diff --git a/.api-reports/api-report-cache.api.md b/.api-reports/api-report-cache.api.md
index 56f7904f774..271642c9197 100644
--- a/.api-reports/api-report-cache.api.md
+++ b/.api-reports/api-report-cache.api.md
@@ -225,6 +225,9 @@ type CombineFragmentRefs<FragmentRefs extends Record<string, any>> = UnionToInte
     [K in keyof FragmentRefs]-?: UnwrapFragmentRefs<RemoveFragmentName<FragmentRefs[K]>>;
 }[keyof FragmentRefs]>;
 
+// @public (undocumented)
+type ContainsFragmentsRefs<TData> = TData extends object ? " $fragmentRefs" extends keyof TData ? true : ContainsFragmentsRefs<TData[keyof TData]> : false;
+
 // @public (undocumented)
 export function createFragmentRegistry(...fragments: DocumentNode[]): FragmentRegistryAPI;
 
@@ -733,13 +736,14 @@ export function makeVar<T>(value: T): ReactiveVar<T>;
 // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "Prettify" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "RemoveMaskedMarker" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "DataMasking" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
+// Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "ContainsFragmentsRefs" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 //
 // @public
 type MaybeMasked<TData> = TData extends {
     __masked?: true;
 } ? Prettify<RemoveMaskedMarker<TData>> : DataMasking extends {
     enabled: true;
-} ? TData : Unmasked<TData>;
+} ? TData : true extends ContainsFragmentsRefs<TData> ? Unmasked<TData> : TData;
 
 // @public (undocumented)
 export interface MergeInfo {
diff --git a/.api-reports/api-report-core.api.md b/.api-reports/api-report-core.api.md
index 59ba909cab2..6b333738827 100644
--- a/.api-reports/api-report-core.api.md
+++ b/.api-reports/api-report-core.api.md
@@ -468,6 +468,9 @@ type ConcastSourcesIterable<T> = Iterable<Source<T>>;
 // @public (undocumented)
 export const concat: typeof ApolloLink.concat;
 
+// @public (undocumented)
+type ContainsFragmentsRefs<TData> = TData extends object ? " $fragmentRefs" extends keyof TData ? true : ContainsFragmentsRefs<TData[keyof TData]> : false;
+
 // @public (undocumented)
 export const createHttpLink: (linkOptions?: HttpOptions) => ApolloLink;
 
@@ -1376,13 +1379,14 @@ type MaybeAsync<T> = T | PromiseLike<T>;
 
 // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "Prettify" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "RemoveMaskedMarker" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
+// Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "ContainsFragmentsRefs" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 //
 // @public
 export type MaybeMasked<TData> = TData extends {
     __masked?: true;
 } ? Prettify<RemoveMaskedMarker<TData>> : DataMasking extends {
     enabled: true;
-} ? TData : Unmasked<TData>;
+} ? TData : true extends ContainsFragmentsRefs<TData> ? Unmasked<TData> : TData;
 
 // @public (undocumented)
 export interface MergeInfo {
diff --git a/.api-reports/api-report-masking.api.md b/.api-reports/api-report-masking.api.md
index 225e1e62877..40010434a35 100644
--- a/.api-reports/api-report-masking.api.md
+++ b/.api-reports/api-report-masking.api.md
@@ -15,6 +15,9 @@ type CombineFragmentRefs<FragmentRefs extends Record<string, any>> = UnionToInte
     [K in keyof FragmentRefs]-?: UnwrapFragmentRefs<RemoveFragmentName<FragmentRefs[K]>>;
 }[keyof FragmentRefs]>;
 
+// @public (undocumented)
+type ContainsFragmentsRefs<TData> = TData extends object ? " $fragmentRefs" extends keyof TData ? true : ContainsFragmentsRefs<TData[keyof TData]> : false;
+
 // @public (undocumented)
 export interface DataMasking {
 }
@@ -44,13 +47,14 @@ export type MaskedDocumentNode<TData = {
 
 // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "Prettify" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "RemoveMaskedMarker" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
+// Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "ContainsFragmentsRefs" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 //
 // @public
 export type MaybeMasked<TData> = TData extends {
     __masked?: true;
 } ? Prettify<RemoveMaskedMarker<TData>> : DataMasking extends {
     enabled: true;
-} ? TData : Unmasked<TData>;
+} ? TData : true extends ContainsFragmentsRefs<TData> ? Unmasked<TData> : TData;
 
