diff --git a/confirmation/models.py b/confirmation/models.py
index b6a47ae3e3..ce3ea79123 100644
--- a/confirmation/models.py
+++ b/confirmation/models.py
@@ -16,10 +16,19 @@ from django.http import HttpRequest, HttpResponse
 from django.shortcuts import render
 from django.urls import reverse
 from django.utils.timezone import now as timezone_now
+from typing_extensions import Protocol
 
 from zerver.models import EmailChangeStatus, MultiuseInvite, PreregistrationUser, Realm, UserProfile
 
 
+class HasRealmObject(Protocol):
+    realm: Realm
+
+
+class OptionalHasRealmObject(Protocol):
+    realm: Optional[Realm]
+
+
 class ConfirmationKeyException(Exception):
     WRONG_LENGTH = 1
     EXPIRED = 2
@@ -74,14 +83,16 @@ def get_object_from_key(
 
 
 def create_confirmation_link(
-    obj: ContentType, confirmation_type: int, url_args: Mapping[str, str] = {}
+    obj: Union[Realm, HasRealmObject, OptionalHasRealmObject],
+    confirmation_type: int,
+    url_args: Mapping[str, str] = {},
 ) -> str:
     key = generate_key()
     realm = None
-    if hasattr(obj, "realm"):
-        realm = obj.realm
-    elif isinstance(obj, Realm):
+    if isinstance(obj, Realm):
         realm = obj
+    elif hasattr(obj, "realm"):
+        realm = obj.realm
 
     Confirmation.objects.create(
         content_object=obj,
diff --git a/zerver/views/auth.py b/zerver/views/auth.py
index 1b6597f2ab..01674ad72d 100644
--- a/zerver/views/auth.py
+++ b/zerver/views/auth.py
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ def create_preregistration_user(
     password_required: bool = True,
     full_name: Optional[str] = None,
     full_name_validated: bool = False,
-) -> HttpResponse:
+) -> PreregistrationUser:
     realm = None
     if not realm_creation:
         try: