diff --git a/src/box/box.cc b/src/box/box.cc
index 7d6dfc8f63895f595d1593157983387a7b97ed69..ba0af95e4a6d86745c55952e748c01ffc8186ee0 100644
--- a/src/box/box.cc
+++ b/src/box/box.cc
@@ -1406,7 +1406,7 @@ box_process_join(struct ev_io *io, struct xrow_header *header)
 	/* Register the replica with the garbage collector. */
 	struct gc_consumer *gc = gc_consumer_register(
 		tt_sprintf("replica %s", tt_uuid_str(&instance_uuid)),
-		vclock_sum(&start_vclock));
+		vclock_sum(&start_vclock), GC_CONSUMER_WAL);
 	if (gc == NULL)
 		diag_raise();
 	auto gc_guard = make_scoped_guard([=]{
@@ -2082,7 +2082,8 @@ box_backup_start(int checkpoint_idx, box_backup_cb cb, void *cb_arg)
 			return -1;
 		}
 	} while (checkpoint_idx-- > 0);
-	backup_gc = gc_consumer_register("backup", vclock_sum(vclock));
+	backup_gc = gc_consumer_register("backup", vclock_sum(vclock),
+					 GC_CONSUMER_ALL);
 	if (backup_gc == NULL)
 		return -1;
 	int rc = engine_backup(vclock, cb, cb_arg);
diff --git a/src/box/gc.c b/src/box/gc.c
index 12e68f3dcd18749ed710f19c1568e0d3e5b8b6e8..6a05b298306bce285a07cb3b1c0c388f7f97f480 100644
--- a/src/box/gc.c
+++ b/src/box/gc.c
@@ -61,6 +61,10 @@ struct gc_consumer {
 	char *name;
 	/** The vclock signature tracked by this consumer. */
 	int64_t signature;
+	/** Consumer type, indicating that consumer only consumes
+	 * WAL files, or both - SNAP and WAL.
+	 */
+	enum gc_consumer_type type;
 };
 
 typedef rb_tree(struct gc_consumer) gc_tree_t;
@@ -69,8 +73,10 @@ typedef rb_tree(struct gc_consumer) gc_tree_t;
 struct gc_state {
 	/** Number of checkpoints to maintain. */
 	int checkpoint_count;
-	/** Max signature garbage collection has been called for. */
-	int64_t signature;
+	/** Max signature WAL garbage collection has been called for. */
+	int64_t wal_signature;
+	/** Max signature checkpoint garbage collection has been called for. */
+	int64_t checkpoint_signature;
 	/** Registered consumers, linked by gc_consumer::node. */
 	gc_tree_t consumers;
 	/**
@@ -104,7 +110,8 @@ rb_gen(MAYBE_UNUSED static inline, gc_tree_, gc_tree_t,
 
 /** Allocate a consumer object. */
 static struct gc_consumer *
-gc_consumer_new(const char *name, int64_t signature)
+gc_consumer_new(const char *name, int64_t signature,
+		enum gc_consumer_type type)
 {
 	struct gc_consumer *consumer = calloc(1, sizeof(*consumer));
 	if (consumer == NULL) {
@@ -120,6 +127,7 @@ gc_consumer_new(const char *name, int64_t signature)
 		return NULL;
 	}
 	consumer->signature = signature;
+	consumer->type = type;
 	return consumer;
 }
 
@@ -135,7 +143,8 @@ gc_consumer_delete(struct gc_consumer *consumer)
 void
 gc_init(void)
 {
-	gc.signature = -1;
+	gc.wal_signature = -1;
+	gc.checkpoint_signature = -1;
 	gc_tree_new(&gc.consumers);
 	latch_create(&gc.latch);
 }
@@ -155,21 +164,34 @@ gc_free(void)
 	latch_destroy(&gc.latch);
 }
 
+/** Find the consumer that uses the oldest checkpoint. */
+struct gc_consumer *
+gc_tree_first_checkpoint(gc_tree_t *consumers)
+{
+	struct gc_consumer *consumer = gc_tree_first(consumers);
+	while (consumer != NULL && consumer->type == GC_CONSUMER_WAL)
+		consumer = gc_tree_next(consumers, consumer);
+	return consumer;
+}
+
 void
 gc_run(void)
 {
 	int checkpoint_count = gc.checkpoint_count;
 	assert(checkpoint_count > 0);
 
-	/* Look up the consumer that uses the oldest snapshot. */
+	/* Look up the consumer that uses the oldest WAL. */
 	struct gc_consumer *leftmost = gc_tree_first(&gc.consumers);
+	/* Look up the consumer that uses the oldest checkpoint. */
+	struct gc_consumer *leftmost_checkpoint =
+		gc_tree_first_checkpoint(&gc.consumers);
 
