diff --git a/crates/ty_python_semantic/resources/mdtest/assignment/annotations.md b/crates/ty_python_semantic/resources/mdtest/assignment/annotations.md
index 36f53afe4d..d8595041fc 100644
--- a/crates/ty_python_semantic/resources/mdtest/assignment/annotations.md
+++ b/crates/ty_python_semantic/resources/mdtest/assignment/annotations.md
@@ -511,7 +511,7 @@ def f(self, dt: dict[str, Any], key: str):
 
 ```toml
 [environment]
-python-version = "3.12"
+python-version = "3.14"
 ```
 
 ```py
@@ -550,7 +550,7 @@ g: list[Any] | dict[Any, Any] = f3(1)
 reveal_type(g)  # revealed: list[int] | dict[int, int]
 ```
 
-We currently prefer the generic declared type regardless of its variance:
+We only prefer the declared type if it is in non-covariant position.
 
 ```py
 class Bivariant[T]:
@@ -594,12 +594,22 @@ x6: Covariant[Any] = covariant(1)
 x7: Contravariant[Any] = contravariant(1)
 x8: Invariant[Any] = invariant(1)
 
-reveal_type(x5)  # revealed: Bivariant[Any]
-reveal_type(x6)  # revealed: Covariant[Any]
+reveal_type(x5)  # revealed: Bivariant[Literal[1]]
+reveal_type(x6)  # revealed: Covariant[Literal[1]]
 reveal_type(x7)  # revealed: Contravariant[Any]
 reveal_type(x8)  # revealed: Invariant[Any]
 ```
 
+```py
+class X[T]:
+    def __init__(self: X[None]): ...
+    def pop(self) -> T:
+        raise NotImplementedError
+
+x1: X[int | None] = X()
+reveal_type(x1)  # revealed: X[None]
+```
+
 ## Narrow generic unions
 
 ```toml
diff --git a/crates/ty_python_semantic/src/types/call/bind.rs b/crates/ty_python_semantic/src/types/call/bind.rs
index cd50607c14..b0134a20c3 100644
--- a/crates/ty_python_semantic/src/types/call/bind.rs
+++ b/crates/ty_python_semantic/src/types/call/bind.rs
@@ -3016,7 +3016,19 @@ impl<'a, 'db> ArgumentTypeChecker<'a, 'db> {
             tcx.filter_union(self.db, |ty| ty.class_specialization(self.db).is_some())
                 .class_specialization(self.db)?;
 
-            builder.infer(return_ty, tcx).ok()?;
+            builder
+                .infer_map(return_ty, tcx, |(_, variance, inferred_ty)| {
+                    // Avoid unnecessarily widening the return type based on a covariant
+                    // type parameter from the type context, as it can lead to argument
+                    // assignability errors if the type variable is constrained by a narrower
+                    // parameter type.
+                    if variance.is_covariant() {
+                        return None;
+                    }
+
+                    Some(inferred_ty)
+                })
+                .ok()?;
             Some(builder.type_mappings().clone())
         });