diff --git a/sanic_routing/route.py b/sanic_routing/route.py
index 46e86b4..a5088d2 100644
--- a/sanic_routing/route.py
+++ b/sanic_routing/route.py
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ def __init__(
         name: str,
         handler: t.Callable[..., t.Any],
         methods: t.Union[t.Sequence[str], t.FrozenSet[str]],
-        requirements: t.Dict[str, t.Any] = None,
+        requirements: t.Optional[t.Dict[str, t.Any]] = None,
         strict: bool = False,
         unquote: bool = False,
         static: bool = False,
diff --git a/sanic_routing/tree.py b/sanic_routing/tree.py
index 4825152..311e3c1 100644
--- a/sanic_routing/tree.py
+++ b/sanic_routing/tree.py
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
 
 from .group import RouteGroup
 from .line import Line
-from .patterns import REGEX_PARAM_NAME, REGEX_PARAM_NAME_EXT
+from .patterns import REGEX_PARAM_NAME, REGEX_PARAM_NAME_EXT, alpha, ext, slug
 
 logger = getLogger("sanic.root")
 
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ def __init__(
         parent=None,
         router=None,
         param=None,
+        unquote=False,
     ) -> None:
         self.root = root
         self.part = part
@@ -34,7 +35,7 @@ def __init__(
         self.children_param_injected = False
         self.has_deferred = False
         self.equality_check = False
-        self.unquote = False
+        self.unquote = unquote
         self.router = router
 
     def __str__(self) -> str:
@@ -268,7 +269,7 @@ def _inject_param_check(self, location, indent, idx):
             Line("pass", indent + 1),
             Line("else:", indent),
         ]
-        if self.unquote:
+        if self.unquote and self._cast_as_str(self.param.cast):
             lines.append(
                 Line(
                     f"basket['__matches__'][{idx}] = "
@@ -280,6 +281,11 @@ def _inject_param_check(self, location, indent, idx):
 
         location.extend(lines)
 
+    @staticmethod
+    def _cast_as_str(cast) -> bool:
+        return_type_hint = t.get_type_hints(cast).get("return")
+        return cast in (str, ext, slug, alpha) or return_type_hint is str
+
     @staticmethod
     def _inject_method_check(location, indent, group):
         """
@@ -436,6 +442,7 @@ def generate(self, groups: t.Iterable[RouteGroup]) -> None:
         """
         for group in groups:
             current = self.root
+            current.unquote = current.unquote or group.unquote
             for level, part in enumerate(group.parts):
                 param = None
                 dynamic = part.startswith("<")
@@ -452,6 +459,7 @@ def generate(self, groups: t.Iterable[RouteGroup]) -> None:
                         parent=current,
                         router=self.router,
                         param=param,
+                        unquote=current.unquote,
                     )
                     child.dynamic = dynamic
                     current.add_child(child)
@@ -459,7 +467,6 @@ def generate(self, groups: t.Iterable[RouteGroup]) -> None:
                 current.level = level + 1
 
             current.groups.append(group)
-            current.unquote = current.unquote or group.unquote
 
     def display(self) -> None:
         """
diff --git a/tests/test_builtin_param_types.py b/tests/test_builtin_param_types.py
index 43c5218..c1507e7 100644
--- a/tests/test_builtin_param_types.py
+++ b/tests/test_builtin_param_types.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 from unittest.mock import Mock
 
 import pytest
+
 from sanic_routing import BaseRouter
 from sanic_routing.exceptions import InvalidUsage, NotFound
 
diff --git a/tests/test_unquote.py b/tests/test_unquote.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2374e09
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_unquote.py
@@ -0,0 +1,52 @@
+from unittest.mock import Mock
+
+from sanic_routing import BaseRouter
+
+
+class Router(BaseRouter):
+    def get(self, path, method, extra=None):
+        return self.resolve(path=path, method=method, extra=extra)
+
+
+def test_no_unquote():
+    handler = Mock(return_value=123)
+
+    router = Router()
+    router.add("/<foo>/<bar>", methods=["GET"], handler=handler, unquote=False)
+    router.finalize()
+
+    _, handler, params = router.get("/%F0%9F%98%8E/sunglasses", "GET")
+    assert params == {"bar": "sunglasses", "foo": "%F0%9F%98%8E"}
+
+    _, handler, params = router.get("/😎/sunglasses", "GET")
+    assert params == {"bar": "sunglasses", "foo": "😎"}
+
+
+def test_unquote():
+    handler = Mock(return_value=123)
+
+    router = Router()
+    router.add("/<foo>/<bar>", methods=["GET"], handler=handler, unquote=True)
+    router.finalize()
+
+    _, handler, params = router.get("/%F0%9F%98%8E/sunglasses", "GET")
+    assert params == {"bar": "sunglasses", "foo": "😎"}
+
+    _, handler, params = router.get("/😎/sunglasses", "GET")
+    assert params == {"bar": "sunglasses", "foo": "😎"}
+
+
+def test_unquote_non_string():
+    handler = Mock(return_value=123)
+
+    router = Router()
+    router.add(
+        "/<foo>/<bar:int>", methods=["GET"], handler=handler, unquote=True
+    )
+    router.finalize()
+
+    _, handler, params = router.get("/%F0%9F%98%8E/123", "GET")
+    assert params == {"bar": 123, "foo": "😎"}
+
+    _, handler, params = router.get("/😎/123", "GET")
+    assert params == {"bar": 123, "foo": "😎"}