diff --git a/pkg/local_object_storage/metabase/exists.go b/pkg/local_object_storage/metabase/exists.go
index a7b37662e..d975b18b4 100644
--- a/pkg/local_object_storage/metabase/exists.go
+++ b/pkg/local_object_storage/metabase/exists.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package meta
 
 import (
+	"bytes"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 
@@ -62,7 +63,10 @@ func (db *DB) Exists(prm *ExistsPrm) (res *ExistsRes, err error) {
 
 func (db *DB) exists(tx *bbolt.Tx, addr *objectSDK.Address) (exists bool, err error) {
 	// check graveyard first
-	if inGraveyard(tx, addr) {
+	switch inGraveyard(tx, addr) {
+	case 1:
+		return false, object.ErrNotFound
+	case 2:
 		return false, object.ErrAlreadyRemoved
 	}
 
@@ -92,16 +96,26 @@ func (db *DB) exists(tx *bbolt.Tx, addr *objectSDK.Address) (exists bool, err er
 	return inBucket(tx, storageGroupBucketName(addr.ContainerID()), objKey), nil
 }
 
-// inGraveyard returns true if object was marked as removed.
-func inGraveyard(tx *bbolt.Tx, addr *objectSDK.Address) bool {
+// inGraveyard returns:
+//  * 0 if object is not in graveyard;
+//  * 1 if object is in graveyard with GC mark;
+//  * 2 if object is in graveyard with tombstone.
+func inGraveyard(tx *bbolt.Tx, addr *objectSDK.Address) uint8 {
 	graveyard := tx.Bucket(graveyardBucketName)
 	if graveyard == nil {
-		return false
+		return 0
 	}
 
-	tombstone := graveyard.Get(addressKey(addr))
+	val := graveyard.Get(addressKey(addr))
+	if val == nil {
+		return 0
+	}
 
-	return len(tombstone) != 0
+	if bytes.Equal(val, []byte(inhumeGCMarkValue)) {
+		return 1
+	}
+
+	return 2
 }
 
 // inBucket checks if key <key> is present in bucket <name>.
diff --git a/pkg/local_object_storage/metabase/get.go b/pkg/local_object_storage/metabase/get.go
index c28ba2d40..cd98712fe 100644
--- a/pkg/local_object_storage/metabase/get.go
+++ b/pkg/local_object_storage/metabase/get.go
@@ -85,8 +85,13 @@ func (db *DB) get(tx *bbolt.Tx, addr *objectSDK.Address, checkGraveyard, raw boo
 	key := objectKey(addr.ObjectID())
 	cid := addr.ContainerID()
 
-	if checkGraveyard && inGraveyard(tx, addr) {
-		return nil, object.ErrAlreadyRemoved
+	if checkGraveyard {
+		switch inGraveyard(tx, addr) {
+		case 1:
+			return nil, object.ErrNotFound
+		case 2:
+			return nil, object.ErrAlreadyRemoved
+		}
 	}
 
 	// check in primary index
diff --git a/pkg/local_object_storage/metabase/get_test.go b/pkg/local_object_storage/metabase/get_test.go
index 6db4b973c..16929f53c 100644
--- a/pkg/local_object_storage/metabase/get_test.go
+++ b/pkg/local_object_storage/metabase/get_test.go
@@ -94,6 +94,20 @@ func TestDB_Get(t *testing.T) {
 		require.NoError(t, err)
 		require.True(t, binaryEqual(child.CutPayload().Object(), newChild))
 	})
+
+	t.Run("get removed object", func(t *testing.T) {
+		obj := generateAddress()
+		ts := generateAddress()
+
+		require.NoError(t, meta.Inhume(db, obj, ts))
+		_, err := meta.Get(db, obj)
+		require.ErrorIs(t, err, object.ErrAlreadyRemoved)
+
+		obj = generateAddress()
+		require.NoError(t, meta.Inhume(db, obj, nil))
+		_, err = meta.Get(db, obj)
+		require.ErrorIs(t, err, object.ErrNotFound)
+	})
 }
 
 // binary equal is used when object contains empty lists in the structure and
diff --git a/pkg/local_object_storage/metabase/select.go b/pkg/local_object_storage/metabase/select.go
index 6325caed8..b11e0d8e3 100644
--- a/pkg/local_object_storage/metabase/select.go
+++ b/pkg/local_object_storage/metabase/select.go
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ func (db *DB) selectObjects(tx *bbolt.Tx, cid *cid.ID, fs object.SearchFilters)
 			return nil, err
 		}
 
-		if inGraveyard(tx, addr) {
+		if inGraveyard(tx, addr) > 0 {
 			continue // ignore removed objects
 		}