diff --git a/src/Psalm/Internal/Type/NegatedAssertionReconciler.php b/src/Psalm/Internal/Type/NegatedAssertionReconciler.php
index 74f4d1cf782..efdf02d80c6 100644
--- a/src/Psalm/Internal/Type/NegatedAssertionReconciler.php
+++ b/src/Psalm/Internal/Type/NegatedAssertionReconciler.php
@@ -298,7 +298,9 @@ public static function reconcile(
 
             $failed_reconciliation = Reconciler::RECONCILIATION_EMPTY;
 
-            return Type::getNever();
+            return $existing_var_type->from_docblock
+                ? Type::getMixed()
+                : Type::getNever();
         }
 
         return $existing_var_type;