 // @public (undocumented)
 type Prettify<T> = {
diff --git a/.api-reports/api-report-react.api.md b/.api-reports/api-report-react.api.md
index 0fe374cb7fc..b258c47838e 100644
--- a/.api-reports/api-report-react.api.md
+++ b/.api-reports/api-report-react.api.md
@@ -566,6 +566,9 @@ class Concast<T> extends Observable<T> {
 // @public (undocumented)
 type ConcastSourcesIterable<T> = Iterable<Source<T>>;
 
+// @public (undocumented)
+type ContainsFragmentsRefs<TData> = TData extends object ? " $fragmentRefs" extends keyof TData ? true : ContainsFragmentsRefs<TData[keyof TData]> : false;
+
 // @public (undocumented)
 export interface Context extends Record<string, any> {
 }
@@ -1122,13 +1125,14 @@ type MaybeAsync<T> = T | PromiseLike<T>;
 // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "Prettify" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "RemoveMaskedMarker" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "DataMasking" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
+// Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "ContainsFragmentsRefs" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 //
 // @public
 type MaybeMasked<TData> = TData extends {
     __masked?: true;
 } ? Prettify<RemoveMaskedMarker<TData>> : DataMasking extends {
     enabled: true;
-} ? TData : Unmasked<TData>;
+} ? TData : true extends ContainsFragmentsRefs<TData> ? Unmasked<TData> : TData;
 
 // @public (undocumented)
 class MissingFieldError extends Error {
diff --git a/.api-reports/api-report-react_components.api.md b/.api-reports/api-report-react_components.api.md
index 2c93ea485c2..4308bdc7935 100644
--- a/.api-reports/api-report-react_components.api.md
+++ b/.api-reports/api-report-react_components.api.md
@@ -512,6 +512,9 @@ class Concast<T> extends Observable<T> {
 // @public (undocumented)
 type ConcastSourcesIterable<T> = Iterable<Source<T>>;
 
+// @public (undocumented)
+type ContainsFragmentsRefs<TData> = TData extends object ? " $fragmentRefs" extends keyof TData ? true : ContainsFragmentsRefs<TData[keyof TData]> : false;
+
 // @public (undocumented)
 interface DataMasking {
 }
@@ -985,13 +988,14 @@ type MaybeAsync<T> = T | PromiseLike<T>;
 // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "Prettify" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "RemoveMaskedMarker" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "DataMasking" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
+// Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "ContainsFragmentsRefs" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 //
 // @public
 type MaybeMasked<TData> = TData extends {
     __masked?: true;
 } ? Prettify<RemoveMaskedMarker<TData>> : DataMasking extends {
     enabled: true;
-} ? TData : Unmasked<TData>;
+} ? TData : true extends ContainsFragmentsRefs<TData> ? Unmasked<TData> : TData;
 
 // @public (undocumented)
 class MissingFieldError extends Error {
diff --git a/.api-reports/api-report-react_context.api.md b/.api-reports/api-report-react_context.api.md
index 2703bcf4a31..31053fbb7ec 100644
--- a/.api-reports/api-report-react_context.api.md
+++ b/.api-reports/api-report-react_context.api.md
@@ -506,6 +506,9 @@ class Concast<T> extends Observable<T> {
 // @public (undocumented)
 type ConcastSourcesIterable<T> = Iterable<Source<T>>;
 
+// @public (undocumented)
+type ContainsFragmentsRefs<TData> = TData extends object ? " $fragmentRefs" extends keyof TData ? true : ContainsFragmentsRefs<TData[keyof TData]> : false;
+
 // @public (undocumented)
 interface DataMasking {
 }
@@ -982,13 +985,14 @@ type MaybeAsync<T> = T | PromiseLike<T>;
 // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "Prettify" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "RemoveMaskedMarker" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "DataMasking" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
+// Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "ContainsFragmentsRefs" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 //
 // @public
 type MaybeMasked<TData> = TData extends {
     __masked?: true;
 } ? Prettify<RemoveMaskedMarker<TData>> : DataMasking extends {
     enabled: true;
-} ? TData : Unmasked<TData>;
+} ? TData : true extends ContainsFragmentsRefs<TData> ? Unmasked<TData> : TData;
 
