diff --git a/clippy_utils/src/lib.rs b/clippy_utils/src/lib.rs
index 7e2e4f74ca1..e22bf11bb79 100644
--- a/clippy_utils/src/lib.rs
+++ b/clippy_utils/src/lib.rs
@@ -2029,6 +2029,10 @@ pub fn is_must_use_func_call(cx: &LateContext<'_>, expr: &Expr<'_>) -> bool {
 
 /// Checks if an expression represents the identity function
 /// Only examines closures and `std::convert::identity`
+///
+/// Closure bindings with type annotations and `std::convert::identity` with generic args
+/// are not considered identity functions because they can guide type inference,
+/// and removing it may lead to compile errors.
 pub fn is_expr_identity_function(cx: &LateContext<'_>, expr: &Expr<'_>) -> bool {
     /// Checks if a function's body represents the identity function. Looks for bodies of the form:
     /// * `|x| x`
@@ -2070,8 +2074,18 @@ pub fn is_expr_identity_function(cx: &LateContext<'_>, expr: &Expr<'_>) -> bool
     }
 
     match expr.kind {
-        ExprKind::Closure(&Closure { body, .. }) => is_body_identity_function(cx, cx.tcx.hir().body(body)),
-        _ => path_def_id(cx, expr).map_or(false, |id| match_def_path(cx, id, &paths::CONVERT_IDENTITY)),
+        ExprKind::Closure(&Closure { body, fn_decl, .. })
+            if fn_decl.inputs.iter().all(|ty| matches!(ty.kind, TyKind::Infer)) =>
+        {
+            is_body_identity_function(cx, cx.tcx.hir().body(body))
+        },
+        ExprKind::Path(QPath::Resolved(_, path))
+            if path.segments.iter().all(|seg| seg.infer_args)
+                && let Some(did) = path.res.opt_def_id() =>
+        {
+            match_def_path(cx, did, &paths::CONVERT_IDENTITY)
+        },
+        _ => false,
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/ui/map_identity.fixed b/tests/ui/map_identity.fixed
index cc40b162058..e756d9b5935 100644
--- a/tests/ui/map_identity.fixed
+++ b/tests/ui/map_identity.fixed
@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@ fn main() {
     });
     let _: Result<u32, u32> = Ok(1);
     let _: Result<u32, u32> = Ok(1).map_err(|a: u32| a * 42);
+    // : u32 guides type inference
+    let _ = Ok(1).map_err(|a: u32| a);
+    let _ = Ok(1).map_err(std::convert::identity::<u32>);
 }
 
 fn not_identity(x: &u16) -> u16 {
diff --git a/tests/ui/map_identity.rs b/tests/ui/map_identity.rs
index 97a91aea6dc..74cbaade405 100644
--- a/tests/ui/map_identity.rs
+++ b/tests/ui/map_identity.rs
@@ -19,6 +19,9 @@ fn main() {
     });
     let _: Result<u32, u32> = Ok(1).map_err(|a| a);
     let _: Result<u32, u32> = Ok(1).map_err(|a: u32| a * 42);
+    // : u32 guides type inference
+    let _ = Ok(1).map_err(|a: u32| a);
+    let _ = Ok(1).map_err(std::convert::identity::<u32>);
 }
 
 fn not_identity(x: &u16) -> u16 {