diff --git a/Zend/tests/pow_ref.phpt b/Zend/tests/pow_ref.phpt
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..488e1d2d894
--- /dev/null
+++ b/Zend/tests/pow_ref.phpt
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+--TEST--
+Use power operator on reference
+--FILE--
+<?php
+
+$a = 2;
+$b = 3;
+
+$ref =& $b;
+
+$a **= $b;
+
+var_dump($a);
+
+?>
+--EXPECT--
+int(8)
diff --git a/Zend/zend_operators.c b/Zend/zend_operators.c
index 163a4930602..72ac9fca1ff 100644
--- a/Zend/zend_operators.c
+++ b/Zend/zend_operators.c
@@ -1137,7 +1137,11 @@ ZEND_API int pow_function(zval *result, zval *op1, zval *op2 TSRMLS_DC) /* {{{ *
 				return SUCCESS;
 
 			default:
-				if (!converted) {
+				if (Z_ISREF_P(op1)) {
+					op1 = Z_REFVAL_P(op1);
+				} else if (Z_ISREF_P(op2)) {
+					op2 = Z_REFVAL_P(op2);
+				} else if (!converted) {
 					ZEND_TRY_BINARY_OBJECT_OPERATION(ZEND_POW);
 
 					if (Z_TYPE_P(op1) == IS_ARRAY) {