diff --git a/benedict/dicts/base/base_dict.py b/benedict/dicts/base/base_dict.py
index 1342e2c..917010c 100644
--- a/benedict/dicts/base/base_dict.py
+++ b/benedict/dicts/base/base_dict.py
@@ -13,106 +13,109 @@ class BaseDict(dict):
         self._dict = None
         super(BaseDict, self).__init__(*args, **kwargs)
 
+    def _is_pointer(self):
+        return self._dict is not self and self._dict is not None
+
     def __contains__(self, key):
-        if self._dict is not None:
+        if self._is_pointer():
             return key in self._dict
         return super(BaseDict, self).__contains__(key)
 
     def __delitem__(self, key):
-        if self._dict is not None:
+        if self._is_pointer():
             del self._dict[key]
             return
         super(BaseDict, self).__delitem__(key)
 
     def __eq__(self, other):
-        if self._dict is not None:
+        if self._is_pointer():
             return self._dict == other
         return super(BaseDict, self).__eq__(other)
 
     def __getitem__(self, key):
-        if self._dict is not None:
+        if self._is_pointer():
             return self._dict[key]
         return super(BaseDict, self).__getitem__(key)
 
     def __iter__(self):
-        if self._dict is not None:
+        if self._is_pointer():
             return iter(self._dict)
         return super(BaseDict, self).__iter__()
 
     def __len__(self):
-        if self._dict is not None:
+        if self._is_pointer():
             return len(self._dict)
         return super(BaseDict, self).__len__()
 
     def __repr__(self):
-        if self._dict is not None:
+        if self._is_pointer():
             return repr(self._dict)
         return super(BaseDict, self).__repr__()
 
     def __setitem__(self, key, value):
-        if self._dict is not None:
+        if self._is_pointer():
             self._dict[key] = value
             return
         super(BaseDict, self).__setitem__(key, value)
 
     def __str__(self):
-        if self._dict is not None:
+        if self._is_pointer():
             return str(self._dict)
         return super(BaseDict, self).__str__()
 
     def __unicode__(self):
-        if self._dict is not None:
+        if self._is_pointer():
             return unicode(self._dict)
         return super(BaseDict, self).__unicode__()
 
     def clear(self):
-        if self._dict is not None:
+        if self._is_pointer():
             self._dict.clear()
             return
         super(BaseDict, self).clear()
 
     def copy(self):
-        if self._dict is not None:
+        if self._is_pointer():
             return self._dict.copy()
         return super(BaseDict, self).copy()
 
     def dict(self):
-        if self._dict is not None:
+        if self._is_pointer():
             return self._dict
         return self
 
     def get(self, key, default=None):
-        if self._dict is not None:
+        if self._is_pointer():
             return self._dict.get(key, default)
         return super(BaseDict, self).get(key, default)
 
     def items(self):
-        if self._dict is not None:
+        if self._is_pointer():
             return self._dict.items()
         return super(BaseDict, self).items()
 
     def keys(self):
-        if self._dict is not None:
+        if self._is_pointer():
             return self._dict.keys()
         return super(BaseDict, self).keys()
 
     def pop(self, key, *args):
-        if self._dict is not None:
+        if self._is_pointer():
             return self._dict.pop(key, *args)
         return super(BaseDict, self).pop(key, *args)
 
     def setdefault(self, key, default=None):
-        if self._dict is not None:
+        if self._is_pointer():
             return self._dict.setdefault(key, default)
         return super(BaseDict, self).setdefault(key, default)
 
     def update(self, other):
-        if self._dict is not None:
+        if self._is_pointer():
             self._dict.update(other)
             return
         super(BaseDict, self).update(other)
 
     def values(self):
-        if self._dict is not None:
+        if self._is_pointer():
             return self._dict.values()
         return super(BaseDict, self).values()
diff --git a/benedict/dicts/io/io_dict.py b/benedict/dicts/io/io_dict.py
index c345959..1967806 100644
--- a/benedict/dicts/io/io_dict.py
+++ b/benedict/dicts/io/io_dict.py
@@ -159,7 +159,7 @@ class IODict(BaseDict):
         """
         kwargs['subformat'] = subformat
         kwargs['encoding'] = encoding
-        return self._encode(self, 'base64', **kwargs)
+        return self._encode(self.dict(), 'base64', **kwargs)
 
     def to_csv(self, key='values', columns=None, columns_row=True, **kwargs):
         """
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ class IODict(BaseDict):
         """
         kwargs['columns'] = columns
         kwargs['columns_row'] = columns_row
-        return self._encode(self[key], 'csv', **kwargs)
+        return self._encode(self.dict()[key], 'csv', **kwargs)
 
     def to_json(self, **kwargs):
         """
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ class IODict(BaseDict):
         Return the encoded string and optionally save it at 'filepath'.
         A ValueError is raised in case of failure.
         """
-        return self._encode(self, 'json', **kwargs)
+        return self._encode(self.dict(), 'json', **kwargs)
 
     def to_pickle(self, **kwargs):
         """
@@ -192,7 +192,7 @@ class IODict(BaseDict):
         Return the encoded string and optionally save it at 'filepath'.
         A ValueError is raised in case of failure.
         """
-        return self._encode(self, 'pickle', **kwargs)
+        return self._encode(self.dict(), 'pickle', **kwargs)
 
     def to_plist(self, **kwargs):
         """
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ class IODict(BaseDict):
         Return the encoded string and optionally save it at 'filepath'.
         A ValueError is raised in case of failure.
         """
-        return self._encode(self, 'plist', **kwargs)
+        return self._encode(self.dict(), 'plist', **kwargs)
 
     def to_query_string(self, **kwargs):
         """
@@ -210,7 +210,7 @@ class IODict(BaseDict):
         Return the encoded string and optionally save it at 'filepath'.
         A ValueError is raised in case of failure.
         """
-        return self._encode(self, 'query_string', **kwargs)
+        return self._encode(self.dict(), 'query_string', **kwargs)
 
     def to_toml(self, **kwargs):
         """
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ class IODict(BaseDict):
         Return the encoded string and optionally save it at 'filepath'.
         A ValueError is raised in case of failure.
         """
-        return self._encode(self, 'toml', **kwargs)
+        return self._encode(self.dict(), 'toml', **kwargs)
 
     def to_xml(self, **kwargs):
         """
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ class IODict(BaseDict):
         Return the encoded string and optionally save it at 'filepath'.
         A ValueError is raised in case of failure.
         """
-        return self._encode(self, 'xml', **kwargs)
+        return self._encode(self.dict(), 'xml', **kwargs)
 
     def to_yaml(self, **kwargs):
         """
@@ -240,4 +240,4 @@ class IODict(BaseDict):
         Return the encoded string and optionally save it at 'filepath'.
         A ValueError is raised in case of failure.
         """
-        return self._encode(self, 'yaml', **kwargs)
+        return self._encode(self.dict(), 'yaml', **kwargs)
diff --git a/tests/github/test_issue_0043.py b/tests/github/test_issue_0043.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..479e758
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/github/test_issue_0043.py
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+# -*- coding: utf-8 -*-
+
+from benedict import benedict
+
+import unittest
+
+
+class github_issue_0043_test_case(unittest.TestCase):
+
+    """
+    https://github.com/fabiocaccamo/python-benedict/issues/43
+
+    To run this specific test:
+    - Run python -m unittest tests.github.test_issue_0043
+    """
+
+    def test_to_yaml(self):
+        b = benedict({"level1": {"level2": "Hello world"}})
+        s = b.to_yaml()
+        r = """level1:
+  level2: Hello world
+"""
+        self.assertEqual(s, r)