diff --git a/vlib/v/checker/checker.v b/vlib/v/checker/checker.v
index b0f2e4fe4e..091d31082d 100644
--- a/vlib/v/checker/checker.v
+++ b/vlib/v/checker/checker.v
@@ -3656,6 +3656,7 @@ pub fn (mut c Checker) mark_as_referenced(mut node ast.Expr, as_interface bool)
 								node.obj.is_auto_heap = true
 							}
 						}
+						.sum_type, .interface_ {}
 						else {
 							node.obj.is_auto_heap = true
 						}
diff --git a/vlib/v/tests/match_reference_sumtype_var_test.v b/vlib/v/tests/match_reference_sumtype_var_test.v
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..56644997c8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/vlib/v/tests/match_reference_sumtype_var_test.v
@@ -0,0 +1,42 @@
+struct Player {
+mut:
+	x     int
+	y     int
+	level int
+}
+
+struct Enemy {
+mut:
+	x      int
+	y      int
+	damage f64
+}
+
+type PlayerOrEnemy = Enemy | Player
+
+fn test_match_reference_sumtype_var() {
+	mut entity := PlayerOrEnemy(Player{10, 12, 3})
+
+	x_move := 11
+	y_move := 22
+
+	mut ref := &entity
+
+	match mut entity {
+		Player {
+			entity.x += x_move
+			entity.y += y_move
+
+			println('Player is moved to $entity.x, $entity.y and its level is $entity.level')
+		}
+		Enemy {
+			entity.x += x_move
+			entity.y += y_move
+
+			println('Enemy is moved to $entity.x, $entity.y and its damage is $entity.damage')
+		}
+	}
+
+	println(typeof(ref).name)
+	assert true
+}