
+                Vec::from(["third", "Repository initialized"])
+            );
+        }
         _ => panic!(),
     }
 
@@ -497,7 +504,7 @@ pub async fn test_expire_ref_with_odd_timestamp() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::err
     let repo = Repository::open(None, Arc::clone(&storage), HashMap::new()).await?;
     assert_eq!(
         branch_commit_messages(&repo, "main").await,
-        Vec::from(["third", "second", "first", "Repository initialized"])
+        Vec::from(["third", "Repository initialized"])
     );
     Ok(())
 }
@@ -552,11 +559,11 @@ pub async fn test_expire_and_garbage_collect() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error:
     );
     assert_eq!(
         tag_commit_messages(&repo, "tag1").await,
-        Vec::from(["3", "2", "1", "Repository initialized"])
+        Vec::from(["3", "Repository initialized"])
     );
     assert_eq!(
         tag_commit_messages(&repo, "tag2").await,
-        Vec::from(["5", "4", "2", "1", "Repository initialized"])
+        Vec::from(["5", "Repository initialized"])
     );
 
     let now = Utc::now();
@@ -575,10 +582,10 @@ pub async fn test_expire_and_garbage_collect() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error:
     )
     .await?;
     // other expired snapshots are pointed by tags
-    assert_eq!(summary.snapshots_deleted, 2);
+    assert_eq!(summary.snapshots_deleted, 5);
 
-    // the non expired snapshots + the expired but pointed by tags snapshots
-    assert_eq!(storage.list_snapshots(&storage_settings).await?.count().await, 13);
+    // the non expired snapshots + the 2 expired but pointed by tags snapshots
+    assert_eq!(storage.list_snapshots(&storage_settings).await?.count().await, 10);
 
     repo.delete_tag("tag1").await?;
 
@@ -592,8 +599,8 @@ pub async fn test_expire_and_garbage_collect() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error:
     // other expired snapshots are pointed by tag2
     assert_eq!(summary.snapshots_deleted, 1);
 
-    // the non expired snapshots + the expired but pointed by tags snapshots
-    assert_eq!(storage.list_snapshots(&storage_settings).await?.count().await, 12);
+    // the non expired snapshots + the 1 pointed by tag2 snapshots
+    assert_eq!(storage.list_snapshots(&storage_settings).await?.count().await, 9);
 
     repo.delete_tag("tag2").await?;
 
@@ -605,10 +612,61 @@ pub async fn test_expire_and_garbage_collect() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error:
     )
     .await?;
     // tag2 snapshosts are released now
-    assert_eq!(summary.snapshots_deleted, 4);
+    assert_eq!(summary.snapshots_deleted, 1);
 
     // only the non expired snapshots left
     assert_eq!(storage.list_snapshots(&storage_settings).await?.count().await, 8);
 
     Ok(())
 }
+
+#[tokio::test]
+/// In this test, we set up a repo as in the design document for expiration.
+///
+/// We then, expire old snapshots and garbage collect. We verify we end up
+/// with what is expected according to the design document.
+pub async fn test_expire_and_garbage_collect_deliting_expired_refs()
+-> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
+    let storage: Arc<dyn Storage + Send + Sync> = new_in_memory_storage().await?;
+    let storage_settings = storage.default_settings();
+    let mut repo = Repository::create(None, Arc::clone(&storage), HashMap::new()).await?;
+
+    let expire_older_than = make_design_doc_repo(&mut repo).await?;
+
+    let asset_manager = Arc::new(AssetManager::new_no_cache(
+        storage.clone(),
+        storage_settings.clone(),
+        1,
+    ));
+
+    let result = expire(
+        storage.as_ref(),
+        &storage_settings,
+        asset_manager.clone(),
+        expire_older_than,
+        // This is different compared to the previous test
+        ExpiredRefAction::Delete,
+        ExpiredRefAction::Delete,
+    )
+    .await?;
+
+    assert_eq!(result.released_snapshots.len(), 7);
+    assert_eq!(result.deleted_refs.len(), 2);
+
+    let now = Utc::now();
+    let gc_config = GCConfig::clean_all(now, now, None);
+    let summary = garbage_collect(
+        storage.as_ref(),
+        &storage_settings,
+        asset_manager.clone(),
+        &gc_config,
+    )
+    .await?;
+
+    assert_eq!(summary.snapshots_deleted, 7);
+    assert_eq!(summary.transaction_logs_deleted, 7);
+
+    // only the non expired snapshots left
+    assert_eq!(storage.list_snapshots(&storage_settings).await?.count().await, 8);
+    Ok(())
+}