diff --git a/src/verification/spatial.py b/src/verification/spatial.py
index a5186d5f..cb06fe70 100644
--- a/src/verification/spatial.py
+++ b/src/verification/spatial.py
@@ -121,7 +121,25 @@ def map_forecast_to_truth(fcst: xr.Dataset, truth: xr.Dataset) -> xr.Dataset:
     xr.Dataset
         Mapped forecast dataset.
     """
-    # TODO: return fcst unchanged when forecast and truth are already aligned
+    fcst_lat = fcst["lat"].values
+    fcst_lon = fcst["lon"].values
+    truth_lat = truth["lat"].values
+    truth_lon = truth["lon"].values
+    if (
+        fcst_lat.shape == truth_lat.shape
+        and fcst_lon.shape == truth_lon.shape
+        and np.max(np.abs(fcst_lat - truth_lat)) < 1e-6
+        and np.max(np.abs(fcst_lon - truth_lon)) < 1e-6
+    ):
+        if np.array_equal(fcst_lat, truth_lat) and np.array_equal(fcst_lon, truth_lon):
+            return fcst
+        coords = {
+            "lat": (fcst["lat"].dims, truth["lat"].data),
+            "lon": (fcst["lon"].dims, truth["lon"].data),
+        }
+        if "values" in fcst.dims and "values" in truth.dims:
+            coords["values"] = truth["values"].data
+        return fcst.assign_coords(coords)
 
     truth_is_grid = "y" in truth.dims and "x" in truth.dims
 
diff --git a/tests/unit/test_spatial_mapping.py b/tests/unit/test_spatial_mapping.py
index 73d56954..fa277665 100644
--- a/tests/unit/test_spatial_mapping.py
+++ b/tests/unit/test_spatial_mapping.py
@@ -91,6 +91,115 @@ def test_map_forecast_to_truth_maps_forecast_to_truth_locations():
     )
 
 
+def test_map_forecast_to_truth_returns_fcst_unchanged_when_grids_are_aligned():
+    fcst_time = np.array(["2024-01-01T00:00"], dtype="datetime64[ns]")
+    lat = np.array([[46.0, 46.0], [47.0, 47.0]])
+    lon = np.array([[7.0, 8.0], [7.0, 8.0]])
+
+    fcst = xr.Dataset(
+        data_vars={"T_2M": (("time", "y", "x"), np.array([[[1.0, 2.0], [3.0, 4.0]]]))},
+        coords={
+            "time": fcst_time,
+            "y": [0, 1],
+            "x": [0, 1],
+            "lat": (("y", "x"), lat),
+            "lon": (("y", "x"), lon),
+        },
+    )
+    truth = xr.Dataset(
+        data_vars={"T_2M": (("time", "y", "x"), np.zeros((1, 2, 2)))},
+        coords={
+            "time": fcst_time,
+            "y": [0, 1],
+            "x": [0, 1],
+            "lat": (("y", "x"), lat),
+            "lon": (("y", "x"), lon),
+        },
+    )
+
+    result = map_forecast_to_truth(fcst, truth)
+    _, result_aligned = xr.align(truth, result)
+
+    assert result is fcst
+    assert result["T_2M"].values is fcst["T_2M"].values
+    assert np.array_equal(result["lat"].values, truth["lat"].values)
+    assert np.array_equal(result["lon"].values, truth["lon"].values)
+    assert np.array_equal(result_aligned["T_2M"].values, fcst["T_2M"].values)
+
+
+def test_map_forecast_to_truth_returns_fcst_unchanged_when_grids_are_within_tolerance():
+    fcst_time = np.array(["2024-01-01T00:00"], dtype="datetime64[ns]")
+    lat = np.array([[46.0, 46.0], [47.0, 47.0]])
+    lon = np.array([[7.0, 8.0], [7.0, 8.0]])
+
+    fcst = xr.Dataset(
+        data_vars={"T_2M": (("time", "y", "x"), np.array([[[1.0, 2.0], [3.0, 4.0]]]))},
+        coords={
+            "time": fcst_time,
+            "y": [0, 1],
+            "x": [0, 1],
+            "lat": (("y", "x"), lat + 5e-8),
+            "lon": (("y", "x"), lon - 5e-8),
+        },
+    )
+    # Nudge coordinates by less than the 1e-6 tolerance — should still be treated as aligned.
+    truth = xr.Dataset(
+        data_vars={"T_2M": (("time", "y", "x"), np.zeros((1, 2, 2)))},
+        coords={
+            "time": fcst_time,
+            "y": [0, 1],
+            "x": [0, 1],
+            "lat": (("y", "x"), lat),
+            "lon": (("y", "x"), lon),
+        },
+    )
+
+    result = map_forecast_to_truth(fcst, truth)
+    _, result_aligned = xr.align(truth, result)
+
+    assert result is not fcst
+    assert result["T_2M"].values is fcst["T_2M"].values
+    assert np.array_equal(result["lat"].values, truth["lat"].values)
+    assert np.array_equal(result["lon"].values, truth["lon"].values)
+    assert np.array_equal(result_aligned["T_2M"].values, fcst["T_2M"].values)
+
+
+def test_map_forecast_to_truth_returns_fcst_unchanged_when_grids_are_within_tolerance_icon():
+    fcst_time = np.array(["2024-01-01T00:00"], dtype="datetime64[ns]")
+    lat = np.array([[46.0, 46.0], [47.0, 47.0]]).flatten()
+    lon = np.array([[7.0, 8.0], [7.0, 8.0]]).flatten()
+
+    fcst = xr.Dataset(
+        data_vars={"T_2M": (("time", "values"), np.array([[1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 4.0]]))},
+        coords={
+            "time": fcst_time,
+            "values": [0, 1, 2, 3],
+            "lat": (("values"), lat + 5e-8),
+            "lon": (("values"), lon - 5e-8),
+        },
+    )
+    # Nudge coordinates by less than the 1e-6 tolerance — should still be treated as aligned.
+    truth = xr.Dataset(
+        data_vars={"T_2M": (("time", "values"), np.zeros((1, 4)))},
+        coords={
+            "time": fcst_time,
+            "values": [3, 1, 2, 0],
+            "lat": (("values"), lat),
+            "lon": (("values"), lon),
+        },
+    )
+
+    result = map_forecast_to_truth(fcst, truth)
+    _, result_aligned = xr.align(truth, result)
+
+    assert result is not fcst
+    assert result["T_2M"].values is fcst["T_2M"].values
+    assert np.array_equal(result["lat"].values, truth["lat"].values)
+    assert np.array_equal(result["lon"].values, truth["lon"].values)
+    assert np.array_equal(result["values"].values, truth["values"].values)
+    assert np.array_equal(result_aligned["T_2M"].values, fcst["T_2M"].values)
+
+
 def test_map_forecast_to_truth_restores_grid_when_truth_is_gridded():
     fcst_time = np.array(["2024-01-01T00:00"], dtype="datetime64[ns]")