diff --git a/commands_test.go b/commands_test.go
index 6c08c86e..33aeb4a8 100644
--- a/commands_test.go
+++ b/commands_test.go
@@ -154,9 +154,10 @@ func TestReadMergeAnchorsPrefixMatchCmd(t *testing.T) {
 	if result.Error != nil {
 		t.Error(result.Error)
 	}
-	expectedOutput := `foobar.thing: ice
-foobar.thirty: well beyond
-foobar.thirsty: yep`
+	expectedOutput := `foobar.thirty: well beyond
+foobar.thing: ice
+foobar.thirsty: yep
+`
 	test.AssertResult(t, expectedOutput, result.Output)
 }
 
diff --git a/examples/merge-anchor.yaml b/examples/merge-anchor.yaml
index 048b02e2..6d3f426d 100644
--- a/examples/merge-anchor.yaml
+++ b/examples/merge-anchor.yaml
@@ -14,6 +14,6 @@ foobarList:
 
 foobar:
   <<: *foo
-  thing: ice
   thirty: well beyond
+  thing: ice
   c: 3
diff --git a/examples/sample2.yaml b/examples/sample2.yaml
index fea95f2e..e16e0b69 100644
--- a/examples/sample2.yaml
+++ b/examples/sample2.yaml
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ b:
   c: things
   d: whatever
 things:
+ borg: snorg
  thing1:
   cat: 'fred'
  thing2:
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/data_navigator.go b/pkg/yqlib/data_navigator.go
index 0bace7c4..23734111 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/data_navigator.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/data_navigator.go
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ func (n *navigator) doTraverse(value *yaml.Node, head string, path []string, pat
 		DebugNode(value)
 		return n.recurse(value, path[0], path[1:], pathStack)
 	}
+	log.Debug("should I visit?")
 	return n.navigationSettings.Visit(value, head, path, pathStack)
 }
 
@@ -76,16 +77,27 @@ func (n *navigator) recurse(value *yaml.Node, head string, tail []string, pathSt
 }
 
 func (n *navigator) recurseMap(value *yaml.Node, head string, tail []string, pathStack []interface{}) error {
-	visited, errorVisiting := n.visitMatchingEntries(value, head, tail, pathStack, func(contents []*yaml.Node, indexInMap int) error {
-		contents[indexInMap+1] = n.getOrReplace(contents[indexInMap+1], guessKind(tail, contents[indexInMap+1].Kind))
-		return n.doTraverse(contents[indexInMap+1], head, tail, append(pathStack, contents[indexInMap].Value))
+	traversedEntry := false
+	errorVisiting := n.visitMatchingEntries(value, head, tail, pathStack, func(contents []*yaml.Node, indexInMap int) error {
+
+		log.Debug("should I traverse? %v", head)
+		DebugNode(value)
+		if n.navigationSettings.ShouldTraverse(contents[indexInMap+1], head, tail, append(pathStack, contents[indexInMap].Value)) == true {
+			log.Debug("yep!")
+			traversedEntry = true
+			contents[indexInMap+1] = n.getOrReplace(contents[indexInMap+1], guessKind(tail, contents[indexInMap+1].Kind))
+			return n.doTraverse(contents[indexInMap+1], head, tail, append(pathStack, contents[indexInMap].Value))
+		} else {
+			log.Debug("nope not traversing")
+		}
+		return nil
 	})
 
 	if errorVisiting != nil {
 		return errorVisiting
 	}
 
-	if visited || head == "*" || n.navigationSettings.AutoCreateMap(value, head, tail, pathStack) == false {
+	if traversedEntry == true || head == "*" || n.navigationSettings.AutoCreateMap(value, head, tail, pathStack) == false {
 		return nil
 	}
 
