diff --git a/tests/qapi-schema/qapi-schema-test.json b/tests/qapi-schema/qapi-schema-test.json
index a6be983..8193dc1 100644
--- a/tests/qapi-schema/qapi-schema-test.json
+++ b/tests/qapi-schema/qapi-schema-test.json
@@ -14,11 +14,17 @@
   'base': 'UserDefZero',
   'data': { 'string': 'str', '*enum1': 'EnumOne' } }
 
+{ 'struct': 'UserDefTwoDictDict',
+  'data': { 'userdef': 'UserDefOne', 'string': 'str' } }
+
+{ 'struct': 'UserDefTwoDict',
+  'data': { 'string1': 'str',
+            'dict2': 'UserDefTwoDictDict',
+            '*dict3': 'UserDefTwoDictDict' } }
+
 { 'struct': 'UserDefTwo',
   'data': { 'string0': 'str',
-            'dict1': { 'string1': 'str',
-                       'dict2': { 'userdef': 'UserDefOne', 'string': 'str' },
-                       '*dict3': { 'userdef': 'UserDefOne', 'string': 'str' } } } }
+            'dict1': 'UserDefTwoDict' } }
 
 # for testing unions
 { 'struct': 'UserDefA',
diff --git a/tests/qapi-schema/qapi-schema-test.out b/tests/qapi-schema/qapi-schema-test.out
index 48f8f0e..93c4963 100644
--- a/tests/qapi-schema/qapi-schema-test.out
+++ b/tests/qapi-schema/qapi-schema-test.out
@@ -2,7 +2,9 @@
  OrderedDict([('struct', 'NestedEnumsOne'), ('data', OrderedDict([('enum1', 'EnumOne'), ('*enum2', 'EnumOne'), ('enum3', 'EnumOne'), ('*enum4', 'EnumOne')]))]),
  OrderedDict([('struct', 'UserDefZero'), ('data', OrderedDict([('integer', 'int')]))]),
  OrderedDict([('struct', 'UserDefOne'), ('base', 'UserDefZero'), ('data', OrderedDict([('string', 'str'), ('*enum1', 'EnumOne')]))]),
- OrderedDict([('struct', 'UserDefTwo'), ('data', OrderedDict([('string0', 'str'), ('dict1', OrderedDict([('string1', 'str'), ('dict2', OrderedDict([('userdef', 'UserDefOne'), ('string', 'str')])), ('*dict3', OrderedDict([('userdef', 'UserDefOne'), ('string', 'str')]))]))]))]),
+ OrderedDict([('struct', 'UserDefTwoDictDict'), ('data', OrderedDict([('userdef', 'UserDefOne'), ('string', 'str')]))]),
+ OrderedDict([('struct', 'UserDefTwoDict'), ('data', OrderedDict([('string1', 'str'), ('dict2', 'UserDefTwoDictDict'), ('*dict3', 'UserDefTwoDictDict')]))]),
+ OrderedDict([('struct', 'UserDefTwo'), ('data', OrderedDict([('string0', 'str'), ('dict1', 'UserDefTwoDict')]))]),
  OrderedDict([('struct', 'UserDefA'), ('data', OrderedDict([('boolean', 'bool')]))]),
  OrderedDict([('struct', 'UserDefB'), ('data', OrderedDict([('integer', 'int')]))]),
  OrderedDict([('struct', 'UserDefC'), ('data', OrderedDict([('string1', 'str'), ('string2', 'str')]))]),
@@ -27,7 +29,9 @@
 [OrderedDict([('struct', 'NestedEnumsOne'), ('data', OrderedDict([('enum1', 'EnumOne'), ('*enum2', 'EnumOne'), ('enum3', 'EnumOne'), ('*enum4', 'EnumOne')]))]),
  OrderedDict([('struct', 'UserDefZero'), ('data', OrderedDict([('integer', 'int')]))]),
  OrderedDict([('struct', 'UserDefOne'), ('base', 'UserDefZero'), ('data', OrderedDict([('string', 'str'), ('*enum1', 'EnumOne')]))]),
- OrderedDict([('struct', 'UserDefTwo'), ('data', OrderedDict([('string0', 'str'), ('dict1', OrderedDict([('string1', 'str'), ('dict2', OrderedDict([('userdef', 'UserDefOne'), ('string', 'str')])), ('*dict3', OrderedDict([('userdef', 'UserDefOne'), ('string', 'str')]))]))]))]),
+ OrderedDict([('struct', 'UserDefTwoDictDict'), ('data', OrderedDict([('userdef', 'UserDefOne'), ('string', 'str')]))]),
+ OrderedDict([('struct', 'UserDefTwoDict'), ('data', OrderedDict([('string1', 'str'), ('dict2', 'UserDefTwoDictDict'), ('*dict3', 'UserDefTwoDictDict')]))]),
+ OrderedDict([('struct', 'UserDefTwo'), ('data', OrderedDict([('string0', 'str'), ('dict1', 'UserDefTwoDict')]))]),
  OrderedDict([('struct', 'UserDefA'), ('data', OrderedDict([('boolean', 'bool')]))]),
  OrderedDict([('struct', 'UserDefB'), ('data', OrderedDict([('integer', 'int')]))]),
  OrderedDict([('struct', 'UserDefC'), ('data', OrderedDict([('string1', 'str'), ('string2', 'str')]))]),
diff --git a/tests/test-qmp-commands.c b/tests/test-qmp-commands.c
index 8b50eac..ad2e403 100644
--- a/tests/test-qmp-commands.c
+++ b/tests/test-qmp-commands.c
@@ -33,12 +33,15 @@ UserDefTwo *qmp_user_def_cmd2(UserDefOne *ud1a,
 
