diff --git a/builtins/setattr.def b/builtins/setattr.def
index 8f29e11..314fceb 100644
--- a/builtins/setattr.def
+++ b/builtins/setattr.def
@@ -611,4 +611,7 @@ set_var_attribute (name, attribute, undo)
 
   if (var && (exported_p (var) || (attribute & att_exported)))
     array_needs_making++;	/* XXX */
+
+  if (var)
+    stupidly_hack_special_variables (name);
 }