diff --git a/src/main/java/org/codehaus/groovy/classgen/asm/sc/StaticInvocationWriter.java b/src/main/java/org/codehaus/groovy/classgen/asm/sc/StaticInvocationWriter.java
index 47a45f2f04f..3affc58248a 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/codehaus/groovy/classgen/asm/sc/StaticInvocationWriter.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/codehaus/groovy/classgen/asm/sc/StaticInvocationWriter.java
@@ -721,7 +721,8 @@ private boolean tryImplicitReceiver(final Expression origin, final Expression me
 
                 rewritten.putNodeMetaData(StaticTypesMarker.INFERRED_TYPE, origin.getNodeMetaData(StaticTypesMarker.INFERRED_TYPE));
             } else {
-                makeCall(origin, pexp, message, arguments, adapter, safe, spreadSafe, false);
+                // the receiver is no longer this, so a call without a target must not be made on the current object
+                makeCall(origin, pexp, message, arguments, adapter == invokeMethodOnCurrent ? invokeMethod : adapter, safe, spreadSafe, false);
             }
             return true;
         }
diff --git a/src/test/groovy/groovy/transform/stc/ClosuresSTCTest.groovy b/src/test/groovy/groovy/transform/stc/ClosuresSTCTest.groovy
index df0c8d37c8e..3dafc45efd3 100644
--- a/src/test/groovy/groovy/transform/stc/ClosuresSTCTest.groovy
+++ b/src/test/groovy/groovy/transform/stc/ClosuresSTCTest.groovy
@@ -1444,6 +1444,24 @@ class ClosuresSTCTest extends StaticTypeCheckingTestCase {
         '''
     }
 
+    // GROOVY-12581
+    @Test
+    void testClosureDelegateInInstanceInitializer() {
+        assertScript '''
+            class C {
+                List<String> log = [];
+                {
+                    log << new StringBuilder('a').with { append('b') }.toString()
+                    log << new ArrayList<String>().tap { add('c') }.toString()
+                    log << new ArrayList<String>(['d']).with { get(0) }
+                    log << new StringBuilder('e').with { length().toString() }
+                }
+            }
+
+            assert new C().log == ['ab', '[c]', 'd', '1']
+        '''
+    }
+
     // GROOVY-9604
     @Test
     void testClosureResolveStrategy() {