1 files changed, 12 insertions, 2 deletions
diff --git a/gawkapi.c b/gawkapi.c
index f8d04986..0213936a 100644
--- a/gawkapi.c
+++ b/gawkapi.c
@@ -486,6 +486,16 @@ node_to_awk_value(NODE *node, awk_value_t *val, awk_valtype_t wanted)
 	return ret;
 }
 
+static NODE *
+lookup_deferred(const char *name)
+{
+	NODE *node;
+
+	if ((node = lookup(name)) != NULL)
+		return node;
+	return deferred_create(name);
+}
+
 /*
  * Symbol table access:
  * 	- No access to special variables (NF, etc.)
@@ -516,7 +526,7 @@ api_sym_lookup(awk_ext_id_t id,
 	if (   name == NULL
 	    || *name == '\0'
 	    || result == NULL
-	    || (node = lookup(name)) == NULL)
+	    || (node = lookup_deferred(name)) == NULL)
 		return awk_false;
 
 	if (is_off_limits_var(name))	/* a built-in variable */
@@ -574,7 +584,7 @@ api_sym_update(awk_ext_id_t id,
 		return awk_false;
 	}
 
-	node = lookup(name);
+	node = lookup_deferred(name);
 
 	if (node == NULL) {
 		/* new value to be installed */