diff --git a/src/Type/Php/RegexArrayShapeMatcher.php b/src/Type/Php/RegexArrayShapeMatcher.php
index 23ee4b5a36..628bcb0d3c 100644
--- a/src/Type/Php/RegexArrayShapeMatcher.php
+++ b/src/Type/Php/RegexArrayShapeMatcher.php
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@
 use PHPStan\Type\Constant\ConstantStringType;
 use PHPStan\Type\IntegerRangeType;
 use PHPStan\Type\IntegerType;
+use PHPStan\Type\NullType;
 use PHPStan\Type\Regex\RegexAlternation;
 use PHPStan\Type\Regex\RegexCapturingGroup;
 use PHPStan\Type\Regex\RegexExpressionHelper;
@@ -140,7 +141,7 @@ private function matchRegex(string $regex, ?int $flags, TrinaryLogic $wasMatched
 			&& $onlyOptionalTopLevelGroup !== null
 		) {
 			// if only one top level capturing optional group exists
-			// we build a more precise constant union of a empty-match and a match with the group
+			// we build a more precise tagged union of a empty-match and a match with the group
 
 			$onlyOptionalTopLevelGroup->forceNonOptional();
 
@@ -154,18 +155,24 @@ private function matchRegex(string $regex, ?int $flags, TrinaryLogic $wasMatched
 			);
 
 			if (!$this->containsUnmatchedAsNull($flags, $matchesAll)) {
+				// positive match has a subject but not any capturing group
 				$combiType = TypeCombinator::union(
 					new ConstantArrayType([new ConstantIntegerType(0)], [$this->createSubjectValueType($flags, $matchesAll)], [0], [], true),
 					$combiType,
 				);
 			}
 
+			$onlyOptionalTopLevelGroup->clearOverrides();
+
 			return $combiType;
 		} elseif (
 			!$matchesAll
-			&& $wasMatched->yes()
+			&& $onlyOptionalTopLevelGroup === null
 			&& $onlyTopLevelAlternation !== null
+			&& !$wasMatched->no()
 		) {
+			// if only a single top level alternation exist built a more precise tagged union
+
 			$combiTypes = [];
 			$isOptionalAlternation = false;
 			foreach ($onlyTopLevelAlternation->getGroupCombinations() as $groupCombo) {
@@ -179,6 +186,9 @@ private function matchRegex(string $regex, ?int $flags, TrinaryLogic $wasMatched
 						$beforeCurrentCombo = false;
 					} elseif ($beforeCurrentCombo && !$group->resetsGroupCounter()) {
 						$group->forceNonOptional();
+						$group->forceType(
+							$this->containsUnmatchedAsNull($flags, $matchesAll) ? new NullType() : new ConstantStringType(''),
+						);
 					} elseif (
 						$group->getAlternationId() === $onlyTopLevelAlternation->getId()
 						&& !$this->containsUnmatchedAsNull($flags, $matchesAll)
@@ -200,17 +210,26 @@ private function matchRegex(string $regex, ?int $flags, TrinaryLogic $wasMatched
 
 				foreach ($groupCombo as $groupId) {
 					$group = $comboList[$groupId];
-					$group->restoreNonOptional();
+					$group->clearOverrides();
 				}
 			}
 
-			if ($isOptionalAlternation && !$this->containsUnmatchedAsNull($flags, $matchesAll)) {
+			if (
+				!$this->containsUnmatchedAsNull($flags, $matchesAll)
+				&& (
+					$onlyTopLevelAlternation->getAlternationsCount() !== count($onlyTopLevelAlternation->getGroupCombinations())
+					|| $isOptionalAlternation
+				)
+			) {
+				// positive match has a subject but not any capturing group
 				$combiTypes[] = new ConstantArrayType([new ConstantIntegerType(0)], [$this->createSubjectValueType($flags, $matchesAll)], [0], [], true);
 			}
 
 			return TypeCombinator::union(...$combiTypes);
 		}
 
+		// the general case, which should work in all cases but does not yield the most
+		// precise result possible in some cases
 		return $this->buildArrayType(
 			$groupList,
 			$wasMatched,
diff --git a/src/Type/Regex/RegexAlternation.php b/src/Type/Regex/RegexAlternation.php
index 70ba5a41ea..9a00411c10 100644
--- a/src/Type/Regex/RegexAlternation.php
+++ b/src/Type/Regex/RegexAlternation.php
@@ -10,7 +10,10 @@ final class RegexAlternation
 	/** @var array<int, list<int>> */
 	private array $groupCombinations = [];
 
