diff --git a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/core/Types.scala b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/core/Types.scala
index e38fbbb4b355..ebca52d37db4 100644
--- a/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/core/Types.scala
+++ b/compiler/src/dotty/tools/dotc/core/Types.scala
@@ -3598,12 +3598,11 @@ object Types extends TypeUtils {
 
     override def widenUnionWithoutNull(using Context): Type =
       if myUnionPeriod != ctx.period then
-        myUnion =
-          if isSoft then
-            TypeComparer.lub(tp1.widenUnionWithoutNull, tp2.widenUnionWithoutNull, canConstrain = true, isSoft = isSoft) match
-              case union: OrType => union.join
-              case res => res
-          else derivedOrType(tp1.widenUnionWithoutNull, tp2.widenUnionWithoutNull, soft = isSoft)
+        val union = TypeComparer.lub(
+          tp1.widenUnionWithoutNull, tp2.widenUnionWithoutNull, canConstrain = isSoft, isSoft = isSoft)
+        myUnion = union match
+          case union: OrType if isSoft => union.join
+          case _ => union
         if !isProvisional then myUnionPeriod = ctx.period
       myUnion