diff --git a/pkg/api/helper.go b/pkg/api/helper.go
index 515778d7be2..fdb86d351f2 100644
--- a/pkg/api/helper.go
+++ b/pkg/api/helper.go
@@ -25,16 +25,74 @@ import (
 var knownTypes = map[string]reflect.Type{}
 
 func init() {
-	types := []interface{}{
-		PodList{}, Pod{}, ReplicationControllerList{},
-		ReplicationController{}, ServiceList{}, Service{},
-	}
+	AddKnownTypes(
+		PodList{}, Pod{},
+		ReplicationControllerList{}, ReplicationController{},
+		ServiceList{}, Service{},
+	)
+}
+
+func AddKnownTypes(types ...interface{}) {
 	for _, obj := range types {
 		t := reflect.TypeOf(obj)
 		knownTypes[t.Name()] = t
 	}
 }
 
+// Encode turns the given api object into an appropriate JSON string.
+// Will return an error if the object doesn't have an embedded JSONBase.
+// Obj may be a pointer to a struct, or a struct. If a struct, a copy
+// will be made so that the object's Kind field can be set. If a pointer,
+// we change the Kind field, marshal, and then set the kind field back to
+// "". Having to keep track of the kind field makes tests very annoying,
+// so the rule is it's set only in wire format (json), not when in native
+// format.
+func Encode(obj interface{}) (data []byte, err error) {
+	obj = checkPtr(obj)
+	fieldToReset, err := prepareEncode(obj)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	data, err = json.Marshal(obj)
+	fieldToReset.SetString("")
+	return
+}
+
+// Just like Encode, but produces indented output.
+func EncodeIndent(obj interface{}) (data []byte, err error) {
+	obj = checkPtr(obj)
+	fieldToReset, err := prepareEncode(obj)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	data, err = json.MarshalIndent(obj, "", "	")
+	fieldToReset.SetString("")
+	return
+}
+
+func checkPtr(obj interface{}) interface{} {
+	v := reflect.ValueOf(obj)
+	if v.Kind() == reflect.Ptr {
+		return obj
+	}
+	v2 := reflect.New(v.Type())
+	v2.Elem().Set(v)
+	return v2.Interface()
+}
+
+func prepareEncode(obj interface{}) (reflect.Value, error) {
+	name, jsonBase, err := nameAndJSONBase(obj)
+	if err != nil {
+		return reflect.Value{}, err
+	}
+	if _, contains := knownTypes[name]; !contains {
+		return reflect.Value{}, fmt.Errorf("struct %v won't be unmarshalable because it's not in knownTypes", name)
+	}
+	kind := jsonBase.FieldByName("Kind")
+	kind.SetString(name)
+	return kind, nil
+}
+
 // Returns the name of the type (sans pointer), and its kind field. Takes pointer-to-struct..
 func nameAndJSONBase(obj interface{}) (string, reflect.Value, error) {
 	v := reflect.ValueOf(obj)
@@ -53,22 +111,6 @@ func nameAndJSONBase(obj interface{}) (string, reflect.Value, error) {
 	return name, jsonBase, nil
 }
 
-// Encode turns the given api object into an appropriate JSON string.
-// Will return an error if the object doesn't have an embedded JSONBase.
-// Obj must be a pointer to a struct. Note, this sets the object's Kind
-// field.
-func Encode(obj interface{}) (data []byte, err error) {
-	name, jsonBase, err := nameAndJSONBase(obj)
-	if err != nil {
-		return nil, err
-	}
-	if _, contains := knownTypes[name]; !contains {
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("struct %v can't be unmarshalled because it's not in knownTypes", name)
-	}
-	jsonBase.FieldByName("Kind").SetString(name)
-	return json.Marshal(obj)
-}
-
 // Decode converts a JSON string back into a pointer to an api object. Deduces the type
 // based upon the Kind field (set by encode).
 func Decode(data []byte) (interface{}, error) {
@@ -88,6 +130,12 @@ func Decode(data []byte) (interface{}, error) {
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
+	_, jsonBase, err := nameAndJSONBase(obj)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	// Don't leave these set. Track type with go's type.
+	jsonBase.FieldByName("Kind").SetString("")
 	return obj, nil
 }
 
@@ -104,10 +152,10 @@ func DecodeInto(data []byte, obj interface{}) error {
 		return err
 	}
 	foundName := jsonBase.FieldByName("Kind").Interface().(string)
-	if foundName == "" {
-		jsonBase.FieldByName("Kind").SetString(name)
-	} else if foundName != name {
+	if foundName != "" && foundName != name {
 		return fmt.Errorf("data had kind %v, but passed object was of type %v", foundName, name)
 	}
+	// Don't leave these set. Track type with go's type.
+	jsonBase.FieldByName("Kind").SetString("")
 	return nil
 }
diff --git a/pkg/api/helper_test.go b/pkg/api/helper_test.go
index 93ed887c6cc..d24083161d8 100644
--- a/pkg/api/helper_test.go
+++ b/pkg/api/helper_test.go
@@ -71,4 +71,34 @@ func TestTypes(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
+func TestNonPtr(t *testing.T) {
+	obj := interface{}(Pod{Labels: map[string]string{"name": "foo"}})
+	data, err := Encode(obj)
+	obj2, err2 := Decode(data)
+	if err != nil || err2 != nil {
+		t.Errorf("Failure: %v %v", err2, err2)
+	}
+	if _, ok := obj2.(*Pod); !ok {
+		t.Errorf("Got wrong type")
+	}
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(obj2, &Pod{Labels: map[string]string{"name": "foo"}}) {
+		t.Errorf("Something changed: %#v", obj2)
+	}
+}
+
+func TestPtr(t *testing.T) {
+	obj := interface{}(&Pod{Labels: map[string]string{"name": "foo"}})
+	data, err := Encode(obj)
+	obj2, err2 := Decode(data)
+	if err != nil || err2 != nil {
+		t.Errorf("Failure: %v %v", err2, err2)
+	}
+	if _, ok := obj2.(*Pod); !ok {
+		t.Errorf("Got wrong type")
+	}
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(obj2, &Pod{Labels: map[string]string{"name": "foo"}}) {
+		t.Errorf("Something changed: %#v", obj2)
+	}
+}
+
 // TODO: test rejection of bad JSON.