diff --git a/src/evalfunc.c b/src/evalfunc.c
index 88392305e..1a2ea8621 100644
--- a/src/evalfunc.c
+++ b/src/evalfunc.c
@@ -3922,7 +3922,6 @@ get_buffer_info(buf_T *buf)
 {
     dict_T	*dict;
     dict_T	*opts;
-    dict_T	*vars;
     tabpage_T	*tp;
     win_T	*wp;
     list_T	*windows;
@@ -3943,10 +3942,8 @@ get_buffer_info(buf_T *buf)
 		    buf->b_ml.ml_mfp != NULL && buf->b_nwindows == 0,
 		    NULL);
 
-    /* Copy buffer variables */
-    vars = dict_copy(buf->b_vars, TRUE, 0);
-    if (vars != NULL)
-	dict_add_dict(dict, "variables", vars);
+    /* Get a reference to buffer variables */
+    dict_add_dict(dict, "variables", buf->b_vars);
 
     /* Copy buffer options */
     opts = get_winbuf_options(TRUE);
@@ -4994,7 +4991,6 @@ get_tabpage_info(tabpage_T *tp, int tp_idx)
 {
     win_T	*wp;
     dict_T	*dict;
-    dict_T	*vars;
     list_T	*l;
 
     dict = dict_alloc();
@@ -5012,10 +5008,8 @@ get_tabpage_info(tabpage_T *tp, int tp_idx)
 	dict_add_list(dict, "windows", l);
     }
 
-    /* Copy tabpage variables */
-    vars = dict_copy(tp->tp_vars, TRUE, 0);
-    if (vars != NULL)
-	dict_add_dict(dict, "variables", vars);
+    /* Make a reference to tabpage variables */
+    dict_add_dict(dict, "variables", tp->tp_vars);
 
     return dict;
 }
@@ -5118,7 +5112,6 @@ f_gettabwinvar(typval_T *argvars, typval_T *rettv)
 get_win_info(win_T *wp, short tpnr, short winnr)
 {
     dict_T	*dict;
-    dict_T	*vars;
     dict_T	*opts;
 
     dict = dict_alloc();
@@ -5138,10 +5131,8 @@ get_win_info(win_T *wp, short tpnr, short winnr)
 	    (bt_quickfix(wp->w_buffer) && wp->w_llist_ref != NULL), NULL);
 #endif
 
-    /* Copy window variables */
-    vars = dict_copy(wp->w_vars, TRUE, 0);
-    if (vars != NULL)
-	dict_add_dict(dict, "variables", vars);
+    /* Make a reference to window variables */
+    dict_add_dict(dict, "variables", wp->w_vars);
 
     /* Copy window options */
     opts = get_winbuf_options(FALSE);
diff --git a/src/version.c b/src/version.c
index 2384d4d42..8f435dba3 100644
--- a/src/version.c
+++ b/src/version.c
@@ -763,6 +763,8 @@ static char *(features[]) =
 
 static int included_patches[] =
 {   /* Add new patch number below this line */
+/**/
+    2272,
 /**/
     2271,
 /**/