diff --git a/src/main/java/org/perlonjava/backend/jvm/EmitSubroutine.java b/src/main/java/org/perlonjava/backend/jvm/EmitSubroutine.java
index 8e81ab867..5e7b6537d 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/perlonjava/backend/jvm/EmitSubroutine.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/perlonjava/backend/jvm/EmitSubroutine.java
@@ -364,18 +364,27 @@ static void handleApplyOperator(EmitterVisitor emitterVisitor, BinaryOperatorNod
         boolean isScalarVariable = false;
         boolean isLexicalSub = false;
         OperatorNode scalarOpNode = null;
+        boolean isBlockDeref = false;  // &{expr} syntax - always need to deref for symbolic refs
 
         if (node.left instanceof OperatorNode operatorNode && operatorNode.operator.equals("$")) {
             // This is &$var() or $var->() syntax
             isScalarVariable = true;
             scalarOpNode = operatorNode;
-        } else if (node.left instanceof BlockNode blockNode &&
-                blockNode.elements.size() == 1 &&
-                blockNode.elements.get(0) instanceof OperatorNode opNode &&
-                opNode.operator.equals("$")) {
-            // This is &{$var} syntax
-            isScalarVariable = true;
-            scalarOpNode = opNode;
+        } else if (node.left instanceof BlockNode blockNode) {
+            // This is &{expr} syntax where expr can be:
+            // - &{$var} - simple variable
+            // - &{$hash{key}} - hash element
+            // - &{$array[idx]} - array element
+            // - &{some_expression} - any expression
+            // All of these may return a string that needs to be resolved as a symbolic reference
+            isBlockDeref = true;
+            if (blockNode.elements.size() == 1 &&
+                    blockNode.elements.get(0) instanceof OperatorNode opNode &&
+                    opNode.operator.equals("$")) {
+                // Specific case: &{$var}
+                isScalarVariable = true;
+                scalarOpNode = opNode;
+            }
         }
 
         if (isScalarVariable && scalarOpNode != null) {
@@ -396,6 +405,16 @@ static void handleApplyOperator(EmitterVisitor emitterVisitor, BinaryOperatorNod
                         "(Ljava/lang/String;)Lorg/perlonjava/runtime/runtimetypes/RuntimeScalar;",
                         false);
             }
+        } else if (isBlockDeref && !emitterVisitor.ctx.symbolTable.isStrictOptionEnabled(HINT_STRICT_REFS)) {
+            // For &{expr} where expr is not a simple variable (e.g., &{$hash{key}})
+            // We need to call codeDerefNonStrict to resolve symbolic references
+            // using the current package
+            emitterVisitor.pushCurrentPackage();
+            mv.visitMethodInsn(Opcodes.INVOKEVIRTUAL,
+                    "org/perlonjava/runtime/runtimetypes/RuntimeScalar",
+                    "codeDerefNonStrict",
+                    "(Ljava/lang/String;)Lorg/perlonjava/runtime/runtimetypes/RuntimeScalar;",
+                    false);
         }
 
         int codeRefSlot = emitterVisitor.ctx.javaClassInfo.acquireSpillSlot();
diff --git a/src/main/java/org/perlonjava/runtime/runtimetypes/RuntimeGlob.java b/src/main/java/org/perlonjava/runtime/runtimetypes/RuntimeGlob.java
index c51b5ec89..8b58960ce 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/perlonjava/runtime/runtimetypes/RuntimeGlob.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/perlonjava/runtime/runtimetypes/RuntimeGlob.java
@@ -156,52 +156,13 @@ public RuntimeScalar set(RuntimeScalar value) {
                 }
                 return value;
             case REFERENCE:
+                // `*foo = \$bar` aliases the SCALAR slot to $bar, regardless of what $bar contains.
+                // This must replace the scalar container (alias) rather than storing into
+                // the existing scalar, otherwise tied scalars would invoke STORE.
+                // Note: \@array and \%hash come in as ARRAYREFERENCE/HASHREFERENCE types,
+                // not REFERENCE, so they are handled above in their respective cases.
                 if (value.value instanceof RuntimeScalar) {
-                    RuntimeScalar deref = value.scalarDeref();
-                    // `*foo = \&bar` creates a constant subroutine returning the code reference
-                    if (deref.type == RuntimeScalarType.CODE) {
-                        RuntimeCode constSub = new RuntimeCode("", null);
-                        constSub.constantValue = deref.getList();
-                        GlobalVariable.getGlobalCodeRef(this.globName).set(new RuntimeScalar(constSub));
-                        InheritanceResolver.invalidateCache();
-                    } else if (deref.type == RuntimeScalarType.ARRAYREFERENCE && deref.value instanceof RuntimeArray arr) {
-                        // `*foo = \@bar` assigns to the ARRAY slot.
-                        // Also update all glob aliases
-                        for (String aliasedName : GlobalVariable.getGlobAliasGroup(this.globName)) {
-                            GlobalVariable.globalArrays.put(aliasedName, arr);
-                        }
-                    } else if (deref.type == RuntimeScalarType.HASHREFERENCE && deref.value instanceof RuntimeHash hash) {
-                        // `*foo = \%bar` assigns to the HASH slot.
-                        // Also update all glob aliases
-                        for (String aliasedName : GlobalVariable.getGlobAliasGroup(this.globName)) {
-                            GlobalVariable.globalHashes.put(aliasedName, hash);
-                        }
-                    } else if (value.type == RuntimeScalarType.REFERENCE && deref.type == RuntimeScalarType.ARRAYREFERENCE) {
-                        // `*foo = \$array_ref` creates a constant subroutine returning the array reference
-                        RuntimeCode constSub = new RuntimeCode("", null);
-                        constSub.constantValue = deref.getList();
-                        GlobalVariable.getGlobalCodeRef(this.globName).set(new RuntimeScalar(constSub));
-                        InheritanceResolver.invalidateCache();
-                    } else if (value.type == RuntimeScalarType.REFERENCE && deref.type == RuntimeScalarType.HASHREFERENCE) {
-                        // `*foo = \$hash_ref` creates a constant subroutine returning the hash reference
-                        RuntimeCode constSub = new RuntimeCode("", null);
-                        constSub.constantValue = deref.getList();
-                        GlobalVariable.getGlobalCodeRef(this.globName).set(new RuntimeScalar(constSub));
-                        InheritanceResolver.invalidateCache();
-                    } else if (deref.type == RuntimeScalarType.STRING || deref.type == RuntimeScalarType.BYTE_STRING) {
-                        // `*foo = \$bar` creates a constant subroutine returning the scalar value
-                        RuntimeCode constSub = new RuntimeCode("", null);
-                        constSub.constantValue = deref.getList();
-                        GlobalVariable.getGlobalCodeRef(this.globName).set(new RuntimeScalar(constSub));
-                        // Also set the SCALAR slot for direct access
-                        GlobalVariable.globalVariables.put(this.globName, deref);
-                        InheritanceResolver.invalidateCache();
-                    } else {
-                        // `*foo = \$bar` (or `*foo = \1`) aliases the SCALAR slot.
-                        // This must replace the scalar container (alias) rather than storing into
-                        // the existing scalar, otherwise tied scalars would invoke STORE.
-                        GlobalVariable.aliasGlobalVariable(this.globName, (RuntimeScalar) value.value);
-                    }
+                    GlobalVariable.aliasGlobalVariable(this.globName, (RuntimeScalar) value.value);
                 }
                 return value;
             case UNDEF: