diff --git a/l3backend/CHANGELOG.md b/l3backend/CHANGELOG.md
index 48187b02ea..cf2c709e66 100644
--- a/l3backend/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/l3backend/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@ this project uses date-based 'snapshot' version identifiers.
 
 ## [Unreleased]
 
+#### Fixed
+- Do not include PDF file to count pages on pdfTeX
+
 ## [2022-04-20]
 
 ### Changed
diff --git a/l3backend/l3backend-graphics.dtx b/l3backend/l3backend-graphics.dtx
index 9d5b31faa9..d6c6ab14d9 100644
--- a/l3backend/l3backend-graphics.dtx
+++ b/l3backend/l3backend-graphics.dtx
@@ -352,7 +352,7 @@
 %    \begin{macrocode}
 \cs_new_protected:Npn \@@_backend_get_pagecount:n #1
   {
-    \tex_immediate:D \tex_pdfximage:D {#1}
+    \tex_pdfximage:D {#1}
     \int_const:cn { c_@@_ #1 _pages_int }
       { \int_use:N \tex_pdflastximagepages:D }
   }
diff --git a/l3experimental/l3graphics/testfiles/m3graphics002.tlg b/l3experimental/l3graphics/testfiles/m3graphics002.tlg
index a82e1583e8..a0078aa5eb 100644
--- a/l3experimental/l3graphics/testfiles/m3graphics002.tlg
+++ b/l3experimental/l3graphics/testfiles/m3graphics002.tlg
@@ -3,15 +3,12 @@ Don't change this file in any respect.
 ============================================================
 TEST 1: Getting the number of pages
 ============================================================
- <./miau.pdf>
 > \l_tmpa_tl=1.
 <recently read> }
 l. ...  }
- <./foo.bar.png>
 > \l_tmpa_tl=1.
 <recently read> }
 l. ...  }
- <./example-image-a4-numbered.pdf>
 > \l_tmpa_tl=12.
 <recently read> }
 l. ...  }