     ret = g_new0(UserDefTwo, 1);
     ret->string0 = strdup("blah1");
-    ret->dict1.string1 = strdup("blah2");
-    ret->dict1.dict2.userdef = ud1c;
-    ret->dict1.dict2.string = strdup("blah3");
-    ret->dict1.has_dict3 = true;
-    ret->dict1.dict3.userdef = ud1d;
-    ret->dict1.dict3.string = strdup("blah4");
+    ret->dict1 = g_new0(UserDefTwoDict, 1);
+    ret->dict1->string1 = strdup("blah2");
+    ret->dict1->dict2 = g_new0(UserDefTwoDictDict, 1);
+    ret->dict1->dict2->userdef = ud1c;
+    ret->dict1->dict2->string = strdup("blah3");
+    ret->dict1->dict3 = g_new0(UserDefTwoDictDict, 1);
+    ret->dict1->has_dict3 = true;
+    ret->dict1->dict3->userdef = ud1d;
+    ret->dict1->dict3->string = strdup("blah4");
 
     return ret;
 }
@@ -204,7 +207,7 @@ static void test_dealloc_partial(void)
     assert(ud2 != NULL);
     assert(ud2->string0 != NULL);
     assert(strcmp(ud2->string0, text) == 0);
-    assert(ud2->dict1.dict2.userdef == NULL);
+    assert(ud2->dict1 == NULL);
 
     /* confirm & release construction error */
     assert(err != NULL);
diff --git a/tests/test-qmp-input-visitor.c b/tests/test-qmp-input-visitor.c
index 115fb22..b961953 100644
--- a/tests/test-qmp-input-visitor.c
+++ b/tests/test-qmp-input-visitor.c
@@ -261,13 +261,15 @@ static void test_visitor_in_struct_nested(TestInputVisitorData *data,
     g_assert(!err);
 
     check_and_free_str(udp->string0, "string0");
-    check_and_free_str(udp->dict1.string1, "string1");
-    g_assert_cmpint(udp->dict1.dict2.userdef->base->integer, ==, 42);
-    check_and_free_str(udp->dict1.dict2.userdef->string, "string");
-    check_and_free_str(udp->dict1.dict2.string, "string2");
-    g_assert(udp->dict1.has_dict3 == false);
+    check_and_free_str(udp->dict1->string1, "string1");
+    g_assert_cmpint(udp->dict1->dict2->userdef->base->integer, ==, 42);
+    check_and_free_str(udp->dict1->dict2->userdef->string, "string");
+    check_and_free_str(udp->dict1->dict2->string, "string2");
+    g_assert(udp->dict1->has_dict3 == false);
 
-    g_free(udp->dict1.dict2.userdef);
+    g_free(udp->dict1->dict2->userdef);
+    g_free(udp->dict1->dict2);
+    g_free(udp->dict1);
     g_free(udp);
 }
 
diff --git a/tests/test-qmp-output-visitor.c b/tests/test-qmp-output-visitor.c
index 0584b4d..f8c9367 100644
--- a/tests/test-qmp-output-visitor.c
+++ b/tests/test-qmp-output-visitor.c
@@ -244,19 +244,23 @@ static void test_visitor_out_struct_nested(TestOutputVisitorData *data,
     ud2 = g_malloc0(sizeof(*ud2));
     ud2->string0 = g_strdup(strings[0]);
 