 // @public (undocumented)
 class MissingFieldError extends Error {
diff --git a/.api-reports/api-report-react_hoc.api.md b/.api-reports/api-report-react_hoc.api.md
index 0172940709b..23faa7d58fa 100644
--- a/.api-reports/api-report-react_hoc.api.md
+++ b/.api-reports/api-report-react_hoc.api.md
@@ -495,6 +495,9 @@ class Concast<T> extends Observable<T> {
 // @public (undocumented)
 type ConcastSourcesIterable<T> = Iterable<Source<T>>;
 
+// @public (undocumented)
+type ContainsFragmentsRefs<TData> = TData extends object ? " $fragmentRefs" extends keyof TData ? true : ContainsFragmentsRefs<TData[keyof TData]> : false;
+
 // @public (undocumented)
 interface DataMasking {
 }
@@ -989,13 +992,14 @@ type MaybeAsync<T> = T | PromiseLike<T>;
 // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "Prettify" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "RemoveMaskedMarker" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "DataMasking" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
+// Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "ContainsFragmentsRefs" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 //
 // @public
 type MaybeMasked<TData> = TData extends {
     __masked?: true;
 } ? Prettify<RemoveMaskedMarker<TData>> : DataMasking extends {
     enabled: true;
-} ? TData : Unmasked<TData>;
+} ? TData : true extends ContainsFragmentsRefs<TData> ? Unmasked<TData> : TData;
 
 // @public (undocumented)
 class MissingFieldError extends Error {
diff --git a/.api-reports/api-report-react_hooks.api.md b/.api-reports/api-report-react_hooks.api.md
index beae7ff4e42..e788994504f 100644
--- a/.api-reports/api-report-react_hooks.api.md
+++ b/.api-reports/api-report-react_hooks.api.md
@@ -535,6 +535,9 @@ class Concast<T> extends Observable<T> {
 // @public (undocumented)
 type ConcastSourcesIterable<T> = Iterable<Source<T>>;
 
+// @public (undocumented)
+type ContainsFragmentsRefs<TData> = TData extends object ? " $fragmentRefs" extends keyof TData ? true : ContainsFragmentsRefs<TData[keyof TData]> : false;
+
 // @public (undocumented)
 interface DataMasking {
 }
@@ -1071,13 +1074,14 @@ type MaybeAsync<T> = T | PromiseLike<T>;
 // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "Prettify" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "RemoveMaskedMarker" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "DataMasking" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
+// Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "ContainsFragmentsRefs" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 //
 // @public
 type MaybeMasked<TData> = TData extends {
     __masked?: true;
 } ? Prettify<RemoveMaskedMarker<TData>> : DataMasking extends {
     enabled: true;
-} ? TData : Unmasked<TData>;
+} ? TData : true extends ContainsFragmentsRefs<TData> ? Unmasked<TData> : TData;
 
 // @public (undocumented)
 class MissingFieldError extends Error {
diff --git a/.api-reports/api-report-react_internal.api.md b/.api-reports/api-report-react_internal.api.md
index 4038852a7e9..f2b6535142e 100644
--- a/.api-reports/api-report-react_internal.api.md
+++ b/.api-reports/api-report-react_internal.api.md
@@ -514,6 +514,9 @@ class Concast<T> extends Observable<T> {
 // @public (undocumented)
 type ConcastSourcesIterable<T> = Iterable<Source<T>>;
 
+// @public (undocumented)
+type ContainsFragmentsRefs<TData> = TData extends object ? " $fragmentRefs" extends keyof TData ? true : ContainsFragmentsRefs<TData[keyof TData]> : false;
+
 // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "PreloadQueryFunction" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 //
 // @public
@@ -1081,13 +1084,14 @@ type MaybeAsync<T> = T | PromiseLike<T>;
 // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "Prettify" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "RemoveMaskedMarker" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "DataMasking" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
+// Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "ContainsFragmentsRefs" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 //
 // @public
 type MaybeMasked<TData> = TData extends {
     __masked?: true;
 } ? Prettify<RemoveMaskedMarker<TData>> : DataMasking extends {
     enabled: true;
-} ? TData : Unmasked<TData>;
+} ? TData : true extends ContainsFragmentsRefs<TData> ? Unmasked<TData> : TData;
 
 // @public (undocumented)
 class MissingFieldError extends Error {
diff --git a/.api-reports/api-report-react_ssr.api.md b/.api-reports/api-report-react_ssr.api.md
index 61b56d41e68..8ea4103fbec 100644
--- a/.api-reports/api-report-react_ssr.api.md
+++ b/.api-reports/api-report-react_ssr.api.md
@@ -475,6 +475,9 @@ class Concast<T> extends Observable<T> {
 // @public (undocumented)
 type ConcastSourcesIterable<T> = Iterable<Source<T>>;
 
