diff --git a/crates/engine/src/cmd/variables.rs b/crates/engine/src/cmd/variables.rs
index 85e1454f3..d8c20e05a 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/cmd/variables.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/cmd/variables.rs
@@ -184,7 +184,10 @@ fn duplicate(s: &mut Session, p: &Value) -> Result<Value> {
     let cmd = "variable.duplicate";
     let v = req_string(cmd, p, "variable")?;
     let doc = s.doc_mut()?;
-    let pos = doc.variables.variables.iter().position(|x| x.id == v || x.name == v).ok_or_else(|| bad(cmd, "no such variable"))?;
+    // An exact id first, then a name: an earlier variable named like another's id must not be the
+    // one copied.
+    let vars = &doc.variables.variables;
+    let pos = vars.iter().position(|x| x.id == v).or_else(|| vars.iter().position(|x| x.name == v)).ok_or_else(|| bad(cmd, "no such variable"))?;
     let mut copy = doc.variables.variables.get(pos).cloned().ok_or_else(|| bad(cmd, "no such variable"))?;
     let taken = |n: &str| doc.variables.variables.iter().any(|x| x.collection == copy.collection && x.name == n);
     let name = (1..1000)
diff --git a/crates/engine/src/variables_editor_tests.rs b/crates/engine/src/variables_editor_tests.rs
index 806300c70..65cc04763 100644
--- a/crates/engine/src/variables_editor_tests.rs
+++ b/crates/engine/src/variables_editor_tests.rs
@@ -47,6 +47,18 @@ fn rename_describe_scope_and_duplicate() {
     assert_eq!(vars.get(&id).unwrap().scopes, brand.scopes);
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn duplicate_by_id_copies_that_variable_even_when_an_earlier_one_is_named_like_its_id() {
+    let mut s = Session::new();
+    tokens(&mut s);
+    let brand = s.doc().unwrap().variables.get("brand").unwrap().id.clone();
+    // The first variable in the list takes the later one's id as its name.
+    ex(&mut s, "variable.update", json!({"variable": "space/sm", "name": brand.clone()}));
+    let id = ex(&mut s, "variable.duplicate", json!({"variable": brand.clone()}))["id"].as_str().unwrap().to_string();
+    let vars = &s.doc().unwrap().variables;
+    assert_eq!(vars.get(&id).unwrap().name, "brand copy");
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn modes_and_collections_rename_and_delete() {
     let mut s = Session::new();