Python: pass explicit None to optional kernel function parameters unchanged

python/semantic_kernel/functions/kernel_function_from_method.py

@@ -176,8 +176,10 @@ def gather_function_parameters(self, context: FunctionInvocationContext) -> dict
                 continue
             if param.name in context.arguments:
                 value: Any = context.arguments[param.name]
+                accepts_none = not param.is_required and param.default_value is None
                 if (
-                    param.type_
+                    not (value is None and accepts_none)
+                    and param.type_
                     and "," not in param.type_
                     and param.type_object
                     and param.type_object is not inspect._empty

python/tests/unit/functions/test_kernel_function_from_method.py

@@ -682,6 +682,39 @@ async def override_stream(stream):
     ]
 
 
+async def test_explicit_none_for_optional_parameters_is_not_coerced(kernel: Kernel):
+    @kernel_function
+    def func_optional(
+        count: int | None = None,
+        label: Annotated[str | None, "A label"] = None,
+        item: CustomTypeDataclass | None = None,
+    ) -> Any:
+        return (count, label, item)
+
+    func = kernel.add_function(plugin_name="test", function=func_optional)
+
+    res = await kernel.invoke(func, arguments=KernelArguments(count=None, label=None, item=None))
+    assert res.value == (None, None, None)
+
+    res = await kernel.invoke(func, arguments=KernelArguments(count="3", label="x"))
+    assert res.value == (3, "x", None)
+
+
+async def test_explicit_none_for_non_optional_parameters_raises(kernel: Kernel):
+    @kernel_function
+    def func_required(count: int) -> int:
+        return count
+
+    @kernel_function
+    def func_int_default(count: int = 5) -> int:
+        return count
+
+    for method in (func_required, func_int_default):
+        func = KernelFunction.from_method(method, "test")
+        with pytest.raises(FunctionExecutionException, match="Parameter count is expected to be parsed"):
+            await func.invoke(kernel=kernel, arguments=KernelArguments(count=None))
+
+
 async def test_default_handling(kernel: Kernel):
     @kernel_function
     def func_default(input: str = "test"):