diff --git a/clippy_lints/src/unsafe_removed_from_name.rs b/clippy_lints/src/unsafe_removed_from_name.rs
index e70d2a2dafee..16b3903a7e03 100644
--- a/clippy_lints/src/unsafe_removed_from_name.rs
+++ b/clippy_lints/src/unsafe_removed_from_name.rs
@@ -40,6 +40,9 @@ fn check_item(&mut self, cx: &EarlyContext<'_>, item: &Item) {
 fn check_use_tree(use_tree: &UseTree, cx: &EarlyContext<'_>, span: Span) {
     match use_tree.kind {
         UseTreeKind::Simple(Some(new_name)) => {
+            if new_name.as_str() == "_" {
+                return;
+            }
             let old_name = use_tree
                 .prefix
                 .segments
diff --git a/tests/ui/unsafe_removed_from_name.rs b/tests/ui/unsafe_removed_from_name.rs
index 2e1d8b60a0e2..f3d318815c10 100644
--- a/tests/ui/unsafe_removed_from_name.rs
+++ b/tests/ui/unsafe_removed_from_name.rs
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 mod mod_with_some_unsafe_things {
     pub struct Safe;
     pub struct Unsafe;
+    pub trait UnsafeTrait {}
 }
 
 use mod_with_some_unsafe_things::Unsafe as LieAboutModSafety;
@@ -40,4 +41,10 @@ mod mod_with_some_unsafe_things {
 #[allow(clippy::unsafe_removed_from_name)]
 use mod_with_some_unsafe_things::Unsafe as SuperSafeThing;
 
+// issue #16768, don't lint when "renaming" to '_'
+use mod_with_some_unsafe_things::UnsafeTrait as _;
+
+use mod_with_some_unsafe_things::UnsafeTrait as FakeSafeTrait;
+//~^ unsafe_removed_from_name
+
 fn main() {}
diff --git a/tests/ui/unsafe_removed_from_name.stderr b/tests/ui/unsafe_removed_from_name.stderr
index 5268c16ec9ba..cd3c1f80a300 100644
--- a/tests/ui/unsafe_removed_from_name.stderr
+++ b/tests/ui/unsafe_removed_from_name.stderr
@@ -14,22 +14,28 @@ LL | use std::cell::UnsafeCell as TotallySafeCellAgain;
    | ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
 
 error: removed `unsafe` from the name of `Unsafe` in use as `LieAboutModSafety`
-  --> tests/ui/unsafe_removed_from_name.rs:27:1
+  --> tests/ui/unsafe_removed_from_name.rs:28:1
    |
 LL | use mod_with_some_unsafe_things::Unsafe as LieAboutModSafety;
    | ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
 
 error: removed `unsafe` from the name of `Unsafe` in use as `A`
-  --> tests/ui/unsafe_removed_from_name.rs:31:1
+  --> tests/ui/unsafe_removed_from_name.rs:32:1
    |
 LL | use mod_with_some_unsafe_things::{Unsafe as A, Unsafe as B};
    | ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
 
 error: removed `unsafe` from the name of `Unsafe` in use as `B`
-  --> tests/ui/unsafe_removed_from_name.rs:31:1
+  --> tests/ui/unsafe_removed_from_name.rs:32:1
    |
 LL | use mod_with_some_unsafe_things::{Unsafe as A, Unsafe as B};
    | ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
 
-error: aborting due to 5 previous errors
+error: removed `unsafe` from the name of `UnsafeTrait` in use as `FakeSafeTrait`
+  --> tests/ui/unsafe_removed_from_name.rs:47:1
+   |
+LL | use mod_with_some_unsafe_things::UnsafeTrait as FakeSafeTrait;
+   | ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
+
+error: aborting due to 6 previous errors