diff --git a/docs/genqlient.yaml b/docs/genqlient.yaml
index 25aef2e6..f68ff657 100644
--- a/docs/genqlient.yaml
+++ b/docs/genqlient.yaml
@@ -77,6 +77,17 @@ context_type: context.Context
 # without making a query.
 client_getter: "github.com/you/yourpkg.GetClient"
 
+
+# If set, fields with a struct type will default to having
+# the "pointer: true, omitempty: true" flag.
+#
+# This can be useful for struct schema where it would be burdensome
+# to manually set the flags on a large number of fields.
+#
+# Defaults to false.
+use_struct_references: boolean
+
+
 # A map from GraphQL type name to Go fully-qualified type name to override
 # the Go type genqlient will use for this GraphQL type.
 #
diff --git a/generate/config.go b/generate/config.go
index dc88eb55..60fb2c32 100644
--- a/generate/config.go
+++ b/generate/config.go
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ type Config struct {
 	ContextType      string                  `yaml:"context_type"`
 	ClientGetter     string                  `yaml:"client_getter"`
 	Bindings         map[string]*TypeBinding `yaml:"bindings"`
+	StructReferences bool                    `yaml:"use_struct_references"`
 
 	// Set to true to use features that aren't fully ready to use.
 	//
diff --git a/generate/convert.go b/generate/convert.go
index 3841e281..d4a21f1f 100644
--- a/generate/convert.go
+++ b/generate/convert.go
@@ -244,7 +244,15 @@ func (g *generator) convertType(
 	goTyp, err := g.convertDefinition(
 		namePrefix, def, typ.Position, selectionSet, options, queryOptions)
 
-	if options.GetPointer() {
+	if g.getStructReference(def) {
+		if options.Pointer == nil || *options.Pointer {
+			goTyp = &goPointerType{goTyp}
+		}
+		if options.Omitempty == nil || *options.Omitempty {
+			oe := true
+			options.Omitempty = &oe
+		}
+	} else if options.GetPointer() {
 		// Whatever we get, wrap it in a pointer.  (Because of the way the
 		// options work, recursing here isn't as connvenient.)
 		// Note this does []*T or [][]*T, not e.g. *[][]T.  See #16.
@@ -253,6 +261,14 @@ func (g *generator) convertType(
 	return goTyp, err
 }
 
+// getStructReference decides if a field should be of pointer type and have the omitempty flag set.
+func (g *generator) getStructReference(
+	def *ast.Definition,
+) bool {
+	return g.Config.StructReferences &&
+		(def.Kind == ast.Object || def.Kind == ast.InputObject)
+}
+
 // convertDefinition decides the Go type we will generate corresponding to a
 // particular GraphQL named type.
 //
diff --git a/generate/generate_test.go b/generate/generate_test.go
index 8cce225f..f12c31c8 100644
--- a/generate/generate_test.go
+++ b/generate/generate_test.go
@@ -170,6 +170,10 @@ func TestGenerateWithConfig(t *testing.T) {
 			Generated:   "generated.go",
 			ContextType: "github.com/Khan/genqlient/internal/testutil.MyContext",
 		}},
+		{"StructReferences", "", &Config{
+			StructReferences: true,
+			Generated:        "generated-structrefs.go",
+		}},
 		{"NoContext", "", &Config{
 			Generated:   "generated.go",
 			ContextType: "-",
diff --git a/generate/testdata/snapshots/TestGenerateWithConfig-StructReferences-testdata-queries-generated-structrefs.go b/generate/testdata/snapshots/TestGenerateWithConfig-StructReferences-testdata-queries-generated-structrefs.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e22ee660
--- /dev/null
+++ b/generate/testdata/snapshots/TestGenerateWithConfig-StructReferences-testdata-queries-generated-structrefs.go
@@ -0,0 +1,59 @@
+package queries
+
+// Code generated by github.com/Khan/genqlient, DO NOT EDIT.
+
+import (
+	"context"
+
+	"github.com/Khan/genqlient/graphql"
+)
+
+// SimpleQueryResponse is returned by SimpleQuery on success.
+type SimpleQueryResponse struct {
+	// user looks up a user by some stuff.
+	//
+	// See UserQueryInput for what stuff is supported.
+	// If query is null, returns the current user.
+	User *SimpleQueryUser `json:"user"`
+}
+
+// GetUser returns SimpleQueryResponse.User, and is useful for accessing the field via an interface.
+func (v *SimpleQueryResponse) GetUser() *SimpleQueryUser { return v.User }
+
+// SimpleQueryUser includes the requested fields of the GraphQL type User.
+// The GraphQL type's documentation follows.
+//
+// A User is a user!
+type SimpleQueryUser struct {
+	// id is the user's ID.
+	//
+	// It is stable, unique, and opaque, like all good IDs.
+	Id string `json:"id"`
+}
+
+// GetId returns SimpleQueryUser.Id, and is useful for accessing the field via an interface.
+func (v *SimpleQueryUser) GetId() string { return v.Id }
+
+func SimpleQuery(
+	ctx context.Context,
+	client graphql.Client,
+) (*SimpleQueryResponse, error) {
+	var err error
+
+	var retval SimpleQueryResponse
+	err = client.MakeRequest(
+		ctx,
+		"SimpleQuery",
+		`
+query SimpleQuery {
+	user {
+		id
+	}
+}
+`,
+		&retval,
+		nil,
+	)
+	return &retval, err
+}
+