diff --git a/cli/test.yaml b/cli/test.yaml
index 4818048..a2ef24f 100644
--- a/cli/test.yaml
+++ b/cli/test.yaml
@@ -5502,6 +5502,22 @@
   expected: |
     [1,3,6,5,5]
 
+- name: update-assignment operator against object with overlapping paths
+  args:
+    - -c
+    - '(.a.b,.a,.a.p.z) |= {p: ., q: .}'
+  input: '{"a":{"b":1}}'
+  expected: |
+    {"a":{"p":{"b":{"p":1,"q":1},"z":{"p":null,"q":null}},"q":{"b":{"p":1,"q":1}}}}
+
+- name: update-assignment operator against nested object with overlapping paths
+  args:
+    - -c
+    - '(.a.b.c,.a,.a.p.b.z) |= {p: ., q: .}'
+  input: '{"a":{"b":{"c":1}}}'
+  expected: |
+    {"a":{"p":{"b":{"c":{"p":1,"q":1},"z":{"p":null,"q":null}}},"q":{"b":{"c":{"p":1,"q":1}}}}}
+
 - name: update-assignment operator with optional operator
   args:
     - -c
diff --git a/compiler.go b/compiler.go
index 6b51e0e..050951b 100644
--- a/compiler.go
+++ b/compiler.go
@@ -1093,7 +1093,7 @@ func (c *compiler) compileModify() {
 		&code{op: opcall, v: [3]any{funcAllocator, 0, "_allocator"}},
 		&code{op: opstore, v: a},
 		&code{op: opload, v: v},
-		&code{op: opfork, v: len(c.codes) + 39}, // reduce [L1]
+		&code{op: opfork, v: len(c.codes) + 40}, // reduce [L1]
 		&code{op: oppathbegin},                  // path(p)
 		&code{op: opload, v: p},
 		&code{op: opcallpc},
@@ -1102,12 +1102,13 @@ func (c *compiler) compileModify() {
 		&code{op: opstore, v: p},                // as $p (.;
 		&code{op: opforklabel, v: l},            // label $l |
 		&code{op: opload, v: v},                 //
-		&code{op: opfork, v: len(c.codes) + 36}, // [L2]
+		&code{op: opfork, v: len(c.codes) + 37}, // [L2]
 		&code{op: oppop},                        // (getpath($p) |
 		&code{op: opload, v: a},
+		&code{op: opload, v: a},
 		&code{op: opload, v: p},
 		&code{op: opload, v: v},
-		&code{op: opcall, v: [3]any{internalFuncs["getpath"].callback, 1, "getpath"}},
+		&code{op: opcall, v: [3]any{funcGetpathWithAllocator, 2, "getpath"}},
 		&code{op: opload, v: f}, //                 f)
 		&code{op: opcallpc},
 		&code{op: opload, v: p}, //                 setpath($p; ...)
@@ -1115,8 +1116,8 @@ func (c *compiler) compileModify() {
 		&code{op: opcall, v: [3]any{funcSetpathWithAllocator, 3, "_setpath"}},
 		&code{op: opstore, v: v},
 		&code{op: opload, v: v},                 // ., break $l
-		&code{op: opfork, v: len(c.codes) + 34}, // [L4]
-		&code{op: opjump, v: len(c.codes) + 38}, // [L3]
+		&code{op: opfork, v: len(c.codes) + 35}, // [L4]
+		&code{op: opjump, v: len(c.codes) + 39}, // [L3]
 		&code{op: opload, v: l},                 // [L4]
 		&code{op: opcall, v: [3]any{funcBreak(""), 0, "_break"}},
 		&code{op: opload, v: p},   //               append $p to $d [L2]
diff --git a/func.go b/func.go
index 81dbe31..d352716 100644
--- a/func.go
+++ b/func.go
@@ -1488,6 +1488,17 @@ func (a allocator) allocated(v any) bool {
 	return ok
 }
 
+// release forgets every allocated address when the value is one of them, so
+// that a value handed to a query is copied on update again.
+func (a allocator) release(v any) {
+	switch v.(type) {
+	case map[string]any, []any:
+		if a.allocated(v) {
+			clear(a)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
 func (a allocator) makeObject(l int) map[string]any {
 	v := make(map[string]any, l)
 	if a != nil {
@@ -1514,6 +1525,15 @@ func funcSetpathWithAllocator(v any, args []any) any {
 	return setpath(v, args[0], args[1], args[2].(allocator))
 }
 
+// Used in compiler#compileModify: the update function may store the value
+// anywhere, so it must not be modified in place afterwards. Registered as
+// getpath to keep tracking paths through the call.
+func funcGetpathWithAllocator(v any, args []any) any {
+	w := funcGetpath(v, args[0])
+	args[1].(allocator).release(w)
+	return w
+}
+
 func setpath(v, p, n any, a allocator) any {
 	path, ok := p.([]any)
 	if !ok {