diff --git a/ebean-core/src/main/java/io/ebeaninternal/api/json/SpiJsonReader.java b/ebean-core/src/main/java/io/ebeaninternal/api/json/SpiJsonReader.java
index 4594cbe25..8082e049a 100644
--- a/ebean-core/src/main/java/io/ebeaninternal/api/json/SpiJsonReader.java
+++ b/ebean-core/src/main/java/io/ebeaninternal/api/json/SpiJsonReader.java
@@ -33,4 +33,6 @@ public interface SpiJsonReader {
   void beanVisitor(Object bean, Map<String, Object> unmappedProperties);
 
   Object readValueUsingObjectMapper(Class<?> propertyType) throws IOException;
+
+  boolean isIntercept();
 }
diff --git a/ebean-core/src/main/java/io/ebeaninternal/server/deploy/BeanProperty.java b/ebean-core/src/main/java/io/ebeaninternal/server/deploy/BeanProperty.java
index 7ab4afe3e..243db22ac 100644
--- a/ebean-core/src/main/java/io/ebeaninternal/server/deploy/BeanProperty.java
+++ b/ebean-core/src/main/java/io/ebeaninternal/server/deploy/BeanProperty.java
@@ -1414,7 +1414,11 @@ public class BeanProperty implements ElPropertyValue, Property, STreeProperty {
     JsonToken event = ctx.nextToken();
     if (JsonToken.VALUE_NULL == event) {
       if (jsonDeserialize) {
-        setValue(bean, null);
+        if (ctx.isIntercept()) {
+          setValueIntercept(bean, null);
+        } else {
+          setValue(bean, null);
+        }
       }
     } else {
       // expect to read non-null json value
@@ -1433,7 +1437,11 @@ public class BeanProperty implements ElPropertyValue, Property, STreeProperty {
         }
       }
       if (jsonDeserialize) {
-        setValue(bean, objValue);
+        if (ctx.isIntercept()) {
+          setValueIntercept(bean, objValue);
+        } else {
+          setValue(bean, objValue);
+        }
       }
     }
   }
diff --git a/ebean-core/src/main/java/io/ebeaninternal/server/deploy/BeanPropertyAssocManyJsonHelp.java b/ebean-core/src/main/java/io/ebeaninternal/server/deploy/BeanPropertyAssocManyJsonHelp.java
index f7ff9fe73..ba06352b7 100644
--- a/ebean-core/src/main/java/io/ebeaninternal/server/deploy/BeanPropertyAssocManyJsonHelp.java
+++ b/ebean-core/src/main/java/io/ebeaninternal/server/deploy/BeanPropertyAssocManyJsonHelp.java
@@ -50,7 +50,11 @@ class BeanPropertyAssocManyJsonHelp {
     if (JsonToken.START_ARRAY != event && JsonToken.START_OBJECT != event) {
       throw new JsonParseException(parser, "Unexpected token " + event + " - expecting start array or object");
     }
-    many.setValue(parentBean, many.jsonReadCollection(readJson, parentBean));
+    if (readJson.isIntercept()) {
+      many.setValueIntercept(parentBean, many.jsonReadCollection(readJson, parentBean));
+    } else {
+      many.setValue(parentBean, many.jsonReadCollection(readJson, parentBean));
+    }
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/ebean-core/src/main/java/io/ebeaninternal/server/deploy/BeanPropertyAssocOne.java b/ebean-core/src/main/java/io/ebeaninternal/server/deploy/BeanPropertyAssocOne.java
index e534075f1..a024c1ddb 100644
--- a/ebean-core/src/main/java/io/ebeaninternal/server/deploy/BeanPropertyAssocOne.java
+++ b/ebean-core/src/main/java/io/ebeaninternal/server/deploy/BeanPropertyAssocOne.java
@@ -785,7 +785,11 @@ public class BeanPropertyAssocOne<T> extends BeanPropertyAssoc<T> implements STr
     if (jsonDeserialize && targetDescriptor != null) {
       T target = (T) value(bean);
       T assocBean = targetDescriptor.jsonRead(readJson, name, target);
-      setValue(bean, assocBean);
+      if (readJson.isIntercept()) {
+        setValueIntercept(bean, assocBean);
+      } else {
+        setValue(bean, assocBean);
+      }
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/ebean-core/src/main/java/io/ebeaninternal/server/text/json/DJsonContext.java b/ebean-core/src/main/java/io/ebeaninternal/server/text/json/DJsonContext.java
index 83b04cb6d..c48ead0ca 100644
--- a/ebean-core/src/main/java/io/ebeaninternal/server/text/json/DJsonContext.java
+++ b/ebean-core/src/main/java/io/ebeaninternal/server/text/json/DJsonContext.java
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ public final class DJsonContext implements SpiJsonContext {
 
