diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 3ee216f..e32d8d3 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -157,19 +157,27 @@ impl TypeErasedVec {
     /// Access the erased capacity with a temporarily fixed type.
     /// Clears all elements currently stored in the `TypeErasedVec`.
     ///
-    /// Will fail if `T` does not have the same `Layout` as the underlying capacity.
+    /// Returns `None` if `T` does not have the same [`Layout`] as the
+    /// underlying capacity. On failure, the erased vector is unchanged.
     pub fn try_as_type<T: 'static>(&mut self) -> Option<ContentGuard<'_, T>> {
+        if self.layout != Layout::new::<T>() {
+            return None;
+        }
+
         self.clear();
+        self.vtable = TypeErasedVecVtable::new::<T>();
+
         // SAFETY: The vector has been cleared, meaning there are no existing elements
         // that could be invalidated or improperly dropped by the cast.
-        (self.layout == Layout::new::<T>()).then(|| ContentGuard::new(self))
+        Some(ContentGuard::new(self))
     }
 
     /// Access the erased capacity with a temporarily fixed type.
     /// Clears all elements currently stored in the `TypeErasedVec`.
     ///
     /// # Panics
-    /// Panics if `T` does not have the same `Layout` as the underlying capacity.
+    /// Panics if `T` does not have the same `Layout` as the underlying
+    /// capacity. A layout-mismatch panic leaves the erased vector unchanged.
     #[expect(
         clippy::panic,
         reason = "this infallible convenience method documents and reports layout mismatch"
diff --git a/src/tests.rs b/src/tests.rs
index f84811c..394184f 100644
--- a/src/tests.rs
+++ b/src/tests.rs
@@ -363,6 +363,58 @@ fn test_try_as_type_clears_elements() {
     assert_eq!(drop_count.get(), 3);
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn test_try_as_type_mismatch_preserves_nonempty_vector() {
+    let drop_count = Rc::new(Cell::new(0));
+    let mut values = Vec::with_capacity(4);
+    values.push(DropTracker::new(Rc::clone(&drop_count)));
+    let original_ptr = values.as_ptr();
+    let original_capacity = values.capacity();
+    let mut erased = TypeErasedVec::new(values);
+
+    assert!(erased.try_as_type::<u8>().is_none());
+    assert_erased_state(&erased, 1, Layout::new::<DropTracker>());
+    assert_eq!(erased.capacity(), original_capacity);
+    assert_eq!(drop_count.get(), 0);
+
+    {
+        // SAFETY: The failed probe preserved the original element type.
+        let guard = unsafe { erased.cast_type::<DropTracker>() };
+        assert_eq!(guard.as_slice().as_ptr(), original_ptr);
+    }
+
+    drop(erased);
+    assert_eq!(drop_count.get(), 1);
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn test_as_type_mismatch_panics_before_mutation() {
+    let drop_count = Rc::new(Cell::new(0));
+    let mut values = Vec::with_capacity(4);
+    values.push(DropTracker::new(Rc::clone(&drop_count)));
+    let original_ptr = values.as_ptr();
+    let original_capacity = values.capacity();
+    let mut erased = TypeErasedVec::new(values);
+
+    let result = panic::catch_unwind(panic::AssertUnwindSafe(|| {
+        let _ = erased.as_type::<u8>();
+    }));
+
+    assert!(result.is_err());
+    assert_erased_state(&erased, 1, Layout::new::<DropTracker>());
+    assert_eq!(erased.capacity(), original_capacity);
+    assert_eq!(drop_count.get(), 0);
+
+    {
+        // SAFETY: The panicking probe preserved the original element type.
+        let guard = unsafe { erased.cast_type::<DropTracker>() };
+        assert_eq!(guard.as_slice().as_ptr(), original_ptr);
+    }
+
+    drop(erased);
+    assert_eq!(drop_count.get(), 1);
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn test_guard_with_unwind_safety() {
     let drop_count = Rc::new(Cell::new(0));