A semiconductor structure includes a lined bottom contact filled with conductive material. The structure further includes a layer of dielectric material surrounding sides of the lined bottom contact, a top contact on the bottom contact, the top contact having a partial liner only along sides thereof with an absence of the liner at a bottom thereof and being filled with the conductive material, and a layer of the dielectric material surrounding sides of the partially lined top contact. Fabrication of the bottom-liner free top contact includes providing a starting structure, the structure including a lined bottom contact filled with conductive material, being surrounded by a layer of dielectric material and having a planarized top surface. The method further includes creating a top layer of dielectric material above the planarized top surface, creating a layer of liner material above the top dielectric layer, creating a top contact opening to the bottom contact, lining the top contact opening with a liner material, removing the liner at a bottom of the top contact opening, exposing the bottom contact, while preserving a portion of the liner on the top dielectric layer sufficient to allow adhesion of a subsequent conductive material, and filling the contact opening with the conductive material.