diff --git a/vlib/builtin/array_test.v b/vlib/builtin/array_test.v
index 9abc9b7a7e..8cc0da76cd 100644
--- a/vlib/builtin/array_test.v
+++ b/vlib/builtin/array_test.v
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ const (
 )
 
 fn test_pointer() {
-	mut arr := []*int
+	mut arr := []&int
 	a := 1
 	b := 2
 	c := 3
@@ -14,6 +14,10 @@ fn test_pointer() {
 	assert *arr[0] == 1
 	arr[1] = &c
 	assert *arr[1] == 3
+	mut d_arr := [arr] // [][]&int
+	d_arr << arr
+	assert *d_arr[0][1] == 3
+	assert *d_arr[1][0] == 1
 }
 
 fn test_ints() {
diff --git a/vlib/builtin/map_test.v b/vlib/builtin/map_test.v
index a772be5baf..ce4689a9d3 100644
--- a/vlib/builtin/map_test.v
+++ b/vlib/builtin/map_test.v
@@ -132,13 +132,13 @@ fn test_various_map_value() {
 	m13['test'] = rune(0)
 	assert m13['test'] == rune(0)
 
-	//mut m14 := map[string]voidptr
-	//m14['test'] = voidptr(0)
-	//assert m14['test'] == voidptr(0)
+	mut m14 := map[string]voidptr
+	m14['test'] = voidptr(0)
+	assert m14['test'] == voidptr(0)
 
-	//mut m15 := map[string]byteptr
-	//m15['test'] = byteptr(0)
-	//assert m15['test'] == byteptr(0)
+	mut m15 := map[string]byteptr
+	m15['test'] = byteptr(0)
+	assert m15['test'] == byteptr(0)
 
 	mut m16 := map[string]i64
 	m16['test'] = i64(0)
@@ -147,6 +147,10 @@ fn test_various_map_value() {
 	mut m17 := map[string]u64
 	m17['test'] = u64(0)
 	assert m17['test'] == u64(0)
+
+	mut m18 := map[string]&int
+	m18['test'] = &int(0)
+	assert m18['test'] == &int(0)
 }
 
 
diff --git a/vlib/compiler/compile_errors.v b/vlib/compiler/compile_errors.v
index 670771ff4e..2628d40d31 100644
--- a/vlib/compiler/compile_errors.v
+++ b/vlib/compiler/compile_errors.v
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ fn (p mut Parser) print_error_context() {
 
 fn normalized_error(s string) string {
 	// Print `[]int` instead of `array_int` in errors
-	mut res := s.replace('array_', '[]').replace('__', '.').replace('Option_', '?').replace('main.', '')
+	mut res := s.replace('array_', '[]').replace('__', '.').replace('Option_', '?').replace('main.', '').replace('ptr_', '&')
 	if res.contains('_V_MulRet_') {
 		res = res.replace('_V_MulRet_', '(').replace('_V_', ', ')
 		res = res[..res.len - 1] + ')"'
diff --git a/vlib/compiler/comptime.v b/vlib/compiler/comptime.v
index f49a49f730..b8c8377c6f 100644
--- a/vlib/compiler/comptime.v
+++ b/vlib/compiler/comptime.v
@@ -321,7 +321,7 @@ fn (p mut Parser) gen_array_str(typ Type) {
 		is_public: true
 		receiver_typ: typ.name
 	})
-	elm_type := typ.name[6..]
+	elm_type := parse_pointer(typ.name[6..])
 	elm_type2 := p.table.find_type(elm_type)
 	is_array := elm_type.starts_with('array_')
 	if is_array {
@@ -416,7 +416,7 @@ fn (p mut Parser) gen_array_filter(str_typ string, method_ph int) {
 		}
 		array_int b = tmp2;
 	*/
-	val_type := str_typ[6..]
+	val_type := parse_pointer(str_typ[6..])
 	p.open_scope()
 	p.register_var(Var{
 		name: 'it'
@@ -456,7 +456,7 @@ fn (p mut Parser) gen_array_map(str_typ string, method_ph int) string {
 		}
 		array_int b = tmp2;
 	*/
-	val_type := str_typ[6..]
+	val_type := parse_pointer(str_typ[6..])
 	p.open_scope()
 	p.register_var(Var{
 		name: 'it'
@@ -477,7 +477,7 @@ fn (p mut Parser) gen_array_map(str_typ string, method_ph int) string {
 	p.gen(tmp) // TODO why does this `gen()` work?
 	p.check(.rpar)
 	p.close_scope()
-	return 'array_' + map_type
+	return 'array_' + stringify_pointer(map_type)
 }
 
 fn (p mut Parser) comptime_if_block(name string) {
diff --git a/vlib/compiler/expression.v b/vlib/compiler/expression.v
index 93149a65ff..56b9dbc46f 100644
--- a/vlib/compiler/expression.v
+++ b/vlib/compiler/expression.v
@@ -413,7 +413,7 @@ fn (p mut Parser) name_expr() string {
 		f.typ = p.gen_handle_option_or_else(f.typ, '', fn_call_ph)
 	}
 	else if !p.is_var_decl && !is_or_else && !p.inside_return_expr && f.typ.starts_with('Option_') {
-		opt_type := f.typ[7..]
+		opt_type := f.typ[7..].replace('ptr_', '&')
 		p.error('unhandled option type: `?$opt_type`')
 	}
 	// dot after a function call: `get_user().age`
@@ -450,7 +450,7 @@ fn (p mut Parser) expression() string {
 			// a << 7 => int tmp = 7; array_push(&a, &tmp);
 			// _PUSH(&a, expression(), tmp, string)
 			tmp := p.get_tmp()
-			tmp_typ := typ[6..].replace('_ptr', '*') // skip "array_"
+			tmp_typ := parse_pointer(typ[6..]) // skip "array_"
 			p.check_space(.left_shift)
 			// Get the value we are pushing
 			p.gen(', (')
diff --git a/vlib/compiler/fn.v b/vlib/compiler/fn.v
index ed4e00c5e5..d16cb9f781 100644
--- a/vlib/compiler/fn.v
+++ b/vlib/compiler/fn.v
@@ -1353,7 +1353,7 @@ fn (p mut Parser) extract_type_inst(f &Fn, args_ []string) TypeInst {
 
 // replace a generic type using TypeInst
 fn replace_generic_type(gen_type string, ti &TypeInst) string {
-	mut typ := gen_type.replace('map_', '').replace('varg_', '').trim_right('*')
+	mut typ := gen_type.replace('map_', '').replace('varg_', '').trim_right('*').replace('ptr_', '')
 	for typ.starts_with('array_') {
 		typ = typ[6..]
 	}
diff --git a/vlib/compiler/for.v b/vlib/compiler/for.v
index 0776065290..b71d79f8a7 100644
--- a/vlib/compiler/for.v
+++ b/vlib/compiler/for.v
@@ -92,12 +92,12 @@ fn (p mut Parser) for_st() {
 			p.gen_for_varg_header(i, expr, typ, val)
 		}
 		else if is_arr {
-			typ = typ[6..].replace('_ptr', '*')
+			typ = parse_pointer(typ[6..])
 			p.gen_for_header(i, tmp, typ, val)
 		}
 		else if is_map {
 			i_var_type = 'string'
-			typ = typ[4..]
+			typ = parse_pointer(typ[4..])
 			p.gen_for_map_header(i, tmp, typ, val, typ)
 		}
 		else if is_str {
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ fn (p mut Parser) for_st() {
 			p.gen_for_range_header(i, range_end, tmp, typ, val)
 		}
 		else if is_arr {
-			typ = typ[6..].replace('_ptr', '*') // all after `array_`
+			typ = parse_pointer(typ[6..]) // all after `array_`
 			p.gen_for_header(i, tmp, typ, val)
 		}
 		else if is_str {
diff --git a/vlib/compiler/gen_c.v b/vlib/compiler/gen_c.v
index f153355c90..c757819ac2 100644
--- a/vlib/compiler/gen_c.v
+++ b/vlib/compiler/gen_c.v
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ fn (p mut Parser) gen_handle_option_or_else(_typ, name string, fn_call_ph int) s
 	is_assign := name.len > 0
 	tmp := p.get_tmp()
 	p.cgen.set_placeholder(fn_call_ph, '$typ $tmp = ')
-	typ = typ[7..]
+	typ = parse_pointer(typ[7..])
 	p.genln(';')
 	or_tok_idx := p.token_idx
 	p.check(.key_orelse)
@@ -324,7 +324,7 @@ fn (p mut Parser) gen_method_call(receiver &Var, receiver_type string, cgen_name
 	if ftyp == 'void*' {
 		if receiver_type.starts_with('array_') {
 			// array_int => int
-			cast = receiver_type.all_after('array_')
+			cast = parse_pointer(receiver_type.all_after('array_'))
 			cast = '*($cast*) '
 		}
 		else {
@@ -611,7 +611,7 @@ fn (p mut Parser) cast(typ string) {
 
