diff --git a/src/lib/unlang/compile.c b/src/lib/unlang/compile.c
index 93a8ffbdc481..090cdc591d8f 100644
--- a/src/lib/unlang/compile.c
+++ b/src/lib/unlang/compile.c
@@ -1668,7 +1668,7 @@ static int define_local_variable(CONF_ITEM *ci, unlang_variable_t *var, tmpl_rul
 	/*
 	 *	Copy the children over.
 	 */
-	if (fr_type_is_structural(type)) {
+	if (fr_type_is_structural(type) && (type != FR_TYPE_GROUP)) {
 		fr_assert(ref != NULL);
 
 		if (fr_dict_attr_acopy_local(da, ref) < 0) goto fail;