diff --git a/garbage_collector/src/retention/flagger.rs b/garbage_collector/src/retention/flagger.rs
index bd3479c146..d3dee69e79 100644
--- a/garbage_collector/src/retention/flagger.rs
+++ b/garbage_collector/src/retention/flagger.rs
@@ -11,25 +11,16 @@ pub(crate) async fn perform(
     sleep_interval_minutes: u64,
 ) -> Result<()> {
     loop {
-        let parquet_file_flagged = catalog
+        let flagged = catalog
             .repositories()
             .await
             .parquet_files()
             .flag_for_delete_by_retention()
             .await
-            .context(ParquetFileFlaggingSnafu)?;
-        info!(parquet_file_flagged_count = %parquet_file_flagged.len(), "iox_catalog::parquet_file::flag_for_delete_by_retention()");
+            .context(FlaggingSnafu)?;
+        info!(flagged_count = %flagged.len(), "iox_catalog::flag_for_delete_by_retention()");
 
-        let partition_flagged = catalog
-            .repositories()
-            .await
-            .partitions()
-            .flag_for_delete_by_retention()
-            .await
-            .context(PartitionFlaggingSnafu)?;
-        info!(partition_flagged_count = %partition_flagged.len(), "iox_catalog::partition::flag_for_delete_by_retention()");
-
-        if parquet_file_flagged.is_empty() && partition_flagged.is_empty() {
+        if flagged.is_empty() {
             select! {
                 _ = shutdown.cancelled() => {
                     break
@@ -47,12 +38,7 @@ pub(crate) async fn perform(
 #[allow(missing_docs)]
 pub enum Error {
     #[snafu(display("Failed to flag parquet files for deletion by retention policy"))]
-    ParquetFileFlagging {
-        source: iox_catalog::interface::Error,
-    },
-
-    #[snafu(display("Failed to flag partitions for deletion by retention policy"))]
-    PartitionFlagging {
+    Flagging {
         source: iox_catalog::interface::Error,
     },
 }