diff --git a/compiler/gen_llvm/src/llvm/refcounting.rs b/compiler/gen_llvm/src/llvm/refcounting.rs
index 8a89c924d7..d1d0cc344e 100644
--- a/compiler/gen_llvm/src/llvm/refcounting.rs
+++ b/compiler/gen_llvm/src/llvm/refcounting.rs
@@ -741,27 +741,67 @@ fn modify_refcount_list_help<'a, 'ctx, 'env>(
 
         let (len, ptr) = load_list(env.builder, original_wrapper, ptr_type);
 
-        let loop_fn = |_index, element| {
-            modify_refcount_layout_help(
-                env,
-                parent,
-                layout_ids,
-                mode.to_call_mode(fn_val),
-                when_recursive,
-                element,
-                element_layout,
-            );
-        };
+        let refcount_ptr = PointerToRefcount::from_ptr_to_data(env, ptr);
+        let call_mode = mode_to_call_mode(fn_val, mode);
 
-        incrementing_elem_loop(env, parent, ptr, len, "modify_rc_index", loop_fn);
+        match mode {
+            Mode::Inc => {
+                // inc is cheap; we never recurse
+                refcount_ptr.modify(call_mode, layout, env);
+                builder.build_unconditional_branch(cont_block);
+            }
+
+            Mode::Dec => {
+                let do_recurse_block = env.context.append_basic_block(parent, "do_recurse");
+                let no_recurse_block = env.context.append_basic_block(parent, "no_recurse");
+
+                builder.build_conditional_branch(
+                    refcount_ptr.is_1(env),
+                    do_recurse_block,
+                    no_recurse_block,
+                );
+
+                {
+                    env.builder.position_at_end(no_recurse_block);
+
+                    refcount_ptr.modify(call_mode, layout, env);
+                    builder.build_unconditional_branch(cont_block);
+                }
+
+                {
+                    env.builder.position_at_end(do_recurse_block);
+
+                    let loop_fn = |_index, element| {
+                        modify_refcount_layout_help(
+                            env,
+                            parent,
+                            layout_ids,
+                            mode.to_call_mode(fn_val),
+                            when_recursive,
+                            element,
+                            element_layout,
+                        );
+                    };
+
+                    incrementing_elem_loop(env, parent, ptr, len, "modify_rc_index", loop_fn);
+                    builder.build_unconditional_branch(cont_block);
+                }
+            }
+        }
+    } else {
+        // just increment/decrement the list itself, don't touch the elements
+        let ptr_type = basic_type_from_layout(env, element_layout).ptr_type(AddressSpace::Generic);
+
+        let (_, ptr) = load_list(env.builder, original_wrapper, ptr_type);
+
+        let refcount_ptr = PointerToRefcount::from_ptr_to_data(env, ptr);
+        let call_mode = mode_to_call_mode(fn_val, mode);
+
+        refcount_ptr.modify(call_mode, layout, env);
+
+        builder.build_unconditional_branch(cont_block);
     }
 
-    let refcount_ptr = PointerToRefcount::from_list_wrapper(env, original_wrapper);
-    let call_mode = mode_to_call_mode(fn_val, mode);
-    refcount_ptr.modify(call_mode, layout, env);
-
-    builder.build_unconditional_branch(cont_block);
-
     builder.position_at_end(cont_block);
 
     // this function returns void
diff --git a/examples/benchmarks/platform/host.zig b/examples/benchmarks/platform/host.zig
index aa339ec306..deed8ce10f 100644
--- a/examples/benchmarks/platform/host.zig
+++ b/examples/benchmarks/platform/host.zig
@@ -77,11 +77,11 @@ export fn roc_panic(c_ptr: *c_void, tag_id: u32) callconv(.C) void {
     std.process.exit(0);
 }
 
-export fn roc_memcpy(dst: [*]u8, src: [*]u8, size: usize) callconv(.C) void{
+export fn roc_memcpy(dst: [*]u8, src: [*]u8, size: usize) callconv(.C) void {
     return memcpy(dst, src, size);
 }
 
-export fn roc_memset(dst: [*]u8, value: i32, size: usize) callconv(.C) void{
+export fn roc_memset(dst: [*]u8, value: i32, size: usize) callconv(.C) void {
     return memset(dst, value, size);
 }