diff --git a/apps/app_read.c b/apps/app_read.c
index dfa122d538..4c76ccb867 100644
--- a/apps/app_read.c
+++ b/apps/app_read.c
@@ -207,6 +207,7 @@ static int read_exec(struct ast_channel *chan, void *data)
 				}
 				res = 0;
 			} else {
+				pbx_builtin_setvar_helper(chan, arglist.variable, tmp);
 				if (option_verbose > 2)
 					ast_verbose(VERBOSE_PREFIX_3 "User disconnected\n");
 			}