 	/*
 	 * Find the oldest checkpoint that must be preserved.
-	 * We have to maintain @checkpoint_count oldest snapshots,
-	 * plus we can't remove snapshots that are still in use.
+	 * We have to maintain @checkpoint_count oldest checkpoints,
+	 * plus we can't remove checkpoints that are still in use.
 	 */
-	int64_t gc_signature = -1;
+	int64_t gc_checkpoint_signature = -1;
 
 	struct checkpoint_iterator checkpoints;
 	checkpoint_iterator_init(&checkpoints);
@@ -178,17 +200,20 @@ gc_run(void)
 	while ((vclock = checkpoint_iterator_prev(&checkpoints)) != NULL) {
 		if (--checkpoint_count > 0)
 			continue;
-		if (leftmost != NULL &&
-		    leftmost->signature < vclock_sum(vclock))
+		if (leftmost_checkpoint != NULL &&
+		    leftmost_checkpoint->signature < vclock_sum(vclock))
 			continue;
-		gc_signature = vclock_sum(vclock);
+		gc_checkpoint_signature = vclock_sum(vclock);
 		break;
 	}
 
-	if (gc_signature <= gc.signature)
-		return; /* nothing to do */
+	int64_t gc_wal_signature = MIN(gc_checkpoint_signature,
+				       leftmost != NULL ?
+				       leftmost->signature : INT64_MAX);
 
-	gc.signature = gc_signature;
+	if (gc_wal_signature <= gc.wal_signature &&
+	    gc_checkpoint_signature <= gc.checkpoint_signature)
+		return; /* nothing to do */
 
 	/*
 	 * Engine callbacks may sleep, because they use coio for
@@ -204,8 +229,17 @@ gc_run(void)
 	 * collection for memtx snapshots first and abort if it
 	 * fails - see comment to memtx_engine_collect_garbage().
 	 */
-	if (engine_collect_garbage(gc_signature) == 0)
-		wal_collect_garbage(gc_signature);
+	int rc = 0;
+
+	if (gc_checkpoint_signature > gc.checkpoint_signature) {
+		gc.checkpoint_signature = gc_checkpoint_signature;
+		rc = engine_collect_garbage(gc_checkpoint_signature);
+	}
+	if (gc_wal_signature > gc.wal_signature) {
+		gc.wal_signature = gc_wal_signature;
+		if (rc == 0)
+			wal_collect_garbage(gc_wal_signature);
+	}
 
 	latch_unlock(&gc.latch);
 }
@@ -217,9 +251,11 @@ gc_set_checkpoint_count(int checkpoint_count)
 }
 
 struct gc_consumer *
-gc_consumer_register(const char *name, int64_t signature)
+gc_consumer_register(const char *name, int64_t signature,
+		     enum gc_consumer_type type)
 {
-	struct gc_consumer *consumer = gc_consumer_new(name, signature);
+	struct gc_consumer *consumer = gc_consumer_new(name, signature,
+						       type);
 	if (consumer != NULL)
 		gc_tree_insert(&gc.consumers, consumer);
 	return consumer;
diff --git a/src/box/gc.h b/src/box/gc.h
index 634ce6d38421aae491fd6a7ebd5eef9841fec956..6a890b7b7d5f3d4aaef2602e06011cdb32392b29 100644
--- a/src/box/gc.h
+++ b/src/box/gc.h
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
 
 #include <stddef.h>
 #include <stdint.h>
+#include <stdbool.h>
 
 #if defined(__cplusplus)
 extern "C" {
@@ -40,6 +41,13 @@ extern "C" {
 
 struct gc_consumer;
 
+/** Consumer type: WAL consumer, or SNAP */
+enum gc_consumer_type {
+	GC_CONSUMER_WAL = 1,
+	GC_CONSUMER_SNAP = 2,
+	GC_CONSUMER_ALL = 3,
+};
+
 /**
  * Initialize the garbage collection state.
  */
@@ -74,12 +82,15 @@ gc_set_checkpoint_count(int checkpoint_count);
  * @signature until the consumer is unregistered or advanced.
  * @name is a human-readable name of the consumer, it will
  * be used for reporting the consumer to the user.
+ * @type consumer type, reporting whether consumer only depends
+ * on WAL files.
  *
  * Returns a pointer to the new consumer object or NULL on
  * memory allocation failure.
  */
 struct gc_consumer *
-gc_consumer_register(const char *name, int64_t signature);
+gc_consumer_register(const char *name, int64_t signature,
+		     enum gc_consumer_type type);
 
