diff --git a/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/resources/mdtest/directives/cast.md b/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/resources/mdtest/directives/cast.md
index 81712cff8b..96a01d90d9 100644
--- a/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/resources/mdtest/directives/cast.md
+++ b/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/resources/mdtest/directives/cast.md
@@ -49,3 +49,22 @@ def f(x: Callable[[dict[str, int]], None], y: tuple[dict[str, int]]):
     a = cast(Callable[[list[bytes]], None], x)
     b = cast(tuple[list[bytes]], y)
 ```
+
+A cast from `Todo` or `Unknown` to `Any` is not considered a "redundant cast": even if these are
+understood as gradually equivalent types by red-knot, they are understood as different types by
+human readers of red-knot's output. For `Unknown` in particular, we may consider it differently in
+the context of some opt-in diagnostics, as it indicates that the gradual type has come about due to
+an invalid annotation, missing annotation or missing type argument somewhere.
+
+```py
+from knot_extensions import Unknown
+
+def f(x: Any, y: Unknown, z: Any | str | int):
+    a = cast(dict[str, Any], x)
+    reveal_type(a)  # revealed: @Todo(generics)
+
+    b = cast(Any, y)
+    reveal_type(b)  # revealed: Any
+
+    c = cast(str | int | Any, z)  # error: [redundant-cast]
+```
diff --git a/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/src/types/infer.rs b/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/src/types/infer.rs
index b0766921fe..ecb17aef0f 100644
--- a/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/src/types/infer.rs
+++ b/crates/red_knot_python_semantic/src/types/infer.rs
@@ -4049,16 +4049,20 @@ impl<'db> TypeInferenceBuilder<'db> {
                             }
                         }
                         KnownFunction::Cast => {
-                            if let [Some(casted_ty), Some(source_ty)] = overload.parameter_types() {
-                                if source_ty.is_gradual_equivalent_to(self.context.db(), *casted_ty)
-                                    && !source_ty.contains_todo(self.context.db())
+                            if let [Some(casted_type), Some(source_type)] =
+                                overload.parameter_types()
+                            {
+                                let db = self.db();
+                                if (source_type.is_equivalent_to(db, *casted_type)
+                                    || source_type.normalized(db) == casted_type.normalized(db))
+                                    && !source_type.contains_todo(db)
                                 {
                                     self.context.report_lint(
                                         &REDUNDANT_CAST,
                                         call_expression,
                                         format_args!(
                                             "Value is already of type `{}`",
-                                            casted_ty.display(self.context.db()),
+                                            casted_type.display(db),
                                         ),
                                     );
                                 }