@@ -93,33 +105,27 @@ func (n *navigator) recurseMap(value *yaml.Node, head string, tail []string, pat
 	value.Content = append(value.Content, &mapEntryKey)
 	mapEntryValue := yaml.Node{Kind: guessKind(tail, 0)}
 	value.Content = append(value.Content, &mapEntryValue)
-	log.Debug("adding new node %v", value.Content)
+	log.Debug("adding new node %v", head)
 	return n.doTraverse(&mapEntryValue, head, tail, append(pathStack, head))
 }
 
 // need to pass the node in, as it may be aliased
 type mapVisitorFn func(contents []*yaml.Node, index int) error
 
-func (n *navigator) visitDirectMatchingEntries(node *yaml.Node, head string, tail []string, pathStack []interface{}, visit mapVisitorFn) (bool, error) {
+func (n *navigator) visitDirectMatchingEntries(node *yaml.Node, head string, tail []string, pathStack []interface{}, visit mapVisitorFn) error {
 	var contents = node.Content
-	visited := false
 	for index := 0; index < len(contents); index = index + 2 {
 		content := contents[index]
 		log.Debug("index %v, checking %v, %v", index, content.Value, content.Tag)
-
-		if n.navigationSettings.ShouldVisit(content, head, tail, pathStack) == true {
-			log.Debug("found a match! %v", content.Value)
-			errorVisiting := visit(contents, index)
-			if errorVisiting != nil {
-				return visited, errorVisiting
-			}
-			visited = true
+		errorVisiting := visit(contents, index)
+		if errorVisiting != nil {
+			return errorVisiting
 		}
 	}
-	return visited, nil
+	return nil
 }
 
-func (n *navigator) visitMatchingEntries(node *yaml.Node, head string, tail []string, pathStack []interface{}, visit mapVisitorFn) (bool, error) {
+func (n *navigator) visitMatchingEntries(node *yaml.Node, head string, tail []string, pathStack []interface{}, visit mapVisitorFn) error {
 	var contents = node.Content
 	log.Debug("visitMatchingEntries %v", head)
 	DebugNode(node)
@@ -127,20 +133,15 @@ func (n *navigator) visitMatchingEntries(node *yaml.Node, head string, tail []st
 	// so keys are in the even indexes, values in odd.
 	// merge aliases are defined first, but we only want to traverse them
 	// if we don't find a match directly on this node first.
-	visited, errorVisitedDirectEntries := n.visitDirectMatchingEntries(node, head, tail, pathStack, visit)
+	errorVisitedDirectEntries := n.visitDirectMatchingEntries(node, head, tail, pathStack, visit)
 
-	//TODO: crap we have to remember what we visited so we dont print the same key in the alias
-	// eff
-
-	if errorVisitedDirectEntries != nil || visited == true || n.navigationSettings.FollowAlias(node, head, tail, pathStack) == false {
-		return visited, errorVisitedDirectEntries
+	if errorVisitedDirectEntries != nil || n.navigationSettings.FollowAlias(node, head, tail, pathStack) == false {
+		return errorVisitedDirectEntries
 	}
-	// didnt find a match, lets check the aliases.
-
 	return n.visitAliases(contents, head, tail, pathStack, visit)
 }
 
-func (n *navigator) visitAliases(contents []*yaml.Node, head string, tail []string, pathStack []interface{}, visit mapVisitorFn) (bool, error) {
+func (n *navigator) visitAliases(contents []*yaml.Node, head string, tail []string, pathStack []interface{}, visit mapVisitorFn) error {
 	// merge aliases are defined first, but we only want to traverse them
 	// if we don't find a match on this node first.
 	// traverse them backwards so that the last alias overrides the preceding.
@@ -156,36 +157,35 @@ func (n *navigator) visitAliases(contents []*yaml.Node, head string, tail []stri
 			DebugNode(contents[index])
 			DebugNode(valueNode)
 
