A method of rewriting a Structured Query Language (SQL) statement in order to prevent processing of a join between a master table and a detail table in a database is disclosed. The method includes determining in the SQL statement a unique identifier to a row of the master table. The unique identifier is then equated to an identifier to related rows of the detail table using the join condition. A revised SQL statement may then be produced that only refers to the detail table using the identifier to the rows of the detail table. Subsequently, the revised SQL statement is processed.