diff --git a/lib/std/zig/AstGen.zig b/lib/std/zig/AstGen.zig
index 848f11ddce..304c3f6523 100644
--- a/lib/std/zig/AstGen.zig
+++ b/lib/std/zig/AstGen.zig
@@ -2731,9 +2731,9 @@ fn addEnsureResult(gz: *GenZir, maybe_unused_result: Zir.Inst.Ref, statement: As
             .elem_val_node,
             .elem_val_imm,
             .field_ptr,
-            .field_val,
+            .field_ptr_load,
             .field_ptr_named,
-            .field_val_named,
+            .field_ptr_named_load,
             .func,
             .func_inferred,
             .func_fancy,
@@ -6160,7 +6160,7 @@ fn fieldAccess(
     switch (ri.rl) {
         .ref, .ref_coerced_ty => return addFieldAccess(.field_ptr, gz, scope, .{ .rl = .ref }, node),
         else => {
-            const access = try addFieldAccess(.field_val, gz, scope, .{ .rl = .none }, node);
+            const access = try addFieldAccess(.field_ptr_load, gz, scope, .{ .rl = .ref }, node);
             return rvalue(gz, ri, access, node);
         },
     }
@@ -9286,17 +9286,21 @@ fn builtinCall(
             return rvalue(gz, ri, result, node);
         },
         .field => {
-            if (ri.rl == .ref or ri.rl == .ref_coerced_ty) {
-                return gz.addPlNode(.field_ptr_named, node, Zir.Inst.FieldNamed{
-                    .lhs = try expr(gz, scope, .{ .rl = .ref }, params[0]),
-                    .field_name = try comptimeExpr(gz, scope, .{ .rl = .{ .coerced_ty = .slice_const_u8_type } }, params[1], .field_name),
-                });
+            switch (ri.rl) {
+                .ref, .ref_coerced_ty => {
+                    return gz.addPlNode(.field_ptr_named, node, Zir.Inst.FieldNamed{
+                        .lhs = try expr(gz, scope, .{ .rl = .ref }, params[0]),
+                        .field_name = try comptimeExpr(gz, scope, .{ .rl = .{ .coerced_ty = .slice_const_u8_type } }, params[1], .field_name),
+                    });
+                },
+                else => {
+                    const result = try gz.addPlNode(.field_ptr_named_load, node, Zir.Inst.FieldNamed{
+                        .lhs = try expr(gz, scope, .{ .rl = .ref }, params[0]),
+                        .field_name = try comptimeExpr(gz, scope, .{ .rl = .{ .coerced_ty = .slice_const_u8_type } }, params[1], .field_name),
+                    });
+                    return rvalue(gz, ri, result, node);
+                },
             }
-            const result = try gz.addPlNode(.field_val_named, node, Zir.Inst.FieldNamed{
-                .lhs = try expr(gz, scope, .{ .rl = .none }, params[0]),
-                .field_name = try comptimeExpr(gz, scope, .{ .rl = .{ .coerced_ty = .slice_const_u8_type } }, params[1], .field_name),
-            });
-            return rvalue(gz, ri, result, node);
         },
         .FieldType => {
             const ty_inst = try typeExpr(gz, scope, params[0]);
diff --git a/lib/std/zig/Zir.zig b/lib/std/zig/Zir.zig
index e4728dc7ad..3028426665 100644
--- a/lib/std/zig/Zir.zig
+++ b/lib/std/zig/Zir.zig
@@ -420,6 +420,7 @@ pub const Inst = struct {
         /// is the local's value.
         dbg_var_val,
         /// Uses a name to identify a Decl and takes a pointer to it.
+        ///
         /// Uses the `str_tok` union field.
         decl_ref,
         /// Uses a name to identify a Decl and uses it as a value.
@@ -472,19 +473,26 @@ pub const Inst = struct {
         /// to the named field. The field name is stored in string_bytes. Used by a.b syntax.
         /// Uses `pl_node` field. The AST node is the a.b syntax. Payload is Field.
         field_ptr,
-        /// Given a struct or object that contains virtual fields, returns the named field.
+        /// Given a pointer to a struct or object that contains virtual fields, loads from the
+        /// named field.
+        ///
         /// The field name is stored in string_bytes. Used by a.b syntax.
+        ///
         /// This instruction also accepts a pointer.
+        ///
         /// Uses `pl_node` field. The AST node is the a.b syntax. Payload is Field.
-        field_val,
+        field_ptr_load,
         /// Given a pointer to a struct or object that contains virtual fields, returns a pointer
         /// to the named field. The field name is a comptime instruction. Used by @field.