-			visitedAlias, errorInAlias := n.visitMatchingEntries(valueNode.Alias, head, tail, pathStack, visit)
-			if visitedAlias == true || errorInAlias != nil {
-				return visitedAlias, errorInAlias
+			errorInAlias := n.visitMatchingEntries(valueNode.Alias, head, tail, pathStack, visit)
+			if errorInAlias != nil {
+				return errorInAlias
 			}
 		} else if contents[index+1].Kind == yaml.SequenceNode {
 			// could be an array of aliases...
-			visitedAliasSeq, errorVisitingAliasSeq := n.visitAliasSequence(contents[index+1].Content, head, tail, pathStack, visit)
-			if visitedAliasSeq == true || errorVisitingAliasSeq != nil {
-				return visitedAliasSeq, errorVisitingAliasSeq
+			errorVisitingAliasSeq := n.visitAliasSequence(contents[index+1].Content, head, tail, pathStack, visit)
+			if errorVisitingAliasSeq != nil {
+				return errorVisitingAliasSeq
 			}
 		}
 	}
-	log.Debug("nope no matching aliases found")
-	return false, nil
+	return nil
 }
 
-func (n *navigator) visitAliasSequence(possibleAliasArray []*yaml.Node, head string, tail []string, pathStack []interface{}, visit mapVisitorFn) (bool, error) {
+func (n *navigator) visitAliasSequence(possibleAliasArray []*yaml.Node, head string, tail []string, pathStack []interface{}, visit mapVisitorFn) error {
 	// need to search this backwards too, so that aliases defined last override the preceding.
 	for aliasIndex := len(possibleAliasArray) - 1; aliasIndex >= 0; aliasIndex = aliasIndex - 1 {
 		child := possibleAliasArray[aliasIndex]
 		if child.Kind == yaml.AliasNode {
 			log.Debug("found an alias")
 			DebugNode(child)
-			visitedAlias, errorInAlias := n.visitMatchingEntries(child.Alias, head, tail, pathStack, visit)
-			if visitedAlias == true || errorInAlias != nil {
-				return visitedAlias, errorInAlias
+			errorInAlias := n.visitMatchingEntries(child.Alias, head, tail, pathStack, visit)
+			if errorInAlias != nil {
+				return errorInAlias
 			}
 		}
 	}
-	return false, nil
+	return nil
 }
 
 func (n *navigator) splatArray(value *yaml.Node, tail []string, pathStack []interface{}) error {
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/delete_navigation_settings.go b/pkg/yqlib/delete_navigation_settings.go
index ad1c8ff9..dd2aabf8 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/delete_navigation_settings.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/delete_navigation_settings.go
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ package yqlib
 
 import (
 	"strconv"
-	"strings"
 
 	yaml "gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 )
@@ -16,15 +15,6 @@ func DeleteNavigationSettings(lastBit string) NavigationSettings {
 		autoCreateMap: func(node *yaml.Node, head string, tail []string, pathStack []interface{}) bool {
 			return true
 		},
-		shouldVisit: func(node *yaml.Node, head string, tail []string, pathStack []interface{}) bool {
-			var prefixMatch = strings.TrimSuffix(head, "*")
-			if prefixMatch != head {
-				log.Debug("prefix match, %v", strings.HasPrefix(node.Value, prefixMatch))
-				return strings.HasPrefix(node.Value, prefixMatch)
-			}
-			log.Debug("equals match, %v", node.Value == head)
-			return node.Value == head
-		},
 		visit: func(node *yaml.Node, head string, tail []string, pathStack []interface{}) error {
 			log.Debug("need to find %v in here", lastBit)
 			DebugNode(node)
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/navigation_settings.go b/pkg/yqlib/navigation_settings.go
index 5ee1d6dc..72d1ae3d 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/navigation_settings.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/navigation_settings.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package yqlib
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
 	"strings"
 
 	yaml "gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
@@ -16,15 +17,14 @@ type VisitedNode struct {
 type NavigationSettings interface {
 	FollowAlias(node *yaml.Node, head string, tail []string, pathStack []interface{}) bool
 	AutoCreateMap(node *yaml.Node, head string, tail []string, pathStack []interface{}) bool
-	ShouldVisit(node *yaml.Node, head string, tail []string, pathStack []interface{}) bool
 	Visit(node *yaml.Node, head string, tail []string, pathStack []interface{}) error
+	ShouldTraverse(node *yaml.Node, head string, tail []string, pathStack []interface{}) bool
 	GetVisitedNodes() []*VisitedNode
 }
 
