diff --git a/src/awkward/contents/unionarray.py b/src/awkward/contents/unionarray.py
index fed19ebe42..6a16ee194b 100644
--- a/src/awkward/contents/unionarray.py
+++ b/src/awkward/contents/unionarray.py
@@ -708,7 +708,7 @@ def project(self, index):
         nextcarry = ak.index.Index64(
             tmpcarry.data[: lenout[0]], nplike=self._backend.index_nplike
         )
-        return self._contents[index]._carry(nextcarry, False)
+        return self._contents[index]._carry(nextcarry, True)
 
     @staticmethod
     def regular_index(
diff --git a/src/awkward/operations/ak_enforce_type.py b/src/awkward/operations/ak_enforce_type.py
index e207d46e47..2bd5996a01 100644
--- a/src/awkward/operations/ak_enforce_type.py
+++ b/src/awkward/operations/ak_enforce_type.py
@@ -947,7 +947,7 @@ def _recurse_union_non_union(
 
         # Index over them
         index = ak.index.Index64(index_data)
-        return ak.contents.IndexedArray(index, next_content)
+        return ak.contents.IndexedArray.simplified(index, next_content)
     else:
         # Find the first content whose type equals the given type
         for tag, content in enumerate(layout.contents):  # noqa: B007