diff --git a/source/mir/algebraic_alias/ion.d b/source/mir/algebraic_alias/ion.d
index c98e8971..fb3c7853 100644
--- a/source/mir/algebraic_alias/ion.d
+++ b/source/mir/algebraic_alias/ion.d
@@ -173,3 +173,56 @@ unittest
     value = annotated.IonAlgebraic;
     assert(value == annotated);
 }
+
+version (unittest)
+{
+    private import mir.algebraic : Variant;
+    private import mir.annotated : AnnotatedOnce;
+    private alias OnceAnnotatedAlgebraic = Variant!(int, AnnotatedOnce!This);
+}
+
+// Compile this module together with mir.annotated in both source orders.
+// Recursive equality must preserve attributes and compare tags and values.
+unittest
+{
+    import mir.annotated : AnnotatedOnce;
+
+    static foreach (once; [false, true])
+    {{
+        static if (!once)
+        {
+            alias Node = IonAlgebraic;
+            alias W = Annotated!Node;
+            auto a = W(["tag"], 1);
+            auto b = W(["tag"], 1);
+            auto differentTag = W(["other"], 1);
+            auto differentValue = W(["tag"], 2);
+            auto parentA = W(["parent"], a);
+            auto parentB = W(["parent"], b);
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            alias Node = OnceAnnotatedAlgebraic;
+            alias W = AnnotatedOnce!Node;
+            auto a = W("tag", 1);
+            auto b = W("tag", 1);
+            auto differentTag = W("other", 1);
+            auto differentValue = W("tag", 2);
+            auto parentA = W("parent", a);
+            auto parentB = W("parent", b);
+        }
+        static bool equal(scope const ref W lhs, scope const ref W rhs) pure nothrow @nogc
+        {
+            return lhs == rhs;
+        }
+        assert(a == b);
+        const ca = a;
+        assert(ca == b);
+        assert(equal(a, b));
+        assert(!equal(a, differentTag));
+        assert(!equal(a, differentValue));
+        assert(equal(parentA, parentB));
+        parentB.value = differentValue;
+        assert(!equal(parentA, parentB));
+    }}
+}
diff --git a/source/mir/annotated.d b/source/mir/annotated.d
index 7b2d7c81..91271b50 100644
--- a/source/mir/annotated.d
+++ b/source/mir/annotated.d
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ Macros:
 module mir.annotated;
 
 import mir.internal.meta: basicElementType;
+import mir.algebraic: isVariant;
 import mir.serde: serdeRegister, serdeAnnotation, serdeIsDynamicAlgebraic;
 
 static immutable excMsg = "At least one annotation is required to create an annotated value.";
@@ -33,7 +34,6 @@ struct Annotated(T) {
         private enum _alloc_ = true;
     else
     {
-        import mir.algebraic: isVariant;
         static if (isVariant!T)
             private enum _alloc_ = true;
         else
@@ -63,10 +63,23 @@ struct Annotated(T) {
             return *_value;
         }
 
-        ///
-        bool opEquals(scope const Annotated rhs) scope const
+        // Algebraic equality already promises these attributes. State them here
+        // to break recursive attribute inference through annotated alternatives.
+        static if (isVariant!T)
+        {
+            ///
+            bool opEquals(scope const Annotated rhs) scope const pure nothrow @nogc
+            {
+                return annotations == rhs.annotations && value == rhs.value;
+            }
+        }
+        else
         {
-            return annotations == rhs.annotations && value == rhs.value;
+            /// ditto
+            bool opEquals(scope const Annotated rhs) scope const
+            {
+                return annotations == rhs.annotations && value == rhs.value;
+            }
         }
 
         size_t toHash() scope @trusted const pure nothrow @nogc
@@ -186,7 +199,6 @@ struct AnnotatedOnce(T) {
         private enum _alloc_ = true;
     else
     {
-        import mir.algebraic: isVariant;
         static if (isVariant!T)
             private enum _alloc_ = true;
         else
@@ -215,10 +227,23 @@ struct AnnotatedOnce(T) {
             return *_value;
         }
 
-        ///
-        bool opEquals(scope const AnnotatedOnce rhs) scope const
+        // Algebraic equality already promises these attributes. State them here
+        // to break recursive attribute inference through annotated alternatives.
+        static if (isVariant!T)
+        {
+            ///
+            bool opEquals(scope const AnnotatedOnce rhs) scope const pure nothrow @nogc
+            {
+                return annotation == rhs.annotation && value == rhs.value;
+            }
+        }
+        else
         {
-            return annotation == rhs.annotation && value == rhs.value;
+            /// ditto
+            bool opEquals(scope const AnnotatedOnce rhs) scope const
+            {
+                return annotation == rhs.annotation && value == rhs.value;
+            }
         }
     }
     else
@@ -300,3 +325,39 @@ unittest
     assert(ac.annotation == annotation);
     assert(ac.value.x == 5);
 }
+
+// Equality must not acquire attributes that the wrapped value cannot satisfy.
+unittest
+{
+    static struct Effectful
+    {
+        enum _serdeRecursiveAlgebraic = true;
+        int payload;
+        static int comparisons;
+
+        bool opEquals(scope const Effectful rhs) const
+        {
+            ++comparisons;
+            auto copy = new int(payload);
+            if (payload < 0)
+                throw new Exception("negative payload");
+            return *copy == rhs.payload;
+        }
+    }
+    static foreach (once; [false, true])
+    {{
+        static if (once)
+            alias W = AnnotatedOnce!Effectful;
+        else
+            alias W = Annotated!Effectful;
+        static assert(!__traits(compiles, () pure { W a, b; return a == b; }));
+        static assert(!__traits(compiles, () nothrow { W a, b; return a == b; }));
+        static assert(!__traits(compiles, () @nogc { W a, b; return a == b; }));
+        W a, b;
+        a.value = Effectful(1);
+        b.value = Effectful(1);
+        auto before = Effectful.comparisons;
+        assert(a == b);
+        assert(Effectful.comparisons > before);
+    }}
+}