+// @public (undocumented)
+type ContainsFragmentsRefs<TData> = TData extends object ? " $fragmentRefs" extends keyof TData ? true : ContainsFragmentsRefs<TData[keyof TData]> : false;
+
 // @public (undocumented)
 interface DataMasking {
 }
@@ -967,13 +970,14 @@ type MaybeAsync<T> = T | PromiseLike<T>;
 // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "Prettify" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "RemoveMaskedMarker" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "DataMasking" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
+// Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "ContainsFragmentsRefs" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 //
 // @public
 type MaybeMasked<TData> = TData extends {
     __masked?: true;
 } ? Prettify<RemoveMaskedMarker<TData>> : DataMasking extends {
     enabled: true;
-} ? TData : Unmasked<TData>;
+} ? TData : true extends ContainsFragmentsRefs<TData> ? Unmasked<TData> : TData;
 
 // @public (undocumented)
 class MissingFieldError extends Error {
diff --git a/.api-reports/api-report-testing.api.md b/.api-reports/api-report-testing.api.md
index d6e7d4209df..1d5c84806d9 100644
--- a/.api-reports/api-report-testing.api.md
+++ b/.api-reports/api-report-testing.api.md
@@ -465,6 +465,9 @@ class Concast<T> extends Observable<T> {
 // @public (undocumented)
 type ConcastSourcesIterable<T> = Iterable<Source<T>>;
 
+// @public (undocumented)
+type ContainsFragmentsRefs<TData> = TData extends object ? " $fragmentRefs" extends keyof TData ? true : ContainsFragmentsRefs<TData[keyof TData]> : false;
+
 // @internal (undocumented)
 type CovariantUnaryFunction<out Arg, out Ret> = {
     fn(arg: Arg): Ret;
@@ -956,13 +959,14 @@ type MaybeAsync<T> = T | PromiseLike<T>;
 // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "Prettify" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "RemoveMaskedMarker" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "DataMasking" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
+// Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "ContainsFragmentsRefs" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 //
 // @public
 type MaybeMasked<TData> = TData extends {
     __masked?: true;
 } ? Prettify<RemoveMaskedMarker<TData>> : DataMasking extends {
     enabled: true;
-} ? TData : Unmasked<TData>;
+} ? TData : true extends ContainsFragmentsRefs<TData> ? Unmasked<TData> : TData;
 
 // @public (undocumented)
 class MissingFieldError extends Error {
diff --git a/.api-reports/api-report-testing_core.api.md b/.api-reports/api-report-testing_core.api.md
index d04ffbb1842..8fb85f75d96 100644
--- a/.api-reports/api-report-testing_core.api.md
+++ b/.api-reports/api-report-testing_core.api.md
@@ -464,6 +464,9 @@ class Concast<T> extends Observable<T> {
 // @public (undocumented)
 type ConcastSourcesIterable<T> = Iterable<Source<T>>;
 
+// @public (undocumented)
+type ContainsFragmentsRefs<TData> = TData extends object ? " $fragmentRefs" extends keyof TData ? true : ContainsFragmentsRefs<TData[keyof TData]> : false;
+
 // @internal (undocumented)
 type CovariantUnaryFunction<out Arg, out Ret> = {
     fn(arg: Arg): Ret;
@@ -955,13 +958,14 @@ type MaybeAsync<T> = T | PromiseLike<T>;
 // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "Prettify" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "RemoveMaskedMarker" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "DataMasking" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
+// Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "ContainsFragmentsRefs" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 //
 // @public
 type MaybeMasked<TData> = TData extends {
     __masked?: true;
 } ? Prettify<RemoveMaskedMarker<TData>> : DataMasking extends {
     enabled: true;
-} ? TData : Unmasked<TData>;
+} ? TData : true extends ContainsFragmentsRefs<TData> ? Unmasked<TData> : TData;
 
 // @public (undocumented)
 class MissingFieldError extends Error {
diff --git a/.api-reports/api-report-utilities.api.md b/.api-reports/api-report-utilities.api.md
index 3ec50c2993b..7b5014b63ad 100644
--- a/.api-reports/api-report-utilities.api.md
+++ b/.api-reports/api-report-utilities.api.md
@@ -595,6 +595,9 @@ export type ConcastSourcesIterable<T> = Iterable<Source<T>>;
 // @public (undocumented)
 export function concatPagination<T = Reference>(keyArgs?: KeyArgs): FieldPolicy<T[]>;
 
