diff --git a/.changeset/removed-query-gc.md b/.changeset/removed-query-gc.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..30efde8d92e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/removed-query-gc.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"@tanstack/query-core": patch
+---
+
+Avoid restarting garbage-collection timers for removed queries when their last observer unsubscribes or a cancelled fetch settles.
diff --git a/packages/query-core/src/__tests__/query.test.tsx b/packages/query-core/src/__tests__/query.test.tsx
index 9d924d9315d..e3bc075ac8e 100644
--- a/packages/query-core/src/__tests__/query.test.tsx
+++ b/packages/query-core/src/__tests__/query.test.tsx
@@ -13,6 +13,8 @@ import {
   dehydrate,
   hydrate,
   noop,
+  skipToken,
+  timeoutManager,
 } from '..'
 import { hashQueryKeyByOptions } from '../utils'
 import { mockOnlineManagerIsOnline, setIsServer } from './utils'
@@ -34,6 +36,76 @@ describe('query', () => {
     vi.useRealTimers()
   })
 
+  describe('garbage collection after removal', () => {
+    it.each([false, true])(
+      'does not reschedule GC on unsubscribe (replacement: %s)',
+      (replace) => {
+        const key = queryKey()
+        const gcTime = 30_000
+        const observer = new QueryObserver(queryClient, {
+          queryKey: key,
+          queryFn: skipToken,
+          initialData: 'data',
+          gcTime,
+          staleTime: Infinity,
+        })
+        const unsubscribe = observer.subscribe(noop)
+        const oldQuery = observer.getCurrentQuery()
+        queryClient.removeQueries({ queryKey: key })
+        if (replace) {
+          queryClient.setQueryData(key, 'replacement')
+        }
+        const schedule = vi.spyOn(timeoutManager, 'setTimeout')
+        schedule.mockClear()
+
+        unsubscribe()
+
+        expect(oldQuery.getObserversCount()).toBe(0)
+        expect(queryCache.get(oldQuery.queryHash)).not.toBe(oldQuery)
+        expect(schedule).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.any(Function), gcTime)
+        expect(queryClient.getQueryData(key)).toBe(
+          replace ? 'replacement' : undefined,
+        )
+        schedule.mockRestore()
+      },
+    )
+
+    it.each([false, true])(
+      'does not reschedule GC when cancellation settles (replacement: %s)',
+      async (replace) => {
+        const key = queryKey()
+        const gcTime = 30_000
+        let resolve!: (data: string) => void
+        const request = new Promise<string>((done) => {
+          resolve = done
+        })
+        const fetch = queryClient
+          .query({
+            queryKey: key,
+            queryFn: () => request,
+            gcTime,
+          })
+          .catch(noop)
+        queryClient.removeQueries({ queryKey: key })
+        if (replace) {
+          queryClient.setQueryData(key, 'replacement')
+        }
+        const schedule = vi.spyOn(timeoutManager, 'setTimeout')
+        schedule.mockClear()
+
+        await fetch
+        resolve('late data')
+        await Promise.resolve()
+
+        expect(schedule).not.toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.any(Function), gcTime)
+        expect(queryClient.getQueryData(key)).toBe(
+          replace ? 'replacement' : undefined,
+        )
+        schedule.mockRestore()
+      },
+    )
+  })
+
   it('should use the longest garbage collection time it has seen', async () => {
     const key = queryKey()
     await queryClient
diff --git a/packages/query-core/src/query.ts b/packages/query-core/src/query.ts
index bd895805ab0..a94d192f6ca 100644
--- a/packages/query-core/src/query.ts
+++ b/packages/query-core/src/query.ts
@@ -625,7 +625,7 @@ export class Query<
    * @internal
    * @param observer - The observer to remove. When the last observer is removed, the in-flight
    * fetch is cancelled if its abort signal was consumed (otherwise only its retries are stopped),
-   * and garbage collection is scheduled.
+   * and garbage collection is scheduled if this query is still cached.
    */
   removeObserver(observer: QueryObserver<any, any, any, any, any>): void {
     const index = this.observers.indexOf(observer)
@@ -647,7 +647,13 @@ export class Query<
           }
         }
 
-        this.scheduleGc()
+        if (
+          this.#cache.get<TQueryFnData, TError, TData, TQueryKey>(
+            this.queryHash,
+          ) === this
+        ) {
+          this.scheduleGc()
+        }
       }
 
       this.#cache.notify({ type: 'observerRemoved', query: this, observer })
@@ -926,8 +932,14 @@ export class Query<
       if (this.#retryer === retryer) {
         this.#retryer = undefined
       }
-      // Schedule query gc after fetching
-      this.scheduleGc()
+      // A removed query may still be finishing cancellation.
+      if (
+        this.#cache.get<TQueryFnData, TError, TData, TQueryKey>(
+          this.queryHash,
+        ) === this
+      ) {
+        this.scheduleGc()
+      }
     }
   }