diff --git a/internal/template/groupby.go b/internal/template/groupby.go
index f8eae67d..b7063b93 100644
--- a/internal/template/groupby.go
+++ b/internal/template/groupby.go
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ package template
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
-	"reflect"
 	"strings"
 
 	"github.com/nginx-proxy/docker-gen/internal/context"
@@ -18,7 +17,7 @@ func generalizedGroupBy(funcName string, entries interface{}, getValue func(inte
 
 	groups := make(map[string][]interface{})
 	for i := 0; i < entriesVal.Len(); i++ {
-		v := reflect.Indirect(entriesVal.Index(i)).Interface()
+		v := entriesVal.Index(i).Interface()
 		value, err := getValue(v)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
@@ -73,13 +72,13 @@ func groupByKeys(entries interface{}, key string) ([]string, error) {
 // groupByLabel is the same as groupBy but over a given label
 func groupByLabel(entries interface{}, label string) (map[string][]interface{}, error) {
 	getLabel := func(v interface{}) (interface{}, error) {
-		if container, ok := v.(context.RuntimeContainer); ok {
+		if container, ok := v.(*context.RuntimeContainer); ok {
 			if value, ok := container.Labels[label]; ok {
 				return value, nil
 			}
 			return nil, nil
 		}
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("must pass an array or slice of RuntimeContainer to 'groupByLabel'; received %v", v)
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("must pass an array or slice of *RuntimeContainer to 'groupByLabel'; received %v", v)
 	}
 	return generalizedGroupBy("groupByLabel", entries, getLabel, func(groups map[string][]interface{}, value interface{}, v interface{}) {
 		groups[value.(string)] = append(groups[value.(string)], v)
diff --git a/internal/template/groupby_test.go b/internal/template/groupby_test.go
index 6a2acf6a..628bb7cd 100644
--- a/internal/template/groupby_test.go
+++ b/internal/template/groupby_test.go
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ func TestGroupByExistingKey(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Len(t, groups, 2)
 	assert.Len(t, groups["demo1.localhost"], 2)
 	assert.Len(t, groups["demo2.localhost"], 1)
-	assert.Equal(t, "3", groups["demo2.localhost"][0].(context.RuntimeContainer).ID)
+	assert.Equal(t, "3", groups["demo2.localhost"][0].(*context.RuntimeContainer).ID)
 }
 
 func TestGroupByAfterWhere(t *testing.T) {
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ func TestGroupByAfterWhere(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Len(t, groups, 2)
 	assert.Len(t, groups["demo1.localhost"], 1)
 	assert.Len(t, groups["demo2.localhost"], 1)
-	assert.Equal(t, "3", groups["demo2.localhost"][0].(context.RuntimeContainer).ID)
+	assert.Equal(t, "3", groups["demo2.localhost"][0].(*context.RuntimeContainer).ID)
 }
 
 func TestGroupByKeys(t *testing.T) {
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ func TestGroupByLabel(t *testing.T) {
 	assert.Len(t, groups["one"], 2)
 	assert.Len(t, groups[""], 1)
 	assert.Len(t, groups["two"], 1)
-	assert.Equal(t, "2", groups["two"][0].(context.RuntimeContainer).ID)
+	assert.Equal(t, "2", groups["two"][0].(*context.RuntimeContainer).ID)
 }
 
 func TestGroupByLabelError(t *testing.T) {
@@ -193,13 +193,13 @@ func TestGroupByMulti(t *testing.T) {
 	if len(groups["demo2.localhost"]) != 1 {
 		t.Fatalf("expected 1 got %d", len(groups["demo2.localhost"]))
 	}
-	if groups["demo2.localhost"][0].(context.RuntimeContainer).ID != "3" {
-		t.Fatalf("expected 2 got %s", groups["demo2.localhost"][0].(context.RuntimeContainer).ID)
+	if groups["demo2.localhost"][0].(*context.RuntimeContainer).ID != "3" {
+		t.Fatalf("expected 2 got %s", groups["demo2.localhost"][0].(*context.RuntimeContainer).ID)
 	}
 	if len(groups["demo3.localhost"]) != 1 {
 		t.Fatalf("expect 1 got %d", len(groups["demo3.localhost"]))
 	}
-	if groups["demo3.localhost"][0].(context.RuntimeContainer).ID != "2" {
-		t.Fatalf("expected 2 got %s", groups["demo3.localhost"][0].(context.RuntimeContainer).ID)
+	if groups["demo3.localhost"][0].(*context.RuntimeContainer).ID != "2" {
+		t.Fatalf("expected 2 got %s", groups["demo3.localhost"][0].(*context.RuntimeContainer).ID)
 	}
 }
diff --git a/internal/template/reflect.go b/internal/template/reflect.go
index dfb465bc..e2e16b43 100644
--- a/internal/template/reflect.go
+++ b/internal/template/reflect.go
@@ -2,48 +2,57 @@ package template
 
 import (
 	"log"
+	"math"
 	"reflect"
+	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 )
 
