diff --git a/odoo/addons/base/tests/test_expression.py b/odoo/addons/base/tests/test_expression.py
index e18e0b1240e..5800bad26d0 100644
--- a/odoo/addons/base/tests/test_expression.py
+++ b/odoo/addons/base/tests/test_expression.py
@@ -611,6 +611,17 @@ class TestExpression(TransactionCase):
         not_be = Partner.with_context(lang='fr_FR').search([('country_id', '!=', 'Belgique')])
         self.assertNotIn(agrolait, not_be)
 
+    def test_or_with_implicit_and(self):
+        # Check that when using expression.OR on a list of domains with at least one
+        # implicit '&' the returned domain is the expected result.
+        # from #24038
+        d1 = [('foo', '=', 1), ('bar', '=', 1)]
+        d2 = ['&', ('foo', '=', 2), ('bar', '=', 2)]
+
+        expected = ['|', '&', ('foo', '=', 1), ('bar', '=', 1),
+                         '&', ('foo', '=', 2), ('bar', '=', 2)]
+        self.assertEqual(expression.OR([d1, d2]), expected)
+
 
 class TestAutoJoin(TransactionCase):
 
diff --git a/odoo/osv/expression.py b/odoo/osv/expression.py
index 9e2bb7228e2..3e4a278ce5d 100644
--- a/odoo/osv/expression.py
+++ b/odoo/osv/expression.py
@@ -232,8 +232,9 @@ def is_false(model, domain):
 
 def combine(operator, unit, zero, domains):
     """Returns a new domain expression where all domain components from ``domains``
-       have been added together using the binary operator ``operator``. The given
-       domains must be normalized.
+       have been added together using the binary operator ``operator``.
+
+       It is guaranteed to return a normalized domain.
 
        :param unit: the identity element of the domains "set" with regard to the operation
                     performed by ``operator``, i.e the domain component ``i`` which, when
@@ -255,7 +256,7 @@ def combine(operator, unit, zero, domains):
         if domain == zero:
             return zero
         if domain:
-            result += domain
+            result += normalize_domain(domain)
             count += 1
     result = [operator] * (count - 1) + result
     return result