diff --git a/include/nlohmann/detail/output/binary_writer.hpp b/include/nlohmann/detail/output/binary_writer.hpp
index 8732e52b4..399c567fa 100644
--- a/include/nlohmann/detail/output/binary_writer.hpp
+++ b/include/nlohmann/detail/output/binary_writer.hpp
@@ -2088,7 +2088,8 @@ class binary_writer
         /// arrays: the first index with one more digit; only maintained by
         /// @ref calc_bson_sizes
         std::uint64_t index_boundary = 10;
-        /// @ref calc_bson_sizes only: where its size goes in the table
+        /// @ref calc_bson_sizes: where its size goes in the table; @ref
+        /// write_bson_document_single_pass: the position of its size field
         std::size_t size_slot;
         /// @ref calc_bson_sizes only: the size of its entries seen so far
         std::size_t entries_size = 0;
@@ -2339,6 +2340,197 @@ class binary_writer
         }
     }
 
+    template<typename SinkType>
+    using sink_written_t = decltype(std::declval<const SinkType&>().written());
+
+    /*!
+    @brief whether BSON documents can be written in a single pass: the sink
+           can overwrite what it has written (output_vector_sink), and every
+           integer fits the 64 bits BSON has, so that writing an array of
+           numbers needs no range check
+    */
+    using bson_single_pass_sink = std::integral_constant < bool,
+          is_detected<sink_written_t, OutputSinkType>::value
+          && std::numeric_limits<typename BasicJsonType::number_integer_t>::is_specialized
+          && std::numeric_limits<typename BasicJsonType::number_integer_t>::digits <= std::numeric_limits<std::int64_t>::digits
+          && std::numeric_limits<typename BasicJsonType::number_unsigned_t>::is_specialized
+          && std::numeric_limits<typename BasicJsonType::number_unsigned_t>::digits <= std::numeric_limits<std::uint64_t>::digits >;
+
+    /// write a placeholder for the size of an object or array whose entries
+    /// follow; @return its position, for @ref patch_bson_size
+    std::size_t write_bson_size_placeholder()
+    {
+        const std::size_t pos = oa.written();
+        write_number<std::int32_t>(0, true);
+        return pos;
+    }
+
+    /// end the object or array whose size is at @a pos and write its size
+    /// there: everything from that field to the terminating null byte
+    /// @return false (and the size is not written) if it does not fit
+    bool close_bson_container(const std::size_t pos)
+    {
+        oa.write_character(to_char_type(0x00));
+        const std::size_t size = oa.written() - pos;
+        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!value_in_range_of<std::int32_t>(size)))
+        {
+            return false;
+        }
+        std::array<CharType, sizeof(std::int32_t)> bytes{};
+        store_little_endian<std::int32_t>(bytes.data(), static_cast<std::int32_t>(size));
+        oa.overwrite(pos, bytes.data(), bytes.size());
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief check the value @a j of a BSON entry as @ref calc_bson_value_size
+           does, for @ref write_bson_document_single_pass
+    @return at least the size of the value
+    A number, boolean, or null needs no check there (its integers have at most
+    64 bits) and has at most 8 characters; a discarded value is rejected with
+    the same exception when it is written.
+    */
+    std::size_t check_bson_value(const BasicJsonType& j)
+    {
+        return (j.is_string() || j.is_binary()) ? calc_bson_value_size(j) : 8;
+    }
+
+    /// whether an entry of @a entry_size characters keeps the document that
+    /// begins at @a start, closed by @a open_containers null bytes, within
+    /// the 32-bit size of BSON
+    bool bson_entry_fits(const std::size_t start, const std::size_t entry_size, const std::size_t open_containers) const noexcept
+    {
+        const std::size_t limit = static_cast<std::size_t>((std::numeric_limits<std::int32_t>::max)());
+        const std::size_t written = oa.written() - start;
+        return written <= limit && entry_size <= limit - written && open_containers <= limit - written - entry_size;
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief Serializes the JSON object @a document as a BSON document in a
+           single pass, writing the size of each object and array once it is
+           complete
+
+    Checks every key and value as @ref calc_bson_sizes does, in the same
+    order, so the same exception is thrown; the output written up to then is
+    discarded with the vector it was written to.
