diff --git a/src/core/ngx_conf_file.c b/src/core/ngx_conf_file.c
index fb28a5a94..ba454dea8 100644
--- a/src/core/ngx_conf_file.c
+++ b/src/core/ngx_conf_file.c
@@ -709,6 +709,11 @@ ngx_conf_read_token(ngx_conf_t *cf)
                 last_space = 0;
                 continue;
 
+            case '$':
+                variable = 1;
+                last_space = 0;
+                continue;
+
             default:
                 last_space = 0;
             }