diff --git a/.changeset/93-gc-collectrefs-oneof.md b/.changeset/93-gc-collectrefs-oneof.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e0daa0e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/93-gc-collectrefs-oneof.md
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+---
+"@ocas/core": patch
+---
+
+Fix `gc` false-orphan deletion of `oneOf`-linked CAS chains and template content nodes.
+
+`collectRefs` now traverses `oneOf` sub-schemas (previously skipped even though
+the meta-schema accepted the keyword), so `walk`/`refs` correctly follow
+`ocas_ref` fields nested inside `oneOf` combinators (e.g. nullable `prev` /
+`detail` / `workflow` refs in uwf step chains).
+
+`gc` no longer treats `@ocas/template/text/*` variables as roots; instead it
+walks template content only when its referenced schema is itself reachable
+from non-template roots, mirroring `computeClosure` Phase 3. This prevents
+orphan template nodes from surviving GC when their schema is unreachable.
+
+Fixes #93
diff --git a/packages/cli/tests/gc.test.ts b/packages/cli/tests/gc.test.ts
index ebcc884..d8d49e6 100644
--- a/packages/cli/tests/gc.test.ts
+++ b/packages/cli/tests/gc.test.ts
@@ -123,3 +123,100 @@ describe("Phase 6: GC", () => {
     expect(envValue(afterGc)).toBe(false);
   });
 });
+
+// ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+// Issue #93: gc must not collect uwf-style step chains joined by oneOf prev
+// ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+describe("GC #93 - oneOf step chain CLI integration", () => {
+  test("6.5 gc preserves step chain joined by oneOf prev", async () => {
+    const subStore = mkdtempSync(join(tmpdir(), "ocas-e2e-93-"));
+    try {
+      const { openStore: openFsStore } = await import("@ocas/fs");
+      const { putSchema } = await import("@ocas/core");
+      const store = await openFsStore(subStore);
+
+      const stepSchemaHash = putSchema(store, {
+        type: "object",
+        properties: {
+          payload: { type: "string" },
+          prev: {
+            oneOf: [{ type: "null" }, { type: "string", format: "ocas_ref" }],
+          },
+        },
+      });
+
+      const step1File = join(subStore, "step1.json");
+      writeFileSync(step1File, JSON.stringify({ payload: "a", prev: null }));
+      const runCliSub = (
+        args: string[],
+      ): { stdout: string; stderr: string; exitCode: number } => {
+        try {
+          const stdout = execFileSync(
+            "node",
+            [entrypoint, "--home", subStore, ...args],
+            { encoding: "utf-8", timeout: 10000 },
+          );
+          return { stdout: stdout.trim(), stderr: "", exitCode: 0 };
+        } catch (e: unknown) {
+          const err = e as {
+            stdout?: string;
+            stderr?: string;
+            status?: number;
+          };
+          return {
+            stdout: (err.stdout ?? "").trim(),
+            stderr: (err.stderr ?? "").trim(),
+            exitCode: err.status ?? 1,
+          };
+        }
+      };
+
+      const { stdout: s1Out } = runCliSub(["put", stepSchemaHash, step1File]);
+      const step1Hash = envValue(s1Out) as string;
+
+      const step2File = join(subStore, "step2.json");
+      writeFileSync(
+        step2File,
+        JSON.stringify({ payload: "b", prev: step1Hash }),
+      );
+      const { stdout: s2Out } = runCliSub(["put", stepSchemaHash, step2File]);
+      const step2Hash = envValue(s2Out) as string;
+
+      const step3File = join(subStore, "step3.json");
+      writeFileSync(
+        step3File,
+        JSON.stringify({ payload: "c", prev: step2Hash }),
+      );
+      const { stdout: s3Out } = runCliSub(["put", stepSchemaHash, step3File]);
+      const step3Hash = envValue(s3Out) as string;
+
+      const orphanFile = join(subStore, "orphan-step.json");
+      writeFileSync(
+        orphanFile,
+        JSON.stringify({ payload: "orphan", prev: null }),
+      );
+      const { stdout: orphanOut } = runCliSub([
