diff --git a/ext/PerlIO-scalar/scalar.xs b/ext/PerlIO-scalar/scalar.xs
index 970091a2cb74..6f58f68e86dc 100644
--- a/ext/PerlIO-scalar/scalar.xs
+++ b/ext/PerlIO-scalar/scalar.xs
@@ -163,7 +163,8 @@ PerlIOScalar_write(pTHX_ PerlIO * f, const void *vbuf, Size_t count)
 	SV *sv = s->var;
 	char *dst;
 	SvGETMAGIC(sv);
-	sv_force_normal(sv);
+	if (SvROK(sv)) SvPV_force_nomg_nolen(sv);
+	else sv_force_normal(sv);
 	if ((PerlIOBase(f)->flags) & PERLIO_F_APPEND) {
 	    dst = SvGROW(sv, SvCUR(sv) + count);
 	    offset = SvCUR(sv);
diff --git a/ext/PerlIO-scalar/t/scalar.t b/ext/PerlIO-scalar/t/scalar.t
index 4a026a4ec833..5763a470f9ff 100644
--- a/ext/PerlIO-scalar/t/scalar.t
+++ b/ext/PerlIO-scalar/t/scalar.t
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ use Fcntl qw(SEEK_SET SEEK_CUR SEEK_END); # Not 0, 1, 2 everywhere.
 
 $| = 1;
 
-use Test::More tests => 73;
+use Test::More tests => 74;
 
 my $fh;
 my $var = "aaa\n";
@@ -285,12 +285,17 @@ EOF
      'seek beyond end end of string followed by read';
 }
 
-# Writing to COW scalars
+# Writing to COW scalars and refs
 {
     my $bovid = __PACKAGE__;
     open my $handel, ">", \$bovid;
     print $handel "the COW with the crumpled horn";
     is $bovid, "the COW with the crumpled horn", 'writing to COW scalars';
+    package lrcg { use overload fallback => 1, '""'=>sub { 'chin' } }
+    seek $handel, 3, 0;
+    $bovid = bless [], lrcg::;
+    print $handel 'mney';
+    is $bovid, 'chimney', 'writing to refs';
 }
 
 # [perl #92706]