diff --git a/src/library/jsonincpp/quality_of_life_2.cpp b/src/library/jsonincpp/quality_of_life_2.cpp
index 3593fce..7e4034d 100644
--- a/src/library/jsonincpp/quality_of_life_2.cpp
+++ b/src/library/jsonincpp/quality_of_life_2.cpp
@@ -9,15 +9,9 @@ namespace json {
         return g();
     }
 
-    JSON & JSON_reference::g() {
-        if (!isDefined())
-            throw misuse("dereferencing json reference with non-empty imaginary part");
-        return last_real;
-    }
-
-    void JSON_reference::operator=(const JSON &obj) {
-        JSON* cur_last_real = &last_real;
-        for (const auto& ck: imaginary_chain) {
+    JSON& patch_up(JSON_reference& ref) {
+        JSON* cur_last_real = &ref.last_real;
+        for (const auto& ck: ref.imaginary_chain) {
             if (ck.type == undefined_array_element) {
                 if (cur_last_real->type == null_symbol)
                     *cur_last_real = JSON(array);
@@ -33,7 +27,15 @@ namespace json {
                 cur_last_real = &(cur_last_real->asDictionary()[ck.when_dictionary_key]);
             }
         }
-        *cur_last_real = obj;
+        return *cur_last_real;
+    }
+
+    JSON & JSON_reference::g() {
+        return patch_up(*this);
+    }
+
+    void JSON_reference::operator=(const JSON &obj) {
+        patch_up(*this) = obj;
     }
 
     JSON_reference JSON_reference::operator[](size_t index) {