diff --git a/hibernate-core/src/main/java/org/hibernate/query/sqm/tree/domain/AbstractSqmPath.java b/hibernate-core/src/main/java/org/hibernate/query/sqm/tree/domain/AbstractSqmPath.java
index c06a54b66b..1f874207e6 100644
--- a/hibernate-core/src/main/java/org/hibernate/query/sqm/tree/domain/AbstractSqmPath.java
+++ b/hibernate-core/src/main/java/org/hibernate/query/sqm/tree/domain/AbstractSqmPath.java
@@ -60,8 +60,7 @@ public abstract class AbstractSqmPath<T> extends AbstractSqmExpression<T> implem
 	}
 
 	protected void copyTo(AbstractSqmPath<T> target, SqmCopyContext context) {
-		assert lhs == null || lhs.getNavigablePath() == target.getLhs().getNavigablePath()
-				|| getRoot( lhs ).getNodeType() instanceof SqmPolymorphicRootDescriptor;
+		assert navigablePathsMatch( target );
 		super.copyTo( target, context );
 		if ( reusablePaths != null ) {
 			target.reusablePaths = new HashMap<>( reusablePaths.size() );
@@ -71,6 +70,13 @@ public abstract class AbstractSqmPath<T> extends AbstractSqmExpression<T> implem
 		}
 	}
 
+	// meant for assertions only
+	private boolean navigablePathsMatch(AbstractSqmPath<T> target) {
+		final SqmPath<?> targetLhs = target.getLhs() != null ? target.getLhs() : target.findRoot();
+		return lhs == null || lhs.getNavigablePath() == targetLhs.getNavigablePath()
+				|| getRoot( lhs ).getNodeType() instanceof SqmPolymorphicRootDescriptor;
+	}
+
 	private SqmPath<?> getRoot(SqmPath<?> lhs) {
 		return lhs.getLhs() == null ? lhs : getRoot( lhs.getLhs() );
 	}
diff --git a/hibernate-core/src/main/java/org/hibernate/query/sqm/tree/from/SqmCrossJoin.java b/hibernate-core/src/main/java/org/hibernate/query/sqm/tree/from/SqmCrossJoin.java
index 08c786bec1..dd97275816 100644
--- a/hibernate-core/src/main/java/org/hibernate/query/sqm/tree/from/SqmCrossJoin.java
+++ b/hibernate-core/src/main/java/org/hibernate/query/sqm/tree/from/SqmCrossJoin.java
@@ -66,14 +66,13 @@ public class SqmCrossJoin<T> extends AbstractSqmFrom<T, T> implements JpaCrossJo
 		if ( existing != null ) {
 			return existing;
 		}
-		final SqmRoot<?> rootCopy = getRoot().copy( context );
 		final SqmCrossJoin<T> path = context.registerCopy(
 				this,
 				new SqmCrossJoin<>(
-						getNavigablePathCopy( rootCopy ),
+						getNavigablePath(),
 						getReferencedPathSource(),
 						getExplicitAlias(),
-						rootCopy
+						getRoot().copy( context )
 				)
 		);
 		copyTo( path, context );
diff --git a/hibernate-core/src/main/java/org/hibernate/query/sqm/tree/from/SqmDerivedJoin.java b/hibernate-core/src/main/java/org/hibernate/query/sqm/tree/from/SqmDerivedJoin.java
index bb533a0840..beb87f5c65 100644
--- a/hibernate-core/src/main/java/org/hibernate/query/sqm/tree/from/SqmDerivedJoin.java
+++ b/hibernate-core/src/main/java/org/hibernate/query/sqm/tree/from/SqmDerivedJoin.java
@@ -96,17 +96,16 @@ public class SqmDerivedJoin<T> extends AbstractSqmQualifiedJoin<T, T> implements
 		if ( existing != null ) {
 			return existing;
 		}
-		final SqmRoot<?> rootCopy = findRoot().copy( context );
 		final SqmDerivedJoin<T> path = context.registerCopy(
 				this,
 				new SqmDerivedJoin<>(
-						getNavigablePathCopy( rootCopy ),
+						getNavigablePath(),
 						subQuery,
 						lateral,
 						getReferencedPathSource(),
 						getExplicitAlias(),
 						getSqmJoinType(),
-						rootCopy
+						findRoot().copy( context )
 				)
 		);
 		copyTo( path, context );
diff --git a/hibernate-core/src/main/java/org/hibernate/query/sqm/tree/from/SqmEntityJoin.java b/hibernate-core/src/main/java/org/hibernate/query/sqm/tree/from/SqmEntityJoin.java
index d42d5a7041..416b3af497 100644
--- a/hibernate-core/src/main/java/org/hibernate/query/sqm/tree/from/SqmEntityJoin.java
+++ b/hibernate-core/src/main/java/org/hibernate/query/sqm/tree/from/SqmEntityJoin.java
@@ -70,15 +70,14 @@ public class SqmEntityJoin<T> extends AbstractSqmQualifiedJoin<T, T> implements
 		if ( existing != null ) {
 			return existing;
 		}
-		final SqmRoot<?> rootCopy = getRoot().copy( context );
 		final SqmEntityJoin<T> path = context.registerCopy(
 				this,
 				new SqmEntityJoin<>(
-						getNavigablePathCopy( rootCopy ),
+						getNavigablePath(),
 						getReferencedPathSource(),
 						getExplicitAlias(),
 						getSqmJoinType(),
-						rootCopy
+						getRoot().copy( context )
 				)
 		);
 		copyTo( path, context );