diff --git a/vlib/v/tests/string_ref_struct_test.v b/vlib/v/tests/string_ref_struct_test.v
index e4eac1bb7a..e41277b4e2 100644
--- a/vlib/v/tests/string_ref_struct_test.v
+++ b/vlib/v/tests/string_ref_struct_test.v
@@ -9,3 +9,9 @@ fn test_string_ref_struct() {
 	println(n.left)
 	assert '$n.left' == '&nil'
 }
+
+fn test_string_ref_struct_with_nil_instead_of_0() {
+	n := Node{123, unsafe { nil }, unsafe { nil }}
+	println(n.left)
+	assert '$n.left' == '&nil'
+}