diff --git a/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/esc.go b/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/esc.go
index 64ac29e764..dee315d6f0 100644
--- a/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/esc.go
+++ b/src/cmd/compile/internal/gc/esc.go
@@ -1405,11 +1405,13 @@ func (e *EscState) addDereference(n *Node) *Node {
 	e.nodeEscState(ind).Loopdepth = e.nodeEscState(n).Loopdepth
 	ind.Pos = n.Pos
 	t := n.Type
-	if t.IsKind(types.Tptr) {
+	if t.IsKind(types.Tptr) || t.IsSlice() {
 		// This should model our own sloppy use of OIND to encode
-		// decreasing levels of indirection; i.e., "indirecting" an array
-		// might yield the type of an element. To be enhanced...
+		// decreasing levels of indirection; i.e., "indirecting" a slice
+		// yields the type of an element.
 		t = t.Elem()
+	} else if t.IsString() {
+		t = types.Types[TUINT8]
 	}
 	ind.Type = t
 	return ind
diff --git a/test/escape5.go b/test/escape5.go
index d02f735f8f..03283a37f8 100644
--- a/test/escape5.go
+++ b/test/escape5.go
@@ -194,3 +194,37 @@ func (t *T24730) g() { // ERROR "t does not escape"
 		*z = 2
 	}
 }
+
+// Issue 15730: copy causes unnecessary escape
+
+var sink []byte
+var sink2 []int
+var sink3 []*int
+
+func f15730a(args ...interface{}) { // ERROR "args does not escape"
+	for _, arg := range args {
+		switch a := arg.(type) {
+		case string:
+			copy(sink, a)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func f15730b(args ...interface{}) { // ERROR "args does not escape"
+	for _, arg := range args {
+		switch a := arg.(type) {
+		case []int:
+			copy(sink2, a)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func f15730c(args ...interface{}) { // ERROR "leaking param content: args"
+	for _, arg := range args {
+		switch a := arg.(type) {
+		case []*int:
+			// copy pointerful data should cause escape
+			copy(sink3, a)
+		}
+	}
+}