-    ud2->dict1.string1 = g_strdup(strings[1]);
-    ud2->dict1.dict2.userdef = g_new0(UserDefOne, 1);
-    ud2->dict1.dict2.userdef->string = g_strdup(string);
-    ud2->dict1.dict2.userdef->base = g_new0(UserDefZero, 1);
-    ud2->dict1.dict2.userdef->base->integer = value;
-    ud2->dict1.dict2.string = g_strdup(strings[2]);
+    ud2->dict1 = g_malloc0(sizeof(*ud2->dict1));
+    ud2->dict1->string1 = g_strdup(strings[1]);
 
-    ud2->dict1.has_dict3 = true;
-    ud2->dict1.dict3.userdef = g_new0(UserDefOne, 1);
-    ud2->dict1.dict3.userdef->string = g_strdup(string);
-    ud2->dict1.dict3.userdef->base = g_new0(UserDefZero, 1);
-    ud2->dict1.dict3.userdef->base->integer = value;
-    ud2->dict1.dict3.string = g_strdup(strings[3]);
+    ud2->dict1->dict2 = g_malloc0(sizeof(*ud2->dict1->dict2));
+    ud2->dict1->dict2->userdef = g_new0(UserDefOne, 1);
+    ud2->dict1->dict2->userdef->string = g_strdup(string);
+    ud2->dict1->dict2->userdef->base = g_new0(UserDefZero, 1);
+    ud2->dict1->dict2->userdef->base->integer = value;
+    ud2->dict1->dict2->string = g_strdup(strings[2]);
+
+    ud2->dict1->dict3 = g_malloc0(sizeof(*ud2->dict1->dict3));
+    ud2->dict1->has_dict3 = true;
+    ud2->dict1->dict3->userdef = g_new0(UserDefOne, 1);
+    ud2->dict1->dict3->userdef->string = g_strdup(string);
+    ud2->dict1->dict3->userdef->base = g_new0(UserDefZero, 1);
+    ud2->dict1->dict3->userdef->base->integer = value;
+    ud2->dict1->dict3->string = g_strdup(strings[3]);
 
     visit_type_UserDefTwo(data->ov, &ud2, "unused", &err);
     g_assert(!err);
@@ -407,13 +411,15 @@ static void test_visitor_out_list_qapi_free(TestOutputVisitorData *data,
         p->value = g_malloc0(sizeof(*p->value));
 
         p->value->string0 = g_strdup(string);
-        p->value->dict1.string1 = g_strdup(string);
-        p->value->dict1.dict2.userdef = g_new0(UserDefOne, 1);
-        p->value->dict1.dict2.userdef->string = g_strdup(string);
-        p->value->dict1.dict2.userdef->base = g_new0(UserDefZero, 1);
-        p->value->dict1.dict2.userdef->base->integer = 42;
-        p->value->dict1.dict2.string = g_strdup(string);
-        p->value->dict1.has_dict3 = false;
+        p->value->dict1 = g_new0(UserDefTwoDict, 1);
+        p->value->dict1->string1 = g_strdup(string);
+        p->value->dict1->dict2 = g_new0(UserDefTwoDictDict, 1);
+        p->value->dict1->dict2->userdef = g_new0(UserDefOne, 1);
+        p->value->dict1->dict2->userdef->string = g_strdup(string);
+        p->value->dict1->dict2->userdef->base = g_new0(UserDefZero, 1);
+        p->value->dict1->dict2->userdef->base->integer = 42;
+        p->value->dict1->dict2->string = g_strdup(string);
+        p->value->dict1->has_dict3 = false;
 
