diff --git a/src/ex_cmds.c b/src/ex_cmds.c
index 099d9cf..9d99571 100644
--- a/src/ex_cmds.c
+++ b/src/ex_cmds.c
@@ -3687,6 +3687,7 @@
     int		save_do_all;		// remember user specified 'g' flag
     int		save_do_ask;		// remember user specified 'c' flag
     char_u	*pat = NULL, *sub = NULL;	// init for GCC
+    char_u	*sub_copy = NULL;
     int		delimiter;
     int		sublen;
     int		got_quit = FALSE;
@@ -3980,11 +3981,20 @@
     sub_firstline = NULL;
 
     /*
-     * ~ in the substitute pattern is replaced with the old pattern.
-     * We do it here once to avoid it to be replaced over and over again.
-     * But don't do it when it starts with "\=", then it's an expression.
+     * If the substitute pattern starts with "\=" then it's an expression.
+     * Make a copy, a recursive function may free it.
+     * Otherwise, '~' in the substitute pattern is replaced with the old
+     * pattern.  We do it here once to avoid it to be replaced over and over
+     * again.
      */
-    if (!(sub[0] == '\\' && sub[1] == '='))
+    if (sub[0] == '\\' && sub[1] == '=')
+    {
+	sub = vim_strsave(sub);
+	if (sub == NULL)
+	    return;
+	sub_copy = sub;
+    }
+    else
 	sub = regtilde(sub, magic_isset());
 
     /*
@@ -4790,6 +4800,7 @@
 #endif
 
     vim_regfree(regmatch.regprog);
+    vim_free(sub_copy);
 
     // Restore the flag values, they can be used for ":&&".
     subflags.do_all = save_do_all;
diff --git a/src/testdir/test_substitute.vim b/src/testdir/test_substitute.vim
index 0806fd2..35b6b8a 100644
--- a/src/testdir/test_substitute.vim
+++ b/src/testdir/test_substitute.vim
@@ -980,4 +980,21 @@
   bw!
 endfunc
 
+" This was using "old_sub" after it was freed.
+func Test_using_old_sub()
+  set compatible maxfuncdepth=10
+  new
+  call setline(1, 'some text.')
+  func Repl()
+    ~
+    s/
+  endfunc
+  silent!  s/\%')/\=Repl()
+
+  delfunc Repl
+  bwipe!
+  set nocompatible
+endfunc
+
+
 " vim: shiftwidth=2 sts=2 expandtab
diff --git a/src/version.c b/src/version.c
index e5499ad..25dcfe3 100644
--- a/src/version.c
+++ b/src/version.c
@@ -751,6 +751,8 @@
 static int included_patches[] =
 {   /* Add new patch number below this line */
 /**/
+    4253,
+/**/
     4252,
 /**/
     4251,