diff --git a/src/evalvars.c b/src/evalvars.c
index 71cab0a..f5761f9 100644
--- a/src/evalvars.c
+++ b/src/evalvars.c
@@ -4012,10 +4012,12 @@
 {
     // Allow for w: b: s: and t:.  In Vim9 script s: is not allowed, because
     // the name can be used without the s: prefix.
+    // Allow autoload variable.
     if (!((vim_strchr((char_u *)"wbt", name[0]) != NULL
 		    || (!in_vim9script() && name[0] == 's')) && name[1] == ':')
 	    && !ASCII_ISUPPER((name[0] != NUL && name[1] == ':')
-						     ? name[2] : name[0]))
+						     ? name[2] : name[0])
+	    && vim_strchr(name, '#') == NULL)
     {
 	semsg(_(e_funcref_variable_name_must_start_with_capital_str), name);
 	return TRUE;