diff --git a/sql/catalyst/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/catalyst/expressions/Cast.scala b/sql/catalyst/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/catalyst/expressions/Cast.scala
index 1f3fab09e956..623b9efb2e08 100644
--- a/sql/catalyst/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/catalyst/expressions/Cast.scala
+++ b/sql/catalyst/src/main/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/catalyst/expressions/Cast.scala
@@ -24,7 +24,11 @@ import org.apache.spark.sql.catalyst.types._
 /** Cast the child expression to the target data type. */
 case class Cast(child: Expression, dataType: DataType) extends UnaryExpression {
   override def foldable = child.foldable
-  def nullable = child.nullable
+  def nullable = (child.dataType, dataType) match {
+    case (StringType, _: NumericType) => true
+    case (StringType, TimestampType)  => true
+    case _                            => child.nullable
+  }
   override def toString = s"CAST($child, $dataType)"
 
   type EvaluatedType = Any
diff --git a/sql/catalyst/src/test/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/catalyst/expressions/ExpressionEvaluationSuite.scala b/sql/catalyst/src/test/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/catalyst/expressions/ExpressionEvaluationSuite.scala
index 2cd0d2b0e138..d41f7bcb517c 100644
--- a/sql/catalyst/src/test/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/catalyst/expressions/ExpressionEvaluationSuite.scala
+++ b/sql/catalyst/src/test/scala/org/apache/spark/sql/catalyst/expressions/ExpressionEvaluationSuite.scala
@@ -238,6 +238,18 @@ class ExpressionEvaluationSuite extends FunSuite {
     checkEvaluation(Literal(123) cast IntegerType, 123)
 
     intercept[Exception] {evaluate(Literal(1) cast BinaryType, null)}
+
+    assert(("abcdef" cast StringType).nullable === false)
+    assert(("abcdef" cast BinaryType).nullable === false)
+    assert(("abcdef" cast BooleanType).nullable === false)
+    assert(("abcdef" cast TimestampType).nullable === true)
+    assert(("abcdef" cast LongType).nullable === true)
+    assert(("abcdef" cast IntegerType).nullable === true)
+    assert(("abcdef" cast ShortType).nullable === true)
+    assert(("abcdef" cast ByteType).nullable === true)
+    assert(("abcdef" cast DecimalType).nullable === true)
+    assert(("abcdef" cast DoubleType).nullable === true)
+    assert(("abcdef" cast FloatType).nullable === true)
   }
 
   test("timestamp") {