 type NavigationSettingsImpl struct {
 	followAlias   func(node *yaml.Node, head string, tail []string, pathStack []interface{}) bool
 	autoCreateMap func(node *yaml.Node, head string, tail []string, pathStack []interface{}) bool
-	shouldVisit   func(node *yaml.Node, head string, tail []string, pathStack []interface{}) bool
 	visit         func(node *yaml.Node, head string, tail []string, pathStack []interface{}) error
 	visitedNodes  []*VisitedNode
 }
@@ -51,26 +51,88 @@ func (ns *NavigationSettingsImpl) AutoCreateMap(node *yaml.Node, head string, ta
 	return ns.autoCreateMap(node, head, tail, pathStack)
 }
 
-func (ns *NavigationSettingsImpl) Visit(node *yaml.Node, head string, tail []string, pathStack []interface{}) error {
-	ns.visitedNodes = append(ns.visitedNodes, &VisitedNode{node, head, tail, pathStack})
-	log.Debug("adding to visited nodes")
-	return ns.visit(node, head, tail, pathStack)
-}
-
-func (ns *NavigationSettingsImpl) ShouldVisit(node *yaml.Node, head string, tail []string, pathStack []interface{}) bool {
-	if !ns.alreadyVisited(node) {
-		return ns.shouldVisit(node, head, tail, pathStack)
-	} else {
-		log.Debug("Skipping over %v as we have seen it already", node.Value)
+func (ns *NavigationSettingsImpl) matchesNextPath(path string, candidate string) bool {
+	var prefixMatch = strings.TrimSuffix(path, "*")
+	if prefixMatch != path {
+		log.Debug("prefix match, %v", strings.HasPrefix(candidate, prefixMatch))
+		return strings.HasPrefix(candidate, prefixMatch)
 	}
-	return false
+	return candidate == path
 }
 
-func (ns *NavigationSettingsImpl) alreadyVisited(node *yaml.Node) bool {
+func (ns *NavigationSettingsImpl) ShouldTraverse(node *yaml.Node, head string, tail []string, pathStack []interface{}) bool {
+	// we should traverse aliases (if enabled), but not visit them :/
+	if len(pathStack) == 0 {
+		return true
+	}
+
+	if ns.alreadyVisited(pathStack) {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	lastBit := fmt.Sprintf("%v", pathStack[len(pathStack)-1])
+
+	return (lastBit == "<<" && ns.FollowAlias(node, head, tail, pathStack)) || (lastBit != "<<" && ns.matchesNextPath(head, lastBit))
+}
+
+func (ns *NavigationSettingsImpl) shouldVisit(node *yaml.Node, head string, tail []string, pathStack []interface{}) bool {
+	// we should traverse aliases (if enabled), but not visit them :/
+	if len(pathStack) == 0 {
+		return true
+	}
+
+	if ns.alreadyVisited(pathStack) {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	lastBit := fmt.Sprintf("%v", pathStack[len(pathStack)-1])
+	// only visit aliases if its an exact match
+	return (lastBit == "<<" && head == "<<") || (lastBit != "<<" && ns.matchesNextPath(head, lastBit))
+
+}
+
+func (ns *NavigationSettingsImpl) Visit(node *yaml.Node, head string, tail []string, pathStack []interface{}) error {
+	if ns.shouldVisit(node, head, tail, pathStack) {
+		ns.visitedNodes = append(ns.visitedNodes, &VisitedNode{node, head, tail, pathStack})
+		log.Debug("adding to visited nodes, %v", head)
+		return ns.visit(node, head, tail, pathStack)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (ns *NavigationSettingsImpl) alreadyVisited(pathStack []interface{}) bool {
+	log.Debug("looking for pathStack")
+	for _, val := range pathStack {
+		log.Debug("\t %v", val)
+	}
 	for _, candidate := range ns.visitedNodes {
-		if candidate.Node.Value == node.Value {
+		candidatePathStack := candidate.PathStack
+		if patchStacksMatch(candidatePathStack, pathStack) {
+			log.Debug("paths match, already seen it")
 			return true
 		}
+
 	}
+	log.Debug("never seen it before!")
 	return false
 }
+
+func patchStacksMatch(path1 []interface{}, path2 []interface{}) bool {
+	log.Debug("checking against path")
+	for _, val := range path1 {
+		log.Debug("\t %v", val)
+	}
+
+	if len(path1) != len(path2) {
+		return false
+	}
+	for index, p1Value := range path1 {
+
+		p2Value := path2[index]
+		if p1Value != p2Value {
+			return false
+		}
+	}
+	return true
+
+}
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/read_navigation_strategy.go b/pkg/yqlib/read_navigation_strategy.go
index 08d12929..7439495f 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/read_navigation_strategy.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/read_navigation_strategy.go
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 package yqlib
 
