diff --git a/codex/utils/optionalcast.nim b/codex/utils/optionalcast.nim
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..15830769
--- /dev/null
+++ b/codex/utils/optionalcast.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+import pkg/questionable
+import pkg/questionable/operators
+
+export questionable
+
+proc `as`*[T](value: T, U: type): ?U =
+  ## Casts a value to another type, returns an Option.
+  ## When the cast succeeds, the option will contain the casted value.
+  ## When the cast fails, the option will have no value.
+  when value is U:
+    return some value
+  elif value is ref object:
+    if value of U:
+      return some U(value)
+
+Option.liftBinary `as`
diff --git a/tests/codex/testutils.nim b/tests/codex/testutils.nim
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..4ef7cee8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/codex/testutils.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+import ./utils/testoptionalcast
+
+{.warning[UnusedImport]: off.}
diff --git a/tests/codex/utils/testoptionalcast.nim b/tests/codex/utils/testoptionalcast.nim
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e945df40
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/codex/utils/testoptionalcast.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+import std/unittest
+import codex/utils/optionalcast
+
+suite "optional casts":
+
+  test "casting value to same type works":
+    check 42 as int == some 42
+
+  test "casting value to unrelated type evaluates to None":
+    check 42 as string == string.none
+
+  test "casting value to subtype works":
+    type
+      BaseType = ref object of RootObj
+      SubType = ref object of BaseType
+    let x: BaseType = SubType()
+    check x as SubType == SubType(x).some
+
+  test "casting to unrelated subtype evaluates to None":
+    type
+      BaseType = ref object of RootObj
+      SubType = ref object of BaseType
+      OtherType = ref object of BaseType
+    let x: BaseType = SubType()
+    check x as OtherType == OtherType.none
+
+  test "casting works on optional types":
+    check 42.some as int == some 42
+    check 42.some as string == string.none
+    check int.none as int == int.none
diff --git a/tests/testCodex.nim b/tests/testCodex.nim
index 0b563321..5ddd38da 100644
--- a/tests/testCodex.nim
+++ b/tests/testCodex.nim
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import ./codex/testpurchasing
 import ./codex/testsales
 import ./codex/testerasure
 import ./codex/testproving
+import ./codex/testutils
 
 # to check that everything compiles
 import ../codex