diff --git a/src/nvim/normal.c b/src/nvim/normal.c
index d891c74fd2..c1676780d8 100644
--- a/src/nvim/normal.c
+++ b/src/nvim/normal.c
@@ -3657,6 +3657,39 @@ nv_gd (
   }
 }
 
+// Return true if line[offset] is not inside a C-style comment or string, false
+// otherwise.
+static bool is_ident(char_u *line, int offset)
+{
+  bool incomment = false;
+  int instring = 0;
+  int prev = 0;
+
+  for (int i = 0; i < offset && line[i] != NUL; i++) {
+    if (instring != 0) {
+      if (prev != '\\' && line[i] == instring) {
+        instring = 0;
+      }
+    } else if ((line[i] == '"' || line[i] == '\'') && !incomment) {
+      instring = line[i];
+    } else {
+      if (incomment) {
+        if (prev == '*' && line[i] == '/') {
+          incomment = false;
+        }
+      } else if (prev == '/' && line[i] == '*') {
+        incomment = true;
+      } else if (prev == '/' && line[i] == '/') {
+        return false;
+      }
+    }
+
+    prev = line[i];
+  }
+
+  return incomment == false && instring == 0;
+}
+
 /*
  * Search for variable declaration of "ptr[len]".
  * When "locally" is true in the current function ("gd"), otherwise in the
@@ -3683,6 +3716,7 @@ find_decl (
   bool retval = true;
   bool incll;
   int searchflags = flags_arg;
+  bool valid;
 
   pat = xmalloc(len + 7);
 
@@ -3717,6 +3751,7 @@ find_decl (
   /* Search forward for the identifier, ignore comment lines. */
   clearpos(&found_pos);
   for (;; ) {
+    valid = false;
     t = searchit(curwin, curbuf, &curwin->w_cursor, FORWARD,
         pat, 1L, searchflags, RE_LAST, (linenr_T)0, NULL);
     if (curwin->w_cursor.lnum >= old_pos.lnum)
@@ -3747,20 +3782,35 @@ find_decl (
       curwin->w_cursor.col = 0;
       continue;
     }
-    if (!locally)       /* global search: use first match found */
+    valid = is_ident(get_cursor_line_ptr(), curwin->w_cursor.col);
+
+    // If the current position is not a valid identifier and a previous match is
+    // present, favor that one instead.
+    if (!valid && found_pos.lnum != 0) {
+      curwin->w_cursor = found_pos;
       break;
-    if (curwin->w_cursor.lnum >= par_pos.lnum) {
-      /* If we previously found a valid position, use it. */
-      if (found_pos.lnum != 0)
+    }
+    // global search: use first match found
+    if (valid && !locally) {
+      break;
+    }
+    if (valid && curwin->w_cursor.lnum >= par_pos.lnum) {
+      // If we previously found a valid position, use it.
+      if (found_pos.lnum != 0) {
         curwin->w_cursor = found_pos;
+      }
       break;
     }
 
-    // For finding a local variable and the match is before the "{" search
-    // to find a later match.  For K&R style function declarations this
-    // skips the function header without types.  Remove SEARCH_START from
-    // flags to avoid getting stuck at one position.
-    found_pos = curwin->w_cursor;
+    // For finding a local variable and the match is before the "{" or
+    // inside a comment, continue searching.  For K&R style function
+    // declarations this skips the function header without types.
+    if (!valid) {
+      clearpos(&found_pos);
+    } else {
+      found_pos = curwin->w_cursor;
+    }
+    // Remove SEARCH_START from flags to avoid getting stuck at one position.
     searchflags &= ~SEARCH_START;
   }
 
diff --git a/src/nvim/testdir/test_goto.vim b/src/nvim/testdir/test_goto.vim
index b6ac5720c3..909e29e27e 100644
--- a/src/nvim/testdir/test_goto.vim
+++ b/src/nvim/testdir/test_goto.vim
@@ -1,22 +1,277 @@
 " Test commands that jump somewhere.
 
