diff --git a/mysql-test/r/cte_recursive.result b/mysql-test/r/cte_recursive.result
index 3e926525e99..a4d821ed1a0 100644
--- a/mysql-test/r/cte_recursive.result
+++ b/mysql-test/r/cte_recursive.result
@@ -4454,5 +4454,32 @@ deallocate prepare stmt;
 drop table folks;
 set big_tables=@save_big_tables;
 #
+# MDEV-26135: execution of PS for query with hanging recursive CTE
+#
+create table t1 (a int);
+insert into t1 values (5), (7);
+create table t2 (b int);
+insert into t2 values (3), (7), (1);
+with recursive r as (select a from t1 union select a+1 from r where a < 10)
+select * from t2;
+b
+3
+7
+1
+prepare stmt from "with recursive r as (select a from t1 union select a+1 from r where a < 10)
+select * from t2";
+execute stmt;
+b
+3
+7
+1
+execute stmt;
+b
+3
+7
+1
+deallocate prepare stmt;
+drop table t1,t2;
+#
 # End of 10.2 tests
 #
diff --git a/mysql-test/t/cte_recursive.test b/mysql-test/t/cte_recursive.test
index 849e76b0436..49f9c1f4574 100644
--- a/mysql-test/t/cte_recursive.test
+++ b/mysql-test/t/cte_recursive.test
@@ -2819,6 +2819,27 @@ drop table folks;
 
 set big_tables=@save_big_tables;
 
+--echo #
+--echo # MDEV-26135: execution of PS for query with hanging recursive CTE
+--echo #
+
+create table t1 (a int);
+insert into t1 values (5), (7);
+create table t2 (b int);
+insert into t2 values (3), (7), (1);
+
+let $q=
+with recursive r as (select a from t1 union select a+1 from r where a < 10)
+select * from t2;
+
+eval $q;
+eval prepare stmt from "$q";
+execute stmt;
+execute stmt;
+deallocate prepare stmt;
+
+drop table t1,t2;
+
 --echo #
 --echo # End of 10.2 tests
 --echo #
diff --git a/sql/sql_union.cc b/sql/sql_union.cc
index 7baedfb259c..e5648e6989b 100644
--- a/sql/sql_union.cc
+++ b/sql/sql_union.cc
@@ -1382,7 +1382,8 @@ bool st_select_lex_unit::cleanup()
   {
     DBUG_RETURN(FALSE);
   }
-  if (with_element && with_element->is_recursive && union_result)
+  if (with_element && with_element->is_recursive && union_result &&
+      with_element->rec_outer_references)
   {
     select_union_recursive *result= with_element->rec_result;
     if (++result->cleanup_count == with_element->rec_outer_references)
@@ -1584,7 +1585,8 @@ bool st_select_lex::cleanup()
   for (SELECT_LEX_UNIT *lex_unit= first_inner_unit(); lex_unit ;
        lex_unit= lex_unit->next_unit())
   {
-    if (lex_unit->with_element && lex_unit->with_element->is_recursive)
+    if (lex_unit->with_element && lex_unit->with_element->is_recursive &&
+        lex_unit->with_element->rec_outer_references)
       continue;
     error= (bool) ((uint) error | (uint) lex_unit->cleanup());
   }