         /// Uses `pl_node` field. The AST node is the builtin call. Payload is FieldNamed.
         field_ptr_named,
-        /// Given a struct or object that contains virtual fields, returns the named field.
+        /// Given a pointer to a struct or object that contains virtual fields,
+        /// loads from the named field.
+        ///
         /// The field name is a comptime instruction. Used by @field.
+        ///
         /// Uses `pl_node` field. The AST node is the builtin call. Payload is FieldNamed.
-        field_val_named,
+        field_ptr_named_load,
         /// Returns a function type, or a function instance, depending on whether
         /// the body_len is 0. Calling convention is auto.
         /// Uses the `pl_node` union field. `payload_index` points to a `Func`.
@@ -1145,9 +1153,9 @@ pub const Inst = struct {
                 .ensure_err_union_payload_void,
                 .@"export",
                 .field_ptr,
-                .field_val,
+                .field_ptr_load,
                 .field_ptr_named,
-                .field_val_named,
+                .field_ptr_named_load,
                 .func,
                 .func_inferred,
                 .func_fancy,
@@ -1435,9 +1443,9 @@ pub const Inst = struct {
                 .elem_val_node,
                 .elem_val_imm,
                 .field_ptr,
-                .field_val,
+                .field_ptr_load,
                 .field_ptr_named,
-                .field_val_named,
+                .field_ptr_named_load,
                 .func,
                 .func_inferred,
                 .func_fancy,
@@ -1688,9 +1696,9 @@ pub const Inst = struct {
                 .error_value = .str_tok,
                 .@"export" = .pl_node,
                 .field_ptr = .pl_node,
-                .field_val = .pl_node,
+                .field_ptr_load = .pl_node,
                 .field_ptr_named = .pl_node,
-                .field_val_named = .pl_node,
+                .field_ptr_named_load = .pl_node,
                 .func = .pl_node,
                 .func_inferred = .pl_node,
                 .func_fancy = .pl_node,
@@ -4225,9 +4233,9 @@ fn findTrackableInner(
         .error_value,
         .@"export",
         .field_ptr,
-        .field_val,
+        .field_ptr_load,
         .field_ptr_named,
-        .field_val_named,
+        .field_ptr_named_load,
         .import,
         .int,
         .int_big,
diff --git a/src/Sema.zig b/src/Sema.zig
index 439f0d0fc4..4e0167180e 100644
--- a/src/Sema.zig
+++ b/src/Sema.zig
@@ -1187,7 +1187,7 @@ fn analyzeBodyInner(
             .cmp_gte                      => try sema.zirCmp(block, inst, .gte),
             .cmp_gt                       => try sema.zirCmp(block, inst, .gt),
             .cmp_neq                      => try sema.zirCmpEq(block, inst, .neq, Air.Inst.Tag.fromCmpOp(.neq, block.float_mode == .optimized)),
-            .decl_ref                     => try sema.zirDeclRef(block, inst),
+            .decl_ref                     => try sema.zirDeclRef(block, inst, true),
             .decl_val                     => try sema.zirDeclVal(block, inst),
             .load                         => try sema.zirLoad(block, inst),
             .elem_ptr                     => try sema.zirElemPtr(block, inst),
@@ -1211,8 +1211,8 @@ fn analyzeBodyInner(
             .error_value                  => try sema.zirErrorValue(block, inst),
             .field_ptr                    => try sema.zirFieldPtr(block, inst),
             .field_ptr_named              => try sema.zirFieldPtrNamed(block, inst),
-            .field_val                    => try sema.zirFieldVal(block, inst),
-            .field_val_named              => try sema.zirFieldValNamed(block, inst),
+            .field_ptr_load               => try sema.zirFieldPtrLoad(block, inst),
+            .field_ptr_named_load         => try sema.zirFieldPtrNamedLoad(block, inst),
             .func                         => try sema.zirFunc(block, inst, false),
             .func_inferred                => try sema.zirFunc(block, inst, true),
             .func_fancy                   => try sema.zirFuncFancy(block, inst),
@@ -6524,7 +6524,7 @@ pub fn appendAirString(sema: *Sema, str: []const u8) Allocator.Error!Air.NullTer
     return nts;
 }
 
