diff --git a/mypy/checker.py b/mypy/checker.py
index db65660bbfbd..abbba4813618 100644
--- a/mypy/checker.py
+++ b/mypy/checker.py
@@ -4858,8 +4858,13 @@ def get_types_from_except_handler(self, typ: Type, n: Expression) -> list[Type]:
         """Helper for check_except_handler_test to retrieve handler types."""
         typ = get_proper_type(typ)
         if isinstance(typ, TupleType):
-            return typ.items
+            # avoid recursion here, since we can accidentally unpack tuples inside
+            merged_type = make_simplified_union(typ.items)
+            if isinstance(merged_type, UnionType):
+                return merged_type.relevant_items()
+            return [merged_type]
         elif isinstance(typ, UnionType):
+            # recursion is fine here for top-level Union
             return [
                 union_typ
                 for item in typ.relevant_items()
@@ -4867,7 +4872,11 @@ def get_types_from_except_handler(self, typ: Type, n: Expression) -> list[Type]:
             ]
         elif is_named_instance(typ, "builtins.tuple"):
             # variadic tuple
-            return [typ.args[0]]
+            # avoid recursion here too
+            merged_type = make_simplified_union((typ.args[0],))
+            if isinstance(merged_type, UnionType):
+                return merged_type.relevant_items()
+            return [merged_type]
         else:
             return [typ]
 
diff --git a/test-data/unit/check-statements.test b/test-data/unit/check-statements.test
index d1464423e90f..b6f315e73a29 100644
--- a/test-data/unit/check-statements.test
+++ b/test-data/unit/check-statements.test
@@ -794,6 +794,57 @@ def error_in_variadic(exc: Tuple[int, ...]) -> None:
 
 [builtins fixtures/tuple.pyi]
 
+[case testExceptWithMultipleTypes5]
+from typing import Tuple, Type, Union
+
+class E1(BaseException): pass
+class E2(BaseException): pass
+class E3(BaseException): pass
+
+def union_in_variadic(exc: Tuple[Union[Type[E1], Type[E2]], ...]) -> None:
+    try:
+        pass
+    except exc as e:
+        reveal_type(e)  # N: Revealed type is "Union[__main__.E1, __main__.E2]"
+
+def nested_union_in_variadic(exc: Tuple[Union[Type[E1], Union[Type[E2], Type[E3]]], ...]) -> None:
+    try:
+        pass
+    except exc as e:
+        reveal_type(e)  # N: Revealed type is "Union[__main__.E1, __main__.E2, __main__.E3]"
+
+def union_in_tuple(exc: Tuple[Union[Type[E1], Type[E2]], Type[E3]]) -> None:
+    try:
+        pass
+    except exc as e:
+        reveal_type(e)  # N: Revealed type is "Union[__main__.E1, __main__.E2, __main__.E3]"
+
+def error_in_variadic_union(exc: Tuple[Union[Type[E1], int], ...]) -> None:
+    try:
+        pass
+    except exc as e:  # E: Exception type must be derived from BaseException (or be a tuple of exception classes)
+        pass
+
+def error_in_variadic_nested_union(exc: Tuple[Union[Type[E1], Union[Type[E2], int]], ...]) -> None:
+    try:
+        pass
+    except exc as e:  # E: Exception type must be derived from BaseException (or be a tuple of exception classes)
+        pass
+
+def error_in_tuple_inside_variadic_nested_union(exc: Tuple[Union[Type[E1], Union[Type[E2], Tuple[Type[E3]]]], ...]) -> None:
+    try:
+        pass
+    except exc as e:  # E: Exception type must be derived from BaseException (or be a tuple of exception classes)
+        pass
+
+def error_in_tuple_union(exc: Tuple[Union[Type[E1], Type[E2]], Union[Type[E3], int]]) -> None:
+    try:
+        pass
+    except exc as e:  # E: Exception type must be derived from BaseException (or be a tuple of exception classes)
+        pass
+
+[builtins fixtures/tuple.pyi]
+
 [case testExceptWithAnyTypes]
 from typing import Any