-	public function __construct(private readonly int $alternationId)
+	public function __construct(
+		private readonly int $alternationId,
+		private readonly int $alternationsCount,
+	)
 	{
 	}
 
@@ -28,6 +31,11 @@ public function pushGroup(int $combinationIndex, RegexCapturingGroup $group): vo
 		$this->groupCombinations[$combinationIndex][] = $group->getId();
 	}
 
+	public function getAlternationsCount(): int
+	{
+		return $this->alternationsCount;
+	}
+
 	/**
 	 * @return array<int, list<int>>
 	 */
diff --git a/src/Type/Regex/RegexCapturingGroup.php b/src/Type/Regex/RegexCapturingGroup.php
index 83fafbdd41..62708a2de3 100644
--- a/src/Type/Regex/RegexCapturingGroup.php
+++ b/src/Type/Regex/RegexCapturingGroup.php
@@ -9,6 +9,8 @@ final class RegexCapturingGroup
 
 	private bool $forceNonOptional = false;
 
+	private ?Type $forceType = null;
+
 	public function __construct(
 		private readonly int $id,
 		private readonly ?string $name,
@@ -30,9 +32,15 @@ public function forceNonOptional(): void
 		$this->forceNonOptional = true;
 	}
 
-	public function restoreNonOptional(): void
+	public function forceType(Type $type): void
+	{
+		$this->forceType = $type;
+	}
+
+	public function clearOverrides(): void
 	{
 		$this->forceNonOptional = false;
+		$this->forceType = null;
 	}
 
 	public function resetsGroupCounter(): bool
@@ -109,6 +117,9 @@ public function getName(): ?string
 
 	public function getType(): Type
 	{
+		if ($this->forceType !== null) {
+			return $this->forceType;
+		}
 		return $this->type;
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/Type/Regex/RegexGroupParser.php b/src/Type/Regex/RegexGroupParser.php
index f1d9331e2a..48a6b9e517 100644
--- a/src/Type/Regex/RegexGroupParser.php
+++ b/src/Type/Regex/RegexGroupParser.php
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ private function walkRegexAst(
 
 		if ($ast->getId() === '#alternation') {
 			$alternationId++;
-			$alternation = new RegexAlternation($alternationId);
+			$alternation = new RegexAlternation($alternationId, count($ast->getChildren()));
 		}
 