 fn type_default(typ string) string {
 	if typ.starts_with('array_') {
-		return 'new_array(0, 1, sizeof( ${typ[6..]} ))'
+		return 'new_array(0, 1, sizeof( ${parse_pointer(typ[6..])} ))'
 	}
 	// Always set pointers to 0
 	if typ.ends_with('*') {
diff --git a/vlib/compiler/get_type.v b/vlib/compiler/get_type.v
index 0154006d74..efdd7cbeee 100644
--- a/vlib/compiler/get_type.v
+++ b/vlib/compiler/get_type.v
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ fn (p mut Parser) get_type2() Type {
 			p.error('maps only support string keys for now')
 		}
 		p.check(.rsbr)
-		val_type := p.get_type() // p.check_name()
+		val_type := stringify_pointer(p.get_type()) // p.check_name()
 		typ = 'map_$val_type'
 		p.register_map(typ)
 		return Type{
@@ -190,6 +190,7 @@ fn (p mut Parser) get_type2() Type {
 	if arr_level > 0 {
 		// p.log('ARR TYPE="$typ" run=$p.pass')
 		// We come across "[]User" etc ?
+		typ = stringify_pointer(typ)
 		for i := 0; i < arr_level; i++ {
 			typ = 'array_$typ'
 		}
@@ -197,6 +198,7 @@ fn (p mut Parser) get_type2() Type {
 	}
 	p.next()
 	if is_question {
+		typ = stringify_pointer(typ)
 		typ = 'Option_$typ'
 		p.table.register_type_with_parent(typ, 'Option')
 	}
@@ -223,3 +225,21 @@ fn (p mut Parser) get_type2() Type {
 	}
 }
 
