diff --git a/crates/ra_ide_api/src/goto_type_definition.rs b/crates/ra_ide_api/src/goto_type_definition.rs
index de2b9d3c3764..e456ec5d624a 100644
--- a/crates/ra_ide_api/src/goto_type_definition.rs
+++ b/crates/ra_ide_api/src/goto_type_definition.rs
@@ -30,9 +30,9 @@ pub(crate) fn goto_type_definition(
         return None;
     };
 
-    let (adt_def, _) = ty.as_adt()?;
-    let nav = NavigationTarget::from_adt_def(db, adt_def);
+    let adt_def = ty.autoderef(db).find_map(|ty| ty.as_adt().map(|adt| adt.0))?;
 
+    let nav = NavigationTarget::from_adt_def(db, adt_def);
     Some(RangeInfo::new(node.range(), vec![nav]))
 }
 
@@ -63,4 +63,19 @@ mod tests {
             "Foo STRUCT_DEF FileId(1) [0; 11) [7; 10)",
         );
     }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn goto_type_definition_works_simple_ref() {
+        check_goto(
+            "
+            //- /lib.rs
+            struct Foo;
+            fn foo() {
+                let f: &Foo;
+                f<|>
+            }
+            ",
+            "Foo STRUCT_DEF FileId(1) [0; 11) [7; 10)",
+        );
+    }
 }