diff --git a/std/io.zig b/std/io.zig
index 5f710a5033..c397ff6ede 100644
--- a/std/io.zig
+++ b/std/io.zig
@@ -1146,7 +1146,7 @@ pub fn Deserializer(endian: builtin.Endian, is_packed: bool, comptime Error: typ
             const child_type_id = @typeId(C);
 
             //custom deserializer: fn(self: *Self, deserializer: var) !void
-            if (comptime trait.hasFn("deserialize")(C)) return ptr.deserialize(self);
+            if (comptime trait.hasFn("deserialize")(C)) return C.deserialize(ptr, self);
 
             if (comptime trait.isPacked(C) and !is_packed) {
                 var packed_deserializer = Deserializer(endian, true, Error).init(self.in_stream);
@@ -1308,8 +1308,8 @@ pub fn Serializer(endian: builtin.Endian, is_packed: bool, comptime Error: type)
                 return;
             }
 
-            //custom serializer: fn(self: *const Self, serializer: var) !void
-            if (comptime trait.hasFn("serialize")(T)) return value.serialize(self);
+            //custom serializer: fn(self: Self, serializer: var) !void
+            if (comptime trait.hasFn("serialize")(T)) return T.serialize(value, self);
 
             if (comptime trait.isPacked(T) and !is_packed) {
                 var packed_serializer = Serializer(endian, true, Error).init(self.out_stream);
diff --git a/std/io_test.zig b/std/io_test.zig
index 71d46b0874..0bee0ddaf0 100644
--- a/std/io_test.zig
+++ b/std/io_test.zig
@@ -416,6 +416,10 @@ test "Serializer/Deserializer Int: Inf/NaN" {
     try testIntSerializerDeserializerInfNaN(builtin.Endian.Little, true);
 }
 
+fn testAlternateSerializer(self: var, serializer: var) !void {
+    try serializer.serialize(self.f_f16);
+}
+
 fn testSerializerDeserializer(comptime endian: builtin.Endian, comptime is_packed: bool) !void {
     const ColorType = enum(u4) {
         RGB8 = 1,
@@ -448,6 +452,8 @@ fn testSerializerDeserializer(comptime endian: builtin.Endian, comptime is_packe
         f_u2: u2,
     };
 
+    
+    
     //to test custom serialization
     const Custom = struct {
         f_f16: f16,
@@ -458,9 +464,7 @@ fn testSerializerDeserializer(comptime endian: builtin.Endian, comptime is_packe
             self.f_unused_u32 = 47;
         }
 
-        pub fn serialize(self: *const @This(), serializer: var) !void {
-            try serializer.serialize(self.f_f16);
-        }
+        pub const serialize = testAlternateSerializer;
     };
 
     const MyStruct = struct {