diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/lib.go b/pkg/yqlib/lib.go
index 65389263a6..144fed9f92 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/lib.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/lib.go
@@ -338,7 +338,7 @@ func deepCloneWithOptions(node *yaml.Node, cloneContent bool) *yaml.Node {
 		Tag:         node.Tag,
 		Value:       node.Value,
 		Anchor:      node.Anchor,
-		Alias:       deepClone(node.Alias),
+		Alias:       node.Alias,
 		HeadComment: node.HeadComment,
 		LineComment: node.LineComment,
 		FootComment: node.FootComment,
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/operator_assign_test.go b/pkg/yqlib/operator_assign_test.go
index 4a7cd2088f..47fcaa4c62 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/operator_assign_test.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/operator_assign_test.go
@@ -4,6 +4,11 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 )
 
+var mergeAnchorAssign = `a: &a
+  x: OriginalValue
+b:
+  <<: *a`
+
 var assignOperatorScenarios = []expressionScenario{
 	{
 		description: "Create yaml file",
@@ -20,6 +25,14 @@ var assignOperatorScenarios = []expressionScenario{
 			"D0, P[], (doc)::a: null\n",
 		},
 	},
+	{
+		skipDoc:    true,
+		document:   mergeAnchorAssign,
+		expression: `.c = .b | .a.x = "ModifiedValue" | explode(.)`,
+		expected: []string{
+			"D0, P[], (doc)::a:\n    x: ModifiedValue\nb:\n    x: ModifiedValue\nc:\n    x: ModifiedValue\n",
+		},
+	},
 	{
 		skipDoc:    true,
 		document:   "{}",