diff --git a/src/ex_docmd.c b/src/ex_docmd.c
index 1fc67eaec..66c0b667a 100644
--- a/src/ex_docmd.c
+++ b/src/ex_docmd.c
@@ -3123,7 +3123,7 @@ checkforcmd(
     for (i = 0; cmd[i] != NUL; ++i)
 	if (((char_u *)cmd)[i] != (*pp)[i])
 	    break;
-    if (i >= len && !isalpha((*pp)[i]))
+    if (i >= len && !isalpha((*pp)[i]) && (*pp)[i] != '_')
     {
 	*pp = skipwhite(*pp + i);
 	return TRUE;
diff --git a/src/testdir/test_vim9_assign.vim b/src/testdir/test_vim9_assign.vim
index cf06b5cd8..478a1e5cd 100644
--- a/src/testdir/test_vim9_assign.vim
+++ b/src/testdir/test_vim9_assign.vim
@@ -454,7 +454,6 @@ def Test_assignment_local()
 enddef
 
 def Test_assignment_default()
-
   # Test default values.
   var thebool: bool
   assert_equal(v:false, thebool)
@@ -571,6 +570,10 @@ def Test_assignment_vim9script()
     assert_equal(43, w)
     var t: number = 44
     assert_equal(44, t)
+
+    var to_var = 0
+    to_var = 3
+    assert_equal(3, to_var)
   END
   CheckScriptSuccess(lines)
 
diff --git a/src/version.c b/src/version.c
index 266c7c135..5aa3cf669 100644
--- a/src/version.c
+++ b/src/version.c
@@ -750,6 +750,8 @@ static char *(features[]) =
 
 static int included_patches[] =
 {   /* Add new patch number below this line */
+/**/
+    1853,
 /**/
     1852,
 /**/