diff --git a/pgtype/json.go b/pgtype/json.go
index b05aba6b..377a1546 100644
--- a/pgtype/json.go
+++ b/pgtype/json.go
@@ -72,14 +72,20 @@ func (dst *JSON) Get() interface{} {
 func (src *JSON) AssignTo(dst interface{}) error {
 	switch v := dst.(type) {
 	case *string:
-		if src.Status != Present {
-			v = nil
-		} else {
+		if src.Status == Present {
 			*v = string(src.Bytes)
+		} else {
+			return errors.Errorf("cannot assign non-present status to %T", dst)
 		}
 	case **string:
-		*v = new(string)
-		return src.AssignTo(*v)
+		if src.Status == Present {
+			s := string(src.Bytes)
+			*v = &s
+			return nil
+		} else {
+			*v = nil
+			return nil
+		}
 	case *[]byte:
 		if src.Status != Present {
 			*v = nil
diff --git a/pgtype/json_test.go b/pgtype/json_test.go
index 82c02539..38494841 100644
--- a/pgtype/json_test.go
+++ b/pgtype/json_test.go
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ func TestJSONAssignTo(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Errorf("%d: %v", i, err)
 		}
 
-		if *tt.dst == tt.expected {
+		if *tt.dst != tt.expected {
 			t.Errorf("%d: expected %v to assign %v, but result was %v", i, tt.src, tt.expected, *tt.dst)
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/pgtype/jsonb_test.go b/pgtype/jsonb_test.go
index 1a9a3056..ab743151 100644
--- a/pgtype/jsonb_test.go
+++ b/pgtype/jsonb_test.go
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ func TestJSONBAssignTo(t *testing.T) {
 			t.Errorf("%d: %v", i, err)
 		}
 
-		if *tt.dst == tt.expected {
+		if *tt.dst != tt.expected {
 			t.Errorf("%d: expected %v to assign %v, but result was %v", i, tt.src, tt.expected, *tt.dst)
 		}
 	}