diff --git a/difference.go b/difference.go
index bafb67a..1a22360 100644
--- a/difference.go
+++ b/difference.go
@@ -9,7 +9,11 @@ import (
 )
 
 // Builds a difference between left and right values.
-func difference(l, r reflect.Value, isProto bool) diff.Diff {
+func difference(l, r reflect.Value, isProto bool, stack walkSet) diff.Diff {
+	if !stack.use(l) {
+		return nil
+	}
+
 	if !l.IsValid() {
 		panic(fmt.Errorf("left is %s", l.String()))
 	}
@@ -69,7 +73,7 @@ func difference(l, r reflect.Value, isProto bool) diff.Diff {
 				continue
 			}
 
-			if v := difference(l.MapIndex(key), rv, isProto); v != nil {
+			if v := difference(l.MapIndex(key), rv, isProto, stack); v != nil {
 				res.Left[key.Interface()] = v
 			}
 		}
@@ -81,7 +85,7 @@ func difference(l, r reflect.Value, isProto bool) diff.Diff {
 				continue
 			}
 
-			if v := difference(lv, r.MapIndex(key), isProto); v != nil {
+			if v := difference(lv, r.MapIndex(key), isProto, stack); v != nil {
 				res.Right[key.Interface()] = v
 			}
 		}
@@ -101,7 +105,7 @@ func difference(l, r reflect.Value, isProto bool) diff.Diff {
 			fl := getField(l, i)
 			fr := getField(r, i)
 
-			if v := difference(fl, fr, isProto); v != nil {
+			if v := difference(fl, fr, isProto, stack); v != nil {
 				res.Fields[l.Type().Field(i).Name] = v
 			}
 		}
@@ -113,7 +117,7 @@ func difference(l, r reflect.Value, isProto bool) diff.Diff {
 		}
 
 		_, isProto = l.Interface().(proto.Message)
-		return difference(l.Elem(), r.Elem(), isProto)
+		return difference(l.Elem(), r.Elem(), isProto, stack)
 
 	default:
 		panic(fmt.Errorf("cannot diff values of %T", l.Interface()))
@@ -162,3 +166,14 @@ func findUncommon(src, known reflect.Value) map[int]diff.Diff {
 
 	return info
 }
+
+type walkSet map[reflect.Value]struct{}
+
+// use adds a new value into the set. Returns false
+// if this value existed before the call and true
+// otherwise.
+func (s walkSet) use(v reflect.Value) bool {
+	_, ok := s[v]
+	s[v] = struct{}{}
+	return !ok
+}
diff --git a/difference_test.go b/difference_test.go
index 4310abe..12457f2 100644
--- a/difference_test.go
+++ b/difference_test.go
@@ -342,7 +342,7 @@ func TestDifference(t *testing.T) {
 							t.Error("panic was expected")
 						}()
 					}
-					got := difference(reflect.ValueOf(ttt.a), reflect.ValueOf(ttt.b), false)
+					got := difference(reflect.ValueOf(ttt.a), reflect.ValueOf(ttt.b), false, walkSet{})
 					if !reflect.DeepEqual(got, ttt.want) {
 						t.Error("want\n", spew.Sdump(ttt.want), "\ngot\n", spew.Sdump(got))
 					}
diff --git a/sidebyside.go b/sidebyside.go
index f432a65..1818977 100644
--- a/sidebyside.go
+++ b/sidebyside.go
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ func linePrefix() string {
 }
 
 func printDiff(p TestPrinter, l, r reflect.Value) {
-	diff := difference(l, r, false)
+	diff := difference(l, r, false, walkSet{})
 
 	lp := newPrinter(true)
 	lp.printValue("", l, diff, false, true, map[uintptr]struct{}{})