diff --git a/lib/command_parse.y b/lib/command_parse.y
index 77e4e543aa..3337481094 100644
--- a/lib/command_parse.y
+++ b/lib/command_parse.y
@@ -191,7 +191,7 @@ start:
 
 varname_token: '$' WORD
 {
-  $$ = XSTRDUP (MTYPE_LEX, $2);
+  $$ = $2;
 }
 | /* empty */
 {