diff --git a/src/eval.c b/src/eval.c
index b4e7166..3dc3e21 100644
--- a/src/eval.c
+++ b/src/eval.c
@@ -7244,7 +7244,7 @@
 
 	    if (pt != NULL)
 		for (i = 0; i < pt->pt_argc; ++i)
-		    set_ref_in_item(&pt->pt_argv[i], copyID,
+		    abort = abort || set_ref_in_item(&pt->pt_argv[i], copyID,
 							ht_stack, list_stack);
 	}
     }