+        "put",
+        stepSchemaHash,
+        orphanFile,
+      ]);
+      const orphanHash = envValue(orphanOut) as string;
+
+      runCliSub(["var", "set", "@test/thread/head", step3Hash]);
+
+      const { exitCode } = runCliSub(["gc"]);
+      expect(exitCode).toBe(0);
+
+      const { stdout: has1 } = runCliSub(["has", step1Hash]);
+      expect(envValue(has1)).toBe(true);
+      const { stdout: has2 } = runCliSub(["has", step2Hash]);
+      expect(envValue(has2)).toBe(true);
+      const { stdout: has3 } = runCliSub(["has", step3Hash]);
+      expect(envValue(has3)).toBe(true);
+      const { stdout: hasOrphan } = runCliSub(["has", orphanHash]);
+      expect(envValue(hasOrphan)).toBe(false);
+    } finally {
+      rmSync(subStore, { recursive: true, force: true });
+    }
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/core/src/gc.test.ts b/packages/core/src/gc.test.ts
index 78c8a41..42748a3 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/gc.test.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/gc.test.ts
@@ -119,3 +119,219 @@ describe("GC - Variable Model Refactoring", () => {
     expect(store.cas.has(hashB)).toBe(true);
   });
 });
+
+// ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+// Suite B: gc end-to-end with oneOf step chains (issue #93)
+// ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+describe("GC - oneOf step chain preservation (#93)", () => {
+  test("B.1 preserves a 3-step chain joined by oneOf nullable prev", async () => {
+    const store = createMemoryStore();
+    bootstrap(store);
+
+    const stepSchema = putSchema(store, {
+      type: "object",
+      properties: {
+        payload: { type: "string" },
+        prev: {
+          oneOf: [{ type: "null" }, { type: "string", format: "ocas_ref" }],
+        },
+      },
+    });
+
+    const step1 = store.cas.put(stepSchema, { payload: "a", prev: null });
+    const step2 = store.cas.put(stepSchema, { payload: "b", prev: step1 });
+    const step3 = store.cas.put(stepSchema, { payload: "c", prev: step2 });
+    const orphanStep = store.cas.put(stepSchema, {
+      payload: "orphan",
+      prev: null,
+    });
+
+    store.var.set("@test/thread/head", step3);
+
+    gc(store);
+
+    expect(store.cas.has(step1)).toBe(true);
+    expect(store.cas.has(step2)).toBe(true);
+    expect(store.cas.has(step3)).toBe(true);
+    expect(store.cas.has(stepSchema)).toBe(true);
+    expect(store.cas.has(orphanStep)).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  test("B.2 preserves a chain that mixes oneOf detail refs", async () => {
+    const store = createMemoryStore();
+    bootstrap(store);
+
+    const detailSchema = putSchema(store, {
+      type: "object",
+      properties: { info: { type: "string" } },
+    });
+    const stepSchema = putSchema(store, {
+      type: "object",
+      properties: {
+        prev: {
+          oneOf: [{ type: "null" }, { type: "string", format: "ocas_ref" }],
+        },
+        detail: {
+          oneOf: [{ type: "null" }, { type: "string", format: "ocas_ref" }],
+        },
+      },
+    });
+
+    const detail1 = store.cas.put(detailSchema, { info: "d1" });
+    const detail2 = store.cas.put(detailSchema, { info: "d2" });
+    const step1 = store.cas.put(stepSchema, {
+      prev: null,
+      detail: detail1,
+    });
+    const step2 = store.cas.put(stepSchema, {
+      prev: step1,
+      detail: detail2,
+    });
+
+    store.var.set("@test/thread/head", step2);
+
+    gc(store);
+
+    expect(store.cas.has(step1)).toBe(true);
+    expect(store.cas.has(step2)).toBe(true);
+    expect(store.cas.has(detail1)).toBe(true);
+    expect(store.cas.has(detail2)).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  test("B.3 preserves a workflow node referenced via oneOf from a step", async () => {
+    const store = createMemoryStore();
+    bootstrap(store);
+
+    const workflowSchema = putSchema(store, {
+      type: "object",
