diff --git a/lib/core/agent.py b/lib/core/agent.py
index 143657685..8cecf3732 100644
--- a/lib/core/agent.py
+++ b/lib/core/agent.py
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ class Agent:
         if field.startswith("(CASE"):
             nulledCastedField = field
         else:
-            nulledCastedField = queries[Backend.getIdentifiedDbms()].cast.query % field
+            nulledCastedField = (queries[Backend.getIdentifiedDbms()].cast.query % field) if not conf.noCast else field
             if Backend.isDbms(DBMS.ACCESS):
                 nulledCastedField = queries[Backend.getIdentifiedDbms()].isnull.query % (nulledCastedField, nulledCastedField)
             else:
diff --git a/lib/core/enums.py b/lib/core/enums.py
index d6608c65d..440b1ca0d 100644
--- a/lib/core/enums.py
+++ b/lib/core/enums.py
@@ -95,6 +95,7 @@ class HTTPHEADER:
     USER_AGENT = "User-Agent"
 
 class WARNFLAGS:
+    NO_CAST = 'noCast'
     RANDOM_AGENT = 'randomAgent'
     DATA_TO_STDOUT = 'dataToStdout'
     THREADS = 'threads'
diff --git a/lib/parse/cmdline.py b/lib/parse/cmdline.py
index 6722e9a9a..f893e4945 100644
--- a/lib/parse/cmdline.py
+++ b/lib/parse/cmdline.py
@@ -552,6 +552,9 @@ def cmdLineParser():
         parser.add_option("--group-concat", dest="groupConcat", action="store_true",
                            default=False, help=SUPPRESS_HELP)
 
+        parser.add_option("--no-cast", dest="noCast", action="store_true",
+                           default=False, help=SUPPRESS_HELP)
+
         parser.add_option_group(target)
         parser.add_option_group(request)
         parser.add_option_group(optimization)
diff --git a/lib/techniques/inband/union/use.py b/lib/techniques/inband/union/use.py
index 4fd82a552..e2892aa4c 100644
--- a/lib/techniques/inband/union/use.py
+++ b/lib/techniques/inband/union/use.py
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ Copyright (c) 2006-2011 sqlmap developers (http://sqlmap.sourceforge.net/)
 See the file 'doc/COPYING' for copying permission
 """
 
+import logging
 import re
 import time
 
@@ -24,6 +25,7 @@ from lib.core.common import isNumPosStrValue
 from lib.core.common import listToStrValue
 from lib.core.common import parseUnionPage
 from lib.core.common import removeReflectiveValues
+from lib.core.common import singleTimeLogMessage
 from lib.core.convert import safecharencode
 from lib.core.data import conf
 from lib.core.data import kb
@@ -31,6 +33,7 @@ from lib.core.data import logger
 from lib.core.data import queries
 from lib.core.enums import DBMS
 from lib.core.enums import PAYLOAD
+from lib.core.enums import WARNFLAGS
 from lib.core.exception import sqlmapConnectionException
 from lib.core.exception import sqlmapSyntaxException
 from lib.core.settings import FROM_TABLE
@@ -84,6 +87,11 @@ def __oneShotUnionUse(expression, unpack=True):
             warnMsg = "possible server trimmed output detected (due to its length): "
             warnMsg += trimmed
             logger.warn(warnMsg)
+        elif Backend.isDbms(DBMS.MYSQL):
+            warnMsg = "if the problem persists with 'None' values please try to use  "
+            warnMsg += "hidden switch --no-cast (fixing problems with some collation "
+            warnMsg += "issues)"
+            singleTimeLogMessage(warnMsg, logging.WARN, WARNFLAGS.NO_CAST)
 
     return output
 
diff --git a/sqlmap.py b/sqlmap.py
index 83366e887..f598b4d60 100755
--- a/sqlmap.py
+++ b/sqlmap.py
@@ -61,7 +61,8 @@ def main():
     """
     Main function of sqlmap when running from command line.
     """
-
+    import random
+    random.seed(456)
     paths.SQLMAP_ROOT_PATH = modulePath()
     setPaths()
     banner()