diff --git a/src/module-elasticsuite-virtual-category/Model/Rule.php b/src/module-elasticsuite-virtual-category/Model/Rule.php
index cc75b92c6..f118958b5 100644
--- a/src/module-elasticsuite-virtual-category/Model/Rule.php
+++ b/src/module-elasticsuite-virtual-category/Model/Rule.php
@@ -318,6 +318,8 @@ private function addChildrenQueries($query, CategoryInterface $category, $exclud
             $queryParams = ['should' => [$query], 'cached' => empty($excludedCategories)];
 
             foreach ($childrenCategories as $childrenCategory) {
+                $excludedCategories[] = $childrenCategory->getId();
+
                 if (((bool) $childrenCategory->getIsVirtualCategory()) === true) {
                     $childrenQuery = $this->getCategorySearchQuery($childrenCategory, $excludedCategories);
                     if ($childrenQuery !== null) {