diff --git a/src/vars.c b/src/vars.c
index 6208093..236466b 100644
--- a/src/vars.c
+++ b/src/vars.c
@@ -569,6 +569,34 @@
 }
 
 
+/* This retrieves variable <name> from variables <vars>, and if found,
+ * duplicates the result into sample <smp>. smp_dup() is used in order to
+ * release the variables lock ASAP (so a pre-allocated chunk is obtained
+ * via get_trash_shunk()). The variables' lock is used for reads.
+ *
+ * The function returns 0 if the variable was not found, otherwise 1
+ * with the sample filled.
+ */
+static int var_to_smp(struct vars *vars, const char *name, struct sample *smp)
+{
+	struct var *var;
+
+	/* Get the variable entry. */
+	HA_RWLOCK_RDLOCK(VARS_LOCK, &vars->rwlock);
+	var = var_get(vars, name);
+	if (!var) {
+		HA_RWLOCK_RDUNLOCK(VARS_LOCK, &vars->rwlock);
+		return 0;
+	}
+
+	/* Copy sample. */
+	smp->data = var->data;
+	smp_dup(smp);
+
+	HA_RWLOCK_RDUNLOCK(VARS_LOCK, &vars->rwlock);
+	return 1;
+}
+
 /* This function fills a sample with the variable content.
  *
  * Keep in mind that a sample content is duplicated by using smp_dup()
@@ -580,7 +608,6 @@
 int vars_get_by_name(const char *name, size_t len, struct sample *smp)
 {
 	struct vars *vars;
-	struct var *var;
 	enum vars_scope scope;
 
 	/* Resolve name and scope. */
@@ -592,21 +619,8 @@
 	vars = get_vars(smp->sess, smp->strm, scope);
 	if (!vars || vars->scope != scope)
 		return 0;
-
-	/* Get the variable entry. */
-	HA_RWLOCK_RDLOCK(VARS_LOCK, &vars->rwlock);
-	var = var_get(vars, name);
-	if (!var) {
-		HA_RWLOCK_RDUNLOCK(VARS_LOCK, &vars->rwlock);
-		return 0;
-	}
 
-	/* Copy sample. */
-	smp->data = var->data;
-	smp_dup(smp);
-
-	HA_RWLOCK_RDUNLOCK(VARS_LOCK, &vars->rwlock);
-	return 1;
+	return var_to_smp(vars, name, smp);
 }
 
 /* This function fills a sample with the content of the variable described
@@ -621,7 +635,6 @@
 int vars_get_by_desc(const struct var_desc *var_desc, struct sample *smp)
 {
 	struct vars *vars;
-	struct var *var;
 
 	/* Select "vars" pool according with the scope. */
 	vars = get_vars(smp->sess, smp->strm, var_desc->scope);
@@ -630,20 +643,7 @@
 	if (!vars || vars->scope != var_desc->scope)
 		return 0;
 
-	/* Get the variable entry. */
-	HA_RWLOCK_RDLOCK(VARS_LOCK, &vars->rwlock);
-	var = var_get(vars, var_desc->name);
-	if (!var) {
-		HA_RWLOCK_RDUNLOCK(VARS_LOCK, &vars->rwlock);
-		return 0;
-	}
-
-	/* Copy sample. */
-	smp->data = var->data;
-	smp_dup(smp);
-
-	HA_RWLOCK_RDUNLOCK(VARS_LOCK, &vars->rwlock);
-	return 1;
+	return var_to_smp(vars, var_desc->name, smp);
 }
 
 /* Always returns ACT_RET_CONT even if an error occurs. */