diff --git a/examples/gg/mandelbrot.v b/examples/gg/mandelbrot.v
index aa2619f09e..c5a639b92a 100644
--- a/examples/gg/mandelbrot.v
+++ b/examples/gg/mandelbrot.v
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ fn (mut state AppState) worker(id int, input chan MandelChunk, ready chan bool)
 
 fn (mut state AppState) draw() {
 	mut istream_image := state.gg.get_cached_image_by_idx(state.iidx)
-	istream_image.update_pixel_data(state.pixels)
+	istream_image.update_pixel_data(unsafe { &u8(state.pixels) })
 	size := gg.window_size()
 	state.gg.draw_image(0, 0, size.width, size.height, istream_image)
 }
diff --git a/examples/gg/random.v b/examples/gg/random.v
index 2de6c32e92..f54d82c2ee 100644
--- a/examples/gg/random.v
+++ b/examples/gg/random.v
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ fn (mut state AppState) update() {
 
 fn (mut state AppState) draw() {
 	mut istream_image := state.gg.get_cached_image_by_idx(state.istream_idx)
-	istream_image.update_pixel_data(&state.pixels)
+	istream_image.update_pixel_data(unsafe { &u8(&state.pixels) })
 	size := gg.window_size()
 	state.gg.draw_image(0, 0, size.width, size.height, istream_image)
 }
diff --git a/examples/pendulum-simulation/modules/sim/anim/app.v b/examples/pendulum-simulation/modules/sim/anim/app.v
index 4262c86870..429d0f9d14 100644
--- a/examples/pendulum-simulation/modules/sim/anim/app.v
+++ b/examples/pendulum-simulation/modules/sim/anim/app.v
@@ -59,6 +59,6 @@ fn frame(mut app App) {
 
 fn (mut app App) draw() {
 	mut istream_image := app.gg.get_cached_image_by_idx(app.iidx)
-	istream_image.update_pixel_data(&app.pixels[0])
+	istream_image.update_pixel_data(unsafe { &u8(&app.pixels[0]) })
 	app.gg.draw_image(0, 0, app.args.grid.width, app.args.grid.height, istream_image)
 }
diff --git a/vlib/v/checker/check_types.v b/vlib/v/checker/check_types.v
index e9b99b0a98..1f3239e597 100644
--- a/vlib/v/checker/check_types.v
+++ b/vlib/v/checker/check_types.v
@@ -224,6 +224,15 @@ fn (mut c Checker) check_expected_call_arg(got ast.Type, expected_ ast.Type, lan
 			&& got == ast.int_type_idx {
 			return
 		}
+	} else {
+		exp_sym_idx := c.table.sym(expected).idx
+		got_sym_idx := c.table.sym(got).idx
+		if expected.is_ptr() && got.is_ptr() && exp_sym_idx != got_sym_idx
+			&& exp_sym_idx in [ast.u8_type_idx, ast.byteptr_type_idx]
+			&& got_sym_idx !in [ast.u8_type_idx, ast.byteptr_type_idx] {
+			got_typ_str, expected_typ_str := c.get_string_names_of(got, expected)
+			return error('cannot use `${got_typ_str}` as `${expected_typ_str}`')
+		}
 	}
 	// check int signed/unsigned mismatch
 	if got == ast.int_literal_type_idx && expected in ast.unsigned_integer_type_idxs
diff --git a/vlib/v/checker/tests/fn_call_ref_incompatible_u8_test.out b/vlib/v/checker/tests/fn_call_ref_incompatible_u8_test.out
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..46130eaf6c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vlib/v/checker/tests/fn_call_ref_incompatible_u8_test.out
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+vlib/v/checker/tests/fn_call_ref_incompatible_u8_test.vv:9:28: error: cannot use `&[]int` as `&u8` in argument 1 to `accept_only_u8_references`
+    7 | fn test_main() {
+    8 |     a := [1, 2, 3]
+    9 |     accept_only_u8_references(&a)
+      |                               ~~
+   10 | }
diff --git a/vlib/v/checker/tests/fn_call_ref_incompatible_u8_test.vv b/vlib/v/checker/tests/fn_call_ref_incompatible_u8_test.vv
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..af5ff8cbaf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vlib/v/checker/tests/fn_call_ref_incompatible_u8_test.vv
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+module main
+
+fn accept_only_u8_references(x &u8) {
+	println(ptr_str(x))
+}
+
+fn test_main() {
+	a := [1, 2, 3]
+	accept_only_u8_references(&a)
+}