+fn parse_pointer(_typ string) string {
+	if !_typ.starts_with('ptr_') {
+		return _typ
+	}
+	mut typ := _typ.clone()
+	for typ.starts_with('ptr_') {
+		typ = typ[4..] + '*'
+	}
+	return typ
+}
+
+fn stringify_pointer(typ string) string {
+	if !typ.ends_with('*') {
+		return typ
+	}
+	count := typ.count('*')
+	return 'ptr_'.repeat(count) + typ.trim_right('*')
+}
diff --git a/vlib/compiler/if_match.v b/vlib/compiler/if_match.v
index 2da1ee58d0..6024c48ce1 100644
--- a/vlib/compiler/if_match.v
+++ b/vlib/compiler/if_match.v
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ fn (p mut Parser) if_statement(is_expr bool, elif_depth int) string {
 			p.error('`if x := opt() {` syntax requires a function that returns an optional value')
 		}
 		p.is_var_decl = false
-		typ := option_type[7..]
+		typ := parse_pointer(option_type[7..])
 		// Option_User tmp = get_user(1);
 		// if (tmp.ok) {
 		// User user = *(User*)tmp.data;
diff --git a/vlib/compiler/parser.v b/vlib/compiler/parser.v
index 4ca350d9ba..4c03399f58 100644
--- a/vlib/compiler/parser.v
+++ b/vlib/compiler/parser.v
@@ -1019,7 +1019,7 @@ fn (p mut Parser) get_type() string {
 		}
 		p.check(.rsbr)
 		val_type := p.get_type() // p.check_name()
-		typ = 'map_$val_type'
+		typ = 'map_${stringify_pointer(val_type)}'
 		p.register_map(typ)
 		return typ
 	}
@@ -1123,13 +1123,13 @@ fn (p mut Parser) get_type() string {
 		// p.log('ARR TYPE="$typ" run=$p.pass')
 		// We come across "[]User" etc ?
 		for i := 0; i < arr_level; i++ {
-			typ = 'array_$typ'
+			typ = 'array_${stringify_pointer(typ)}'
 		}
 		p.register_array(typ)
 	}
 	p.next()
 	if is_question {
-		typ = 'Option_$typ'
+		typ = 'Option_${stringify_pointer(typ)}'
 		p.table.register_type_with_parent(typ, 'Option')
 	}
 	// Because the code uses * to see if it's a pointer
@@ -1511,13 +1511,13 @@ fn ($v.name mut $v.typ) ${p.cur_fn.name}(...) {
 		p.error_with_token_index('${fn_name}() $err_used_as_value', p.token_idx - 2)
 	}
 	// Allow `num = 4` where `num` is an `?int`
-	if p.assigned_type.starts_with('Option_') && expr_type == p.assigned_type['Option_'.len..] {
+	if p.assigned_type.starts_with('Option_') && expr_type == parse_pointer(p.assigned_type['Option_'.len..]) {
 		expr := p.cgen.cur_line[pos..]
 		left := p.cgen.cur_line[..pos]
-		typ := expr_type.replace('Option_', '')
+		typ := parse_pointer(expr_type.replace('Option_', ''))
 		p.cgen.resetln(left + 'opt_ok(($typ[]){ $expr }, sizeof($typ))')
 	}
-	else if expr_type.starts_with('Option_') && p.assigned_type == expr_type['Option_'.len..] && p.tok == .key_orelse {
+	else if expr_type.starts_with('Option_') && p.assigned_type == parse_pointer(expr_type['Option_'.len..]) && p.tok == .key_orelse {
 		line := p.cgen.cur_line
 		vname := line[..pos].replace('=', '') // TODO cgen line hack
 		if idx:=line.index('='){
@@ -1976,7 +1976,7 @@ fn (p mut Parser) dot(str_typ_ string, method_ph int) string {
 	}
 	if !typ.is_c && !p.is_c_fn_call && !has_field && !has_method && !p.first_pass() {
 		if typ.name.starts_with('Option_') {
-			opt_type := typ.name[7..]
+			opt_type := typ.name[7..].replace('ptr_', '&')
 			p.error('unhandled option type: `?$opt_type`')
 		}
 		// println('error in dot():')
@@ -2064,7 +2064,7 @@ pub:
 		method.typ = p.gen_handle_option_or_else(method.typ, '', method_ph)
 	}
 	else if !p.is_var_decl && !is_or_else && !p.inside_return_expr && method.typ.starts_with('Option_') {
-		opt_type := method.typ[7..]
+		opt_type := method.typ[7..].replace('ptr_', '&')
 		p.error('unhandled option type: `?$opt_type`')
 	}
 	// Methods returning `array` should return `array_string` etc
@@ -2073,7 +2073,7 @@ pub:
 	}
 	// Array methods returning `voidptr` (like `last()`) should return element type
 	if method.typ == 'void*' && typ.name.starts_with('array_') {
-		return typ.name[6..]
+		return parse_pointer(typ.name[6..])
 	}
 	// if false && p.tok == .lsbr {
 	// if is_indexer {
@@ -2177,7 +2177,7 @@ fn (p mut Parser) index_expr(typ_ string, fn_ph int) string {
 		}
 		if is_arr {
 			if is_arr0 {
-				typ = typ[6..].replace('_ptr', '*')
+				typ = parse_pointer(typ[6..])
 			}
 			p.gen_array_at(typ, is_arr0, fn_ph)
 		}
@@ -2187,6 +2187,7 @@ fn (p mut Parser) index_expr(typ_ string, fn_ph int) string {
 		// can only do that later once we know whether there's an "=" or not
 		if is_map {
 			typ = typ.replace('map_', '')
+			typ = parse_pointer(typ)
 			if typ == 'map' {
 				typ = 'void*'
 			}
@@ -2212,7 +2213,7 @@ fn (p mut Parser) index_expr(typ_ string, fn_ph int) string {
 			}
 			if p.tok == .dotdot {
 				if is_arr {
-					typ = 'array_' + typ
+					typ = 'array_' + stringify_pointer(typ)
 				}
 				else if is_str {
 					typ = 'string'
@@ -2292,7 +2293,7 @@ fn (p mut Parser) index_expr(typ_ string, fn_ph int) string {
 	// }
 	// `m[key]`. no =, just a getter
 	else if (is_map || is_arr || (is_str && !p.builtin_mod)) && is_indexer {
-		typ = typ.replace('_ptr', '*')
+		typ = parse_pointer(typ)
 		p.index_get(typ, fn_ph, IndexConfig{
 			is_arr: is_arr
 			is_map: is_map
@@ -2349,7 +2350,7 @@ fn (p mut Parser) indot_expr() string {
 		if !is_arr && !is_map {
 			p.error('`in` requires an array/map')
 		}
-		if is_arr && arr_typ[6..] != typ {
+		if is_arr && parse_pointer(arr_typ[6..]) != typ {
 			p.error('bad element type: `$typ` in `$arr_typ`')
 		}
 		if is_map && typ != 'string' {
@@ -2471,7 +2472,7 @@ fn (p mut Parser) map_init() string {
 			p.fgen_nl()
 		}
 		p.gen('new_map_init($i, sizeof($val_type), ' + '(string[$i]){ $keys_gen }, ($val_type [$i]){ $vals_gen } )')
-		typ := 'map_$val_type'
+		typ := 'map_${stringify_pointer(val_type)}'
 		p.register_map(typ)
 		return typ
 	}
@@ -2486,7 +2487,7 @@ fn (p mut Parser) map_init() string {
 	// if !p.table.known_type(val_type) {
 	// p.error('map init unknown type "$val_type"')
 	// }
-	typ := 'map_$val_type'
+	typ := 'map_${stringify_pointer(val_type)}'
 	p.register_map(typ)
 	p.gen('new_map(1, sizeof($val_type))')
 	if p.tok == .lcbr {
@@ -2593,16 +2594,17 @@ fn (p mut Parser) array_init() string {
 	p.check(.rsbr)
 	// type after `]`? (e.g. "[]string")
 	exp_array := p.expected_type.starts_with('array_')
-	if p.tok != .name && p.tok != .mul && p.tok != .lsbr && i == 0 && !exp_array {
+	if p.tok != .name && p.tok != .mul && p.tok != .lsbr && p.tok != .amp && i == 0 && !exp_array {
 		p.error('specify array type: `[]typ` instead of `[]`')
 	}
-	if i == 0 && (p.tok == .name || p.tok == .mul) && p.tokens[p.token_idx - 2].line_nr == p.tokens[p.token_idx - 1].line_nr {
