diff --git a/backend/infrahub/core/validators/relationship/count.py b/backend/infrahub/core/validators/relationship/count.py
index 85ab9f1d29..08044413c4 100644
--- a/backend/infrahub/core/validators/relationship/count.py
+++ b/backend/infrahub/core/validators/relationship/count.py
@@ -34,20 +34,22 @@ async def query_init(self, db: InfrahubDatabase, **kwargs: dict[str, Any]) -> No
         branch_filter, branch_params = self.branch.get_query_filter_path(at=self.at.to_string(), is_isolated=False)
         self.params.update(branch_params)
 
-        self.params["node_kind"] = self.node_schema.kind
         self.params["relationship_id"] = self.relationship_schema.identifier
+        self.params["relationship_direction"] = self.relationship_schema.direction.value
         self.params["min_count"] = (
             self.min_count_override if self.min_count_override is not None else self.relationship_schema.min_count
         )
-        self.params["max_count"] = (
-            self.max_count_override if self.max_count_override is not None else self.relationship_schema.max_count
-        )
+        max_count: int | None = self.relationship_schema.max_count
+        if self.max_count_override:
+            max_count = self.max_count_override
+        if max_count == 0:
+            max_count = None
+        self.params["max_count"] = max_count
 
         # ruff: noqa: E501
         query = """
         // get the nodes on these branches nodes
-        MATCH (n:Node)
-        WHERE $node_kind IN LABELS(n)
+        MATCH (n:%(node_kind)s)
         CALL {
             WITH n
             MATCH path = (root:Root)<-[rroot:IS_PART_OF]-(n)
@@ -64,7 +66,9 @@ async def query_init(self, db: InfrahubDatabase, **kwargs: dict[str, Any]) -> No
         CALL {
             WITH active_node
             MATCH path = (active_node)-[rrel1:IS_RELATED]-(rel:Relationship { name: $relationship_id })-[rrel2:IS_RELATED]-(peer:Node)
-            WHERE all(
+            WHERE ($relationship_direction <> "outbound" OR (startNode(rrel1) = active_node AND startNode(rrel2) = rel))
+            AND ($relationship_direction <> "inbound" OR (startNode(rrel1) = rel AND startNode(rrel2) = peer))
+            AND all(
                 r in relationships(path)
                 WHERE (%(branch_filter)s)
             )
@@ -115,7 +119,7 @@ async def query_init(self, db: InfrahubDatabase, **kwargs: dict[str, Any]) -> No
         }
         // return a row for each node-branch combination with a count for that branch
         UNWIND violation_branches_and_counts as violation_branch_and_count
-        """ % {"branch_filter": branch_filter}
+        """ % {"branch_filter": branch_filter, "node_kind": self.node_schema.kind}
 
         self.add_to_query(query)
         self.return_labels = [
diff --git a/backend/tests/unit/core/constraint_validators/test_relationship_count.py b/backend/tests/unit/core/constraint_validators/test_relationship_count.py
index ed92a51f3f..bcbf362255 100644
--- a/backend/tests/unit/core/constraint_validators/test_relationship_count.py
+++ b/backend/tests/unit/core/constraint_validators/test_relationship_count.py
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ async def test_query_failure_cardinality_one(
 ):
     person_schema = registry.schema.get(name="TestPerson")
     cars_rel = person_schema.get_relationship(name="cars")
-    cars_rel.cardinality = RelationshipCardinality.ONE
+    cars_rel.max_count = 1
 
     schema_path = SchemaPath(path_type=SchemaPathType.RELATIONSHIP, schema_kind="TestPerson", field_name="cars")
     query = await RelationshipCountUpdateValidatorQuery.init(
@@ -351,6 +351,88 @@ async def test_query_delete_on_branch_success(
     assert len(all_paths) == 0
 
 
+async def test_hierarchical_success(db: InfrahubDatabase, default_branch: Branch, hierarchical_location_data_simple):
+    site_schema = registry.schema.get(name="LocationSite", duplicate=False)
+
+    schema_path = SchemaPath(path_type=SchemaPathType.RELATIONSHIP, schema_kind="LocationSite", field_name="parent")
+    query = await RelationshipCountUpdateValidatorQuery.init(
+        db=db, branch=default_branch, node_schema=site_schema, schema_path=schema_path
+    )
+
+    await query.execute(db=db)
+
+    grouped_paths = await query.get_paths()
+    all_paths = grouped_paths.get_all_data_paths()
+    assert len(all_paths) == 0
+
+
+async def test_hierarchical_failure(db: InfrahubDatabase, default_branch: Branch, hierarchical_location_data_simple):
+    paris_site = hierarchical_location_data_simple["paris"]
+    branch = await create_branch(branch_name=str("branch2"), db=db)
+    schema_path = SchemaPath(path_type=SchemaPathType.RELATIONSHIP, schema_kind="LocationSite", field_name="children")
+    site_schema = registry.schema.get(name="LocationSite", branch=branch, duplicate=False)
+
+    # check no violations to start with
+    query = await RelationshipCountUpdateValidatorQuery.init(
+        db=db, branch=branch, node_schema=site_schema, schema_path=schema_path
+    )
+
+    await query.execute(db=db)
+    grouped_paths = await query.get_paths()
+    all_paths = grouped_paths.get_all_data_paths()
+    assert len(all_paths) == 0
+
+    # add a violation
+    branch_rack = await NodeManager.get_one(db=db, branch=branch, id=paris_site.id)
+    extra_rack = await Node.init(db=db, branch=branch, schema="LocationRack")
+    await extra_rack.new(db=db, name="extra_rack", parent=branch_rack, status="online")
+    await extra_rack.save(db=db)
+    child_rel = site_schema.get_relationship(name="children")
+    child_rel.max_count = 2
+
+    query = await RelationshipCountUpdateValidatorQuery.init(
+        db=db, branch=branch, node_schema=site_schema, schema_path=schema_path
+    )
+    await query.execute(db=db)
+    grouped_paths = await query.get_paths()
+    all_paths = grouped_paths.get_all_data_paths()
+    assert len(all_paths) == 2
+    assert (
+        DataPath(
+            branch=branch.name,
+            path_type=PathType.NODE,
+            node_id=paris_site.id,
+            kind="LocationSite",
+            field_name="children",
+            value=1,
+        )
+        in all_paths
+    )
+    assert (
+        DataPath(
+            branch=default_branch.name,
+            path_type=PathType.NODE,
+            node_id=paris_site.id,
+            kind="LocationSite",
+            field_name="children",
+            value=2,
+        )
+        in all_paths
+    )
+
+    # remove violation
+    branch_rack = await NodeManager.get_one(db=db, branch=branch, id=extra_rack.id)
+    await branch_rack.delete(db=db)
+
+    query = await RelationshipCountUpdateValidatorQuery.init(
+        db=db, branch=branch, node_schema=site_schema, schema_path=schema_path
+    )
+    await query.execute(db=db)
+    grouped_paths = await query.get_paths()
+    all_paths = grouped_paths.get_all_data_paths()
+    assert len(all_paths) == 0
+
+
 async def test_validator(
     db: InfrahubDatabase,
     branch: Branch,