-fn zirDeclRef(sema: *Sema, block: *Block, inst: Zir.Inst.Index) CompileError!Air.Inst.Ref {
+fn zirDeclRef(sema: *Sema, block: *Block, inst: Zir.Inst.Index, escape: bool) CompileError!Air.Inst.Ref {
     const pt = sema.pt;
     const zcu = pt.zcu;
     const inst_data = sema.code.instructions.items(.data)[@intFromEnum(inst)].str_tok;
@@ -6536,7 +6536,7 @@ fn zirDeclRef(sema: *Sema, block: *Block, inst: Zir.Inst.Index) CompileError!Air
         .no_embedded_nulls,
     );
     const nav_index = try sema.lookupIdentifier(block, decl_name);
-    return sema.analyzeNavRef(block, src, nav_index);
+    return sema.analyzeNavRefInner(block, src, nav_index, escape);
 }
 
 fn zirDeclVal(sema: *Sema, block: *Block, inst: Zir.Inst.Index) CompileError!Air.Inst.Ref {
@@ -9711,7 +9711,7 @@ fn zirIntFromPtr(sema: *Sema, block: *Block, inst: Zir.Inst.Index) CompileError!
     return block.addBitCast(dest_ty, operand);
 }
 
-fn zirFieldVal(sema: *Sema, block: *Block, inst: Zir.Inst.Index) CompileError!Air.Inst.Ref {
+fn zirFieldPtrLoad(sema: *Sema, block: *Block, inst: Zir.Inst.Index) CompileError!Air.Inst.Ref {
     const tracy = trace(@src());
     defer tracy.end();
 
@@ -9727,8 +9727,8 @@ fn zirFieldVal(sema: *Sema, block: *Block, inst: Zir.Inst.Index) CompileError!Ai
         sema.code.nullTerminatedString(extra.field_name_start),
         .no_embedded_nulls,
     );
-    const object = try sema.resolveInst(extra.lhs);
-    return sema.fieldVal(block, src, object, field_name, field_name_src);
+    const object_ptr = try sema.resolveInst(extra.lhs);
+    return fieldPtrLoad(sema, block, src, object_ptr, field_name, field_name_src);
 }
 
 fn zirFieldPtr(sema: *Sema, block: *Block, inst: Zir.Inst.Index) CompileError!Air.Inst.Ref {
@@ -9779,7 +9779,7 @@ fn zirStructInitFieldPtr(sema: *Sema, block: *Block, inst: Zir.Inst.Index) Compi
     }
 }
 
-fn zirFieldValNamed(sema: *Sema, block: *Block, inst: Zir.Inst.Index) CompileError!Air.Inst.Ref {
+fn zirFieldPtrNamedLoad(sema: *Sema, block: *Block, inst: Zir.Inst.Index) CompileError!Air.Inst.Ref {
     const tracy = trace(@src());
     defer tracy.end();
 
