diff --git a/vlib/v/checker/checker.v b/vlib/v/checker/checker.v
index bbd9679f59..9e27b27858 100644
--- a/vlib/v/checker/checker.v
+++ b/vlib/v/checker/checker.v
@@ -2872,7 +2872,7 @@ fn (mut c Checker) cast_expr(mut node ast.CastExpr) ast.Type {
 			'a variadic'
 		}
 		c.error('cannot type cast ${msg}', node.pos)
-	} else if !c.inside_unsafe && to_type.is_ptr() && from_type.is_ptr()
+	} else if !c.inside_unsafe && to_type.is_ptr() && from_type.is_ptr() && to_type != from_type
 		&& to_type.deref() != ast.char_type && from_type.deref() != ast.char_type {
 		ft := c.table.type_to_str(from_type)
 		tt := c.table.type_to_str(to_type)
diff --git a/vlib/v/slow_tests/inout/cast_to_reference_type.out b/vlib/v/slow_tests/inout/cast_to_reference_type.out
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..66f826d044
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vlib/v/slow_tests/inout/cast_to_reference_type.out
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+&&nil
diff --git a/vlib/v/slow_tests/inout/cast_to_reference_type.vv b/vlib/v/slow_tests/inout/cast_to_reference_type.vv
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b7aa911898
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vlib/v/slow_tests/inout/cast_to_reference_type.vv
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+fn main() {
+	a := &&char(unsafe { nil })
+	b := &&char(a)
+	println(b)
+}