diff --git a/src/main/java/com/fasterxml/jackson/core/JsonGenerator.java b/src/main/java/com/fasterxml/jackson/core/JsonGenerator.java
index 58437fadda..cee202f465 100644
--- a/src/main/java/com/fasterxml/jackson/core/JsonGenerator.java
+++ b/src/main/java/com/fasterxml/jackson/core/JsonGenerator.java
@@ -1969,16 +1969,12 @@ public void writeTypeId(Object id) throws IOException {
      */
     public WritableTypeId writeTypePrefix(WritableTypeId typeIdDef) throws IOException
     {
-        // First: is this a native type id? If so, just use write method, be done
-        if (canWriteTypeId()) {
-            // just rely on native type output method (sub-classes likely to override)
-            return _writeNativeTypePrefix(typeIdDef);
-        }
-        
-        // No native type id; write wrappers
-        final boolean wasStartObjectWritten = _writeTypePrefixWrapper(typeIdDef);
+        // Are native type ids allowed? If so, use them; otherwise, use wrappers
+        final boolean wasStartObjectWritten = canWriteTypeId()
+                ? _writeTypePrefixUsingNative(typeIdDef)
+                : _writeTypePrefixUsingWrapper(typeIdDef);
 
-        // and finally possible start marker for value itself:
+        // And then possible start marker for value itself:
         switch (typeIdDef.valueShape) {
         case START_OBJECT:
             if (!wasStartObjectWritten) {
@@ -1986,8 +1982,7 @@ public WritableTypeId writeTypePrefix(WritableTypeId typeIdDef) throws IOExcepti
             }
             break;
         case START_ARRAY:
-            // should we now set the current object?
-            writeStartArray();
+            writeStartArray(typeIdDef.forValue);
             break;
         default: // otherwise: no start marker
         }
@@ -1995,21 +1990,27 @@ public WritableTypeId writeTypePrefix(WritableTypeId typeIdDef) throws IOExcepti
         return typeIdDef;
     }
 
-    // @since 2.19
-    protected WritableTypeId _writeNativeTypePrefix(WritableTypeId typeIdDef) throws IOException {
+    /**
+     * Writes a native type id (when supported by format).
+     *
+     * @return True if start of an object has been written, False otherwise.
+     *
+     * @since 2.19
+     */
+    protected boolean _writeTypePrefixUsingNative(WritableTypeId typeIdDef) throws IOException {
         typeIdDef.wrapperWritten = false;
         writeTypeId(typeIdDef.id);
-        return typeIdDef;
+        return false;
     }
 
     /**
-     * Writes a wrapper for the type id; if necessary.
+     * Writes a wrapper for the type id if necessary.
      *
-     * @return True if start of an object has been written, False otherwise.
+     * @return True if start of an object has been written, false otherwise.
      *
      * @since 2.19
      */
-    protected boolean _writeTypePrefixWrapper(WritableTypeId typeIdDef) throws IOException {
+    protected boolean _writeTypePrefixUsingWrapper(WritableTypeId typeIdDef) throws IOException {
         // Normally we only support String type ids (non-String reserved for native type ids)
         final String id = Objects.toString(typeIdDef.id, null);
 
@@ -2044,7 +2045,8 @@ protected boolean _writeTypePrefixWrapper(WritableTypeId typeIdDef) throws IOExc
             return true;
 
         case WRAPPER_OBJECT:
-            // NOTE: this is wrapper, not directly related to value to output, so don't pass
+            // NOTE: this is wrapper, not directly related to value to output, so
+            // do NOT pass "typeIdDef.forValue"
             writeStartObject();
             writeFieldName(id);
             break;