diff --git a/src/binder/expression_binder.cpp b/src/binder/expression_binder.cpp
index 367fd282e..4d56fcdee 100644
--- a/src/binder/expression_binder.cpp
+++ b/src/binder/expression_binder.cpp
@@ -183,13 +183,7 @@ std::shared_ptr<Expression> ExpressionBinder::bindExpression(
         throw NotImplementedException(
             "bindExpression(" + ExpressionTypeUtil::toString(expressionType) + ").");
     }
-    // A direct reference to a variable returns an expression of an earlier clause, simplified when
-    // it was bound; it is not simplified again, as a new object would escape the binder's identity
-    // check for expressions an earlier clause computed. References nested in a larger expression
-    // rely on each simplifier returning an already simplified input unchanged.
-    if (expressionType != ExpressionType::VARIABLE) {
-        expression = simplifyExpression(expression);
-    }
+    expression = simplifyExpression(expression);
     if (ConstantExpressionVisitor::needFold(*expression)) {
         return tryFoldExpression(expression);
     }
@@ -198,6 +192,11 @@ std::shared_ptr<Expression> ExpressionBinder::bindExpression(
 
 std::shared_ptr<Expression> ExpressionBinder::simplifyExpression(
     const std::shared_ptr<Expression>& expression) {
+    // Earlier clauses' expressions are recognised by identity, so a scope expression is never
+    // simplified again, and no simplifier returns a part of one in place of its parent.
+    if (binder->scope.contains(*expression)) {
+        return expression;
+    }
     switch (expression->expressionType) {
     case ExpressionType::AND:
     case ExpressionType::OR:
@@ -263,6 +262,12 @@ std::shared_ptr<Expression> ExpressionBinder::simplifyArithmeticExpression(
     if (expression->dataType != survivor->dataType) {
         return expression;
     }
+    // A projection names its item by setting the alias on the expression, so an identity over a
+    // scope expression stays as written: returning the operand would let the alias rename the
+    // variable, e.g. x in WITH x + 0 AS y, x.
+    if (binder->scope.contains(*survivor)) {
+        return expression;
+    }
     // Preserve the original expression name, mirroring foldExpression: without this,
     // e.g. RETURN t.age, t.age + 0 would produce two identically-named columns.
     if (expression->hasAlias()) {
@@ -286,7 +291,7 @@ std::shared_ptr<Expression> ExpressionBinder::simplifyBooleanExpression(
         if (isBoolLiteral(*child, false)) {
             return createLiteralExpression(Value(true));
         }
-        if (child->expressionType == ExpressionType::NOT) {
+        if (child->expressionType == ExpressionType::NOT && !binder->scope.contains(*child)) {
             return child->getChild(0);
         }
         if (child != expression->getChild(0)) {
diff --git a/src/include/binder/binder_scope.h b/src/include/binder/binder_scope.h
index 508c11108..909f04d39 100644
--- a/src/include/binder/binder_scope.h
+++ b/src/include/binder/binder_scope.h
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 #pragma once
 
+#include <algorithm>
+
 #include "binder/expression/expression.h"
 #include "binder/expression/node_expression.h"
 #include "common/case_insensitive_map.h"
@@ -14,6 +16,10 @@ class BinderScope {
 
     bool empty() const { return expressions.empty(); }
     bool contains(const std::string& varName) const { return nameToExprIdx.contains(varName); }
+    bool contains(const Expression& expression) const {
+        return std::ranges::any_of(expressions,
+            [&](const auto& scopeExpr) { return scopeExpr.get() == &expression; });
+    }
     std::shared_ptr<Expression> getExpression(const std::string& varName) const {
         DASSERT(nameToExprIdx.contains(varName));
         return expressions[nameToExprIdx.at(varName)];
diff --git a/test/test_files/projection/simplified_variable_alias.test b/test/test_files/projection/simplified_variable_alias.test
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..ad71c640b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/test_files/projection/simplified_variable_alias.test
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+-DATASET CSV empty
+
+--
+
+-CASE ArithmeticIdentityOverVariableKeepsAlias
+-STATEMENT UNWIND [1, 2] AS x WITH x + 0 AS y, x RETURN y, x
+-CHECK_COLUMN_NAMES
+---- 3
+y|x
+1|1
+2|2
+-STATEMENT UNWIND [1, 2] AS x WITH x * 1 AS y, x RETURN y, x
+-CHECK_COLUMN_NAMES
+---- 3
+y|x
+1|1
+2|2
+-STATEMENT UNWIND [3] AS x WITH count(*) AS n WITH n + 0 AS m RETURN m, m * 1
+-CHECK_COLUMN_NAMES
+---- 2
+m|*(m,1)
+1|1
+-STATEMENT UNWIND [1] AS x RETURN x, x + 0
+-CHECK_COLUMN_NAMES
+---- 2
+x|+(x,0)
+1|1
+-STATEMENT UNWIND [1, 2, 3] AS x WITH count(*) AS n WITH n + 0 AS m RETURN m
+---- 1
+3
+
+-CASE SimplifiedNodeStaysPattern
+-STATEMENT CREATE NODE TABLE P(id INT64 PRIMARY KEY)
+---- ok
+-STATEMENT CREATE REL TABLE R(FROM P TO P)
+---- ok
+-STATEMENT CREATE (:P {id: 1})-[:R]->(:P {id: 2})
+---- ok
+-STATEMENT MATCH (n:P) WITH CASE WHEN true THEN n END AS m MATCH (m)-[:R]->(o) RETURN m.id, o.id
+---- 1
+1|2
+
+-CASE SimplifiedScopeExpressionReferencedLater
+-STATEMENT UNWIND [1, 2, 3] AS x WITH count(*) AS n WITH n + 0 AS m RETURN m, CASE WHEN true THEN m END AS k
+---- 1
+3|3
+-STATEMENT UNWIND [1, 2] AS x WITH x + 0 AS y RETURN CASE WHEN true THEN y END AS z
+---- 2
+1
+2
+-STATEMENT UNWIND [true, false] AS b WITH b AND true AS y RETURN y AND true AS r
+---- 2
+True
+False
+-STATEMENT UNWIND [true, false] AS b WITH NOT b AS z RETURN NOT z AS r
+---- 2
+True
+False
+-STATEMENT UNWIND [1, 2] AS x RETURN x + 0 AS y, count(*) AS c ORDER BY y * 1
+-CHECK_ORDER
+---- 2
+1|1
+2|1
+-STATEMENT UNWIND [1, 2] AS x RETURN x + 0 AS y, count(*) AS c ORDER BY x + 0
+-CHECK_ORDER
+---- 2
+1|1
+2|1