     BeanDescriptor<T> desc = getDescriptor(cls);
     try {
-      return desc.jsonRead(new ReadJson(desc, parser, options, determineObjectMapper(options)), null, null);
+      return desc.jsonRead(new ReadJson(desc, parser, options, determineObjectMapper(options), false), null, null);
     } catch (IOException e) {
       throw new JsonIOException(e);
     }
@@ -158,10 +158,10 @@ public final class DJsonContext implements SpiJsonContext {
 
   @Override
   public <T> void toBean(T target, JsonParser parser, JsonReadOptions options) throws JsonIOException {
-  
+
     BeanDescriptor<T> desc = (BeanDescriptor<T>) getDescriptor(target.getClass());
     try {
-      desc.jsonRead(new ReadJson(desc, parser, options, determineObjectMapper(options)), null, target);
+      desc.jsonRead(new ReadJson(desc, parser, options, determineObjectMapper(options), target != null), null, target);
     } catch (IOException e) {
       throw new JsonIOException(e);
     }
@@ -171,14 +171,14 @@ public final class DJsonContext implements SpiJsonContext {
   public <T> DJsonBeanReader<T> createBeanReader(Class<T> cls, JsonParser parser, JsonReadOptions options) throws JsonIOException {
 
     BeanDescriptor<T> desc = getDescriptor(cls);
-    return new DJsonBeanReader<>(desc, new ReadJson(desc, parser, options, determineObjectMapper(options)));
+    return new DJsonBeanReader<>(desc, new ReadJson(desc, parser, options, determineObjectMapper(options), false));
   }
 
   @Override
   public <T> DJsonBeanReader<T> createBeanReader(BeanType<T> beanType, JsonParser parser, JsonReadOptions options) throws JsonIOException {
 
     BeanDescriptor<T> desc = (BeanDescriptor<T>) beanType;
-    SpiJsonReader readJson = new ReadJson(desc, parser, options, determineObjectMapper(options));
+    SpiJsonReader readJson = new ReadJson(desc, parser, options, determineObjectMapper(options), false);
     return new DJsonBeanReader<>(desc, readJson);
   }
 
@@ -211,7 +211,7 @@ public final class DJsonContext implements SpiJsonContext {
   public <T> List<T> toList(Class<T> cls, JsonParser src, JsonReadOptions options) throws JsonIOException {
 
     BeanDescriptor<T> desc = getDescriptor(cls);
-    SpiJsonReader readJson = new ReadJson(desc, src, options, determineObjectMapper(options));
+    SpiJsonReader readJson = new ReadJson(desc, src, options, determineObjectMapper(options), false);
     try {
 
       JsonToken currentToken = src.getCurrentToken();
@@ -225,7 +225,7 @@ public final class DJsonContext implements SpiJsonContext {
       List<T> list = new ArrayList<>();
       do {
         // CHECKME: Should we update the list
-        T bean = desc.jsonRead(readJson, null, null); 
+        T bean = desc.jsonRead(readJson, null, null);
         if (bean == null) {
           break;
         } else {
@@ -395,7 +395,7 @@ public final class DJsonContext implements SpiJsonContext {
 
     BeanDescriptor<?> desc = (BeanDescriptor<?>) beanType;
     JsonParser parser = createParser(new StringReader(json));
-    return new ReadJson(desc, parser, null, defaultObjectMapper);
+    return new ReadJson(desc, parser, null, defaultObjectMapper, false);
   }
 
   @Override
diff --git a/ebean-core/src/main/java/io/ebeaninternal/server/text/json/ReadJson.java b/ebean-core/src/main/java/io/ebeaninternal/server/text/json/ReadJson.java
index 7acf4e531..e95066fad 100644
--- a/ebean-core/src/main/java/io/ebeaninternal/server/text/json/ReadJson.java
+++ b/ebean-core/src/main/java/io/ebeaninternal/server/text/json/ReadJson.java
@@ -32,11 +32,12 @@ public final class ReadJson implements SpiJsonReader {
   private final Object objectMapper;
   private final PersistenceContext persistenceContext;
   private final LoadContext loadContext;
+  private final boolean intercept;
 
