diff --git a/volatility3/framework/plugins/linux/pstree.py b/volatility3/framework/plugins/linux/pstree.py
index fd28fcbbd..dc4fef4f3 100644
--- a/volatility3/framework/plugins/linux/pstree.py
+++ b/volatility3/framework/plugins/linux/pstree.py
@@ -52,19 +52,38 @@ class PsTree(interfaces.plugins.PluginInterface):
         Args:
             pid: PID to find the level in the hierarchy
         """
-        seen = set([pid])
+        seen_ppids = set()
+        seen_offsets = set()
+
         level = 0
         proc = self._tasks.get(pid)
-        while proc and proc.get_parent_pid() not in seen:
+
+        while proc:
+            # we don't want swapper in the tree
+            if proc.pid == 0:
+                break
+
             if proc.is_thread_group_leader:
                 parent_pid = proc.get_parent_pid()
             else:
                 parent_pid = proc.tgid
 
+            if parent_pid in seen_ppids or proc.vol.offset in seen_offsets:
+                break
+
+            # only pid 1 (init/systemd) or 2 (kthreadd) should have swapper as a parent
+            # any other process with a ppid of 0 is smeared or terminated
+            if parent_pid == 0 and proc.pid > 2:
+                break
+
+            seen_ppids.add(parent_pid)
+            seen_offsets.add(proc.vol.offset)
+
             child_list = self._children.setdefault(parent_pid, set())
             child_list.add(proc.pid)
 
             proc = self._tasks.get(parent_pid)
+
             level += 1
 
         self._levels[pid] = level
@@ -110,12 +129,26 @@ class PsTree(interfaces.plugins.PluginInterface):
             )
             yield (self._levels[task_fields.user_tid] - 1, fields)
 
+            seen_children = set()
+
             for child_pid in sorted(self._children.get(task_fields.user_tid, [])):
+                if child_pid in seen_children:
+                    break
+                seen_children.add(child_pid)
+
                 yield from yield_processes(child_pid)
 
+        seen_processes = set()
+
         for pid, level in self._levels.items():
             if level == 1:
-                yield from yield_processes(pid)
+                for fields in yield_processes(pid):
+                    pid = fields[1]
+                    if pid in seen_processes:
+                        break
+                    seen_processes.add(pid)
+
+                    yield fields
 
     def run(self):
         filter_func = pslist.PsList.create_pid_filter(self.config.get("pid", None))