diff --git a/swh/indexer/storage/in_memory.py b/swh/indexer/storage/in_memory.py
--- a/swh/indexer/storage/in_memory.py
+++ b/swh/indexer/storage/in_memory.py
@@ -388,17 +388,17 @@
                 sorted(self._content_ctags._data.items()):
             if id_ <= (last_sha1 or bytes(0 for _ in range(SHA1_DIGEST_SIZE))):
                 continue
-            nb_matches += 1
             for ctags_item in item['ctags']:
                 if ctags_item['name'] != expression:
                     continue
+                nb_matches += 1
                 yield {
                     'id': id_,
                     'tool': _transform_tool(self._tools[tool_id]),
                     **ctags_item
                 }
-            if nb_matches >= limit:
-                return
+                if nb_matches >= limit:
+                    return
 
     def content_fossology_license_get(self, ids):
         """Retrieve licenses per id.
diff --git a/swh/indexer/tests/storage/test_storage.py b/swh/indexer/tests/storage/test_storage.py
--- a/swh/indexer/tests/storage/test_storage.py
+++ b/swh/indexer/tests/storage/test_storage.py
@@ -560,6 +560,12 @@
                     'line': 119,
                     'lang': 'Python',
                 },
+                {
+                    'name': 'hello',
+                    'kind': 'variable',
+                    'line': 210,
+                    'lang': 'Python',
+                },
             ]
         }
 
@@ -573,6 +579,12 @@
                     'line': 100,
                     'lang': 'C',
                 },
+                {
+                    'name': 'result',
+                    'kind': 'variable',
+                    'line': 120,
+                    'lang': 'C',
+                },
             ]
         }
 
@@ -626,6 +638,14 @@
                 'lang': 'Python',
             },
             {
+                'id': ctag1['id'],
+                'tool': tool,
+                'name': 'hello',
+                'kind': 'variable',
+                'line': 210,
+                'lang': 'Python',
+            },
+            {
                 'id': ctag2['id'],
                 'tool': tool,
                 'name': 'hello',
@@ -648,6 +668,20 @@
             'lang': 'Python',
         }])
 
+        # 5. when
+        actual_ctags = list(self.storage.content_ctags_search('result',
+                                                              limit=1))
+
+        # then
+        self.assertEqual(actual_ctags, [{
+            'id': ctag2['id'],
+            'tool': tool,
+            'name': 'result',
+            'kind': 'variable',
+            'line': 120,
+            'lang': 'C',
+        }])
+
     def test_content_ctags_search_no_result(self):
         actual_ctags = list(self.storage.content_ctags_search('counter'))