diff --git a/CHANGES/7831.bugfix b/CHANGES/7831.bugfix
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..fcaaaebeca
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CHANGES/7831.bugfix
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+Optimized the `q` complex filter to compose `NOT`/`AND`/`OR` operands as flat `WHERE`
+conditions in a single SQL statement for standard field filters, falling back to `pk__in`
+subqueries only for opaque operands (label, `repository_version`, and href/prn/id resolvers).
+This replaces the previous `EXCEPT`/`INTERSECT`/`UNION` set operations, avoiding full-table
+scans and disk-spilling sorts, and keeps the query flat regardless of expression nesting depth.
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/pulpcore/filters.py b/pulpcore/filters.py
index e225769a5c..1f38785e72 100644
--- a/pulpcore/filters.py
+++ b/pulpcore/filters.py
@@ -206,7 +206,27 @@ def __init__(self, filterset, tokens):
             self.value = form.cleaned_data[key]
             self.complexity = 1
 
+        def as_q(self):
+            # A leaf reduces to a plain WHERE condition (Q) only when it is a standard
+            # django-filter Filter: no custom .filter() override, no method, no .distinct().
+            # Anything else (href/prn resolvers, repository_version, method filters, ...) is
+            # opaque and must be applied via its own queryset transform in evaluate().
+            f = self.filter
+            if (
+                type(f).filter is not filters.Filter.filter
+                or getattr(f, "method", None) is not None
+                or getattr(f, "distinct", False)
+            ):
+                return None
+            if self.value in EMPTY_VALUES:
+                return models.Q()
+            q = models.Q(**{f"{f.field_name}__{f.lookup_expr}": self.value})
+            return ~q if f.exclude else q
+
         def evaluate(self, qs):
+            q = self.as_q()
+            if q is not None:
+                return qs.filter(q)
             return self.filter.filter(qs, self.value)
 
     class _NotAction:
@@ -214,28 +234,73 @@ def __init__(self, tokens):
             self.expr = tokens[0][0]
             self.complexity = self.expr.complexity + 1
 
+        def as_q(self):
+            child = self.expr.as_q()
+            return None if child is None else ~child
+
         def evaluate(self, qs):
-            return qs.difference(self.expr.evaluate(qs))
+            q = self.as_q()
+            if q is not None:
+                return qs.filter(q)
+            # Opaque operand: anti-join via a NOT IN subquery.
+            return qs.exclude(pk__in=self.expr.evaluate(qs).values("pk"))
 
     class _AndAction:
         def __init__(self, tokens):
             self.exprs = tokens[0]
             self.complexity = sum((expr.complexity for expr in self.exprs)) + 1
 
+        def as_q(self):
+            children = [expr.as_q() for expr in self.exprs]
+            if any(child is None for child in children):
+                return None
+            query = models.Q()
+            for child in children:
+                query &= child
+            return query
+
         def evaluate(self, qs):
-            return (
-                self.exprs[0]
-                .evaluate(qs)
-                .intersection(*[expr.evaluate(qs) for expr in self.exprs[1:]])
-            )
+            # Fold every Q-reducible operand into a single flat WHERE, and apply only the
+            # genuinely opaque operands as pk__in semi-join subqueries.
+            result = qs
+            combined = models.Q()
+            has_q = False
+            for expr in self.exprs:
+                child = expr.as_q()
+                if child is not None:
+                    combined &= child
+                    has_q = True
+                else:
+                    result = result.filter(pk__in=expr.evaluate(qs).values("pk"))
+            if has_q:
+                result = result.filter(combined)
+            return result
 
     class _OrAction:
         def __init__(self, tokens):
             self.exprs = tokens[0]
             self.complexity = sum((expr.complexity for expr in self.exprs)) + 1
 
+        def as_q(self):
+            children = [expr.as_q() for expr in self.exprs]
+            if any(child is None for child in children):
+                return None
+            query = children[0]
+            for child in children[1:]:
+                query |= child
+            return query
+
         def evaluate(self, qs):
-            return self.exprs[0].evaluate(qs).union(*[expr.evaluate(qs) for expr in self.exprs[1:]])
+            # Reducible operands stay as flat OR'd conditions; opaque operands contribute a
+            # pk__in subquery. Both are combined in a single WHERE clause.
+            query = models.Q()
+            for expr in self.exprs:
+                child = expr.as_q()
+                if child is not None:
+                    query |= child
+                else:
+                    query |= models.Q(pk__in=expr.evaluate(qs).values("pk"))
+            return qs.filter(query)
 
     def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         self.filterset = kwargs.pop("filter").parent