--- /dev/null
+--TEST--
+Bug #22836 (returning references to NULL)
+--SKIPIF--
+<?php if (version_compare(zend_version(), '2.0.0-dev', '<')) die('skip ZendEngine 2 is needed'); ?>
+--FILE--
+<?php
+function &f()
+{
+ $x = "foo";
+ var_dump($x);
+ print "'$x'\n";
+ return ($a);
+}
+for ($i = 0; $i < 8; $i++) {
+ $h =& f();
+}
+?>
+--EXPECTF--
+string(3) "foo"
+'foo'
+
+Notice: Undefined variable: a in %s on line %d
+
+Fatal error: Only variables or references can be returned by reference in %s on line %d