diff --git a/src/evalvars.c b/src/evalvars.c
index 2de7999..1af9ec5 100644
--- a/src/evalvars.c
+++ b/src/evalvars.c
@@ -2636,6 +2636,8 @@
 	{
 	    ufunc_T *ufunc = find_func(name, FALSE, NULL);
 
+	    // In Vim9 script we can get a function reference by using the
+	    // function name.
 	    if (ufunc != NULL)
 	    {
 		found = TRUE;
@@ -2643,6 +2645,8 @@
 		{
 		    rettv->v_type = VAR_FUNC;
 		    rettv->vval.v_string = vim_strsave(ufunc->uf_name);
+		    if (rettv->vval.v_string != NULL)
+			func_ref(ufunc->uf_name);
 		}
 	    }
 	}
diff --git a/src/testdir/test_vim9_func.vim b/src/testdir/test_vim9_func.vim
index cc7132a..c42188e 100644
--- a/src/testdir/test_vim9_func.vim
+++ b/src/testdir/test_vim9_func.vim
@@ -3089,6 +3089,23 @@
   call CheckDefAndScriptSuccess(lines)
 enddef
 
+func CreateMydict()
+  let g:mydict = {}
+  func g:mydict.afunc()
+    let g:result = self.key
+  endfunc
+endfunc
+
+def Test_numbered_function_reference()
+  CreateMydict()
+  var output = execute('legacy func g:mydict.afunc')
+  var funcName = 'g:' .. substitute(output, '.*function \(\d\+\).*', '\1', '')
+  execute 'function(' .. funcName .. ', [], {key: 42})()'
+  # check that the function still exists
+  assert_equal(output, execute('legacy func g:mydict.afunc'))
+  unlet g:mydict
+enddef
+
 if has('python3')
   def Test_python3_heredoc()
     py3 << trim EOF
diff --git a/src/version.c b/src/version.c
index f7e1636..22022c8 100644
--- a/src/version.c
+++ b/src/version.c
@@ -756,6 +756,8 @@
 static int included_patches[] =
 {   /* Add new patch number below this line */
 /**/
+    3351,
+/**/
     3350,
 /**/
     3349,