         p->next = head;
         head = p;
diff --git a/tests/test-visitor-serialization.c b/tests/test-visitor-serialization.c
index 1ccaaa9..fa86cae 100644
--- a/tests/test-visitor-serialization.c
+++ b/tests/test-visitor-serialization.c
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 /*
  * Unit-tests for visitor-based serialization
  *
+ * Copyright (C) 2014-2015 Red Hat, Inc.
  * Copyright IBM, Corp. 2012
  *
  * Authors:
@@ -253,18 +254,21 @@ static UserDefTwo *nested_struct_create(void)
 {
     UserDefTwo *udnp = g_malloc0(sizeof(*udnp));
     udnp->string0 = strdup("test_string0");
-    udnp->dict1.string1 = strdup("test_string1");
-    udnp->dict1.dict2.userdef = g_new0(UserDefOne, 1);
-    udnp->dict1.dict2.userdef->base = g_new0(UserDefZero, 1);
-    udnp->dict1.dict2.userdef->base->integer = 42;
-    udnp->dict1.dict2.userdef->string = strdup("test_string");
-    udnp->dict1.dict2.string = strdup("test_string2");
-    udnp->dict1.has_dict3 = true;
-    udnp->dict1.dict3.userdef = g_new0(UserDefOne, 1);
-    udnp->dict1.dict3.userdef->base = g_new0(UserDefZero, 1);
-    udnp->dict1.dict3.userdef->base->integer = 43;
-    udnp->dict1.dict3.userdef->string = strdup("test_string");
-    udnp->dict1.dict3.string = strdup("test_string3");
+    udnp->dict1 = g_malloc0(sizeof(*udnp->dict1));
+    udnp->dict1->string1 = strdup("test_string1");
+    udnp->dict1->dict2 = g_malloc0(sizeof(*udnp->dict1->dict2));
+    udnp->dict1->dict2->userdef = g_new0(UserDefOne, 1);
+    udnp->dict1->dict2->userdef->base = g_new0(UserDefZero, 1);
+    udnp->dict1->dict2->userdef->base->integer = 42;
+    udnp->dict1->dict2->userdef->string = strdup("test_string");
+    udnp->dict1->dict2->string = strdup("test_string2");
+    udnp->dict1->dict3 = g_malloc0(sizeof(*udnp->dict1->dict3));
+    udnp->dict1->has_dict3 = true;
+    udnp->dict1->dict3->userdef = g_new0(UserDefOne, 1);
+    udnp->dict1->dict3->userdef->base = g_new0(UserDefZero, 1);
+    udnp->dict1->dict3->userdef->base->integer = 43;
+    udnp->dict1->dict3->userdef->string = strdup("test_string");
+    udnp->dict1->dict3->string = strdup("test_string3");
     return udnp;
 }
 
@@ -273,18 +277,20 @@ static void nested_struct_compare(UserDefTwo *udnp1, UserDefTwo *udnp2)
     g_assert(udnp1);
     g_assert(udnp2);
     g_assert_cmpstr(udnp1->string0, ==, udnp2->string0);
-    g_assert_cmpstr(udnp1->dict1.string1, ==, udnp2->dict1.string1);
-    g_assert_cmpint(udnp1->dict1.dict2.userdef->base->integer, ==,
-                    udnp2->dict1.dict2.userdef->base->integer);
-    g_assert_cmpstr(udnp1->dict1.dict2.userdef->string, ==,
-                    udnp2->dict1.dict2.userdef->string);
-    g_assert_cmpstr(udnp1->dict1.dict2.string, ==, udnp2->dict1.dict2.string);
-    g_assert(udnp1->dict1.has_dict3 == udnp2->dict1.has_dict3);
-    g_assert_cmpint(udnp1->dict1.dict3.userdef->base->integer, ==,
-                    udnp2->dict1.dict3.userdef->base->integer);
-    g_assert_cmpstr(udnp1->dict1.dict3.userdef->string, ==,
-                    udnp2->dict1.dict3.userdef->string);
-    g_assert_cmpstr(udnp1->dict1.dict3.string, ==, udnp2->dict1.dict3.string);
+    g_assert_cmpstr(udnp1->dict1->string1, ==, udnp2->dict1->string1);
+    g_assert_cmpint(udnp1->dict1->dict2->userdef->base->integer, ==,
+                    udnp2->dict1->dict2->userdef->base->integer);
+    g_assert_cmpstr(udnp1->dict1->dict2->userdef->string, ==,
+                    udnp2->dict1->dict2->userdef->string);
+    g_assert_cmpstr(udnp1->dict1->dict2->string, ==,
+                    udnp2->dict1->dict2->string);
+    g_assert(udnp1->dict1->has_dict3 == udnp2->dict1->has_dict3);
+    g_assert_cmpint(udnp1->dict1->dict3->userdef->base->integer, ==,
+                    udnp2->dict1->dict3->userdef->base->integer);
+    g_assert_cmpstr(udnp1->dict1->dict3->userdef->string, ==,
+                    udnp2->dict1->dict3->userdef->string);
+    g_assert_cmpstr(udnp1->dict1->dict3->string, ==,
+                    udnp2->dict1->dict3->string);
 }
 
 static void nested_struct_cleanup(UserDefTwo *udnp)
