diff --git a/src/vm.c b/src/vm.c
index fd17e90cc4..77edbb38fc 100644
--- a/src/vm.c
+++ b/src/vm.c
@@ -2819,13 +2819,15 @@ mrb_vm_exec(mrb_state *mrb, const struct RProc *proc, const mrb_code *pc)
     }
 
     CASE(OP_RANGE_INC, B) {
-      regs[a] = mrb_range_new(mrb, regs[a], regs[a+1], FALSE);
+      mrb_value v = mrb_range_new(mrb, regs[a], regs[a+1], FALSE);
+      regs[a] = v;
       mrb_gc_arena_restore(mrb, ai);
       NEXT;
     }
 
     CASE(OP_RANGE_EXC, B) {
-      regs[a] = mrb_range_new(mrb, regs[a], regs[a+1], TRUE);
+      mrb_value v = mrb_range_new(mrb, regs[a], regs[a+1], TRUE);
+      regs[a] = v;
       mrb_gc_arena_restore(mrb, ai);
       NEXT;
     }