diff --git a/core/modules/widgets/widget.js b/core/modules/widgets/widget.js
index b38397749..b7780e069 100755
--- a/core/modules/widgets/widget.js
+++ b/core/modules/widgets/widget.js
@@ -342,7 +342,15 @@ Widget.prototype.makeFakeWidgetWithVariables = function(variables) {
 		makeFakeWidgetWithVariables: self.makeFakeWidgetWithVariables,
 		resolveVariableParameters: self.resolveVariableParameters,
 		wiki: self.wiki,
-		variables: variables,
+		get variables() {
+			// We have to inefficiently fake the variables hashmap. It would be better to refactor the places
+			// that make direct access to the variables hashmap
+			const v = Object.create(self.parentWidget.variables || null);
+			$tw.utils.each(variables,function(value,name) {
+				v[name] = {value: value};
+			});
+			return v;
+		},
 		getAncestorCount: function() {
 			return 0;
 		}