diff --git a/src/buffer.c b/src/buffer.c
index 2a9fe4d..5ee6299 100644
--- a/src/buffer.c
+++ b/src/buffer.c
@@ -648,6 +648,9 @@
     buf_T	*buf;
 {
     free_buffer_stuff(buf, TRUE);
+#ifdef FEAT_EVAL
+    unref_var_dict(buf->b_vars);
+#endif
 #ifdef FEAT_LUA
     lua_buffer_free(buf);
 #endif
@@ -689,8 +692,8 @@
 #endif
     }
 #ifdef FEAT_EVAL
-    vars_clear(&buf->b_vars.dv_hashtab); /* free all internal variables */
-    hash_init(&buf->b_vars.dv_hashtab);
+    vars_clear(&buf->b_vars->dv_hashtab); /* free all internal variables */
+    hash_init(&buf->b_vars->dv_hashtab);
 #endif
 #ifdef FEAT_USR_CMDS
     uc_clear(&buf->b_ucmds);		/* clear local user commands */
@@ -1694,6 +1697,17 @@
 	    vim_free(ffname);
 	    return NULL;
 	}
+#ifdef FEAT_EVAL
+	/* init b: variables */
+	buf->b_vars = dict_alloc();
+	if (buf->b_vars == NULL)
+	{
+	    vim_free(ffname);
+	    vim_free(buf);
+	    return NULL;
+	}
+	init_var_dict(buf->b_vars, &buf->b_bufvar, VAR_SCOPE);
+#endif
     }
 
     if (ffname != NULL)
@@ -1778,10 +1792,6 @@
     buf->b_wininfo->wi_fpos.lnum = lnum;
     buf->b_wininfo->wi_win = curwin;
 
-#ifdef FEAT_EVAL
-    /* init b: variables */
-    init_var_dict(&buf->b_vars, &buf->b_bufvar, VAR_SCOPE);
-#endif
 #ifdef FEAT_SYN_HL
     hash_init(&buf->b_s.b_keywtab);
     hash_init(&buf->b_s.b_keywtab_ic);