diff --git a/NEWS b/NEWS
index 9953a673164..6af7477ac66 100644
--- a/NEWS
+++ b/NEWS
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ PHP                                                                        NEWS
 
 - Opcache:
   . Fixed bug #74431 (foreach infinite loop). (Nikita)
+  . Fixed bug #74442 (Opcached version produces a nested array). (Nikita)
 
 - OpenSSL:
   . Fixed bug #74341 (openssl_x509_parse fails to parse ASN.1 UTCTime without
diff --git a/ext/opcache/Optimizer/dfa_pass.c b/ext/opcache/Optimizer/dfa_pass.c
index 4e4260660c0..027814b5cd5 100644
--- a/ext/opcache/Optimizer/dfa_pass.c
+++ b/ext/opcache/Optimizer/dfa_pass.c
@@ -366,6 +366,12 @@ static zend_bool opline_supports_assign_contraction(
 			&& (opline->op2_type != IS_CV || opline->op2.var != cv_var);
 	}
 
+	if (opline->opcode == ZEND_CAST) {
+		/* CAST to array/object may initialize the result to an empty array/object before
+		 * reading the expression. */
+		return opline->extended_value != IS_ARRAY && opline->extended_value != IS_OBJECT;
+	}
+
 	return 1;
 }
 
diff --git a/ext/opcache/tests/bug74442.phpt b/ext/opcache/tests/bug74442.phpt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..6b02d494a08
--- /dev/null
+++ b/ext/opcache/tests/bug74442.phpt
@@ -0,0 +1,37 @@
+--TEST--
+Bug #74442: Opcached version produces a nested array
+--FILE--
+<?php
+class Schema_Base {
+    public function addField($typeclass, array $params = null) {
+        $field = new $typeclass($params);
+        return $field;
+    }
+}
+
+class Field_Base {
+    public function __construct(array $params = null) {
+        if (! is_array($params)) {
+            $params = (array) $params;
+        }
+        call_user_func_array(array($this, 'acceptParams'), $params);
+    }
+}
+
+class Field_Integer extends Field_Base {
+    protected function acceptParams($bytes = 4) {
+        echo print_r($bytes, true);
+    }
+}
+
+try {
+    $schema = new Schema_Base;
+    $schema->addField('Field_Integer');
+} catch (Throwable $ex) {
+    echo "CAUGHT EXCEPTION";
+    echo (string)$ex;
+}
+
+?>
+--EXPECT--
+4