+      properties: { name: { type: "string" } },
+    });
+    const stepSchema = putSchema(store, {
+      type: "object",
+      properties: {
+        workflow: {
+          oneOf: [{ type: "null" }, { type: "string", format: "ocas_ref" }],
+        },
+      },
+    });
+
+    const workflowNode = store.cas.put(workflowSchema, {
+      name: "solve-issue",
+    });
+    const step = store.cas.put(stepSchema, { workflow: workflowNode });
+
+    store.var.set("@test/thread/head", step);
+    store.var.set("@uwf/registry/solve-issue", workflowNode);
+
+    gc(store);
+
+    expect(store.cas.has(step)).toBe(true);
+    expect(store.cas.has(workflowNode)).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  test("B.4 regression: existing anyOf traversal still works", async () => {
+    const store = createMemoryStore();
+    bootstrap(store);
+
+    const childSchema = putSchema(store, { type: "string" });
+    const parentSchema = putSchema(store, {
+      type: "object",
+      properties: {
+        child: {
+          anyOf: [{ type: "null" }, { type: "string", format: "ocas_ref" }],
+        },
+      },
+    });
+
+    const child = store.cas.put(childSchema, "child-value");
+    const parent = store.cas.put(parentSchema, { child });
+
+    store.var.set("@test/parent", parent);
+
+    gc(store);
+
+    expect(store.cas.has(parent)).toBe(true);
+    expect(store.cas.has(child)).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  test("B.5 reports correct stats with oneOf chains", async () => {
+    const store = createMemoryStore();
+    bootstrap(store);
+
+    const stepSchema = putSchema(store, {
+      type: "object",
+      properties: {
+        payload: { type: "string" },
+        prev: {
+          oneOf: [{ type: "null" }, { type: "string", format: "ocas_ref" }],
+        },
+      },
+    });
+
+    const step1 = store.cas.put(stepSchema, { payload: "a", prev: null });
+    const step2 = store.cas.put(stepSchema, { payload: "b", prev: step1 });
+    const step3 = store.cas.put(stepSchema, { payload: "c", prev: step2 });
+    store.cas.put(stepSchema, { payload: "orphan", prev: null });
+
+    store.var.set("@test/thread/head", step3);
+
+    const stats = gc(store);
+
+    expect(stats.collected).toBe(1);
+    expect(stats.reachable).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(4);
+    expect(stats.scanned).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(1);
+  });
+});
+
+// ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+// Suite C: gc preserves template content for reachable schemas (issue #93)
+// ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+describe("GC - template content preservation (#93)", () => {
+  test("C.1 preserves @ocas/template/text/<schema> content when schema is reachable", async () => {
+    const store = createMemoryStore();
+    const aliases = bootstrap(store);
+    const stringHash = aliases["@ocas/string"] as string;
+
+    const schemaA = putSchema(store, {
+      type: "object",
+      properties: { x: { type: "number" } },
+    });
+    const nodeA = store.cas.put(schemaA, { x: 42 });
+    store.var.set("@test/a", nodeA);
+
+    const tplA = store.cas.put(stringHash, "rendered: {{x}}");
+    store.var.set(`@ocas/template/text/${schemaA}`, tplA);
+
+    gc(store);
+
+    expect(store.cas.has(tplA)).toBe(true);
+
+    const tplVar = store.var.get(`@ocas/template/text/${schemaA}`);
+    expect(tplVar).not.toBeNull();
+    expect(tplVar?.value).toBe(tplA);
+  });
+
+  test("C.2 removes orphan template content for an unreachable schema", async () => {
+    const store = createMemoryStore();
+    const aliases = bootstrap(store);
+    const stringHash = aliases["@ocas/string"] as string;
+
+    const schemaA = putSchema(store, {
+      type: "object",
+      properties: { x: { type: "number" } },
+    });
+    // Note: do NOT bind any variable to a node typed by schemaA — schemaA is
+    // unreachable as a typeHash of any reachable node.
