diff --git a/test/sharness/t0252-files-gc.sh b/test/sharness/t0252-files-gc.sh
index 68c720e1a80..10928c4247a 100755
--- a/test/sharness/t0252-files-gc.sh
+++ b/test/sharness/t0252-files-gc.sh
@@ -11,13 +11,15 @@ test_description="test how the unix files api interacts with the gc"
 test_init_ipfs
 
 test_expect_success "object not removed after gc" '
-  echo "hello world"  | ipfs files write --create /hello.txt &&
+  echo "hello world" > hello.txt &&
+  cat hello.txt | ipfs files write --create /hello.txt &&
   ipfs repo gc &&
   ipfs cat QmVib14uvPnCP73XaCDpwugRuwfTsVbGyWbatHAmLSdZUS
 '
 
 test_expect_success "/hello.txt still accessible after gc" '
-  ipfs files read /hello.txt
+  ipfs files read /hello.txt > hello-actual &&
+  test_cmp hello.txt hello-actual
 '
 
 ADIR_HASH=QmbCgoMYVuZq8m1vK31JQx9DorwQdLMF1M3sJ7kygLLqnW
@@ -27,7 +29,6 @@ test_expect_success "gc okay after adding incomplete node -- prep" '
   ipfs files mkdir /adir &&
   echo "file1" |  ipfs files write --create /adir/file1 &&
   echo "file2" |  ipfs files write --create /adir/file2 &&
-  ipfs cat $FILE1_HASH && 
   ipfs pin add --recursive=false $ADIR_HASH &&
   ipfs files rm -r /adir &&
   ipfs repo gc && # will remove /adir/file1 and /adir/file2 but not /adir
@@ -42,4 +43,34 @@ test_expect_success "gc okay after adding incomplete node" '
   ipfs refs $ADIR_HASH
 '
 
+test_expect_success "add directory with direct pin" '
+  mkdir mydir/ &&
+  echo "hello world!" > mydir/hello.txt &&
+  FILE_UNPINNED=$(ipfs add --pin=false -q -r mydir/hello.txt) &&
+  DIR_PINNED=$(ipfs add --pin=false -q -r mydir | tail -n1) &&
+  ipfs add --pin=false -r mydir &&
+  ipfs pin add --recursive=false $DIR_PINNED &&
+  ipfs cat $FILE_UNPINNED
+'
+
+test_expect_success "run gc and make sure directory contents are removed" '
+  ipfs repo gc &&
+  test_must_fail ipfs cat $FILE_UNPINNED
+'
+
+test_expect_success "add incomplete directory and make sure gc is okay" '
+  ipfs files cp /ipfs/$DIR_PINNED /mydir &&
+  ipfs repo gc &&
+  test_must_fail ipfs cat $FILE_UNPINNED
+'
+
+test_expect_success "add back directory contents and run gc" '
+  ipfs add --pin=false mydir/hello.txt &&
+  ipfs repo gc
+'
+
+test_expect_success "make sure directory contents are not removed" '
+  ipfs cat $FILE_UNPINNED
+'
+
 test_done