diff --git a/src/cargo/ops/cargo_compile.rs b/src/cargo/ops/cargo_compile.rs
index b14bb5d690f..981afe23580 100644
--- a/src/cargo/ops/cargo_compile.rs
+++ b/src/cargo/ops/cargo_compile.rs
@@ -507,7 +507,7 @@ pub fn create_bcx<'a, 'cfg>(
     // TODO: In theory, Cargo should also dedupe the roots, but I'm uncertain
     // what heuristics to use in that case.
     if build_config.mode == (CompileMode::Doc { deps: true }) {
-        remove_duplicate_doc(build_config, &mut unit_graph);
+        remove_duplicate_doc(build_config, &units, &mut unit_graph);
     }
 
     if build_config
@@ -1508,14 +1508,11 @@ fn opt_patterns_and_names(
 /// - Different sources. See `collision_doc_sources` test.
 ///
 /// Ideally this would not be necessary.
-fn remove_duplicate_doc(build_config: &BuildConfig, unit_graph: &mut UnitGraph) {
-    // NOTE: There is some risk that this can introduce problems because it
-    // may create orphans in the unit graph (parts of the tree get detached
-    // from the roots). I currently can't think of any ways this will cause a
-    // problem because all other parts of Cargo traverse the graph starting
-    // from the roots. Perhaps this should scan for detached units and remove
-    // them too?
-    //
+fn remove_duplicate_doc(
+    build_config: &BuildConfig,
+    root_units: &[Unit],
+    unit_graph: &mut UnitGraph,
+) {
     // First, create a mapping of crate_name -> Unit so we can see where the
     // duplicates are.
     let mut all_docs: HashMap<String, Vec<Unit>> = HashMap::new();
@@ -1601,4 +1598,18 @@ fn remove_duplicate_doc(build_config: &BuildConfig, unit_graph: &mut UnitGraph)
     for unit_deps in unit_graph.values_mut() {
         unit_deps.retain(|unit_dep| !removed_units.contains(&unit_dep.unit));
     }
+    // Remove any orphan units that were detached from the graph.
+    let mut visited = HashSet::new();
+    fn visit(unit: &Unit, graph: &UnitGraph, visited: &mut HashSet<Unit>) {
+        if !visited.insert(unit.clone()) {
+            return;
+        }
+        for dep in &graph[unit] {
+            visit(&dep.unit, graph, visited);
+        }
+    }
+    for unit in root_units {
+        visit(unit, unit_graph, &mut visited);
+    }
+    unit_graph.retain(|unit, _| visited.contains(unit));
 }
diff --git a/tests/testsuite/collisions.rs b/tests/testsuite/collisions.rs
index 4315498169a..d7deebc175c 100644
--- a/tests/testsuite/collisions.rs
+++ b/tests/testsuite/collisions.rs
@@ -3,9 +3,8 @@
 //! Ideally these should never happen, but I don't think we'll ever be able to
 //! prevent all collisions.
 
-use cargo_test_support::basic_manifest;
-use cargo_test_support::project;
 use cargo_test_support::registry::Package;
+use cargo_test_support::{basic_manifest, cross_compile, project};
 use std::env;
 
 #[cargo_test]
@@ -431,3 +430,51 @@ the same path; see <https://github.com/rust-lang/cargo/issues/6313>.
         )
         .run();
 }
+
+#[cargo_test]
+fn collision_doc_target() {
+    // collision in doc with --target, doesn't fail due to orphans
+    if cross_compile::disabled() {
+        return;
+    }
+
+    Package::new("orphaned", "1.0.0").publish();
+    Package::new("bar", "1.0.0")
+        .dep("orphaned", "1.0")
+        .publish();
+    Package::new("bar", "2.0.0").publish();
+    let p = project()
+        .file(
+            "Cargo.toml",
+            r#"
+                [package]
+                name = "foo"
+                version = "0.1.0"
+
+                [dependencies]
+                bar2 = { version = "2.0", package="bar" }
+                bar = "1.0"
+            "#,
+        )
+        .file("src/lib.rs", "")
+        .build();
+
+    p.cargo("doc --target")
+        .arg(cross_compile::alternate())
+        .with_stderr_unordered(
+            "\
+[UPDATING] [..]
+[DOWNLOADING] crates ...
+[DOWNLOADED] orphaned v1.0.0 [..]
+[DOWNLOADED] bar v2.0.0 [..]
+[DOWNLOADED] bar v1.0.0 [..]
+[CHECKING] orphaned v1.0.0
+[DOCUMENTING] bar v2.0.0
+[CHECKING] bar v2.0.0
+[CHECKING] bar v1.0.0
+[DOCUMENTING] foo v0.1.0 [..]
+[FINISHED] [..]
+",
+        )
+        .run();
+}