For finitely generated modules M and N over a Gorenstein local ring R, one has depth M + depth N = depth(M ⊗ R N ) + depth R, i.e., the depth formula holds, if M and N are Tor-independent and Tate homology Tor i (M, N ) vanishes for all i ∈ Z. We establish the same conclusion under weaker hypotheses: if M and N are G-relative Tor-independent, then the vanishing of Tor i (M, N ) for all i 0 is enough for the depth formula to hold. We also analyze the depth of tensor products of modules and obtain a necessary condition for the depth formula in terms of G-relative homology.2010 Mathematics Subject Classification. 13D07; 13D02.