diff --git a/ext/standard/var.c b/ext/standard/var.c
index 08806f9698eed..16b9fffba1109 100644
--- a/ext/standard/var.c
+++ b/ext/standard/var.c
@@ -958,7 +958,7 @@ static void php_var_serialize_intern(smart_str *buf, zval *struc, php_serialize_
 					}
 
 					if (Z_ISREF_P(data) && Z_REFCOUNT_P(data) == 1) {
-						ZVAL_UNREF(data);
+						data = Z_REFVAL_P(data);
 					}
 
 					/* we should still add element even if it's not OK,