diff --git a/crates/plotnik-lib/src/compile/mod.rs b/crates/plotnik-lib/src/compile/mod.rs
index 56717ba7..2f648838 100644
--- a/crates/plotnik-lib/src/compile/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/plotnik-lib/src/compile/mod.rs
@@ -157,13 +157,21 @@ impl<'a> Compiler<'a> {
         self.instructions
             .push(Instruction::Return(ReturnIR { label: return_label }));
 
-        // Check if definition returns a struct type - if so, wrap in Obj/EndObj
-        // This ensures recursive calls properly scope their captures
+        // Check if definition needs Obj/EndObj wrapper.
+        // A definition needs its own scope when:
+        // 1. It returns a struct type, AND
+        // 2. It has direct captures (CapturedExpr not inside a Ref)
+        //
+        // When captures come only from Refs (called definitions), those definitions
+        // already handle their own Obj/EndObj scopes. Adding another wrapper would
+        // create nested scopes where the inner result gets lost.
         let def_returns_struct = self
             .type_ctx
             .get_def_type(def_id)
             .and_then(|tid| self.type_ctx.get_type(tid))
             .is_some_and(|shape| matches!(shape, TypeShape::Struct(_)));
+        let has_direct_captures = !Self::collect_captures(body).is_empty();
+        let needs_obj_wrapper = def_returns_struct && has_direct_captures;
 
         // Definition bodies use StayExact navigation: match at current position only.
         // The caller (alternation, sequence, quantifier, or VM top-level) owns the search.
@@ -171,7 +179,7 @@ impl<'a> Compiler<'a> {
         // alternation branches should try.
         let body_nav = Some(Nav::StayExact);
 
-        let body_entry = if def_returns_struct {
+        let body_entry = if needs_obj_wrapper {
             let type_id = self.type_ctx.get_def_type(def_id).expect("checked above");
 
             // Emit EndObj → Return
diff --git a/crates/plotnik-lib/src/emit/snapshots/plotnik_lib__emit__codegen_tests__quantifiers_sequence_in_called_def.snap b/crates/plotnik-lib/src/emit/snapshots/plotnik_lib__emit__codegen_tests__quantifiers_sequence_in_called_def.snap
index 0a272fde..1b670791 100644
--- a/crates/plotnik-lib/src/emit/snapshots/plotnik_lib__emit__codegen_tests__quantifiers_sequence_in_called_def.snap
+++ b/crates/plotnik-lib/src/emit/snapshots/plotnik_lib__emit__codegen_tests__quantifiers_sequence_in_called_def.snap
@@ -56,29 +56,27 @@ Collect:
   09   ε                                    10
   10   ε   [Obj]                            12
   12   ε   [Arr]                            14
-  14   ε                                    44, 32
+  14   ε                                    40, 28
 
 Test:
   16   ε                                    17
-  17   ε   [Obj]                            19
-  19   !   (parent)                         20
-  20   ▽   (Collect)                        09 : 21
-  21   △                                    22
-  22   ε   [EndObj]                         24
-  24                                        ▶
-  25   ε   [EndObj Push]                    27
-  27   ε                                    50, 32
-  29                                        ▶
-  30   ε   [EndObj]                         29
-  32   ε   [EndArr Set(M3)]                 30
-  34   ε   [Set(M2)]                        25
-  36   !   (Item)                           01 : 34
-  37   ε   [Obj]                            36
-  39   ▷                                    42
-  40   ε                                    39, 32
-  42   ε                                    37, 40
-  44   !                                    42
-  45   ▷                                    48
-  46   ε                                    45, 32
-  48   ε                                    37, 46
-  50   ▷                                    48
+  17   !   (parent)                         18
+  18   ▽   (Collect)                        09 : 19
+  19   △                                    20
+  20                                        ▶
+  21   ε   [EndObj Push]                    23
+  23   ε                                    46, 28
+  25                                        ▶
+  26   ε   [EndObj]                         25
+  28   ε   [EndArr Set(M3)]                 26
+  30   ε   [Set(M2)]                        21
+  32   !   (Item)                           01 : 30
+  33   ε   [Obj]                            32
+  35   ▷                                    38
+  36   ε                                    35, 28
+  38   ε                                    33, 36
+  40   !                                    38
+  41   ▷                                    44
+  42   ε                                    41, 28
+  44   ε                                    33, 42
+  46   ▷                                    44