diff --git a/src/codegen/llvm.zig b/src/codegen/llvm.zig
index fd92dec413..9c2fd22df0 100644
--- a/src/codegen/llvm.zig
+++ b/src/codegen/llvm.zig
@@ -3201,14 +3201,23 @@ pub const FuncGen = struct {
         const operand = try self.resolveInst(ty_op.operand);
         const operand_ty = self.air.typeOf(ty_op.operand);
         const inst_ty = self.air.typeOfIndex(inst);
+        const operand_is_ref = isByRef(operand_ty);
+        const result_is_ref = isByRef(inst_ty);
         const llvm_dest_ty = try self.dg.llvmType(inst_ty);
 
+        if (operand_is_ref and result_is_ref) {
+            // They are both pointers; just do a bitcast on the pointers :)
+            return self.builder.buildBitCast(operand, llvm_dest_ty.pointerType(0), "");
+        }
+
         if (operand_ty.zigTypeTag() == .Int and inst_ty.zigTypeTag() == .Pointer) {
             return self.builder.buildIntToPtr(operand, llvm_dest_ty, "");
-        } else if (operand_ty.zigTypeTag() == .Vector and inst_ty.zigTypeTag() == .Array) {
+        }
+
+        if (operand_ty.zigTypeTag() == .Vector and inst_ty.zigTypeTag() == .Array) {
             const target = self.dg.module.getTarget();
             const elem_ty = operand_ty.childType();
-            if (!isByRef(inst_ty)) {
+            if (!result_is_ref) {
                 return self.dg.todo("implement bitcast vector to non-ref array", .{});
             }
             const array_ptr = self.buildAlloca(llvm_dest_ty);
@@ -3239,7 +3248,7 @@ pub const FuncGen = struct {
             const target = self.dg.module.getTarget();
             const elem_ty = operand_ty.childType();
             const llvm_vector_ty = try self.dg.llvmType(inst_ty);
-            if (!isByRef(operand_ty)) {
+            if (!operand_is_ref) {
                 return self.dg.todo("implement bitcast non-ref array to vector", .{});
             }
 
@@ -3274,6 +3283,21 @@ pub const FuncGen = struct {
             }
         }
 
+        if (operand_is_ref) {
+            // Bitcast the operand pointer, then load.
+            const casted_ptr = self.builder.buildBitCast(operand, llvm_dest_ty.pointerType(0), "");
+            return self.builder.buildLoad(casted_ptr, "");
+        }
+
+        if (result_is_ref) {
+            // Bitcast the result pointer, then store.
+            const result_ptr = self.buildAlloca(llvm_dest_ty);
+            const operand_llvm_ty = try self.dg.llvmType(operand_ty);
+            const casted_ptr = self.builder.buildBitCast(result_ptr, operand_llvm_ty.pointerType(0), "");
+            _ = self.builder.buildStore(operand, casted_ptr);
+            return result_ptr;
+        }
+
         return self.builder.buildBitCast(operand, llvm_dest_ty, "");
     }
 
diff --git a/test/behavior/bitcast.zig b/test/behavior/bitcast.zig
index 3a2f8a0a8a..c4827e1795 100644
--- a/test/behavior/bitcast.zig
+++ b/test/behavior/bitcast.zig
@@ -64,3 +64,9 @@ test "bitcast literal [4]u8 param to u32" {
     const ip = @bitCast(u32, [_]u8{ 255, 255, 255, 255 });
     try expect(ip == maxInt(u32));
 }
+
+test "bitcast generates a temporary value" {
+    var y = @as(u16, 0x55AA);
+    const x = @bitCast(u16, @bitCast([2]u8, y));
+    try expect(y == x);
+}
diff --git a/test/behavior/bitcast_stage1.zig b/test/behavior/bitcast_stage1.zig
index 92dd88e34f..c491571e9c 100644
--- a/test/behavior/bitcast_stage1.zig
+++ b/test/behavior/bitcast_stage1.zig
@@ -129,9 +129,3 @@ test "triple level result location with bitcast sandwich passed as tuple element
     };
     try S.foo(.{@as(f64, @bitCast(f32, @as(u32, 0x414570A4)))});
 }
-
-test "bitcast generates a temporary value" {
-    var y = @as(u16, 0x55AA);
-    const x = @bitCast(u16, @bitCast([2]u8, y));
-    try expectEqual(y, x);
-}