   /**
    * Construct with parser and readOptions.
    */
-  public ReadJson(BeanDescriptor<?> desc, JsonParser parser, JsonReadOptions readOptions, Object objectMapper) {
+  public ReadJson(BeanDescriptor<?> desc, JsonParser parser, JsonReadOptions readOptions, Object objectMapper, boolean intercept) {
     this.rootDesc = desc;
     this.parser = parser;
     this.objectMapper = objectMapper;
@@ -45,6 +46,7 @@ public final class ReadJson implements SpiJsonReader {
     // only create visitorMap, pathStack if needed ...
     this.visitorMap = (readOptions == null) ? null : readOptions.getVisitorMap();
     this.pathStack = (visitorMap == null && loadContext == null) ? null : new PathStack();
+    this.intercept = intercept;
   }
 
   /**
@@ -58,6 +60,7 @@ public final class ReadJson implements SpiJsonReader {
     this.objectMapper = source.objectMapper;
     this.persistenceContext = source.persistenceContext;
     this.loadContext = source.loadContext;
+    this.intercept = source.intercept;
   }
 
   private LoadContext initLoadContext(BeanDescriptor<?> desc, JsonReadOptions readOptions) {
@@ -203,4 +206,11 @@ public final class ReadJson implements SpiJsonReader {
     return getObjectMapper().readValue(parser, propertyType);
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Do we have to set values via intercept or not.
+   */
+  @Override
+  public boolean isIntercept() {
+    return intercept;
+  }
 }
diff --git a/ebean-test/src/test/java/org/tests/text/json/TestJsonBeanDescriptorParse.java b/ebean-test/src/test/java/org/tests/text/json/TestJsonBeanDescriptorParse.java
index 177611724..bbc918b6c 100644
--- a/ebean-test/src/test/java/org/tests/text/json/TestJsonBeanDescriptorParse.java
+++ b/ebean-test/src/test/java/org/tests/text/json/TestJsonBeanDescriptorParse.java
@@ -1,58 +1,142 @@
 package org.tests.text.json;
 
 import com.fasterxml.jackson.core.JsonParser;
-import io.ebean.xtest.BaseTestCase;
 import io.ebean.BeanState;
 import io.ebean.DB;
+import io.ebean.xtest.BaseTestCase;
 import io.ebeaninternal.api.SpiEbeanServer;
 import io.ebeaninternal.api.json.SpiJsonReader;
 import io.ebeaninternal.server.deploy.BeanDescriptor;
 import io.ebeaninternal.server.text.json.ReadJson;
+import org.junit.jupiter.api.AfterEach;
+import org.junit.jupiter.api.BeforeEach;
 import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
+import org.tests.model.basic.Address;
 import org.tests.model.basic.Customer;
 
 import java.io.IOException;
 import java.io.StringReader;
 import java.util.Set;
 
-import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertEquals;
-import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertTrue;
+import static org.assertj.core.api.Assertions.assertThat;
+import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.*;
 
 public class TestJsonBeanDescriptorParse extends BaseTestCase {
 
-  @Test
-  public void test() throws IOException {
-    SpiEbeanServer server = (SpiEbeanServer) DB.getDefault();
+  @BeforeEach
+  void setup() {
+    Customer customer = new Customer();
+    customer.setName("Hello Roland");
+    customer.setId(234);
+    Address address = new Address();
+    address.setLine1("foo");
+    DB.save(address);
+    customer.setBillingAddress(address);
+    DB.save(customer);
+  }
 
+  @AfterEach
+  void teardown() {
+    DB.delete(Customer.class, 234);
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void testJsonRead() throws IOException {
+    SpiEbeanServer server = (SpiEbeanServer) DB.getDefault();
     BeanDescriptor<Customer> descriptor = server.descriptor(Customer.class);
 
     SpiJsonReader readJson = createRead(server, descriptor);
-
     Customer customer = descriptor.jsonRead(readJson, null, null);
 
     assertEquals(Integer.valueOf(123), customer.getId());
-    assertEquals("Hello rob", customer.getName());
+    assertEquals("Hello Rob", customer.getName());
 
