diff --git a/docs/src/content/docs/changelog.md b/docs/src/content/docs/changelog.md
index 9e30b970..67d222d6 100644
--- a/docs/src/content/docs/changelog.md
+++ b/docs/src/content/docs/changelog.md
@@ -49,6 +49,9 @@ Requires libvips v8.16.1
   [#4316](https://github.com/lovell/sharp/pull/4316)
   [@florentzabera](https://github.com/florentzabera)
 
+* Allow wide-gamut HEIF output at higher bitdepths.
+  [#4344](https://github.com/lovell/sharp/issues/4344)
+
 ## v0.33 - *gauge*
 
 Requires libvips v8.15.3
diff --git a/src/pipeline.cc b/src/pipeline.cc
index 770c2bbd..24ae7e02 100644
--- a/src/pipeline.cc
+++ b/src/pipeline.cc
@@ -1032,7 +1032,7 @@ class PipelineWorker : public Napi::AsyncWorker {
           (baton->formatOut == "input" && inputImageType == sharp::ImageType::HEIF)) {
           // Write HEIF to buffer
           sharp::AssertImageTypeDimensions(image, sharp::ImageType::HEIF);
-          image = sharp::RemoveAnimationProperties(image).cast(VIPS_FORMAT_UCHAR);
+          image = sharp::RemoveAnimationProperties(image);
           VipsArea *area = reinterpret_cast<VipsArea*>(image.heifsave_buffer(VImage::option()
             ->set("keep", baton->keepMetadata)
             ->set("Q", baton->heifQuality)
@@ -1227,7 +1227,7 @@ class PipelineWorker : public Napi::AsyncWorker {
           (willMatchInput && inputImageType == sharp::ImageType::HEIF)) {
           // Write HEIF to file
           sharp::AssertImageTypeDimensions(image, sharp::ImageType::HEIF);
-          image = sharp::RemoveAnimationProperties(image).cast(VIPS_FORMAT_UCHAR);
+          image = sharp::RemoveAnimationProperties(image);
           image.heifsave(const_cast<char*>(baton->fileOut.data()), VImage::option()
             ->set("keep", baton->keepMetadata)
             ->set("Q", baton->heifQuality)