diff --git a/compiler/extensions/cpp/freemarker/Structure.cpp.ftl b/compiler/extensions/cpp/freemarker/Structure.cpp.ftl
index 0ed7a5d8b..56e5eafd1 100644
--- a/compiler/extensions/cpp/freemarker/Structure.cpp.ftl
+++ b/compiler/extensions/cpp/freemarker/Structure.cpp.ftl
@@ -564,16 +564,15 @@ void ${name}::read(::zserio::BitStreamReader& in<#if parameterArgs(true)?has_con
     <#if field.isExtended>
     if (::zserio::alignTo(UINT8_C(8), in.getBitPosition()) < in.getBufferBitSize())
     {
-        <@compound_read_field field, name, 2, false/>        
         ++m_numExtendedFields;
         in.alignTo(UINT32_C(8));
+        <@compound_read_field field, name, 2, false/>        
     }
-    <#if field.typeInfo.isSimple>
     else
     {
-        ${field.cppName} = {};
+        ${field.cppName} = <#if !field.typeInfo.isSimple><@field_member_type_name field/>(</#if><#rt>
+                <#lt><@field_default_constructor_arguments field/><#if !field.typeInfo.isSimple>)</#if>;
     }
-    </#if>
     <#else>
     <@compound_read_field field, name, 1, false/>
     </#if>
@@ -607,16 +606,15 @@ void ${name}::read(${name}::ZserioPackingContext& context, ::zserio::BitStreamRe
     <#if field.isExtended>
     if (::zserio::alignTo(UINT8_C(8), in.getBitPosition()) < in.getBufferBitSize())
     {
-        <@compound_read_field field, name, 2, true/>        
         ++m_numExtendedFields;
         in.alignTo(UINT32_C(8));
+        <@compound_read_field field, name, 2, true/>        
     }
-    <#if field.typeInfo.isSimple>
     else
     {
-        ${field.cppName} = {};
+        ${field.cppName} = <#if !field.typeInfo.isSimple><@field_member_type_name field/>(</#if><#rt>
+                <#lt><@field_default_constructor_arguments field/><#if !field.typeInfo.isSimple>)</#if>;
     }
-    </#if>
     <#else>
     <@compound_read_field field, name, 1, true/>
     </#if>
diff --git a/compiler/extensions/cpp/freemarker/Union.cpp.ftl b/compiler/extensions/cpp/freemarker/Union.cpp.ftl
index 416fe553a..03039f81f 100644
--- a/compiler/extensions/cpp/freemarker/Union.cpp.ftl
+++ b/compiler/extensions/cpp/freemarker/Union.cpp.ftl
@@ -713,7 +713,7 @@ void ${name}::read(${name}::ZserioPackingContext& context, ::zserio::BitStreamRe
     </#if>
     </#list>
     <#if fieldList?has_content>
-    m_choiceTag = static_cast<${name}::ChoiceTag>(/*static_cast<int32_t>*/(in.readVarSize()));
+    m_choiceTag = static_cast<${name}::ChoiceTag>(/*static_cast<int32_t>*/(context.getChoiceTag().read<${choiceTagArrayTraits}>(in)));
 	
 	switch (m_choiceTag)
 	{
diff --git a/compiler/extensions/cpp/src/zserio/extension/cpp/CompoundFieldTemplateData.java b/compiler/extensions/cpp/src/zserio/extension/cpp/CompoundFieldTemplateData.java
index 858d7f749..8c5439cb4 100644
--- a/compiler/extensions/cpp/src/zserio/extension/cpp/CompoundFieldTemplateData.java
+++ b/compiler/extensions/cpp/src/zserio/extension/cpp/CompoundFieldTemplateData.java
@@ -870,14 +870,18 @@ else if (compound != null)
     		}
     		else if (callExpr != null)
     		{
-    			//todo: AnyHolder.emplace
+    			expr = "m_objectChoice.emplace<" + fieldCppTypeName() + ">(";
+    			if (array == null)
+    				expr += "::zserio::NoInit, ";
+    			expr += "allocator)";
+    			expr += "." + callExpr + ";";    			    			
     			
-    			expr = "m_objectChoice.set(" + fieldCppTypeName() + "(";
+    			/*expr = "m_objectChoice.set(" + fieldCppTypeName() + "(";
     			if (array == null)
     				expr += "::zserio::NoInit, ";
     			expr += "allocator));";    			
     			expr += String.format(" m_objectChoice.get<%s>().%s;",
-    					fieldCppTypeName(), callExpr);
+    					fieldCppTypeName(), callExpr);*/
     			return expr;
     		}
     	}