diff --git a/Zend/zend_execute.c b/Zend/zend_execute.c
index 5e6d2329c2c..0bc15d35bdb 100644
--- a/Zend/zend_execute.c
+++ b/Zend/zend_execute.c
@@ -2140,6 +2140,8 @@ send_by_ref:
 					if (container) {
 						HashTable *ht;
 
+						SEPARATE_ZVAL_IF_NOT_REF(container);
+
 						switch ((*container)->type) {
 							case IS_ARRAY:
 								ht = (*container)->value.ht;