diff --git a/apps/files/lib/Controller/ApiController.php b/apps/files/lib/Controller/ApiController.php
index dac95e914aa76..b2fbfd4e34db2 100644
--- a/apps/files/lib/Controller/ApiController.php
+++ b/apps/files/lib/Controller/ApiController.php
@@ -275,7 +275,9 @@ private function getChildren(array $nodes, int $depth = 1, int $currentDepth = 0
 			$entry = [
 				'id' => $node->getId(),
 				'basename' => $basename,
-				'children' => $this->getChildren($node->getDirectoryListing($mimeTypeFilter), $depth, $currentDepth + 1),
+				'children' => $currentDepth + 1 < $depth
+					? $this->getChildren($node->getDirectoryListing($mimeTypeFilter), $depth, $currentDepth + 1)
+					: [],
 			];
 			$displayName = $node->getName();
 			if ($basename !== $displayName) {