diff --git a/encode_test.go b/encode_test.go
index e71a9992..9e5b713f 100644
--- a/encode_test.go
+++ b/encode_test.go
@@ -2729,3 +2729,93 @@ func TestIssue459(t *testing.T) {
 	assertErr(t, err)
 	assertEq(t, "unexpected result", "{}", string(b))
 }
+
+func TestIssue503(t *testing.T) {
+	type child struct {
+		Flag  *bool   `json:"flag,omitempty"`
+		Label *string `json:"label,omitempty"`
+	}
+	// a struct whose only field is a pointer travels inside the interface word
+	type root struct {
+		Child *child `json:"child,omitempty"`
+	}
+	type rootPlain struct {
+		Child *child `json:"child"`
+	}
+	type rootWide struct {
+		Child *child `json:"child,omitempty"`
+		Note  string `json:"note"`
+	}
+	type rootNested struct {
+		Mid *root `json:"mid,omitempty"`
+	}
+	type zeroInt struct {
+		V int `json:"v"`
+	}
+	type zeroBool struct {
+		V bool `json:"v"`
+	}
+	type zeroString struct {
+		V string `json:"v"`
+	}
+	type zeroIntRoot struct {
+		C *zeroInt `json:"c,omitempty"`
+	}
+	type zeroBoolRoot struct {
+		C *zeroBool `json:"c,omitempty"`
+	}
+	type zeroStringRoot struct {
+		C *zeroString `json:"c,omitempty"`
+	}
+
+	flag := true
+	label := "x"
+
+	for _, v := range []interface{}{
+		root{},
+		root{Child: &child{}},
+		root{Child: &child{Flag: &flag}},
+		root{Child: &child{Label: &label}},
+		root{Child: &child{Flag: &flag, Label: &label}},
+		rootPlain{},
+		rootPlain{Child: &child{}},
+		rootPlain{Child: &child{Label: &label}},
+		rootWide{Child: &child{Label: &label}, Note: "n"},
+		rootNested{Mid: &root{Child: &child{Label: &label}}},
+		zeroIntRoot{C: &zeroInt{V: 0}},
+		zeroIntRoot{C: &zeroInt{V: 1}},
+		zeroBoolRoot{C: &zeroBool{V: false}},
+		zeroBoolRoot{C: &zeroBool{V: true}},
+		zeroStringRoot{C: &zeroString{V: ""}},
+		zeroStringRoot{C: &zeroString{V: "a"}},
+
+		// the same type reached by an address instead of the interface word
+		&root{Child: &child{Label: &label}},
+		[]root{{Child: &child{Label: &label}}, {}},
+		map[string]root{"k": {Child: &child{Label: &label}}},
+		struct {
+			Any interface{} `json:"any"`
+		}{Any: root{Child: &child{Label: &label}}},
+	} {
+		expected, err := stdjson.Marshal(v)
+		assertErr(t, err)
+
+		got, err := json.Marshal(v)
+		assertErr(t, err)
+		assertEq(t, "unexpected result", string(expected), string(got))
+
+		expectedIndent, err := stdjson.MarshalIndent(v, "", "  ")
+		assertErr(t, err)
+
+		gotIndent, err := json.MarshalIndent(v, "", "  ")
+		assertErr(t, err)
+		assertEq(t, "unexpected indented result", string(expectedIndent), string(gotIndent))
+
+		var buf bytes.Buffer
+		assertErr(t, json.NewEncoder(&buf).Encode(v))
+		assertEq(t, "unexpected streamed result", string(expected)+"\n", buf.String())
+
+		_, err = json.MarshalWithOption(v, json.Colorize(json.DefaultColorScheme))
+		assertErr(t, err)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/encoder/compiler.go b/internal/encoder/compiler.go
index dca68061..d9c3de24 100644
--- a/internal/encoder/compiler.go
+++ b/internal/encoder/compiler.go
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ func (c *Compiler) typeToCode(typ *runtime.Type) (Code, error) {
 		}
 		return c.mapCode(typ)
 	case reflect.Struct:
-		return c.structCode(typ, isPtr)
+		return c.structCode(typ, isPtr, true)
 	case reflect.Int:
 		return c.intCode(typ, isPtr)
 	case reflect.Int8:
@@ -269,7 +269,7 @@ func (c *Compiler) typeToCodeWithPtr(typ *runtime.Type, isPtr bool) (Code, error
 	case reflect.Map:
 		return c.mapCode(typ)
 	case reflect.Struct:
-		return c.structCode(typ, isPtr)
+		return c.structCode(typ, isPtr, false)
 	case reflect.Interface:
 		return c.interfaceCode(typ, false)
 	case reflect.Int:
@@ -592,7 +592,8 @@ func (c *Compiler) mapValueCode(typ *runtime.Type) (Code, error) {
 	}
 }
 
-func (c *Compiler) structCode(typ *runtime.Type, isPtr bool) (*StructCode, error) {
+// isRoot marks the struct the compilation started from: only it can travel inside the interface word
+func (c *Compiler) structCode(typ *runtime.Type, isPtr, isRoot bool) (*StructCode, error) {
 	typeptr := uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(typ))
 	if code, exists := c.structTypeToCode[typeptr]; exists {
 		derefCode := *code
@@ -630,6 +631,11 @@ func (c *Compiler) structCode(typ *runtime.Type, isPtr bool) (*StructCode, error
 				if indirect {
 					// if parent is indirect type, set child indirect property to true
 					structCode.isIndirect = true
+				} else if isRoot && !isPtr && isSinglePtrStructField(field, structCode) {
+					// the interface word already holds the field pointer, nothing may follow it again
+					field.value = structCode
+					field.isNextOpPtrType = false
+					structCode.isIndirect = true
 				} else {
 					// if parent is not indirect type, set child indirect property to false.
 					// but if parent's indirect is false and isPtr is true, then indirect must be true.
@@ -650,6 +656,47 @@ func (c *Compiler) structCode(typ *runtime.Type, isPtr bool) (*StructCode, error
 	return code, nil
 }
 
+// isSinglePtrStructField reports whether the field is a single pointer to structCode. a self
+// reachable type is excluded: its recursive re-entry reuses the root opcodes, addressed layout and all
+func isSinglePtrStructField(field *StructFieldCode, structCode *StructCode) bool {
+	ptrCode, ok := field.value.(*PtrCode)
+	if !ok || ptrCode.ptrNum != 1 {
+		return false
+	}
+
+	value, ok := ptrCode.value.(*StructCode)
+
+	return ok && value == structCode && !hasRecursiveCode(structCode, map[*StructCode]struct{}{})
+}
+
+func hasRecursiveCode(code Code, seen map[*StructCode]struct{}) bool {
+	switch c := code.(type) {
+	case *StructCode:
+		if c.isRecursive {
+			return true
+		}
+		if _, ok := seen[c]; ok {
+			return false
+		}
+		seen[c] = struct{}{}
+		for _, field := range c.fields {
+			if hasRecursiveCode(field.value, seen) {
+				return true
+			}
+		}
+	case *PtrCode:
+		return hasRecursiveCode(c.value, seen)
+	case *SliceCode:
+		return hasRecursiveCode(c.value, seen)
+	case *ArrayCode:
+		return hasRecursiveCode(c.value, seen)
+	case *MapCode:
+		return hasRecursiveCode(c.key, seen) || hasRecursiveCode(c.value, seen)
+	}
+
+	return false
+}
+
 func toElemType(t *runtime.Type) *runtime.Type {
 	for t.Kind() == reflect.Ptr {
 		t = t.Elem()