diff --git a/src/evalfunc.c b/src/evalfunc.c
index 8839230..1a2ea86 100644
--- a/src/evalfunc.c
+++ b/src/evalfunc.c
@@ -3922,7 +3922,6 @@
 {
     dict_T	*dict;
     dict_T	*opts;
-    dict_T	*vars;
     tabpage_T	*tp;
     win_T	*wp;
     list_T	*windows;
@@ -3943,10 +3942,8 @@
 		    buf->b_ml.ml_mfp != NULL && buf->b_nwindows == 0,
 		    NULL);
 
-    /* Copy buffer variables */
-    vars = dict_copy(buf->b_vars, TRUE, 0);
-    if (vars != NULL)
-	dict_add_dict(dict, "variables", vars);
+    /* Get a reference to buffer variables */
+    dict_add_dict(dict, "variables", buf->b_vars);
 
     /* Copy buffer options */
     opts = get_winbuf_options(TRUE);
@@ -4994,7 +4991,6 @@
 {
     win_T	*wp;
     dict_T	*dict;
-    dict_T	*vars;
     list_T	*l;
 
     dict = dict_alloc();
@@ -5012,10 +5008,8 @@
 	dict_add_list(dict, "windows", l);
     }
 
-    /* Copy tabpage variables */
-    vars = dict_copy(tp->tp_vars, TRUE, 0);
-    if (vars != NULL)
-	dict_add_dict(dict, "variables", vars);
+    /* Make a reference to tabpage variables */
+    dict_add_dict(dict, "variables", tp->tp_vars);
 
     return dict;
 }
@@ -5118,7 +5112,6 @@
 get_win_info(win_T *wp, short tpnr, short winnr)
 {
     dict_T	*dict;
-    dict_T	*vars;
     dict_T	*opts;
 
     dict = dict_alloc();
@@ -5138,10 +5131,8 @@
 	    (bt_quickfix(wp->w_buffer) && wp->w_llist_ref != NULL), NULL);
 #endif
 
-    /* Copy window variables */
-    vars = dict_copy(wp->w_vars, TRUE, 0);
-    if (vars != NULL)
-	dict_add_dict(dict, "variables", vars);
+    /* Make a reference to window variables */
+    dict_add_dict(dict, "variables", wp->w_vars);
 
     /* Copy window options */
     opts = get_winbuf_options(FALSE);
diff --git a/src/version.c b/src/version.c
index 2384d4d..8f435db 100644
--- a/src/version.c
+++ b/src/version.c
@@ -764,6 +764,8 @@
 static int included_patches[] =
 {   /* Add new patch number below this line */
 /**/
+    2272,
+/**/
     2271,
 /**/
     2270,