 /**
  * Unregister a consumer and invoke garbage collection
diff --git a/src/box/relay.cc b/src/box/relay.cc
index a25cc540b4c44d55f6a8b09f2fd258c928d31116..c91e5aed37534cd700a9b8d4e85b6f55f1f5ddf7 100644
--- a/src/box/relay.cc
+++ b/src/box/relay.cc
@@ -578,7 +578,7 @@ relay_subscribe(struct replica *replica, int fd, uint64_t sync,
 	if (replica->gc == NULL) {
 		replica->gc = gc_consumer_register(
 			tt_sprintf("replica %s", tt_uuid_str(&replica->uuid)),
-			vclock_sum(replica_clock));
+			vclock_sum(replica_clock), GC_CONSUMER_WAL);
 		if (replica->gc == NULL)
 			diag_raise();
 	}
diff --git a/test/replication/gc.result b/test/replication/gc.result
index 7d6644ae6cdba6fe893fc4ed33b55b4e870e741e..a4a5ae37118274d8dc1957fc2b29a22b3b02fc7c 100644
--- a/test/replication/gc.result
+++ b/test/replication/gc.result
@@ -1,3 +1,6 @@
+fio = require 'fio'
+---
+...
 test_run = require('test_run').new()
 ---
 ...
@@ -115,6 +118,10 @@ wait_gc(1)
 ---
 - true
 ...
+#fio.glob('./master/*.xlog') == 1 or fio.listdir('./master')
+---
+- true
+...
 -- Make sure the replica will receive data it is subscribed
 -- to long enough for us to invoke garbage collection.
 box.error.injection.set("ERRINJ_RELAY_TIMEOUT", 0.05)
@@ -122,16 +129,34 @@ box.error.injection.set("ERRINJ_RELAY_TIMEOUT", 0.05)
 - ok
 ...
 -- Send more data to the replica.
-for i = 1, 100 do s:auto_increment{} end
+-- Need to do 2 snapshots here, otherwise the replica would
+-- only require 1 xlog and that case would be
+-- indistinguishable from wrong operation.
+for i = 1, 50 do s:auto_increment{} end
+---
+...
+box.snapshot()
+---
+- ok
+...
+for i = 1, 50 do s:auto_increment{} end
 ---
 ...
+box.snapshot()
+---
+- ok
+...
 -- Invoke garbage collection. Check that it doesn't remove
 -- xlogs needed by the replica.
 box.snapshot()
 ---
 - ok
 ...
-#box.info.gc().checkpoints == 2 or box.info.gc()
+#box.info.gc().checkpoints == 1 or box.info.gc()
+---
+- true
+...
+#fio.glob('./master/*.xlog') == 2 or fio.listdir('./master')
 ---
 - true
 ...
@@ -166,6 +191,10 @@ wait_gc(1)
 ---
 - true
 ...
+#fio.glob('./master/*.xlog') == 0 or fio.listdir('./master')
+---
+- true
+...
 --
 -- Check that the master doesn't delete xlog files sent to the
 -- replica until it receives a confirmation that the data has
@@ -199,9 +228,13 @@ fiber.sleep(0.1) -- wait for master to relay data
 ---
 ...
 -- Garbage collection must not delete the old xlog file
--- (and the corresponding snapshot), because it is still
--- needed by the replica.
-#box.info.gc().checkpoints == 2 or box.info.gc()
+-- because it is still needed by the replica, but remove
+-- the old snapshot.
+#box.info.gc().checkpoints == 1 or box.info.gc()
+---
+- true
+...
+#fio.glob('./master/*.xlog') == 2 or fio.listdir('./master')
 ---
 - true
 ...
@@ -265,6 +298,10 @@ wait_gc(1)
 ---
 - true
 ...
+#fio.glob('./master/*.xlog') == 1 or fio.listdir('./master')
+---
+- true
+...
 -- Stop the replica.
 test_run:cmd("stop server replica")
 ---
@@ -274,8 +311,18 @@ test_run:cmd("cleanup server replica")
 ---
 - true
 ...
--- Invoke garbage collection. Check that it doesn't remove
--- the checkpoint last used by the replica.
+-- Invoke garbage collection. Check that it removes the old
+-- checkpoint, but keeps the xlog last used by the replica.
+-- once again, need 2 snapshots because after 1 snapshot
+-- with no insertions after it the replica would need only
+-- 1 xlog, which is stored anyways.
+_ = s:auto_increment{}
+---
+...
+box.snapshot()
+---
+- ok
+...
 _ = s:auto_increment{}
 ---
 ...
@@ -283,11 +330,15 @@ box.snapshot()
 ---
 - ok
 ...
-#box.info.gc().checkpoints == 2 or box.info.gc()
+#box.info.gc().checkpoints == 1 or box.info.gc()
 ---
 - true
 ...
--- The checkpoint should only be deleted after the replica
+#fio.glob('./master/*.xlog') == 2 or fio.listdir('./master')
+---
+- true
+...
+-- The xlog should only be deleted after the replica
 -- is unregistered.
 test_run:cleanup_cluster()
 ---
@@ -296,6 +347,10 @@ test_run:cleanup_cluster()
 ---
 - true
 ...
+#fio.glob('./master/*.xlog') == 1 or fio.listdir('./master')
+---
+- true
+...
 --
 -- Test that concurrent invocation of the garbage collector works fine.
 --
diff --git a/test/replication/gc.test.lua b/test/replication/gc.test.lua
index 3a680075eb9427d2b7c5f37324049c42091baab5..1a2cccc6028248056d4eb835c03e8ef885419b25 100644
--- a/test/replication/gc.test.lua
+++ b/test/replication/gc.test.lua
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+fio = require 'fio'
 test_run = require('test_run').new()
 engine = test_run:get_cfg('engine')
 replica_set = require('fast_replica')
@@ -60,18 +61,25 @@ test_run:cmd("switch default")
 -- the replica released the corresponding checkpoint.
 wait_gc(1)
 #box.info.gc().checkpoints == 1 or box.info.gc()
-
+#fio.glob('./master/*.xlog') == 1 or fio.listdir('./master')
 -- Make sure the replica will receive data it is subscribed
 -- to long enough for us to invoke garbage collection.
 box.error.injection.set("ERRINJ_RELAY_TIMEOUT", 0.05)
 