 		if ($ast->getId() === '#mark') {
diff --git a/tests/PHPStan/Analyser/nsrt/bug-11311.php b/tests/PHPStan/Analyser/nsrt/bug-11311.php
index 43bc3d6247..3a01594ded 100644
--- a/tests/PHPStan/Analyser/nsrt/bug-11311.php
+++ b/tests/PHPStan/Analyser/nsrt/bug-11311.php
@@ -198,3 +198,29 @@ function (string $s): void {
 	preg_match('/%a(\d*)?/', $s, $matches, PREG_UNMATCHED_AS_NULL);
 	assertType("array{0?: string, 1?: ''|numeric-string|null}", $matches); // could be array{0?: string, 1?: ''|numeric-string}
 };
+
+function (string $s): void {
+	if (preg_match('~a|(\d)|(\s)~', $s, $matches, PREG_UNMATCHED_AS_NULL)) {
+		assertType("array{string, numeric-string|null, non-empty-string|null}", $matches);
+	} else {
+		assertType("array{}", $matches);
+	}
+	assertType("array{}|array{string, numeric-string|null, non-empty-string|null}", $matches);
+};
+
+function (string $s): void {
+	if (preg_match('~a|(\d)|(\s)~', $s, $matches, PREG_UNMATCHED_AS_NULL|PREG_OFFSET_CAPTURE) === 1) {
+		assertType("array{array{string|null, int<-1, max>}, array{numeric-string|null, int<-1, max>}, array{non-empty-string|null, int<-1, max>}}", $matches);
+	}
+};
+
+function (string $s): void {
+	if (preg_match('~a|((u)x)|((v)y)~', $s, $matches, PREG_UNMATCHED_AS_NULL) === 1) {
+		assertType("array{string, 'ux'|null, 'u'|null, 'vy'|null, 'v'|null}", $matches);
+	}
+};
+
+function (string $s): void {
+	preg_match('~a|(\d)|(\s)~', $s, $matches, PREG_UNMATCHED_AS_NULL);
+	assertType("array{0?: string, 1?: numeric-string|null, 2?: non-empty-string|null}", $matches);
+};
diff --git a/tests/PHPStan/Analyser/nsrt/preg_match_shapes.php b/tests/PHPStan/Analyser/nsrt/preg_match_shapes.php
index 3e633455ab..d441a79fcd 100644
--- a/tests/PHPStan/Analyser/nsrt/preg_match_shapes.php
+++ b/tests/PHPStan/Analyser/nsrt/preg_match_shapes.php
@@ -129,16 +129,16 @@ function doUnknownFlags(string $s, int $flags): void {
 
 function doMultipleAlternativeCaptureGroupsWithSameNameWithModifier(string $s): void {
 	if (preg_match('/(?J)(?<Foo>[a-z]+)|(?<Foo>[0-9]+)/', $s, $matches)) {
-		assertType('array{0: string, Foo: numeric-string|non-empty-string, 1: non-empty-string, 2?: numeric-string}', $matches);
+		assertType("array{0: string, Foo: non-empty-string, 1: non-empty-string}|array{0: string, Foo: numeric-string, 1: '', 2: numeric-string}", $matches);
 	}
-	assertType('array{}|array{0: string, Foo: numeric-string|non-empty-string, 1: non-empty-string, 2?: numeric-string}', $matches);
+	assertType("array{}|array{0: string, Foo: non-empty-string, 1: non-empty-string}|array{0: string, Foo: numeric-string, 1: '', 2: numeric-string}", $matches);
 }
 
 function doMultipleConsecutiveCaptureGroupsWithSameNameWithModifier(string $s): void {
 	if (preg_match('/(?J)(?<Foo>[a-z]+)|(?<Foo>[0-9]+)/', $s, $matches)) {
-		assertType('array{0: string, Foo: numeric-string|non-empty-string, 1: non-empty-string, 2?: numeric-string}', $matches);
+		assertType("array{0: string, Foo: non-empty-string, 1: non-empty-string}|array{0: string, Foo: numeric-string, 1: '', 2: numeric-string}", $matches);
 	}
-	assertType('array{}|array{0: string, Foo: numeric-string|non-empty-string, 1: non-empty-string, 2?: numeric-string}', $matches);
+	assertType("array{}|array{0: string, Foo: non-empty-string, 1: non-empty-string}|array{0: string, Foo: numeric-string, 1: '', 2: numeric-string}", $matches);
 }
 
 // https://github.com/hoaproject/Regex/issues/31
@@ -307,21 +307,21 @@ function (string $size): void {
 	if (preg_match('~^(?:(\\d+)x(\\d+)|(\\d+)|x(\\d+))$~', $size, $matches) !== 1) {
 		throw new InvalidArgumentException(sprintf('Invalid size "%s"', $size));
 	}
-	assertType('array{0: string, 1: numeric-string, 2: numeric-string, 3?: numeric-string, 4?: numeric-string}', $matches);
+	assertType("array{string, '', '', '', numeric-string}|array{string, '', '', numeric-string}|array{string, numeric-string, numeric-string}", $matches);
 };
 
