Non-simple variables are forbidden in PHP 7 ----- bar; ----- !!php7 Syntax error, unexpected T_OBJECT_OPERATOR, expecting ';' from 2:13 to 2:14 array( 0: Stmt_Global( vars: array( 0: Expr_Variable( name: Expr_Variable( name: foo ) ) ) ) 1: Stmt_Expression( expr: Expr_ConstFetch( name: Name( parts: array( 0: bar ) ) ) ) )