 import (
-	"strings"
-
 	yaml "gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 )
 
@@ -15,21 +13,6 @@ func ReadNavigationSettings() NavigationSettings {
 		autoCreateMap: func(node *yaml.Node, head string, tail []string, pathStack []interface{}) bool {
 			return false
 		},
-		shouldVisit: func(node *yaml.Node, head string, tail []string, pathStack []interface{}) bool {
-			log.Debug("shouldVisit h: %v, actual: %v", head, node.Value)
-			if node.Value == "<<" {
-				log.Debug("its an alias, skip it")
-				// dont match alias keys, as we'll follow them instead
-				return false
-			}
-			var prefixMatch = strings.TrimSuffix(head, "*")
-			if prefixMatch != head {
-				log.Debug("prefix match, %v", strings.HasPrefix(node.Value, prefixMatch))
-				return strings.HasPrefix(node.Value, prefixMatch)
-			}
-			log.Debug("equals match, %v", node.Value == head)
-			return node.Value == head
-		},
 		visit: func(node *yaml.Node, head string, tail []string, pathStack []interface{}) error {
 			return nil
 		},
diff --git a/pkg/yqlib/update_navigation_strategy.go b/pkg/yqlib/update_navigation_strategy.go
index 021b78ce..2fb122d7 100644
--- a/pkg/yqlib/update_navigation_strategy.go
+++ b/pkg/yqlib/update_navigation_strategy.go
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 package yqlib
 
 import (
-	"strings"
-
 	yaml "gopkg.in/yaml.v3"
 )
 
@@ -15,15 +13,6 @@ func UpdateNavigationSettings(changesToApply *yaml.Node) NavigationSettings {
 		autoCreateMap: func(node *yaml.Node, head string, tail []string, pathStack []interface{}) bool {
 			return true
 		},
-		shouldVisit: func(node *yaml.Node, head string, tail []string, pathStack []interface{}) bool {
-			var prefixMatch = strings.TrimSuffix(head, "*")
-			if prefixMatch != head {
-				log.Debug("prefix match, %v", strings.HasPrefix(node.Value, prefixMatch))
-				return strings.HasPrefix(node.Value, prefixMatch)
-			}
-			log.Debug("equals match, %v", node.Value == head)
-			return node.Value == head
-		},
 		visit: func(node *yaml.Node, head string, tail []string, pathStack []interface{}) error {
 			log.Debug("going to update")
 			DebugNode(node)
diff --git a/test.yml b/test.yml
index 804fbe36..6a6683f1 100644
--- a/test.yml
+++ b/test.yml
@@ -1,11 +1,3 @@
-a: 2
 b:
- hi:
-   c: things
-   d: something else
- there:
-   c: more things
-   d: more something else
- there2:
-   c: more things also
-   d: more something else also
\ No newline at end of file
+  c: thing
+  d: another thing
\ No newline at end of file