 function (string $size): void {
 	if (preg_match('~^(?:(\\d+)x(\\d+)|(\\d+)|x(\\d+))?$~', $size, $matches) !== 1) {
 		throw new InvalidArgumentException(sprintf('Invalid size "%s"', $size));
 	}
-	assertType('array{0: string, 1: numeric-string, 2: numeric-string, 3?: numeric-string, 4?: numeric-string}|array{string}', $matches);
+	assertType("array{string, '', '', '', numeric-string}|array{string, '', '', numeric-string}|array{string, numeric-string, numeric-string}|array{string}", $matches);
 };
 
 function (string $size): void {
 	if (preg_match('~\{(?:(include)\\s+(?:[$]?\\w+(?<!file))\\s)|(?:(include\\s+file)\\s+(?:[$]?\\w+)\\s)|(?:(include(?:Template|(?:\\s+file)))\\s+(?:\'?.*?\.latte\'?)\\s)~', $size, $matches) !== 1) {
 		throw new InvalidArgumentException(sprintf('Invalid size "%s"', $size));
 	}
-	assertType("array{0: string, 1: 'include', 2?: non-falsy-string, 3?: non-falsy-string}", $matches);
+	assertType("array{string, '', '', non-falsy-string}|array{string, '', non-falsy-string}|array{string, 'include'}", $matches);
 };
 
 
@@ -338,13 +338,7 @@ function bug11277a(string $value): void
 function bug11277b(string $value): void
 {
 	if (preg_match('/^(?:(.+,?)|(x))*$/', $value, $matches)) {
-		assertType('array{0: string, 1?: non-empty-string, 2?: non-empty-string}', $matches);
-		if (count($matches) === 2) {
-			assertType('array{string, string}', $matches); // could be array{string, non-empty-string}
-		}
-		if (count($matches) === 3) {
-			assertType('array{string, string, string}', $matches); // could be array{string, non-empty-string, non-empty-string}
-		}
+		assertType("array{0: string, 1?: non-empty-string}|array{string, '', non-empty-string}", $matches);
 	}
 }
 
@@ -656,10 +650,9 @@ function (string $value): void
 	}
 };
 
-function (string $value): void
-{
+function (string $value): void {
 	if (preg_match('/^(?:(x)|(y))*$/', $value, $matches, PREG_OFFSET_CAPTURE)) {
-		assertType("array{0: array{string, int<-1, max>}, 1?: array{non-empty-string, int<-1, max>}, 2?: array{non-empty-string, int<-1, max>}}", $matches);
+		assertType("array{0: array{string, int<-1, max>}, 1?: array{non-empty-string, int<-1, max>}}|array{array{string, int<-1, max>}, array{'', int<-1, max>}, array{non-empty-string, int<-1, max>}}", $matches);
 	}
 };
 
@@ -683,3 +676,26 @@ static public function sayHello(string $source): void
 		assertType("array{0?: string, dateFrom?: ''|numeric-string, 1?: ''|numeric-string, dateTo?: numeric-string, 2?: numeric-string}", $matches);
 	}
 }
+
+function (string $s): void {
+	if (preg_match('~a|(\d)|(\s)~', $s, $matches) === 1) {
+		assertType("array{0: string, 1?: numeric-string}|array{string, '', non-empty-string}", $matches);
+	}
+};
+
+function (string $s): void {
+	if (preg_match('~a|((u)x)|((v)y)~', $s, $matches) === 1) {
+		assertType("array{string, '', '', 'vy', 'v'}|array{string, 'ux', 'u'}|array{string}", $matches);
+	}
+};
+
+function (string $s): void {
+	if (preg_match('~a|(\d)|(\s)~', $s, $matches, PREG_OFFSET_CAPTURE) === 1) {
+		assertType("array{0: array{string, int<-1, max>}, 1?: array{numeric-string, int<-1, max>}}|array{array{string, int<-1, max>}, array{'', int<-1, max>}, array{non-empty-string, int<-1, max>}}", $matches);
+	}
+};
+
+function (string $s): void {
+	preg_match('~a|(\d)|(\s)~', $s, $matches);
+	assertType("array{0?: string, 1?: '', 2?: non-empty-string}|array{0?: string, 1?: numeric-string}", $matches);
+};