diff --git a/bundles/org.eclipse.e4.emf.xpath/src/org/eclipse/e4/emf/xpath/internal/java/JavaXPathFactoryImpl.java b/bundles/org.eclipse.e4.emf.xpath/src/org/eclipse/e4/emf/xpath/internal/java/JavaXPathFactoryImpl.java
index 091e2718681..e5a246caff6 100644
--- a/bundles/org.eclipse.e4.emf.xpath/src/org/eclipse/e4/emf/xpath/internal/java/JavaXPathFactoryImpl.java
+++ b/bundles/org.eclipse.e4.emf.xpath/src/org/eclipse/e4/emf/xpath/internal/java/JavaXPathFactoryImpl.java
@@ -294,7 +294,7 @@ public int getLength() {
 		}
 
 		private Stream<EReference> availableReferences(EClass eClass) {
-			return eClass.getEAllReferences().stream().filter(eObject::eIsSet);
+			return eClass.getEAllReferences().stream().filter(r -> r.isContainment()).filter(eObject::eIsSet);
 		}
 
 		private Stream<Element> createReferenceNodes(EReference ref) {