diff --git a/spec/std/enumerable_spec.cr b/spec/std/enumerable_spec.cr
index 084fe80dcf96..31984e2ff7a5 100644
--- a/spec/std/enumerable_spec.cr
+++ b/spec/std/enumerable_spec.cr
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 require "spec"
+require "../spec_helper"
 require "spec/helpers/iterate"
 
 module SomeInterface; end
@@ -1364,6 +1365,18 @@ describe "Enumerable" do
     it { [1, 2, 3].sum(4.5).should eq(10.5) }
     it { (1..3).sum { |x| x * 2 }.should eq(12) }
     it { (1..3).sum(1.5) { |x| x * 2 }.should eq(13.5) }
+    it { [1, 3_u64].sum(0_i32).should eq(4_u32) }
+    it { [1, 3].sum(0_u64).should eq(4_u64) }
+    it { [1, 10000000000_u64].sum(0_u64).should eq(10000000001) }
+    it "raises if union types are summed", tags: %w[slow] do
+      exc = assert_error <<-CRYSTAL,
+        require "prelude"
+        [1, 10000000000_u64].sum
+        CRYSTAL
+        "Enumerable#sum/product() does support Union types. Instead, " +
+        "use Enumerable#sum/product(initial) with an initial value of " +
+        "the expected type of the sum/product call."
+    end
 
     it "uses additive_identity from type" do
       typeof([1, 2, 3].sum).should eq(Int32)
@@ -1405,6 +1418,19 @@ describe "Enumerable" do
       typeof([1.5, 2.5, 3.5].product).should eq(Float64)
       typeof([1, 2, 3].product(&.to_f)).should eq(Float64)
     end
+
+    it { [1, 3_u64].product(3_i32).should eq(9_u32) }
+    it { [1, 3].product(3_u64).should eq(9_u64) }
+    it { [1, 10000000000_u64].product(3_u64).should eq(30000000000_u64) }
+    it "raises if union types are multiplied", tags: %w[slow] do
+      exc = assert_error <<-CRYSTAL,
+        require "prelude"
+        [1, 10000000000_u64].product
+        CRYSTAL
+        "Enumerable#sum/product() does support Union types. Instead, " +
+        "use Enumerable#sum/product(initial) with an initial value of " +
+        "the expected type of the sum/product call."
+    end
   end
 
   describe "first" do
diff --git a/src/enumerable.cr b/src/enumerable.cr
index 0993f38bbc4d..e7b2b917a8f3 100644
--- a/src/enumerable.cr
+++ b/src/enumerable.cr
@@ -1808,7 +1808,10 @@ module Enumerable(T)
   # Expects all types returned from the block to respond to `#+` method.
   #
   # This method calls `.additive_identity` on the yielded type to determine the
-  # type of the sum value.
+  # type of the sum value.  Hence, it can fail to compile if
+  # `.additive_identity` fails to determine a safe type, e.g., in case of
+  # union types.  In such cases, use `sum(initial)` with an initial value of
+  # the expected type of the sum value. 
   #
   # If the collection is empty, returns `additive_identity`.
   #
@@ -1886,8 +1889,11 @@ module Enumerable(T)
   #
   # Expects all types returned from the block to respond to `#*` method.
   #
-  # This method calls `.multiplicative_identity` on the element type to determine the
-  # type of the sum value.
+  # This method calls `.multiplicative_identity` on the element type to
+  # determine the type of the product value.  Hence, it can fail to compile if
+  # `.multiplicative_identity` fails to determine a safe type, e.g., in case
+  # of union types.  In such cases, use `product(initial)` with an initial
+  # value of the expected type of the product value. 
   #
   # If the collection is empty, returns `multiplicative_identity`.
   #
@@ -2292,7 +2298,11 @@ module Enumerable(T)
     # if the type is a union.
     def self.first
       {% if X.union? %}
-        {{X.union_types.first}}
+        {{ 
+          raise("Enumerable#sum/product() does support Union types. " +
+                "Instead, use Enumerable#sum/product(initial) with an " +
+                "initial value of the expected type of the sum/product call.") 
+        }}
       {% else %}
         X
       {% end %}