diff --git a/pre_commit/clientlib.py b/pre_commit/clientlib.py
index d619ea523..20d44925a 100644
--- a/pre_commit/clientlib.py
+++ b/pre_commit/clientlib.py
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ def _make_argparser(filenames_help: str) -> argparse.ArgumentParser:
     cfgv.Optional('files', check_string_regex, ''),
     cfgv.Optional('exclude', check_string_regex, '^$'),
     cfgv.Optional('types', cfgv.check_array(check_type_tag), ['file']),
-    cfgv.Optional('types_or', cfgv.check_array(check_type_tag), ['file']),
+    cfgv.Optional('types_or', cfgv.check_array(check_type_tag), []),
     cfgv.Optional('exclude_types', cfgv.check_array(check_type_tag), []),
 
     cfgv.Optional(
diff --git a/pre_commit/commands/run.py b/pre_commit/commands/run.py
index 508b61a34..1e8fad23b 100644
--- a/pre_commit/commands/run.py
+++ b/pre_commit/commands/run.py
@@ -92,7 +92,11 @@ def by_types(
         ret = []
         for filename in names:
             tags = self._types_for_file(filename)
-            if tags >= types and tags & types_or and not tags & exclude_types:
+            if (
+                    tags >= types and
+                    (not types_or or tags & types_or) and
+                    not tags & exclude_types
+            ):
                 ret.append(filename)
         return ret
 
diff --git a/tests/commands/run_test.py b/tests/commands/run_test.py
index 34f3a3753..b4491d01f 100644
--- a/tests/commands/run_test.py
+++ b/tests/commands/run_test.py
@@ -964,6 +964,27 @@ def test_classifier_does_not_normalize_backslashes_non_windows(tmpdir):
                 assert classifier.filenames == [r'a/b\c']
 
 
+def test_classifier_empty_types_or(tmpdir):
+    tmpdir.join('bar').ensure()
+    tmpdir.join('foo').mksymlinkto('bar')
+    with tmpdir.as_cwd():
+        classifier = Classifier(('foo', 'bar'))
+        for_symlink = classifier.by_types(
+            classifier.filenames,
+            types=['symlink'],
+            types_or=[],
+            exclude_types=[],
+        )
+        for_file = classifier.by_types(
+            classifier.filenames,
+            types=['file'],
+            types_or=[],
+            exclude_types=[],
+        )
+        assert for_symlink == ['foo']
+        assert for_file == ['bar']
+
+
 @pytest.fixture
 def some_filenames():
     return (
diff --git a/tests/repository_test.py b/tests/repository_test.py
index 8d771458f..d513cb71f 100644
--- a/tests/repository_test.py
+++ b/tests/repository_test.py
@@ -901,7 +901,7 @@ def test_manifest_hooks(tempdir_factory, store):
             'post-commit', 'manual', 'post-checkout', 'push',
         ),
         types=['file'],
-        types_or=['file'],
+        types_or=[],
         verbose=False,
     )