-func Test_geeDEE()
+" Create a new buffer using "lines" and place the cursor on the word after the
+" first occurrence of return and invoke "cmd". The cursor should now be
+" positioned at the given line and col.
+func XTest_goto_decl(cmd, lines, line, col)
   new
-  call setline(1, ["Filename x;", "", "int Filename", "int func() {", "Filename y;"])
-  /y;/
-  normal gD
-  call assert_equal(1, line('.'))
+  call setline(1, a:lines)
+  /return/
+  normal! W
+  execute 'norm! ' . a:cmd
+  call assert_equal(a:line, line('.'))
+  call assert_equal(a:col, col('.'))
   quit!
 endfunc
 
-func Test_gee_dee()
-  new
-  call setline(1, ["int x;", "", "int func(int x)", "{", "  return x;", "}"])
-  /return/
-  normal $hgd
-  call assert_equal(3, line('.'))
-  call assert_equal(14, col('.'))
-  quit!
+func Test_gD()
+  let lines = [
+    \ 'int x;',
+    \ '',
+    \ 'int func(void)',
+    \ '{',
+    \ '  return x;',
+    \ '}',
+    \ ]
+  call XTest_goto_decl('gD', lines, 1, 5)
+endfunc
+
+func Test_gD_too()
+  let lines = [
+	\ 'Filename x;',
+	\ '',
+	\ 'int Filename',
+	\ 'int func() {',
+	\ '  Filename x;',
+	\ '  return x;',
+	\ ]
+  call XTest_goto_decl('gD', lines, 1, 10)
+endfunc
+
+func Test_gD_comment()
+  let lines = [
+    \ '/* int x; */',
+    \ 'int x;',
+    \ '',
+    \ 'int func(void)',
+    \ '{',
+    \ '  return x;',
+    \ '}',
+    \ ]
+  call XTest_goto_decl('gD', lines, 2, 5)
+endfunc
+
+func Test_gD_inline_comment()
+  let lines = [
+    \ 'int y /* , x */;',
+    \ 'int x;',
+    \ '',
+    \ 'int func(void)',
+    \ '{',
+    \ '  return x;',
+    \ '}',
+    \ ]
+  call XTest_goto_decl('gD', lines, 2, 5)
+endfunc
+
+func Test_gD_string()
+  let lines = [
+    \ 'char *s[] = "x";',
+    \ 'int x = 1;',
+    \ '',
+    \ 'int func(void)',
+    \ '{',
+    \ '  return x;',
+    \ '}',
+    \ ]
+  call XTest_goto_decl('gD', lines, 2, 5)
+endfunc
+
+func Test_gD_string_same_line()
+  let lines = [
+    \ 'char *s[] = "x", int x = 1;',
+    \ '',
+    \ 'int func(void)',
+    \ '{',
+    \ '  return x;',
+    \ '}',
+    \ ]
+  call XTest_goto_decl('gD', lines, 1, 22)
+endfunc
+
+func Test_gD_char()
+  let lines = [
+    \ "char c = 'x';",
+    \ 'int x = 1;',
+    \ '',
+    \ 'int func(void)',
+    \ '{',
+    \ '  return x;',
+    \ '}',
+    \ ]
+  call XTest_goto_decl('gD', lines, 2, 5)
+endfunc
+
+func Test_gd()
+  let lines = [
+    \ 'int x;',
+    \ '',
+    \ 'int func(int x)',
+    \ '{',
+    \ '  return x;',
+    \ '}',
+    \ ]
+  call XTest_goto_decl('gd', lines, 3, 14)
+endfunc
+
+func Test_gd_not_local()
+  let lines = [
+    \ 'int func1(void)',
+    \ '{',
+    \ '  return x;',
+    \ '}',
+    \ '',
+    \ 'int func2(int x)',
+    \ '{',
+    \ '  return x;',
+    \ '}',
+    \ ]
+  call XTest_goto_decl('gd', lines, 3, 10)
+endfunc
+
+func Test_gd_kr_style()
+  let lines = [
+    \ 'int func(x)',
+    \ '  int x;',
+    \ '{',
+    \ '  return x;',
+    \ '}',
+    \ ]
