diff --git a/.api-reports/api-report-core.api.md b/.api-reports/api-report-core.api.md
index 237eac1a463..e91bf2384b9 100644
--- a/.api-reports/api-report-core.api.md
+++ b/.api-reports/api-report-core.api.md
@@ -1391,9 +1391,10 @@ interface MutationBaseOptions<TData = any, TVariables = OperationVariables, TCon
     context?: TContext;
     errorPolicy?: ErrorPolicy;
     onQueryUpdated?: OnQueryUpdated<any>;
+    // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "IgnoreModifier" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
     optimisticResponse?: TData | ((vars: TVariables, { IGNORE }: {
         IGNORE: IgnoreModifier;
-    }) => TData);
+    }) => TData | IgnoreModifier);
     refetchQueries?: ((result: FetchResult<TData>) => InternalRefetchQueriesInclude) | InternalRefetchQueriesInclude;
     update?: MutationUpdaterFunction<TData, TVariables, TContext, TCache>;
     updateQueries?: MutationQueryReducersMap<TData>;
diff --git a/.api-reports/api-report-react.api.md b/.api-reports/api-report-react.api.md
index 5b8b33b8ae6..f2acc1ef23f 100644
--- a/.api-reports/api-report-react.api.md
+++ b/.api-reports/api-report-react.api.md
@@ -1119,9 +1119,10 @@ interface MutationBaseOptions<TData = any, TVariables = OperationVariables, TCon
     errorPolicy?: ErrorPolicy;
     // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "OnQueryUpdated" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
     onQueryUpdated?: OnQueryUpdated<any>;
+    // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "IgnoreModifier" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
     optimisticResponse?: TData | ((vars: TVariables, { IGNORE }: {
         IGNORE: IgnoreModifier;
-    }) => TData);
+    }) => TData | IgnoreModifier);
     refetchQueries?: ((result: FetchResult<TData>) => InternalRefetchQueriesInclude) | InternalRefetchQueriesInclude;
     // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "MutationUpdaterFunction" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
     update?: MutationUpdaterFunction<TData, TVariables, TContext, TCache>;
diff --git a/.api-reports/api-report-react_components.api.md b/.api-reports/api-report-react_components.api.md
index 24881bcaf5d..dd2edf25377 100644
--- a/.api-reports/api-report-react_components.api.md
+++ b/.api-reports/api-report-react_components.api.md
@@ -995,9 +995,10 @@ interface MutationBaseOptions<TData = any, TVariables = OperationVariables, TCon
     errorPolicy?: ErrorPolicy;
     // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "OnQueryUpdated" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
     onQueryUpdated?: OnQueryUpdated<any>;
+    // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "IgnoreModifier" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
     optimisticResponse?: TData | ((vars: TVariables, { IGNORE }: {
         IGNORE: IgnoreModifier;
-    }) => TData);
+    }) => TData | IgnoreModifier);
     refetchQueries?: ((result: FetchResult<TData>) => InternalRefetchQueriesInclude) | InternalRefetchQueriesInclude;
     // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "MutationUpdaterFunction" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
     update?: MutationUpdaterFunction<TData, TVariables, TContext, TCache>;
diff --git a/.api-reports/api-report-react_context.api.md b/.api-reports/api-report-react_context.api.md
index fa3fd404a7d..14776931c35 100644
--- a/.api-reports/api-report-react_context.api.md
+++ b/.api-reports/api-report-react_context.api.md
@@ -978,9 +978,10 @@ interface MutationBaseOptions<TData = any, TVariables = OperationVariables, TCon
     errorPolicy?: ErrorPolicy;
     // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "OnQueryUpdated" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
     onQueryUpdated?: OnQueryUpdated<any>;
+    // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "IgnoreModifier" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
     optimisticResponse?: TData | ((vars: TVariables, { IGNORE }: {
         IGNORE: IgnoreModifier;
-    }) => TData);
+    }) => TData | IgnoreModifier);
     refetchQueries?: ((result: FetchResult<TData>) => InternalRefetchQueriesInclude) | InternalRefetchQueriesInclude;
     // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "MutationUpdaterFunction" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
     update?: MutationUpdaterFunction<TData, TVariables, TContext, TCache>;
diff --git a/.api-reports/api-report-react_hoc.api.md b/.api-reports/api-report-react_hoc.api.md
index 6be8fbce071..1e4fe900ffa 100644
--- a/.api-reports/api-report-react_hoc.api.md
+++ b/.api-reports/api-report-react_hoc.api.md
@@ -997,9 +997,10 @@ interface MutationBaseOptions<TData = any, TVariables = OperationVariables, TCon
     errorPolicy?: ErrorPolicy;
     // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "OnQueryUpdated" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
     onQueryUpdated?: OnQueryUpdated<any>;
+    // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "IgnoreModifier" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
     optimisticResponse?: TData | ((vars: TVariables, { IGNORE }: {
         IGNORE: IgnoreModifier;
-    }) => TData);
