diff --git a/lib/index.js b/lib/index.js
index 4fde4ae..fdaec2d 100644
--- a/lib/index.js
+++ b/lib/index.js
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 // @ts-ignore
 const Obz = require('obz')
+// @ts-ignore
+const multicb = require('multicb')
 
 /**
  * @typedef {ReturnType<import('ppppp-db').init>} PPPPPDB
@@ -7,23 +9,38 @@ const Obz = require('obz')
  * @typedef {import('ppppp-db').RecPresent} RecPresent
  * @typedef {import('ppppp-db').Tangle} Tangle
  * @typedef {ReturnType<PPPPPDB['getTangle']>} DBTangle
+ * @typedef {string} MsgID
  * @typedef {'none'|'all'|`newest-${number}`|'record'|'set'} GoalDSL
  * @typedef {'none'|'all'|'newest'|'record'|'set'} GoalType
  * @typedef {[number, number]} Range
  * @typedef {{ id: string, type: GoalType, count: number }} Goal
  */
 
+/**
+ * @template T
+ * @typedef {(...args: [Error] | [null, T]) => void } CB
+ */
+
+/**
+ * @template T
+ * @typedef {(args?: CB<Array<T>>) => any} Multicb
+ */
+
 /**
  * A *purpose* is a tag that explains why a msg exists in the database.
  * - "none" means the msg has no purpose, and should not exist in the database.
+ * - "ghost" means the msg has no purpose, should not exist in the database, but
+ * we should still register it as a ghost so that we don't accidentally
+ * re-request it during replication.
  * - "trail" means the msg does not meet any goal, but it is required to be in
  * the database because it is along the path of goalful msgs to the root of the
  * tangle. See "Lipmaa certificate pool" concept from Bamboo.
  * - "goal" means the msg perfectly meets the requirements of some goal.
  *
- * These tags are ordered, "none" < "trail" < "goal", meaning that a msg with
- * purpose "goal" may *also* fulfill the purpose of "trail".
- * @typedef {'none' | 'trail' | 'goal'} Purpose
+ * These tags are ordered, "none" < "ghost" < "trail" < "goal", meaning that a
+ * msg with purpose "goal" may *also* fulfill the purpose of "trail", and a
+ * "trail" also prevents accidental re-request like "ghost" does.
+ * @typedef {'none' | 'ghost' | 'trail' | 'goal'} Purpose
  */
 
 /**
@@ -171,9 +188,9 @@ function initGoals(peer, config) {
   /**
    * @public
    * @param {RecPresent} rec
-   * @returns {Purpose}
+   * @param {CB<Purpose>} cb
    */
-  function getRecordPurpose(rec) {
+  function getRecordPurpose(rec, cb) {
     assertDBPlugin(peer)
     let servesAsTrail = false
 
@@ -185,7 +202,7 @@ function initGoals(peer, config) {
       if (!tangle) break asRoot
       const [min, max] = crossGoalWithTangle(goal, tangle)
       if (min > max) break asRoot
-      if (min === 0) return 'goal'
+      if (min === 0) return cb(null, 'goal')
       if (min > 0) servesAsTrail = true
     }
 
@@ -206,11 +223,11 @@ function initGoals(peer, config) {
     }
     // (Loop over once without heavy computations and maybe return early:)
     for (const [, min, max, recDepth] of validTangles) {
-      if (min <= recDepth && recDepth <= max) return 'goal'
+      if (min <= recDepth && recDepth <= max) return cb(null, 'goal')
     }
     // At this point we know that the record *cannot* serve as 'goal',
     // so if it serves as trail, that'll do:
-    if (servesAsTrail) return 'trail'
+    if (servesAsTrail) return cb(null, 'trail')
     // Check whether this record is a trail affix of some tangle:
     // (Loop again with heavy computations now that it's inevitable:)
     for (const [tangle, min] of validTangles) {
@@ -218,10 +235,27 @@ function initGoals(peer, config) {
         .topoSort()
         .filter((msgID) => tangle.getDepth(msgID) === min)
       const { erasables } = tangle.getDeletablesAndErasables(...minMsgIDs)
-      if (erasables.has(rec.id)) return 'trail'
+      if (erasables.has(rec.id)) return cb(null, 'trail')
     }
 
-    return 'none'
+    // Check whether this record is a ghost affix of some tangle:
+    if (validTangles.length > 0) {
+      const done = /** @type {Multicb<Array<MsgID>>} */ (multicb({ pluck: 1 }))
+      for (const [tangle] of validTangles) {
+        peer.db.ghosts.get(tangle.id, done())
+      }
+      done((err, allGhosts) => {
+        // prettier-ignore
+        if (err) return cb(new Error('getRecordPurpose() failed to get ghosts', {cause: err}))
+        for (const ghosts of allGhosts) {
+          if (ghosts.includes(rec.id)) return cb(null, 'ghost')
+        }
+        cb(null, 'none')
+      })
+      return
+    }
+
+    cb(null, 'none')
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 05a0cfa..d6cef50 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -25,7 +25,8 @@
     "node": ">=16"
   },
   "dependencies": {
-    "obz": "~1.1.0"
+    "obz": "~1.1.0",
+    "multicb": "~1.2.2"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
     "bs58": "^5.0.0",
diff --git a/test/goals.test.js b/test/goals.test.js
index 6918113..a8ef3eb 100644
--- a/test/goals.test.js
+++ b/test/goals.test.js
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ test('set, getByID, list, listen', async (t) => {
   }
 
   {
-    const purpose = alice.goals.getRecordPurpose(aliceAccountRoot)
+    const purpose = await p(alice.goals.getRecordPurpose)(aliceAccountRoot)
     assert.equal(purpose, 'goal', 'rec purpose is "goal"')
   }
 
@@ -91,13 +91,17 @@ test('getRecordPurpose', async (t) => {
   const gottenGoal = alice.goals.get(feedID)
   assert.strictEqual(gottenGoal.id, feedID, 'gotten goal id is correct')
 
-  const purpose = alice.goals.getRecordPurpose(post2)
+  const purpose = await p(alice.goals.getRecordPurpose)(post2)
   assert.equal(purpose, 'goal', 'purpose is "goal"')
 
   alice.goals.set(feedID, 'newest-1')
   assert('set goal to newest-1')
-  const purpose2 = alice.goals.getRecordPurpose(post2)
+  const purpose2 = await p(alice.goals.getRecordPurpose)(post2)
   assert.equal(purpose2, 'none', 'purpose2 is "none"')
 
+  await p(alice.db.ghosts.add)({ msg: post2.id, tangle: feedID, max: 5 })
+  const purpose3 = await p(alice.goals.getRecordPurpose)(post2)
+  assert.equal(purpose3, 'ghost', 'purpose3 is "ghost"')
+
   await p(alice.close)(true)
 })