diff --git a/compiler/pdecvar.pas b/compiler/pdecvar.pas
index 0a9c9e7c48..0a99a5842f 100644
--- a/compiler/pdecvar.pas
+++ b/compiler/pdecvar.pas
@@ -1214,7 +1214,6 @@ implementation
                 abssym.asmname:=stringdup(strpas(tstringconstnode(pt).value_str))
               else
                 abssym.asmname:=stringdup(chr(tordconstnode(pt).value.svalue));
-              consume(token);
               abssym.abstyp:=toasm;
             end
           { address }
diff --git a/tests/webtbs/tw40978.pp b/tests/webtbs/tw40978.pp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..0e80164467
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/webtbs/tw40978.pp
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+program Project1;
+
+var
+  aa: integer public name 'aa';
+
+procedure foo(bar: integer);
+var x: integer absolute 'aa';
+begin
+  if x<>1234 then
+    halt(1);
+  x := 2;
+  x := bar;
+  writeln(x);
+end;
+
+begin
+  aa:=1234;
+  foo(1);
+  if aa<>1 then
+    halt(1);
+end.