diff --git a/regression/cbmc/union_performance1/main.c b/regression/cbmc/union_performance1/main.c
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..800d9418f4a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/regression/cbmc/union_performance1/main.c
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+// Test that byte_extract from a union does not cause performance explosion.
+// See GitHub issue diffblue/cbmc#8813.
+#include <assert.h>
+#include <stdint.h>
+
+typedef struct
+{
+  int32_t data[8];
+} arr;
+
+int main()
+{
+  union
+  {
+    arr a;
+    arr b;
+  } u;
+  unsigned i;
+  __CPROVER_assume(i < 8);
+  u.a.data[i] = 42;
+  assert(u.b.data[i] == 42);
+}
diff --git a/regression/cbmc/union_performance1/test.desc b/regression/cbmc/union_performance1/test.desc
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..9d220de32cd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/regression/cbmc/union_performance1/test.desc
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+CORE
+main.c
+
+^VERIFICATION SUCCESSFUL$
+^EXIT=0$
+^SIGNAL=0$
+--
+^warning: ignoring
+--
+Union of same-typed members should not cause performance explosion.
+See GitHub issue diffblue/cbmc#8813.
diff --git a/src/util/pointer_offset_size.cpp b/src/util/pointer_offset_size.cpp
index 56e170fab18..2e25851c2ed 100644
--- a/src/util/pointer_offset_size.cpp
+++ b/src/util/pointer_offset_size.cpp
@@ -859,6 +859,32 @@ std::optional<exprt> get_subexpression_at_offset(
 
       return {};
     }
+    else if(expr.type().id() == ID_union || expr.type().id() == ID_union_tag)
+    {
+      // For union-typed expressions with non-constant offset, access
+      // through the widest member to avoid expensive byte_extract lowering.
+      // This is safe when the widest member covers the full union (no
+      // trailing padding beyond it), since all members start at offset 0.
+      if(expr.id() == ID_symbol || expr.id() == ID_member)
+      {
+        const union_typet &union_type =
+          expr.type().id() == ID_union_tag
+            ? ns.follow_tag(to_union_tag_type(expr.type()))
+            : to_union_type(expr.type());
+
+        const auto union_size = pointer_offset_bits(union_type, ns);
+        const auto widest_member = union_type.find_widest_union_component(ns);
+        if(
+          widest_member.has_value() && union_size.has_value() &&
+          widest_member->second == *union_size)
+        {
+          const member_exprt member(
+            expr, widest_member->first.get_name(), widest_member->first.type());
+          return get_subexpression_at_offset(member, offset, target_type, ns);
+        }
+      }
+      return {};
+    }
     else
       return {};
   }