+// @public (undocumented)
+type ContainsFragmentsRefs<TData> = TData extends object ? " $fragmentRefs" extends keyof TData ? true : ContainsFragmentsRefs<TData[keyof TData]> : false;
+
 // @public (undocumented)
 export function createFragmentMap(fragments?: FragmentDefinitionNode[]): FragmentMap;
 
@@ -1664,13 +1667,14 @@ export function maybeDeepFreeze<T>(obj: T): T;
 
 // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "RemoveMaskedMarker" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "DataMasking" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
+// Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "ContainsFragmentsRefs" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 //
 // @public
 type MaybeMasked<TData> = TData extends {
     __masked?: true;
 } ? Prettify<RemoveMaskedMarker<TData>> : DataMasking extends {
     enabled: true;
-} ? TData : Unmasked<TData>;
+} ? TData : true extends ContainsFragmentsRefs<TData> ? Unmasked<TData> : TData;
 
 // @public (undocumented)
 export function mergeDeep<T extends any[]>(...sources: T): TupleToIntersection<T>;
diff --git a/.api-reports/api-report.api.md b/.api-reports/api-report.api.md
index ee8dc636743..b5ad5884992 100644
--- a/.api-reports/api-report.api.md
+++ b/.api-reports/api-report.api.md
@@ -565,6 +565,9 @@ type ConcastSourcesIterable<T> = Iterable<Source<T>>;
 // @public (undocumented)
 export const concat: typeof ApolloLink.concat;
 
+// @public (undocumented)
+type ContainsFragmentsRefs<TData> = TData extends object ? " $fragmentRefs" extends keyof TData ? true : ContainsFragmentsRefs<TData[keyof TData]> : false;
+
 // @public (undocumented)
 export const createHttpLink: (linkOptions?: HttpOptions) => ApolloLink;
 
@@ -1557,13 +1560,14 @@ type MaybeAsync<T> = T | PromiseLike<T>;
 
 // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "Prettify" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "RemoveMaskedMarker" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
+// Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "ContainsFragmentsRefs" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
 //
 // @public
 export type MaybeMasked<TData> = TData extends {
     __masked?: true;
 } ? Prettify<RemoveMaskedMarker<TData>> : DataMasking extends {
     enabled: true;
-} ? TData : Unmasked<TData>;
+} ? TData : true extends ContainsFragmentsRefs<TData> ? Unmasked<TData> : TData;
 
 // @public (undocumented)
 export interface MergeInfo {
diff --git a/.changeset/perfect-jobs-flow.md b/.changeset/perfect-jobs-flow.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..594b7c26ba5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/perfect-jobs-flow.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"@apollo/client": patch
+---
+
+Add a helper that will skip the TS unmasking alorithm when no fragments are present on type level
diff --git a/src/masking/internal/types.ts b/src/masking/internal/types.ts
index 02d8fdc99b6..86d11ca4abb 100644
--- a/src/masking/internal/types.ts
+++ b/src/masking/internal/types.ts
@@ -31,3 +31,10 @@ export type RemoveMaskedMarker<T> = Omit<T, "__masked">;
 // force distrubution when T is a union with | undefined
 export type RemoveFragmentName<T> =
   T extends any ? Omit<T, " $fragmentName"> : T;
+
+export type ContainsFragmentsRefs<TData> =
+  TData extends object ?
+    " $fragmentRefs" extends keyof TData ?
+      true
+    : ContainsFragmentsRefs<TData[keyof TData]>
+  : false;
diff --git a/src/masking/types.ts b/src/masking/types.ts
index c7e4817133f..90b250b4f70 100644
--- a/src/masking/types.ts
+++ b/src/masking/types.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 import type { TypedDocumentNode } from "@graphql-typed-document-node/core";
 import type {
+  ContainsFragmentsRefs,
   RemoveFragmentName,
   RemoveMaskedMarker,
   UnwrapFragmentRefs,
@@ -39,7 +40,8 @@ export type FragmentType<TData> =
 export type MaybeMasked<TData> =
   TData extends { __masked?: true } ? Prettify<RemoveMaskedMarker<TData>>
   : DataMasking extends { enabled: true } ? TData
-  : Unmasked<TData>;
+  : true extends ContainsFragmentsRefs<TData> ? Unmasked<TData>
+  : TData;
 
 /**
  * Unmasks a type to provide its full result.