+	if i == 0 && (p.tok == .name || p.tok == .mul || p.tok == .amp) && p.tokens[p.token_idx - 2].line_nr == p.tokens[p.token_idx - 1].line_nr {
 		// TODO
 		// vals.len == 0 {
 		if exp_array {
-			p.error('no need to specify the full array type here, use `[]` instead of `[]${p.expected_type[6..]}`')
+			type_expected := p.expected_type[6..].replace('ptr_', '&')
+			p.error('no need to specify the full array type here, use `[]` instead of `[]$type_expected`')
 		}
-		typ = p.get_type().replace('*', '_ptr')
+		typ = p.get_type()
 	}
 	else if exp_array && i == 0 {
 		// allow `known_array = []`
@@ -2633,9 +2635,9 @@ fn (p mut Parser) array_init() string {
 	// if ptr {
 	// typ += '_ptr"
 	// }
-	real := typ.replace('_ptr', '*')
+	real := parse_pointer(typ)
 	p.gen_array_init(real, no_alloc, new_arr_ph, i)
-	typ = 'array_$typ'
+	typ = 'array_${stringify_pointer(typ)}'
 	p.register_array(typ)
 	return typ
 }
@@ -2749,10 +2751,10 @@ fn (p mut Parser) return_st() {
 		// Automatically wrap an object inside an option if the function
 		// returns an option:
 		// `return val` => `return opt_ok(val)`
-		if p.cur_fn.typ.ends_with(expr_type) && !is_none && p.cur_fn.typ.starts_with('Option_') {
+		if p.cur_fn.typ.ends_with(stringify_pointer(expr_type)) && !is_none && p.cur_fn.typ.starts_with('Option_') {
 			tmp := p.get_tmp()
 			ret := p.cgen.cur_line[ph..]
-			typ := expr_type.replace('Option_', '')
+			typ := parse_pointer(expr_type.replace('Option_', ''))
 			p.cgen.resetln('$expr_type $tmp = OPTION_CAST($expr_type)($ret);')
 			p.genln(deferred_text)
 			p.gen('return opt_ok(&$tmp, sizeof($typ))')
diff --git a/vlib/compiler/struct.v b/vlib/compiler/struct.v
index 687bc2508f..6f6076304a 100644
--- a/vlib/compiler/struct.v
+++ b/vlib/compiler/struct.v
@@ -428,7 +428,7 @@ fn (p mut Parser) struct_init(typ_ string) string {
 			// init map fields
 			if field_typ.starts_with('map_') {
 				p.gen_struct_field_init(sanitized_name)
-				p.gen_empty_map(field_typ[4..])
+				p.gen_empty_map(parse_pointer(field_typ[4..]))
 				inited_fields << sanitized_name
 				if i != t.fields.len - 1 {
 					p.gen(',')
diff --git a/vlib/compiler/table.v b/vlib/compiler/table.v
index 612a9e0a3b..d36adfba69 100644
--- a/vlib/compiler/table.v
+++ b/vlib/compiler/table.v
@@ -679,7 +679,7 @@ fn (p mut Parser) check_types2(got_, expected_ string, throw bool) bool {
 		return true
 	}
 	// Expected type "Option_os__File", got "os__File"
-	if expected.starts_with('Option_') && expected.ends_with(got) {
+	if expected.starts_with('Option_') && expected.ends_with(stringify_pointer(got)) {
 		return true
 	}
 	// NsColor* return 0
diff --git a/vlib/compiler/tests/option_test.v b/vlib/compiler/tests/option_test.v
index fdebb08903..026f38d1fb 100644
--- a/vlib/compiler/tests/option_test.v
+++ b/vlib/compiler/tests/option_test.v
@@ -124,3 +124,23 @@ fn test_opt_field() {
 	val := t.opt or { return }
 	assert val == 5
 }
+
+fn opt_ptr(a &int) ?&int {
+	if isnil(a) {
+		return none
+	}
+	return a
+}
+
+fn test_opt_ptr() {
+	a := 3
+	r1 := opt_ptr(&a) or {
+		&int(0)
+	}
+	assert r1 == &a
+	r2 := opt_ptr(&int(0)) or {
+		return
+	}
+	println('`$r2` should be none')
+	assert false
+}