+
+    @return false as soon as the document or a string, binary value, object,
+            or array in it would be larger than the 32-bit BSON sizes allow;
+            nothing large has been written then, and the caller writes the
+            document in two passes, which reports that error
+    */
+    template < typename SinkType = OutputSinkType,
+               typename std::enable_if < is_detected<sink_written_t, SinkType>::value, int >::type = 0 >
+    bool write_bson_document_single_pass(const BasicJsonType& document)
+    {
+        const std::size_t start = oa.written();
+        // the object or array whose entries are being written (with the
+        // position of its size), and the ones it is in
+        bson_frame current(&document, write_bson_size_placeholder());
+        std::vector<bson_frame> parents;
+
+        while (true)
+        {
+            const BasicJsonType* nested = nullptr;
+            std::size_t nested_size_pos = 0;
+            if (current.value->is_object())
+            {
+                const auto& object = *current.value->m_data.m_value.object;
+                while (nested == nullptr && current.member != object.cend())
+                {
+                    const auto& el = *current.member;
+                    ++current.member;
+                    const std::size_t header_size = calc_bson_entry_header_size(el.first, el.second);
+                    const std::size_t value_size = el.second.is_structured() ? 0 : check_bson_value(el.second);
+                    if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!bson_entry_fits(start, header_size + value_size, parents.size() + 1)))
+                    {
+                        return false;
+                    }
+                    if (el.second.is_structured())
+                    {
+                        write_bson_entry_header(el.first, el.second.is_object() ? 0x03 : 0x04);
+                        nested_size_pos = write_bson_size_placeholder();
+                        nested = &el.second;
+                    }
+                    else
+                    {
+                        write_bson_value(el.first, el.second);
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                const auto& array = *current.value->m_data.m_value.array;
+                while (nested == nullptr && current.index < array.size())
+                {
+                    if (is_bson_fixed_size(array[current.index]))
+                    {
+                        write_bson_array_fixed_entries(current);
+                        if (current.index == array.size())
+                        {
+                            break;
+                        }
+                    }
+
+                    // a string, binary value, object or array
+                    const BasicJsonType& el = array[current.index];
+                    const string_t index_name(current.index_name.data(), current.index_name_size);
+                    current.next_index();
+                    const std::size_t value_size = el.is_structured() ? 0 : check_bson_value(el);
+                    if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!bson_entry_fits(start, 2 + index_name.size() + value_size, parents.size() + 1)))
+                    {
+                        return false;
+                    }
+                    if (el.is_structured())
+                    {
+                        write_bson_entry_header(index_name, el.is_object() ? 0x03 : 0x04);
+                        nested_size_pos = write_bson_size_placeholder();
+                        nested = &el;
+                    }
+                    else
+                    {
+                        write_bson_value(index_name, el);
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+
+            if (nested != nullptr)
+            {
+                if (nested->is_array())
+                {
+                    // an array of booleans, numbers and null is written without a frame on the stack
+                    bson_frame leaf(nested, nested_size_pos);
+                    write_bson_array_fixed_entries(leaf);
+                    if (leaf.index == nested->m_data.m_value.array->size())
+                    {
+                        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!close_bson_container(nested_size_pos)))
+                        {
+                            return false;
+                        }
+                        continue;
+                    }
+                    parents.push_back(std::move(current));
+                    current = std::move(leaf);
+                    continue;
+                }
+                parents.push_back(std::move(current));
+                current = bson_frame(nested, nested_size_pos);
+                continue;
+            }
+
+            if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!close_bson_container(current.size_slot)))
+            {
+                return false;
+            }
+            if (parents.empty())
+            {
+                return true;
+            }
+            current = std::move(parents.back());
+            parents.pop_back();
+        }
+    }
+
     /*!