     BeanState beanState = DB.beanState(customer);
     Set<String> loadedProps = beanState.loadedProps();
-
     assertEquals(2, loadedProps.size());
     assertTrue(loadedProps.contains("id"));
     assertTrue(loadedProps.contains("name"));
-    
+    assertThat(beanState.dirtyValues()).isEmpty();
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void testJsonUpdate() throws IOException {
+    Customer customer = DB.find(Customer.class, 234);
+    DB.json().toBean(customer, "{}");
+    assertFalse(DB.beanState(customer).isDirty());
+
+    assertEquals("Hello Roland", customer.getName());
+    DB.json().toBean(customer, "{\"name\":\"Hello Roland\"}");
+    assertFalse(DB.beanState(customer).isDirty());
+
+    DB.json().toBean(customer, "{\"name\":\"Hello Rob\"}");
+    assertEquals("Hello Rob", customer.getName());
+    assertThat(DB.beanState(customer).changedProps()).containsExactly("name");
+    assertTrue(DB.beanState(customer).isDirty());
+    DB.json().toBean(customer, "{\"name\":null}");
+    assertEquals(null, customer.getName());
+
+    assertEquals("foo", customer.getBillingAddress().getLine1());
+    DB.json().toBean(customer, "{\"billingAddress\":{\"line1\":\"foo\"}}");
+    assertFalse(DB.beanState(customer.getBillingAddress()).isDirty());
+    DB.json().toBean(customer, "{\"billingAddress\":{\"line1\":\"bar\"}}");
+    assertEquals("bar", customer.getBillingAddress().getLine1());
+    assertTrue(DB.beanState(customer.getBillingAddress()).isDirty());
+
+    DB.json().toBean(customer, "{\"contacts\":[{\"firstName\":\"Noemi\"},{\"firstName\":\"Roland\"}]}");
+    assertThat(customer.getContacts()).hasSize(2);
+    // must not change contacts
+    DB.json().toBean(customer, "{}");
+    assertThat(customer.getContacts()).hasSize(2);
+    DB.json().toBean(customer, "{\"contacts\":[]}");
+    assertThat(customer.getContacts()).hasSize(0);
+
+
+/*
     customer.setName("Hello Roland");
     customer.setId(234);
+    Address address = new Address();
+    address.setLine1("foo");
+    DB.save(address);
+    customer.setBillingAddress(address);
+    DB.save(customer);
+
+
     readJson = createRead(server, descriptor);
     descriptor.jsonRead(readJson, null, customer);
     assertEquals(Integer.valueOf(123), customer.getId());
-    assertEquals("Hello rob", customer.getName());
+    assertEquals("Hello Rob", customer.getName());
+    assertEquals(123, customer.getId());
+
+
+    // now check, if toJson is routed over intercept for existing models
+    customer = DB.find(Customer.class, 234);
+    DB.json().toBean(customer, "{}");
+    assertFalse(DB.beanState(customer).isDirty());
+
+    assertEquals("Hello Roland", customer.getName());
+    DB.json().toBean(customer, "{\"name\":\"Hello Roland\"}");
+    assertFalse(DB.beanState(customer).isDirty());
+
+
+    DB.json().toBean(customer, "{\"name\":\"Hello Rob\"}");
+    assertEquals("Hello Roland", customer.getName());
+    assertThat(DB.beanState(customer).changedProps()).containsExactly("name");
+    assertTrue(DB.beanState(customer).isDirty());
+    DB.json().toBean(customer, "{\"name\":null}");
+    assertEquals(null, customer.getName());
+
+    assertEquals("foo", customer.getBillingAddress().getLine2());
+    DB.json().toBean(customer, "{\"billingAdress\":{\"line2\":\"foo\"}}");
+    assertEquals("foo", customer.getBillingAddress().getLine2());
+    DB.delete(customer); // cleanup*/
   }
 
   private SpiJsonReader createRead(SpiEbeanServer server, BeanDescriptor<Customer> descriptor) {
-    StringReader reader = new StringReader("{\"id\":123,\"name\":\"Hello rob\"}");
+    StringReader reader = new StringReader("{\"id\":123,\"name\":\"Hello Rob\"}");
     JsonParser parser = server.json().createParser(reader);
 
-    SpiJsonReader readJson = new ReadJson(descriptor, parser, null, null);
+    SpiJsonReader readJson = new ReadJson(descriptor, parser, null, null, false);
     return readJson;
   }