diff --git a/CHANGES/1995.bugfix b/CHANGES/1995.bugfix
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..25e4115807
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CHANGES/1995.bugfix
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+Improved the performance of the latest publication lookup when serving content
+from a repository-backed distribution.
diff --git a/pulpcore/app/models/publication.py b/pulpcore/app/models/publication.py
index dd28ed8de5..6e8f677026 100644
--- a/pulpcore/app/models/publication.py
+++ b/pulpcore/app/models/publication.py
@@ -792,9 +792,10 @@ def get_repository_publication_and_version(self):
                 try:
                     publication = (
                         Publication.objects.filter(
-                            repository_version__in=repository.versions.all(), complete=True
+                            repository_version__repository=repository, complete=True
                         )
                         .select_related("repository_version")
+                        .defer("repository_version__content_ids")
                         .latest("repository_version", "pulp_created")
                         .cast()
                     )