     @brief Serializes the JSON object @a document as a BSON document
 
@@ -2350,6 +2542,39 @@ class binary_writer
     @pre       document.type() == value_t::object
     */
     void write_bson_document(const BasicJsonType& document)
+    {
+        write_bson_document(document, bson_single_pass_sink());
+    }
+
+    /// the sink can overwrite: one pass, unless the error handler replaces or
+    /// drops ill-formed UTF-8, which changes the sizes the checks compute
+    void write_bson_document(const BasicJsonType& document, std::true_type /*single_pass*/)
+    {
+        const std::size_t start = oa.written();
+        if ((error_handler == error_handler_t::keep || error_handler == error_handler_t::strict)
+                && write_bson_document_single_pass(document))
+        {
+            return;
+        }
+        // a length does not fit: start over, so that it is reported as the
+        // two passes report it, before anything is written
+        oa.rewind(start);
+        write_bson_document_two_pass(document);
+    }
+
+    void write_bson_document(const BasicJsonType& document, std::false_type /*single_pass*/)
+    {
+        write_bson_document_two_pass(document);
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief Serializes the JSON object @a document as a BSON document: the
+           sizes of all objects and arrays first, then the entries
+
+    @param[in] document  the JSON object to serialize
+    @pre       document.type() == value_t::object
+    */
+    void write_bson_document_two_pass(const BasicJsonType& document)
     {
         std::vector<std::size_t> nested_sizes;
         const std::size_t document_size = calc_bson_sizes(document, nested_sizes);
diff --git a/include/nlohmann/detail/output/output_adapters.hpp b/include/nlohmann/detail/output/output_adapters.hpp
index e40d98548..5858c2667 100644
--- a/include/nlohmann/detail/output/output_adapters.hpp
+++ b/include/nlohmann/detail/output/output_adapters.hpp
@@ -227,6 +227,29 @@ class output_vector_sink
     void flush() noexcept
     {}
 
+    /// the number of characters written so far, the position of the next one
+    std::size_t written() const noexcept
+    {
+        return position();
+    }
+
+    /// @brief replace @a length characters written before, from position @a pos
+    ///
+    /// Lets a writer put a length in front of data it has written since, such
+    /// as the size of a BSON document, without computing it in advance.
+    void overwrite(const std::size_t pos, const CharType* s, const std::size_t length) noexcept
+    {
+        JSON_ASSERT(pos + length <= position());
+        std::memcpy(v->data() + pos, s, length * sizeof(CharType));
+    }
+
+    /// drop the characters written from position @a pos on
+    void rewind(const std::size_t pos) noexcept
+    {
+        JSON_ASSERT(pos <= position());
+        cursor = v->data() + pos;
+    }
+
   private:
     /// number of characters of *v written so far
     std::size_t position() const noexcept
diff --git a/single_include/nlohmann/json.hpp b/single_include/nlohmann/json.hpp
index 10b42dac1..457129749 100644
--- a/single_include/nlohmann/json.hpp
+++ b/single_include/nlohmann/json.hpp
@@ -26870,6 +26870,29 @@ class output_vector_sink
     void flush() noexcept
     {}
 
+    /// the number of characters written so far, the position of the next one
+    std::size_t written() const noexcept
+    {
+        return position();
+    }
+
+    /// @brief replace @a length characters written before, from position @a pos
+    ///
+    /// Lets a writer put a length in front of data it has written since, such
+    /// as the size of a BSON document, without computing it in advance.
+    void overwrite(const std::size_t pos, const CharType* s, const std::size_t length) noexcept
+    {
+        JSON_ASSERT(pos + length <= position());
+        std::memcpy(v->data() + pos, s, length * sizeof(CharType));
+    }
+
+    /// drop the characters written from position @a pos on
+    void rewind(const std::size_t pos) noexcept
+    {
+        JSON_ASSERT(pos <= position());
+        cursor = v->data() + pos;
+    }
+
   private:
     /// number of characters of *v written so far
     std::size_t position() const noexcept
@@ -29314,7 +29337,8 @@ class binary_writer
         /// arrays: the first index with one more digit; only maintained by
         /// @ref calc_bson_sizes
         std::uint64_t index_boundary = 10;
-        /// @ref calc_bson_sizes only: where its size goes in the table
+        /// @ref calc_bson_sizes: where its size goes in the table; @ref
+        /// write_bson_document_single_pass: the position of its size field
         std::size_t size_slot;
         /// @ref calc_bson_sizes only: the size of its entries seen so far
         std::size_t entries_size = 0;
@@ -29565,6 +29589,197 @@ class binary_writer
         }
     }
 
+    template<typename SinkType>
+    using sink_written_t = decltype(std::declval<const SinkType&>().written());
+
+    /*!
