diff --git a/core/src/main/java/org/jruby/internal/runtime/GlobalVariables.java b/core/src/main/java/org/jruby/internal/runtime/GlobalVariables.java
index c74d6c233404..449158026de7 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/org/jruby/internal/runtime/GlobalVariables.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/org/jruby/internal/runtime/GlobalVariables.java
@@ -123,10 +123,7 @@ public GlobalVariable getVariable(String name) {
     }
 
     public IRubyObject set(String name, IRubyObject value) {
-        assert name != null;
-        assert name.startsWith("$");
-
-        GlobalVariable variable = createIfNotDefined(name);
+        GlobalVariable variable = getVariable(name);
         IRubyObject result = variable.getAccessor().setValue(value);
         variable.trace(value);
         variable.invalidate();