diff --git a/mypy/typeops.py b/mypy/typeops.py
index 036d782be89c..d22448a715e5 100644
--- a/mypy/typeops.py
+++ b/mypy/typeops.py
@@ -114,7 +114,11 @@ def tuple_fallback(typ: TupleType) -> Instance:
         else:
             items.append(item)
     return Instance(
-        info, [make_simplified_union(items)], extra_attrs=typ.partial_fallback.extra_attrs
+        info,
+        # Note: flattening recursive unions is dangerous, since it can fool recursive
+        # types optimization in subtypes.py and go into infinite recursion.
+        [make_simplified_union(items, handle_recursive=False)],
+        extra_attrs=typ.partial_fallback.extra_attrs,
     )
 
 
@@ -440,6 +444,7 @@ def make_simplified_union(
     *,
     keep_erased: bool = False,
     contract_literals: bool = True,
+    handle_recursive: bool = True,
 ) -> ProperType:
     """Build union type with redundant union items removed.
 
@@ -465,7 +470,7 @@ def make_simplified_union(
     to_union().
     """
     # Step 1: expand all nested unions
-    items = flatten_nested_unions(items)
+    items = flatten_nested_unions(items, handle_recursive=handle_recursive)
 
     # Step 2: fast path for single item
     if len(items) == 1:
diff --git a/mypy/types.py b/mypy/types.py
index 618228c361f3..78244d0f9cf4 100644
--- a/mypy/types.py
+++ b/mypy/types.py
@@ -3629,7 +3629,7 @@ def extend_args_for_prefix_and_suffix(
 
 
 def flatten_nested_unions(
-    types: Sequence[Type], handle_type_alias_type: bool = True
+    types: Sequence[Type], *, handle_type_alias_type: bool = True, handle_recursive: bool = True
 ) -> list[Type]:
     """Flatten nested unions in a type list."""
     if not isinstance(types, list):
@@ -3643,7 +3643,13 @@ def flatten_nested_unions(
 
     flat_items: list[Type] = []
     for t in typelist:
-        tp = get_proper_type(t) if handle_type_alias_type else t
+        if handle_type_alias_type:
+            if not handle_recursive and isinstance(t, TypeAliasType) and t.is_recursive:
+                tp: Type = t
+            else:
+                tp = get_proper_type(t)
+        else:
+            tp = t
         if isinstance(tp, ProperType) and isinstance(tp, UnionType):
             flat_items.extend(
                 flatten_nested_unions(tp.items, handle_type_alias_type=handle_type_alias_type)
diff --git a/test-data/unit/check-recursive-types.test b/test-data/unit/check-recursive-types.test
index d5c8acd1bc15..ac1ea0c0035a 100644
--- a/test-data/unit/check-recursive-types.test
+++ b/test-data/unit/check-recursive-types.test
@@ -994,3 +994,15 @@ class T2(Tuple[T1, "T4", "T4"]): ...
 class T3(Tuple[str, "T4", "T4"]): ...
 T4 = Union[T2, T3]
 [builtins fixtures/tuple.pyi]
+
+[case testRecursiveTupleFallback5]
+from typing import Protocol, Tuple, Union
+
+class Proto(Protocol):
+    def __len__(self) -> int: ...
+
+A = Union[Proto, Tuple[A]]
+ta: Tuple[A]
+p: Proto
+p = ta
+[builtins fixtures/tuple.pyi]