+    @brief whether BSON documents can be written in a single pass: the sink
+           can overwrite what it has written (output_vector_sink), and every
+           integer fits the 64 bits BSON has, so that writing an array of
+           numbers needs no range check
+    */
+    using bson_single_pass_sink = std::integral_constant < bool,
+          is_detected<sink_written_t, OutputSinkType>::value
+          && std::numeric_limits<typename BasicJsonType::number_integer_t>::is_specialized
+          && std::numeric_limits<typename BasicJsonType::number_integer_t>::digits <= std::numeric_limits<std::int64_t>::digits
+          && std::numeric_limits<typename BasicJsonType::number_unsigned_t>::is_specialized
+          && std::numeric_limits<typename BasicJsonType::number_unsigned_t>::digits <= std::numeric_limits<std::uint64_t>::digits >;
+
+    /// write a placeholder for the size of an object or array whose entries
+    /// follow; @return its position, for @ref patch_bson_size
+    std::size_t write_bson_size_placeholder()
+    {
+        const std::size_t pos = oa.written();
+        write_number<std::int32_t>(0, true);
+        return pos;
+    }
+
+    /// end the object or array whose size is at @a pos and write its size
+    /// there: everything from that field to the terminating null byte
+    /// @return false (and the size is not written) if it does not fit
+    bool close_bson_container(const std::size_t pos)
+    {
+        oa.write_character(to_char_type(0x00));
+        const std::size_t size = oa.written() - pos;
+        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!value_in_range_of<std::int32_t>(size)))
+        {
+            return false;
+        }
+        std::array<CharType, sizeof(std::int32_t)> bytes{};
+        store_little_endian<std::int32_t>(bytes.data(), static_cast<std::int32_t>(size));
+        oa.overwrite(pos, bytes.data(), bytes.size());
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief check the value @a j of a BSON entry as @ref calc_bson_value_size
+           does, for @ref write_bson_document_single_pass
+    @return at least the size of the value
+    A number, boolean, or null needs no check there (its integers have at most
+    64 bits) and has at most 8 characters; a discarded value is rejected with
+    the same exception when it is written.
+    */
+    std::size_t check_bson_value(const BasicJsonType& j)
+    {
+        return (j.is_string() || j.is_binary()) ? calc_bson_value_size(j) : 8;
+    }
+
+    /// whether an entry of @a entry_size characters keeps the document that
+    /// begins at @a start, closed by @a open_containers null bytes, within
+    /// the 32-bit size of BSON
+    bool bson_entry_fits(const std::size_t start, const std::size_t entry_size, const std::size_t open_containers) const noexcept
+    {
+        const std::size_t limit = static_cast<std::size_t>((std::numeric_limits<std::int32_t>::max)());
+        const std::size_t written = oa.written() - start;
+        return written <= limit && entry_size <= limit - written && open_containers <= limit - written - entry_size;
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief Serializes the JSON object @a document as a BSON document in a
+           single pass, writing the size of each object and array once it is
+           complete
+
+    Checks every key and value as @ref calc_bson_sizes does, in the same
+    order, so the same exception is thrown; the output written up to then is
+    discarded with the vector it was written to.
+
+    @return false as soon as the document or a string, binary value, object,
+            or array in it would be larger than the 32-bit BSON sizes allow;
+            nothing large has been written then, and the caller writes the
+            document in two passes, which reports that error
+    */
+    template < typename SinkType = OutputSinkType,
+               typename std::enable_if < is_detected<sink_written_t, SinkType>::value, int >::type = 0 >
+    bool write_bson_document_single_pass(const BasicJsonType& document)
+    {
+        const std::size_t start = oa.written();
+        // the object or array whose entries are being written (with the
+        // position of its size), and the ones it is in
+        bson_frame current(&document, write_bson_size_placeholder());
+        std::vector<bson_frame> parents;
+
+        while (true)
+        {
+            const BasicJsonType* nested = nullptr;
+            std::size_t nested_size_pos = 0;
+            if (current.value->is_object())
+            {
+                const auto& object = *current.value->m_data.m_value.object;
+                while (nested == nullptr && current.member != object.cend())
+                {
+                    const auto& el = *current.member;
+                    ++current.member;
+                    const std::size_t header_size = calc_bson_entry_header_size(el.first, el.second);
+                    const std::size_t value_size = el.second.is_structured() ? 0 : check_bson_value(el.second);
+                    if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!bson_entry_fits(start, header_size + value_size, parents.size() + 1)))
+                    {
+                        return false;
+                    }
+                    if (el.second.is_structured())
+                    {
+                        write_bson_entry_header(el.first, el.second.is_object() ? 0x03 : 0x04);
+                        nested_size_pos = write_bson_size_placeholder();