+  call XTest_goto_decl('gd', lines, 2, 7)
+endfunc
+
+func Test_gd_missing_braces()
+  let lines = [
+    \ 'def func1(a)',
+    \ '  a + 1',
+    \ 'end',
+    \ '',
+    \ 'a = 1',
+    \ '',
+    \ 'def func2()',
+    \ '  return a',
+    \ 'end',
+    \ ]
+  call XTest_goto_decl('gd', lines, 1, 11)
+endfunc
+
+func Test_gd_comment()
+  let lines = [
+    \ 'int func(void)',
+    \ '{',
+    \ '  /* int x; */',
+    \ '  int x;',
+    \ '  return x;',
+    \ '}',
+    \]
+  call XTest_goto_decl('gd', lines, 4, 7)
+endfunc
+
+func Test_gd_comment_in_string()
+  let lines = [
+    \ 'int func(void)',
+    \ '{',
+    \ '  char *s ="//"; int x;',
+    \ '  int x;',
+    \ '  return x;',
+    \ '}',
+    \]
+  call XTest_goto_decl('gd', lines, 3, 22)
+endfunc
+
+func Test_gd_string_in_comment()
+  set comments=
+  let lines = [
+    \ 'int func(void)',
+    \ '{',
+    \ '  /* " */ int x;',
+    \ '  int x;',
+    \ '  return x;',
+    \ '}',
+    \]
+  call XTest_goto_decl('gd', lines, 3, 15)
+  set comments&
+endfunc
+
+func Test_gd_inline_comment()
+  let lines = [
+    \ 'int func(/* x is an int */ int x)',
+    \ '{',
+    \ '  return x;',
+    \ '}',
+    \ ]
+  call XTest_goto_decl('gd', lines, 1, 32)
+endfunc
+
+func Test_gd_inline_comment_only()
+  let lines = [
+    \ 'int func(void) /* one lonely x */',
+    \ '{',
+    \ '  return x;',
+    \ '}',
+    \ ]
+  call XTest_goto_decl('gd', lines, 3, 10)
+endfunc
+
+func Test_gd_inline_comment_body()
+  let lines = [
+    \ 'int func(void)',
+    \ '{',
+    \ '  int y /* , x */;',
+    \ '',
+    \ '  for (/* int x = 0 */; y < 2; y++);',
+    \ '',
+    \ '  int x = 0;',
+    \ '',
+    \ '  return x;',
+    \ '}',
+  \ ]
+  call XTest_goto_decl('gd', lines, 7, 7)
+endfunc
+
+func Test_gd_trailing_multiline_comment()
+  let lines = [
+    \ 'int func(int x) /* x is an int */',
+    \ '{',
+    \ '  return x;',
+    \ '}',
+    \ ]
+  call XTest_goto_decl('gd', lines, 1, 14)
+endfunc
+
+func Test_gd_trailing_comment()
+  let lines = [
+    \ 'int func(int x) // x is an int',
+    \ '{',
+    \ '  return x;',
+    \ '}',
+    \ ]
+  call XTest_goto_decl('gd', lines, 1, 14)
+endfunc
+
+func Test_gd_string()
+  let lines = [
+    \ 'int func(void)',
+    \ '{',
+    \ '  char *s = "x";',
+    \ '  int x = 1;',
+    \ '',
+    \ '  return x;',
+    \ '}',
+    \ ]
+  call XTest_goto_decl('gd', lines, 4, 7)
+endfunc
+
+func Test_gd_string_only()
+  let lines = [
+    \ 'int func(void)',
+    \ '{',
+    \ '  char *s = "x";',
+    \ '',
+    \ '  return x;',
+    \ '}',
+    \ ]
+  call XTest_goto_decl('gd', lines, 5, 10)
 endfunc
 
 " Check that setting 'cursorline' does not change curswant
diff --git a/src/nvim/version.c b/src/nvim/version.c
index c7b8220776..0bc1655a74 100644
--- a/src/nvim/version.c
+++ b/src/nvim/version.c
@@ -706,7 +706,7 @@ static const int included_patches[] = {
   // 26,
   // 25,
   // 24 NA
-  // 23,
+  23,
   // 22 NA
   // 21,
   // 20,