diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index 83a872106..d5d564612 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
-VERSION      = 5.09.01
-VERSION_NUM  = 50901
-VERSION_DATE = 2023.12.04
+VERSION      = 5.09.02
+VERSION_NUM  = 50902
+VERSION_DATE = 2024.04.18
diff --git a/src/mad_var.c b/src/mad_var.c
index b70977411..f40b80ab4 100644
--- a/src/mad_var.c
+++ b/src/mad_var.c
@@ -455,7 +455,7 @@ set_stringvar(const char* name, char* string)
   {
     if ((var = find_variable(c_dum->c, variable_list)) != NULL)
     {
-      if (var->type == 3) var->string = string;
+      if (var->type == 3) var->string = tmpbuff(string);
     }
     else
     {