1 files changed, 13 insertions, 5 deletions
diff --git a/encode.go b/encode.go
index fa558b9..2d16891 100644
--- a/encode.go
+++ b/encode.go
@@ -40,8 +40,8 @@ type Encodable interface {
 // lowmemjson/compat/json.Encoder offers those .SetEscapeHTML and
 // .SetIndent methods.
 type Encoder struct {
-	w                *ReEncoder
-	closeAfterEncode bool
+	w      *ReEncoder
+	isRoot bool
 }
 
 // NewEncoder returns a new Encoder that writes to w.
@@ -60,8 +60,8 @@ func NewEncoder(w io.Writer) *Encoder {
 		})
 	}
 	return &Encoder{
-		w:                re,
-		closeAfterEncode: re.par.StackIsEmpty(),
+		w:      re,
+		isRoot: re.par.StackIsEmpty(),
 	}
 }
 
@@ -73,12 +73,20 @@ func NewEncoder(w io.Writer) *Encoder {
 // that, with the exception that in addition to the json.Marshaler
 // interface it also checks for the Encodable interface.
 //
+// Unlike encoding/json.Encoder.Encode, lowmemjson.Encoder.Encode does
+// not buffer its output; if a encode-error is encountered, lowmemjson
+// may write partial output, whereas encodin/json would not have
+// written anything.
+//
 // [documentation for encoding/json.Marshal]: https://pkg.go.dev/encoding/json@go1.18#Marshal
 func (enc *Encoder) Encode(obj any) (err error) {
+	if enc.isRoot {
+		enc.w.par.Reset()
+	}
 	if err := encode(enc.w, reflect.ValueOf(obj), enc.w.BackslashEscape, false, 0, map[any]struct{}{}); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	if enc.closeAfterEncode {
+	if enc.isRoot {
 		return enc.w.Close()
 	}
 	return nil