@@ -9787,9 +9787,9 @@ fn zirFieldValNamed(sema: *Sema, block: *Block, inst: Zir.Inst.Index) CompileErr
     const src = block.nodeOffset(inst_data.src_node);
     const field_name_src = block.builtinCallArgSrc(inst_data.src_node, 1);
     const extra = sema.code.extraData(Zir.Inst.FieldNamed, inst_data.payload_index).data;
-    const object = try sema.resolveInst(extra.lhs);
+    const object_ptr = try sema.resolveInst(extra.lhs);
     const field_name = try sema.resolveConstStringIntern(block, field_name_src, extra.field_name, .{ .simple = .field_name });
-    return sema.fieldVal(block, src, object, field_name, field_name_src);
+    return fieldPtrLoad(sema, block, src, object_ptr, field_name, field_name_src);
 }
 
 fn zirFieldPtrNamed(sema: *Sema, block: *Block, inst: Zir.Inst.Index) CompileError!Air.Inst.Ref {
@@ -13612,7 +13612,6 @@ fn maybeErrorUnwrap(
             .str,
             .as_node,
             .panic,
-            .field_val,
             => {},
             else => return false,
         }
@@ -13631,7 +13630,6 @@ fn maybeErrorUnwrap(
             },
             .str => try sema.zirStr(inst),
             .as_node => try sema.zirAsNode(block, inst),
-            .field_val => try sema.zirFieldVal(block, inst),
             .@"unreachable" => {
                 try safetyPanicUnwrapError(sema, block, operand_src, operand);
                 return true;
@@ -26673,6 +26671,33 @@ fn emitBackwardBranch(sema: *Sema, block: *Block, src: LazySrcLoc) !void {
     }
 }
 
+fn fieldPtrLoad(
+    sema: *Sema,
+    block: *Block,
+    src: LazySrcLoc,
+    object_ptr: Air.Inst.Ref,
+    field_name: InternPool.NullTerminatedString,
+    field_name_src: LazySrcLoc,
+) CompileError!Air.Inst.Ref {
+    const pt = sema.pt;
+    const zcu = pt.zcu;
+    const object_ptr_ty = sema.typeOf(object_ptr);
+    const pointee_ty = object_ptr_ty.childType(zcu);
+    if (try typeHasOnePossibleValue(sema, pointee_ty)) |opv| {
+        const object: Air.Inst.Ref = .fromValue(opv);
+        return fieldVal(sema, block, src, object, field_name, field_name_src);
+    }
+
+    if (try sema.resolveDefinedValue(block, src, object_ptr)) |object_ptr_val| {
+        if (try sema.pointerDeref(block, src, object_ptr_val, object_ptr_ty)) |object_val| {
+            const object: Air.Inst.Ref = .fromValue(object_val);
+            return fieldVal(sema, block, src, object, field_name, field_name_src);
+        }
+    }
+    const field_ptr = try sema.fieldPtr(block, src, object_ptr, field_name, field_name_src, false);
+    return analyzeLoad(sema, block, src, field_ptr, field_name_src);
+}
+
 fn fieldVal(
     sema: *Sema,
     block: *Block,
diff --git a/src/print_zir.zig b/src/print_zir.zig
index f875aaa552..490bba5c19 100644
--- a/src/print_zir.zig
+++ b/src/print_zir.zig
@@ -450,14 +450,14 @@ const Writer = struct {
 
             .switch_block_err_union => try self.writeSwitchBlockErrUnion(stream, inst),
 
-            .field_val,
+            .field_ptr_load,
             .field_ptr,
             .decl_literal,
             .decl_literal_no_coerce,
             => try self.writePlNodeField(stream, inst),
 
             .field_ptr_named,
-            .field_val_named,
+            .field_ptr_named_load,
             => try self.writePlNodeFieldNamed(stream, inst),
 
             .as_node, .as_shift_operand => try self.writeAs(stream, inst),