diff --git a/vlib/v/gen/c/str.v b/vlib/v/gen/c/str.v
index 9183ff5e03..a1a64e6d5f 100644
--- a/vlib/v/gen/c/str.v
+++ b/vlib/v/gen/c/str.v
@@ -126,9 +126,13 @@ fn (mut g Gen) gen_expr_to_string(expr ast.Expr, etype ast.Type) {
 			g.write('}}}))')
 		}
 	} else {
+		is_ptr := typ.is_ptr()
+		is_var_mut := expr.is_auto_deref_var()
 		str_fn_name := g.get_str_fn(typ)
 		g.write('${str_fn_name}(')
-		if expr.is_auto_deref_var() {
+		if str_method_expects_ptr && !is_ptr {
+			g.write('&')
+		} else if (!str_method_expects_ptr && is_ptr && !is_shared) || is_var_mut {
 			g.write('*')
 		}
 		if sym.kind != .function {
diff --git a/vlib/v/tests/inout/printing_reference_alias.out b/vlib/v/tests/inout/printing_reference_alias.out
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..331fd4103f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vlib/v/tests/inout/printing_reference_alias.out
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+Point(Quad{
+    x: 1
+    y: 2
+    z: 3
+    w: 1
+})
diff --git a/vlib/v/tests/inout/printing_reference_alias.vv b/vlib/v/tests/inout/printing_reference_alias.vv
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7adfd79959
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vlib/v/tests/inout/printing_reference_alias.vv
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+struct Quad {
+mut:
+	x f64
+	y f64
+	z f64
+	w f64
+}
+
+type Point = Quad
+type Vector = Quad
+
+fn new_point(x f64, y f64, z f64) &Point {
+	return &Point{x, y, z, 1}
+}
+
+fn new_vector(x f64, y f64, z f64) &Vector {
+	return &Vector{x, y, z, 0}
+}
+
+fn main() {
+	n := new_point(1, 2, 3)
+	println(n)
+}