+                        nested = &el.second;
+                    }
+                    else
+                    {
+                        write_bson_value(el.first, el.second);
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+            else
+            {
+                const auto& array = *current.value->m_data.m_value.array;
+                while (nested == nullptr && current.index < array.size())
+                {
+                    if (is_bson_fixed_size(array[current.index]))
+                    {
+                        write_bson_array_fixed_entries(current);
+                        if (current.index == array.size())
+                        {
+                            break;
+                        }
+                    }
+
+                    // a string, binary value, object or array
+                    const BasicJsonType& el = array[current.index];
+                    const string_t index_name(current.index_name.data(), current.index_name_size);
+                    current.next_index();
+                    const std::size_t value_size = el.is_structured() ? 0 : check_bson_value(el);
+                    if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!bson_entry_fits(start, 2 + index_name.size() + value_size, parents.size() + 1)))
+                    {
+                        return false;
+                    }
+                    if (el.is_structured())
+                    {
+                        write_bson_entry_header(index_name, el.is_object() ? 0x03 : 0x04);
+                        nested_size_pos = write_bson_size_placeholder();
+                        nested = &el;
+                    }
+                    else
+                    {
+                        write_bson_value(index_name, el);
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+
+            if (nested != nullptr)
+            {
+                if (nested->is_array())
+                {
+                    // an array of booleans, numbers and null is written without a frame on the stack
+                    bson_frame leaf(nested, nested_size_pos);
+                    write_bson_array_fixed_entries(leaf);
+                    if (leaf.index == nested->m_data.m_value.array->size())
+                    {
+                        if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!close_bson_container(nested_size_pos)))
+                        {
+                            return false;
+                        }
+                        continue;
+                    }
+                    parents.push_back(std::move(current));
+                    current = std::move(leaf);
+                    continue;
+                }
+                parents.push_back(std::move(current));
+                current = bson_frame(nested, nested_size_pos);
+                continue;
+            }
+
+            if (JSON_HEDLEY_UNLIKELY(!close_bson_container(current.size_slot)))
+            {
+                return false;
+            }
+            if (parents.empty())
+            {
+                return true;
+            }
+            current = std::move(parents.back());
+            parents.pop_back();
+        }
+    }
+
     /*!
     @brief Serializes the JSON object @a document as a BSON document
 
@@ -29576,6 +29791,39 @@ class binary_writer
     @pre       document.type() == value_t::object
     */
     void write_bson_document(const BasicJsonType& document)
+    {
+        write_bson_document(document, bson_single_pass_sink());
+    }
+
+    /// the sink can overwrite: one pass, unless the error handler replaces or
+    /// drops ill-formed UTF-8, which changes the sizes the checks compute
+    void write_bson_document(const BasicJsonType& document, std::true_type /*single_pass*/)
+    {
+        const std::size_t start = oa.written();
+        if ((error_handler == error_handler_t::keep || error_handler == error_handler_t::strict)
+                && write_bson_document_single_pass(document))
+        {
+            return;
+        }
+        // a length does not fit: start over, so that it is reported as the
+        // two passes report it, before anything is written
+        oa.rewind(start);
+        write_bson_document_two_pass(document);
+    }
+
+    void write_bson_document(const BasicJsonType& document, std::false_type /*single_pass*/)
+    {
+        write_bson_document_two_pass(document);
+    }
+
+    /*!
+    @brief Serializes the JSON object @a document as a BSON document: the
+           sizes of all objects and arrays first, then the entries
+
+    @param[in] document  the JSON object to serialize
+    @pre       document.type() == value_t::object
+    */
+    void write_bson_document_two_pass(const BasicJsonType& document)
     {
         std::vector<std::size_t> nested_sizes;
         const std::size_t document_size = calc_bson_sizes(document, nested_sizes);
diff --git a/tests/src/unit-bson.cpp b/tests/src/unit-bson.cpp
index 8e2d00cbf..3d1482d5e 100644
--- a/tests/src/unit-bson.cpp
+++ b/tests/src/unit-bson.cpp
@@ -2267,3 +2267,132 @@ TEST_CASE("BSON large strings and binaries (chunked reader)")
         }
     }
 }
+
+TEST_CASE("BSON written in one pass and in two passes")
+{
+    // to_bson() into a returned vector writes each size once the object or
+    // array is complete; through an output adapter, all sizes are computed
+    // first. Both must produce the same bytes and throw the same exceptions.