-func stripPrefix(s, prefix string) string {
-	path := s
-	for {
-		if strings.HasPrefix(path, ".") {
-			path = path[1:]
-			continue
-		}
-		break
+func deepGetImpl(v reflect.Value, path []string) interface{} {
+	if !v.IsValid() {
+		log.Printf("invalid value\n")
+		return nil
 	}
-	return path
-}
-
-func deepGet(item interface{}, path string) interface{} {
-	if path == "" {
-		return item
+	if len(path) == 0 {
+		return v.Interface()
 	}
-
-	path = stripPrefix(path, ".")
-	parts := strings.Split(path, ".")
-	itemValue := reflect.ValueOf(item)
-
-	if len(parts) > 0 {
-		switch itemValue.Kind() {
-		case reflect.Struct:
-			fieldValue := itemValue.FieldByName(parts[0])
-			if fieldValue.IsValid() {
-				return deepGet(fieldValue.Interface(), strings.Join(parts[1:], "."))
-			}
-		case reflect.Map:
-			mapValue := itemValue.MapIndex(reflect.ValueOf(parts[0]))
-			if mapValue.IsValid() {
-				return deepGet(mapValue.Interface(), strings.Join(parts[1:], "."))
-			}
-		default:
-			log.Printf("Can't group by %s (value %v, kind %s)\n", path, itemValue, itemValue.Kind())
+	if v.Kind() == reflect.Pointer {
+		v = v.Elem()
+	}
+	if v.Kind() == reflect.Pointer {
+		log.Printf("unable to descend into pointer of a pointer\n")
+		return nil
+	}
+	switch v.Kind() {
+	case reflect.Struct:
+		return deepGetImpl(v.FieldByName(path[0]), path[1:])
+	case reflect.Map:
+		return deepGetImpl(v.MapIndex(reflect.ValueOf(path[0])), path[1:])
+	case reflect.Slice, reflect.Array:
+		iu64, err := strconv.ParseUint(path[0], 10, 64)
+		if err != nil {
+			log.Printf("non-negative decimal number required for array/slice index, got %#v\n", path[0])
+			return nil
+		}
+		if iu64 > math.MaxInt {
+			iu64 = math.MaxInt
+		}
+		i := int(iu64)
+		if i >= v.Len() {
+			log.Printf("index %v out of bounds", i)
+			return nil
 		}
+		return deepGetImpl(v.Index(i), path[1:])
+	default:
+		log.Printf("unable to index by %s (value %v, kind %s)\n", path[0], v, v.Kind())
 		return nil
 	}
+}
 
-	return itemValue.Interface()
+func deepGet(item interface{}, path string) interface{} {
+	var parts []string
+	if path != "" {
+		parts = strings.Split(strings.TrimPrefix(path, "."), ".")
+	}
+	return deepGetImpl(reflect.ValueOf(item), parts)
 }
diff --git a/internal/template/reflect_test.go b/internal/template/reflect_test.go
index 0211c5e9..d8367455 100644
--- a/internal/template/reflect_test.go
+++ b/internal/template/reflect_test.go
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ func TestDeepGetSimpleDotPrefix(t *testing.T) {
 	item := context.RuntimeContainer{
 		ID: "expected",
 	}
-	value := deepGet(item, "...ID")
+	value := deepGet(item, ".ID")
 	assert.IsType(t, "", value)
 
 	assert.Equal(t, "expected", value)
@@ -51,3 +51,45 @@ func TestDeepGetMap(t *testing.T) {
 
