The subject technology receives, during a query compilation process, a query directed to a set of source tables. The subject technology performs, during the query compilation process, a modification of the query for adjusting at least one pruning operation. The subject technology determines, during a pruning process of a second query, the second query directed to a set of files in a database system and including a set of pruning operations on the set of files, whether to perform a pruning cutoff on the set of pruning operations, the pruning process performing a depth first search of a pruner tree structure, the set of files comprising a set of micro-partitions. The subject technology performs the pruning cutoff based on the determining, the pruning cutoff ceasing at least one pruning operation from the set of pruning operations.