+    }) => TData | IgnoreModifier);
     refetchQueries?: ((result: FetchResult<TData>) => InternalRefetchQueriesInclude) | InternalRefetchQueriesInclude;
     // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "MutationUpdaterFunction" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
     update?: MutationUpdaterFunction<TData, TVariables, TContext, TCache>;
diff --git a/.api-reports/api-report-react_hooks.api.md b/.api-reports/api-report-react_hooks.api.md
index 0691c35d9ba..beee82502e3 100644
--- a/.api-reports/api-report-react_hooks.api.md
+++ b/.api-reports/api-report-react_hooks.api.md
@@ -1068,9 +1068,10 @@ interface MutationBaseOptions<TData = any, TVariables = OperationVariables, TCon
     errorPolicy?: ErrorPolicy;
     // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "OnQueryUpdated" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
     onQueryUpdated?: OnQueryUpdated<any>;
+    // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "IgnoreModifier" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
     optimisticResponse?: TData | ((vars: TVariables, { IGNORE }: {
         IGNORE: IgnoreModifier;
-    }) => TData);
+    }) => TData | IgnoreModifier);
     refetchQueries?: ((result: FetchResult<TData>) => InternalRefetchQueriesInclude) | InternalRefetchQueriesInclude;
     // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "MutationUpdaterFunction" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
     update?: MutationUpdaterFunction<TData, TVariables, TContext, TCache>;
diff --git a/.api-reports/api-report-react_internal.api.md b/.api-reports/api-report-react_internal.api.md
index 98443e3b6b8..3e85f01b867 100644
--- a/.api-reports/api-report-react_internal.api.md
+++ b/.api-reports/api-report-react_internal.api.md
@@ -1079,9 +1079,10 @@ interface MutationBaseOptions<TData = any, TVariables = OperationVariables, TCon
     errorPolicy?: ErrorPolicy;
     // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "OnQueryUpdated" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
     onQueryUpdated?: OnQueryUpdated<any>;
+    // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "IgnoreModifier" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
     optimisticResponse?: TData | ((vars: TVariables, { IGNORE }: {
         IGNORE: IgnoreModifier;
-    }) => TData);
+    }) => TData | IgnoreModifier);
     refetchQueries?: ((result: FetchResult<TData>) => InternalRefetchQueriesInclude) | InternalRefetchQueriesInclude;
     // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "MutationUpdaterFunction" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
     update?: MutationUpdaterFunction<TData, TVariables, TContext, TCache>;
diff --git a/.api-reports/api-report-react_ssr.api.md b/.api-reports/api-report-react_ssr.api.md
index eb50183646e..1816993de87 100644
--- a/.api-reports/api-report-react_ssr.api.md
+++ b/.api-reports/api-report-react_ssr.api.md
@@ -963,9 +963,10 @@ interface MutationBaseOptions<TData = any, TVariables = OperationVariables, TCon
     errorPolicy?: ErrorPolicy;
     // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "OnQueryUpdated" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
     onQueryUpdated?: OnQueryUpdated<any>;
+    // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "IgnoreModifier" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
     optimisticResponse?: TData | ((vars: TVariables, { IGNORE }: {
         IGNORE: IgnoreModifier;
-    }) => TData);
+    }) => TData | IgnoreModifier);
     refetchQueries?: ((result: FetchResult<TData>) => InternalRefetchQueriesInclude) | InternalRefetchQueriesInclude;
     // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "MutationUpdaterFunction" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
     update?: MutationUpdaterFunction<TData, TVariables, TContext, TCache>;
diff --git a/.api-reports/api-report-testing.api.md b/.api-reports/api-report-testing.api.md
index ebd148cf04e..7019af419eb 100644
--- a/.api-reports/api-report-testing.api.md
+++ b/.api-reports/api-report-testing.api.md
@@ -1084,9 +1084,10 @@ interface MutationBaseOptions<TData = any, TVariables = OperationVariables, TCon
     errorPolicy?: ErrorPolicy;
     // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "OnQueryUpdated" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
     onQueryUpdated?: OnQueryUpdated<any>;
+    // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "IgnoreModifier" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
     optimisticResponse?: TData | ((vars: TVariables, { IGNORE }: {
         IGNORE: IgnoreModifier;
-    }) => TData);
+    }) => TData | IgnoreModifier);
     refetchQueries?: ((result: FetchResult<TData>) => InternalRefetchQueriesInclude) | InternalRefetchQueriesInclude;
     // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "MutationUpdaterFunction" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
     update?: MutationUpdaterFunction<TData, TVariables, TContext, TCache>;
diff --git a/.api-reports/api-report-testing_core.api.md b/.api-reports/api-report-testing_core.api.md
index ef631e90da1..07be1d04650 100644
--- a/.api-reports/api-report-testing_core.api.md