 	assert.Equal(t, "value", value)
 }
+
+func TestDeepGet(t *testing.T) {
+	s := struct{ X string }{"foo"}
+	sp := &s
+
+	for _, tc := range []struct {
+		desc string
+		item interface{}
+		path string
+		want interface{}
+	}{
+		{
+			"map key empty string",
+			map[string]map[string]map[string]string{
+				"": map[string]map[string]string{
+					"": map[string]string{
+						"": "foo",
+					},
+				},
+			},
+			"...",
+			"foo",
+		},
+		{"struct", s, "X", "foo"},
+		{"pointer to struct", sp, "X", "foo"},
+		{"double pointer to struct", &sp, ".X", nil},
+		{"slice index", []string{"foo", "bar"}, "1", "bar"},
+		{"slice index out of bounds", []string{}, "0", nil},
+		{"slice index negative", []string{}, "-1", nil},
+		{"slice index nonnumber", []string{}, "foo", nil},
+		{"array index", [2]string{"foo", "bar"}, "1", "bar"},
+		{"array index out of bounds", [1]string{"foo"}, "1", nil},
+		{"array index negative", [1]string{"foo"}, "-1", nil},
+		{"array index nonnumber", [1]string{"foo"}, "foo", nil},
+	} {
+		t.Run(tc.desc, func(t *testing.T) {
+			got := deepGet(tc.item, tc.path)
+			assert.IsType(t, tc.want, got)
+			assert.Equal(t, tc.want, got)
+		})
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/template/sort.go b/internal/template/sort.go
index e27f5658..76689fc4 100644
--- a/internal/template/sort.go
+++ b/internal/template/sort.go
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ func (s *sortableByKey) set(funcName string, entries interface{}) (err error) {
 	}
 	s.data = make([]interface{}, entriesVal.Len())
 	for i := 0; i < entriesVal.Len(); i++ {
-		s.data[i] = reflect.Indirect(entriesVal.Index(i)).Interface()
+		s.data[i] = entriesVal.Index(i).Interface()
 	}
 	return
 }
diff --git a/internal/template/sort_test.go b/internal/template/sort_test.go
index 1a003713..5c7405a1 100644
--- a/internal/template/sort_test.go
+++ b/internal/template/sort_test.go
@@ -49,15 +49,15 @@ func TestSortObjectsByKeysAsc(t *testing.T) {
 
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.Len(t, sorted, 4)
-	assert.Equal(t, "foo.localhost", sorted[0].(context.RuntimeContainer).Env["VIRTUAL_HOST"])
-	assert.Equal(t, "9", sorted[3].(context.RuntimeContainer).ID)
+	assert.Equal(t, "foo.localhost", sorted[0].(*context.RuntimeContainer).Env["VIRTUAL_HOST"])
+	assert.Equal(t, "9", sorted[3].(*context.RuntimeContainer).ID)
 
 	sorted, err = sortObjectsByKeysAsc(sorted, "Env.VIRTUAL_HOST")
 
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.Len(t, sorted, 4)
-	assert.Equal(t, "foo.localhost", sorted[3].(context.RuntimeContainer).Env["VIRTUAL_HOST"])
-	assert.Equal(t, "8", sorted[0].(context.RuntimeContainer).ID)
+	assert.Equal(t, "foo.localhost", sorted[3].(*context.RuntimeContainer).Env["VIRTUAL_HOST"])
+	assert.Equal(t, "8", sorted[0].(*context.RuntimeContainer).ID)
 }
 
 func TestSortObjectsByKeysDesc(t *testing.T) {
@@ -90,13 +90,13 @@ func TestSortObjectsByKeysDesc(t *testing.T) {
 
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.Len(t, sorted, 4)
-	assert.Equal(t, "bar.localhost", sorted[0].(context.RuntimeContainer).Env["VIRTUAL_HOST"])
-	assert.Equal(t, "1", sorted[3].(context.RuntimeContainer).ID)
+	assert.Equal(t, "bar.localhost", sorted[0].(*context.RuntimeContainer).Env["VIRTUAL_HOST"])
+	assert.Equal(t, "1", sorted[3].(*context.RuntimeContainer).ID)
 
 	sorted, err = sortObjectsByKeysDesc(sorted, "Env.VIRTUAL_HOST")
 
 	assert.NoError(t, err)
 	assert.Len(t, sorted, 4)
-	assert.Equal(t, "", sorted[3].(context.RuntimeContainer).Env["VIRTUAL_HOST"])
-	assert.Equal(t, "1", sorted[0].(context.RuntimeContainer).ID)
+	assert.Equal(t, "", sorted[3].(*context.RuntimeContainer).Env["VIRTUAL_HOST"])
+	assert.Equal(t, "1", sorted[0].(*context.RuntimeContainer).ID)
 }
diff --git a/internal/template/template.go b/internal/template/template.go
index 3b8eaf80..b9c71268 100644
--- a/internal/template/template.go
+++ b/internal/template/template.go
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ func getArrayValues(funcName string, entries interface{}) (*reflect.Value, error
 	kind := entriesVal.Kind()
 
 	if kind == reflect.Ptr {
-		entriesVal = reflect.Indirect(entriesVal)
+		entriesVal = entriesVal.Elem()
 		kind = entriesVal.Kind()
 	}
 
diff --git a/internal/template/where.go b/internal/template/where.go
index 2ca6bdd3..ac95fc0f 100644
--- a/internal/template/where.go
+++ b/internal/template/where.go
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ func generalizedWhere(funcName string, entries interface{}, key string, test fun
 
 	selection := make([]interface{}, 0)
 	for i := 0; i < entriesVal.Len(); i++ {
-		v := reflect.Indirect(entriesVal.Index(i)).Interface()
+		v := entriesVal.Index(i).Interface()
 
 		value := deepGet(v, key)
 		if test(value) {