 -- Send more data to the replica.
-for i = 1, 100 do s:auto_increment{} end
+-- Need to do 2 snapshots here, otherwise the replica would
+-- only require 1 xlog and that case would be
+-- indistinguishable from wrong operation.
+for i = 1, 50 do s:auto_increment{} end
+box.snapshot()
+for i = 1, 50 do s:auto_increment{} end
+box.snapshot()
 
 -- Invoke garbage collection. Check that it doesn't remove
 -- xlogs needed by the replica.
 box.snapshot()
-#box.info.gc().checkpoints == 2 or box.info.gc()
+#box.info.gc().checkpoints == 1 or box.info.gc()
+#fio.glob('./master/*.xlog') == 2 or fio.listdir('./master')
 
 -- Remove the timeout injection so that the replica catches
 -- up quickly.
@@ -87,7 +95,7 @@ test_run:cmd("switch default")
 -- from the old checkpoint.
 wait_gc(1)
 #box.info.gc().checkpoints == 1 or box.info.gc()
-
+#fio.glob('./master/*.xlog') == 0 or fio.listdir('./master')
 --
 -- Check that the master doesn't delete xlog files sent to the
 -- replica until it receives a confirmation that the data has
@@ -103,9 +111,10 @@ box.snapshot() -- rotate xlog
 for i = 1, 5 do s:auto_increment{} end
 fiber.sleep(0.1) -- wait for master to relay data
 -- Garbage collection must not delete the old xlog file
--- (and the corresponding snapshot), because it is still
--- needed by the replica.
-#box.info.gc().checkpoints == 2 or box.info.gc()
+-- because it is still needed by the replica, but remove
+-- the old snapshot.
+#box.info.gc().checkpoints == 1 or box.info.gc()
+#fio.glob('./master/*.xlog') == 2 or fio.listdir('./master')
 test_run:cmd("switch replica")
 -- Unblock the replica and make it fail to apply a row.
 box.info.replication[1].upstream.message == nil
@@ -125,22 +134,28 @@ test_run:cmd("switch default")
 -- Now it's safe to drop the old xlog.
 wait_gc(1)
 #box.info.gc().checkpoints == 1 or box.info.gc()
-
+#fio.glob('./master/*.xlog') == 1 or fio.listdir('./master')
 -- Stop the replica.
 test_run:cmd("stop server replica")
 test_run:cmd("cleanup server replica")
 
--- Invoke garbage collection. Check that it doesn't remove
--- the checkpoint last used by the replica.
+-- Invoke garbage collection. Check that it removes the old
+-- checkpoint, but keeps the xlog last used by the replica.
+-- once again, need 2 snapshots because after 1 snapshot
+-- with no insertions after it the replica would need only
+-- 1 xlog, which is stored anyways.
+_ = s:auto_increment{}
+box.snapshot()
 _ = s:auto_increment{}
 box.snapshot()
-#box.info.gc().checkpoints == 2 or box.info.gc()
+#box.info.gc().checkpoints == 1 or box.info.gc()
+#fio.glob('./master/*.xlog') == 2 or fio.listdir('./master')
 
--- The checkpoint should only be deleted after the replica
+-- The xlog should only be deleted after the replica
 -- is unregistered.
 test_run:cleanup_cluster()
 #box.info.gc().checkpoints == 1 or box.info.gc()
-
+#fio.glob('./master/*.xlog') == 1 or fio.listdir('./master')
 --
 -- Test that concurrent invocation of the garbage collector works fine.
 --