+++ b/.api-reports/api-report-testing_core.api.md
@@ -1039,9 +1039,10 @@ interface MutationBaseOptions<TData = any, TVariables = OperationVariables, TCon
     errorPolicy?: ErrorPolicy;
     // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "OnQueryUpdated" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
     onQueryUpdated?: OnQueryUpdated<any>;
+    // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "IgnoreModifier" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
     optimisticResponse?: TData | ((vars: TVariables, { IGNORE }: {
         IGNORE: IgnoreModifier;
-    }) => TData);
+    }) => TData | IgnoreModifier);
     refetchQueries?: ((result: FetchResult<TData>) => InternalRefetchQueriesInclude) | InternalRefetchQueriesInclude;
     // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "MutationUpdaterFunction" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
     update?: MutationUpdaterFunction<TData, TVariables, TContext, TCache>;
diff --git a/.api-reports/api-report-utilities.api.md b/.api-reports/api-report-utilities.api.md
index ab3858c6f0d..2d2108cade6 100644
--- a/.api-reports/api-report-utilities.api.md
+++ b/.api-reports/api-report-utilities.api.md
@@ -1687,9 +1687,10 @@ interface MutationBaseOptions<TData = any, TVariables = OperationVariables, TCon
     errorPolicy?: ErrorPolicy;
     // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "OnQueryUpdated" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
     onQueryUpdated?: OnQueryUpdated<any>;
+    // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "IgnoreModifier" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
     optimisticResponse?: TData | ((vars: TVariables, { IGNORE }: {
         IGNORE: IgnoreModifier;
-    }) => TData);
+    }) => TData | IgnoreModifier);
     refetchQueries?: ((result: FetchResult<TData>) => InternalRefetchQueriesInclude) | InternalRefetchQueriesInclude;
     // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "MutationUpdaterFunction" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
     update?: MutationUpdaterFunction<TData, TVariables, TContext, TCache>;
diff --git a/.api-reports/api-report.api.md b/.api-reports/api-report.api.md
index ef88362554a..ca7d586070f 100644
--- a/.api-reports/api-report.api.md
+++ b/.api-reports/api-report.api.md
@@ -1572,9 +1572,10 @@ interface MutationBaseOptions<TData = any, TVariables = OperationVariables, TCon
     context?: TContext;
     errorPolicy?: ErrorPolicy;
     onQueryUpdated?: OnQueryUpdated<any>;
+    // Warning: (ae-forgotten-export) The symbol "IgnoreModifier" needs to be exported by the entry point index.d.ts
     optimisticResponse?: TData | ((vars: TVariables, { IGNORE }: {
         IGNORE: IgnoreModifier;
-    }) => TData);
+    }) => TData | IgnoreModifier);
     refetchQueries?: ((result: FetchResult<TData>) => InternalRefetchQueriesInclude) | InternalRefetchQueriesInclude;
     update?: MutationUpdaterFunction<TData, TVariables, TContext, TCache>;
     updateQueries?: MutationQueryReducersMap<TData>;
diff --git a/.changeset/pink-flowers-switch.md b/.changeset/pink-flowers-switch.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..c85a3e59376
--- /dev/null
+++ b/.changeset/pink-flowers-switch.md
@@ -0,0 +1,5 @@
+---
+"@apollo/client": patch
+---
+
+Allow `IgnoreModifier` to be returned from a `optimisticResponse` function when inferring from a `TypedDocumentNode` when used with a generic argument.
diff --git a/src/__tests__/optimistic.ts b/src/__tests__/optimistic.ts
index 3cc984868ed..ed53dc8cf9c 100644
--- a/src/__tests__/optimistic.ts
+++ b/src/__tests__/optimistic.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import {
   ApolloLink,
   ApolloCache,
   MutationQueryReducersMap,
+  TypedDocumentNode,
 } from "../core";
 
 import { QueryManager } from "../core/QueryManager";
@@ -1089,6 +1090,25 @@ describe("optimistic mutation results", () => {
         resolve();
       }
     );
+
+    it("allows IgnoreModifier as return value when inferring from a TypedDocumentNode mutation", () => {
+      const mutation: TypedDocumentNode<{ bar: string }> = gql`
+        mutation foo {
+          foo {
+            bar
+          }
+        }
+      `;
+
+      const client = new ApolloClient({
+        cache: new InMemoryCache(),
+      });
+
+      client.mutate({
+        mutation,
+        optimisticResponse: (vars, { IGNORE }) => IGNORE,
+      });
+    });
   });
 
   describe("optimistic updates using `updateQueries`", () => {
diff --git a/src/core/watchQueryOptions.ts b/src/core/watchQueryOptions.ts
index b05cdb13c33..0627f04ebc5 100644
--- a/src/core/watchQueryOptions.ts
+++ b/src/core/watchQueryOptions.ts
@@ -220,7 +220,10 @@ export interface MutationBaseOptions<
   /** {@inheritDoc @apollo/client!MutationOptionsDocumentation#optimisticResponse:member} */
   optimisticResponse?:
     | TData
-    | ((vars: TVariables, { IGNORE }: { IGNORE: IgnoreModifier }) => TData);
+    | ((
+        vars: TVariables,
+        { IGNORE }: { IGNORE: IgnoreModifier }
+      ) => TData | IgnoreModifier);
 
   /** {@inheritDoc @apollo/client!MutationOptionsDocumentation#updateQueries:member} */
   updateQueries?: MutationQueryReducersMap<TData>;