+
+    const otherSchema = putSchema(store, { type: "string" });
+    const otherNode = store.cas.put(otherSchema, "other");
+    store.var.set("@test/other", otherNode);
+
+    const tplA = store.cas.put(stringHash, "rendered: {{x}}");
+    store.var.set(`@ocas/template/text/${schemaA}`, tplA);
+
+    gc(store);
+
+    expect(store.cas.has(tplA)).toBe(false);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/core/src/gc.ts b/packages/core/src/gc.ts
index 18e6abe..0d0885c 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/gc.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/gc.ts
@@ -8,10 +8,17 @@ export interface GcStats {
   scanned: number; // Variables scanned as roots
 }
 
+const TEMPLATE_VAR_PREFIX = "@ocas/template/text/";
+
 /**
  * Garbage collection: mark-and-sweep algorithm
- * - Roots: all variable values (global, not scoped)
+ * - Roots: all variable values (global, not scoped), excluding
+ *   `@ocas/template/text/*` variables — those are added in a follow-up
+ *   phase only when their referenced schema is itself reachable.
  * - Mark: recursively walk refs from roots
+ * - Template phase: for every reachable schema, walk the contents of its
+ *   `@ocas/template/text/<schema>` template variable (mirrors
+ *   `computeClosure` Phase 3).
  * - Sweep: delete unmarked nodes
  * - Schema preservation: schemas of reachable nodes are also marked
  */
@@ -21,9 +28,13 @@ export function gc(store: Store): GcStats {
   const variables = store.var.list();
   const scanned = variables.length;
 
-  // Collect unique root hashes from all variables
+  // Collect unique root hashes from all variables, except template
+  // variables (`@ocas/template/text/*`). Template variables are processed
+  // in a follow-up phase so their content is preserved only when the
+  // referenced schema is itself reachable from non-template roots.
   const roots = new Set<Hash>();
   for (const variable of variables) {
+    if (variable.name.startsWith(TEMPLATE_VAR_PREFIX)) continue;
     roots.add(variable.value);
   }
 
@@ -63,6 +74,33 @@ export function gc(store: Store): GcStats {
     }
   }
 
+  // Template phase: include `@ocas/template/text/<schema>` content nodes
+  // when their schema is in the reachable set (mirrors closure.ts Phase 3).
+  // Snapshot the current reachable set before walking template content so
+  // that template-only nodes do not transitively pull in further templates.