+    const auto two_pass = [](const json & j, const json::error_handler_t handler)
+    {
+        std::vector<std::uint8_t> result;
+        json::to_bson(j, result, handler);
+        return result;
+    };
+
+    const auto check_same = [&](const json & j, const json::error_handler_t handler)
+    {
+        CAPTURE(j.dump(-1, ' ', true, json::error_handler_t::replace))
+        CAPTURE(static_cast<int>(handler))
+#if !defined(JSON_NOEXCEPTION)
+        std::string one_pass_error;
+        std::string two_pass_error;
+        std::vector<std::uint8_t> one;
+        std::vector<std::uint8_t> two;
+        try
+        {
+            one = json::to_bson(j, handler);
+        }
+        catch (const json::exception& e)
+        {
+            one_pass_error = e.what();
+        }
+        try
+        {
+            two = two_pass(j, handler);
+        }
+        catch (const json::exception& e)
+        {
+            two_pass_error = e.what();
+        }
+        CHECK(one_pass_error == two_pass_error);
+        CHECK(one == two);
+#else
+        CHECK(json::to_bson(j, handler) == two_pass(j, handler));
+#endif
+    };
+
+    const json::error_handler_t handlers[] = {json::error_handler_t::keep, json::error_handler_t::strict,
+                                              json::error_handler_t::replace, json::error_handler_t::ignore
+                                             };
+
+    SECTION("corpus")
+    {
+        for (const auto& value : utils::round_trip_corpus::values())
+        {
+            const json document = value.is_object() ? value : json{{"value", value}};
+            for (const auto handler : handlers)
+            {
+                check_same(document, handler);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    SECTION("nesting and arrays of every length class")
+    {
+        json document = json::object();
+        document["empty object"] = json::object();
+        document["empty array"] = json::array();
+        for (const std::size_t n :
+                {
+                    std::size_t(1), std::size_t(9), std::size_t(10), std::size_t(11), std::size_t(99), std::size_t(100), std::size_t(101), std::size_t(1000)
+                })
+        {
+            json numbers = json::array();
+            json mixed = json::array();
+            for (std::size_t i = 0; i < n; ++i)
+            {
+                numbers.push_back(i % 3 == 0 ? json(static_cast<double>(i) / 3) : json(static_cast<std::int64_t>(i) * 1000003));
+                mixed.push_back(i % 4 == 0 ? json("s" + std::to_string(i)) : i % 4 == 1 ? json::array({i, json::object({{"k", i}})}) : i % 4 == 2 ? json(nullptr) : json(i % 2 == 0));
+            }
+            document["numbers " + std::to_string(n)] = numbers;
+            document["mixed " + std::to_string(n)] = mixed;
+            document["nested " + std::to_string(n)] = json::object({{"a", numbers}, {"b", json::array({mixed, json::object()})}});
+        }
+        document["binary"] = json::binary({1, 2, 3}, 0x80);
+        document["binary old"] = json::binary({1, 2, 3}, 0x02);
+        for (const auto handler : handlers)
+        {
+            check_same(document, handler);
+        }
+    }
+
+    SECTION("errors at every position")
+    {
+        // an entry that cannot be written, at each place among valid ones
+        const std::string bad_utf8 = "\xC3\x28";
+        const json bad_entries[] =
+        {
+            json::object({{std::string("a\0b", 3), 1}}),
+            json::object({{"s", bad_utf8}}),
+            json::object({{bad_utf8, 1}}),
+            json::array({1, 2, bad_utf8}),
+            json::object({{"b", json::binary({1}, 0x100)}}),
+            json::object({{"d", json(json::value_t::discarded)}}),
+            json::array({json(json::value_t::discarded)}),
+        };
+        for (const auto& bad : bad_entries)
+        {
+            for (std::size_t pos = 0; pos < 4; ++pos)
+            {
+                json document = json::object();
+                json list = json::array();
+                for (std::size_t i = 0; i < 4; ++i)
+                {
+                    if (i == pos)
+                    {
+                        document["x" + std::to_string(i)] = bad;
+                        list.push_back(bad);
+                    }
+                    document["n" + std::to_string(i)] = json::array({i, "str", json::object({{"k", i}})});
+                    list.push_back(i);
+                }
+                document["list"] = list;
+                for (const auto handler : handlers)
+                {
+                    check_same(document, handler);
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}