diff --git a/src/python/jw/pkg/App.py b/src/python/jw/pkg/App.py
index 7abc3040..cffb1972 100644
--- a/src/python/jw/pkg/App.py
+++ b/src/python/jw/pkg/App.py
@@ -199,25 +199,24 @@ class App(Base):
             ),
         )
         vals_list = vals.split(',') if vals else []
-        match scope:
-            case Scope.Self:
-                buf += vals_list
-            case Scope.One | Scope.Subtree:
-                subscope = scope.Self if scope == Scope.One else scope
-                for val in vals_list:
-                    val = val.strip()
-                    if not (len(val)):
-                        continue
-                    self.__get_project_refs(
-                        buf,
-                        visited,
-                        val,
-                        section,
-                        key,
-                        add_self = True,
-                        scope = subscope,
-                        names_only = names_only,
-                    )
+        if scope != Scope.Self:
+            # Scope.Self adds the node itself (if add_self), but not its
+            # children, so stop recursing here
+            subscope = scope.Self if scope == Scope.One else scope
+            for val in vals_list:
+                val = val.strip()
+                if not (len(val)):
+                    continue
+                self.__get_project_refs(
+                    buf,
+                    visited,
+                    val,
+                    section,
+                    key,
+                    add_self = True,
+                    scope = subscope,
+                    names_only = names_only,
+                )
         if add_self:
             buf.append(spec)