+  const reachableSnapshot = [...reachable];
+  for (const hash of reachableSnapshot) {
+    const templateName = `${TEMPLATE_VAR_PREFIX}${hash}`;
+    const variants = store.var.list({ exactName: templateName });
+    for (const variant of variants) {
+      walk(store, variant.value, (h, n) => {
+        reachable.add(h);
+        reachable.add(n.type);
+      });
+      // Walk the template content's schema chain too
+      const tNode = store.cas.get(variant.value);
+      if (tNode) {
+        let current: Hash | null = tNode.type;
+        while (current !== null && !reachable.has(current)) {
+          reachable.add(current);
+          const node = store.cas.get(current);
+          if (!node || node.type === current) break;
+          current = node.type;
+        }
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
   // Preserve all self-referencing nodes (bootstrap meta-schema)
   // These are nodes where type === hash
   const allHashes = store.cas.listAll();
diff --git a/packages/core/src/schema.test.ts b/packages/core/src/schema.test.ts
index 2c5ad4d..7f34b00 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/schema.test.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/schema.test.ts
@@ -743,3 +743,82 @@ describe("bootstrap meta-schema self-reference", () => {
     expect(refList).toContain(targetHash);
   });
 });
+
+// ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+// Suite A: collectRefs() oneOf traversal (issue #93)
+// ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+describe("collectRefs oneOf traversal", () => {
+  test("A.1 returns the ref hash from the chosen oneOf branch (string variant)", async () => {
+    const store = createMemoryStore();
+    const innerSchema = putSchema(store, { type: "string" });
+    const schema = putSchema(store, {
+      type: "object",
+      properties: {
+        prev: {
+          oneOf: [{ type: "null" }, { type: "string", format: "ocas_ref" }],
+        },
+      },
+    });
+
+    const targetHash = store.cas.put(innerSchema, "target");
+    const nodeHash = store.cas.put(schema, { prev: targetHash });
+    const node = store.cas.get(nodeHash) as CasNode;
+
+    expect(refs(store, node)).toContain(targetHash);
+  });
+
+  test("A.2 returns no ref when oneOf matches the null variant", async () => {
+    const store = createMemoryStore();
+    const schema = putSchema(store, {
+      type: "object",
+      properties: {
+        prev: {
+          oneOf: [{ type: "null" }, { type: "string", format: "ocas_ref" }],
+        },
+      },
+    });
+
+    const nodeHash = store.cas.put(schema, { prev: null });
+    const node = store.cas.get(nodeHash) as CasNode;
+
+    expect(refs(store, node)).toEqual([]);
+  });
+
+  test("A.3 traverses nested combinators inside oneOf", async () => {
+    const store = createMemoryStore();
+    const innerSchema = putSchema(store, { type: "string" });
+    const schema = putSchema(store, {
+      oneOf: [
+        { type: "null" },
+        {
+          type: "object",
+          properties: { ref: { type: "string", format: "ocas_ref" } },
+        },
+      ],
+    });
+
+    const targetHash = store.cas.put(innerSchema, "target");
+    const nodeHash = store.cas.put(schema, { ref: targetHash });
+    const node = store.cas.get(nodeHash) as CasNode;
+
+    expect(refs(store, node)).toContain(targetHash);
+  });
+
+  test("A.4 multiple ref branches in oneOf all surface", async () => {
+    const store = createMemoryStore();
+    const innerSchema = putSchema(store, { type: "string" });
+    const schema = putSchema(store, {
+      oneOf: [
+        { type: "string", format: "ocas_ref" },
+        { type: "string", format: "ocas_ref" },
+      ],
+    });
+
+    const targetHash = store.cas.put(innerSchema, "target");
+    const nodeHash = store.cas.put(schema, targetHash);
+    const node = store.cas.get(nodeHash) as CasNode;
+
+    const result = refs(store, node);
+    expect(result).toContain(targetHash);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/core/src/schema.ts b/packages/core/src/schema.ts
index 63d69d3..ed6a468 100644
--- a/packages/core/src/schema.ts
+++ b/packages/core/src/schema.ts
@@ -311,6 +311,17 @@ export function collectRefs(schema: JSONSchema, value: unknown): Hash[] {
     return result;
   }
 
+  // oneOf — JSON Schema requires exactly one branch to validate, but for
+  // ref collection we conservatively traverse every branch (the meta-schema
+  // accepts oneOf alongside anyOf, and we cannot statically know which
+  // branch the value will match). Mirrors anyOf handling.
+  if (Array.isArray(schema.oneOf)) {
+    for (const sub of schema.oneOf as JSONSchema[]) {
+      result.push(...collectRefs(sub, value));
+    }
+    return result;
+  }
+
   // P2: allOf — each sub-schema applies to the same value
   if (Array.isArray(schema.allOf)) {
     for (const sub of schema.allOf as JSONSchema[]) {