diff --git a/src/main/java/org/perlonjava/runtime/RuntimeList.java b/src/main/java/org/perlonjava/runtime/RuntimeList.java
index dd0cfd1d..1d86ebac 100644
--- a/src/main/java/org/perlonjava/runtime/RuntimeList.java
+++ b/src/main/java/org/perlonjava/runtime/RuntimeList.java
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package org.perlonjava.runtime;
 
 import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.IdentityHashMap;
 import java.util.Iterator;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;
@@ -386,6 +387,32 @@ public RuntimeList createListReference() {
      */
     public RuntimeArray setFromList(RuntimeList value) {
 
+        boolean hasUndefPlaceholderLhs = false;
+        for (RuntimeBase elem : elements) {
+            if (elem instanceof RuntimeScalarReadOnly runtimeScalarReadOnly
+                    && !runtimeScalarReadOnly.getDefinedBoolean()) {
+                hasUndefPlaceholderLhs = true;
+                break;
+            }
+        }
+
+        // Preserve RHS aliases before consuming `value`.
+        // Only needed when the LHS contains `undef` placeholders.
+        List<RuntimeScalar> rhsAliasElements = null;
+        IdentityHashMap<RuntimeScalar, Boolean> lhsScalars = null;
+        if (hasUndefPlaceholderLhs) {
+            RuntimeArray rhsAliases = new RuntimeArray();
+            value.setArrayOfAlias(rhsAliases);
+            rhsAliasElements = rhsAliases.elements;
+
+            lhsScalars = new IdentityHashMap<>();
+            for (RuntimeBase elem : elements) {
+                if (elem instanceof RuntimeScalar s && !(s instanceof RuntimeScalarReadOnly)) {
+                    lhsScalars.put(s, Boolean.TRUE);
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
         // Materialize the RHS once into a flat list.
         // Avoids O(n^2) from repeated RuntimeArray.shift() which does removeFirst() on ArrayList.
         RuntimeArray rhs = new RuntimeArray();
@@ -402,7 +429,19 @@ public RuntimeArray setFromList(RuntimeList value) {
 
         for (RuntimeBase elem : elements) {
             if (elem instanceof RuntimeScalarReadOnly runtimeScalarReadOnly && !runtimeScalarReadOnly.getDefinedBoolean()) {
-                // Discard one RHS value
+                // `undef` placeholder on LHS: consume one RHS value, but return something for this position.
+                // When safe, return the RHS element as an lvalue (alias). Otherwise return the pre-assignment value.
+                RuntimeScalar rhsValue = (rhsIndex < rhsSize) ? rhsElements.get(rhsIndex) : new RuntimeScalar();
+                RuntimeScalar rhsAlias = (rhsAliasElements != null && rhsIndex < rhsAliasElements.size())
+                        ? rhsAliasElements.get(rhsIndex)
+                        : null;
+
+                // If the RHS element is also assigned on the LHS, it must not be returned as an alias
+                // (it would reflect the post-assignment value rather than the pre-assignment value).
+                boolean useAlias = rhsAlias != null && lhsScalars != null && !lhsScalars.containsKey(rhsAlias);
+
+                result.elements.add(useAlias ? rhsAlias : rhsValue);
+
                 if (rhsIndex < rhsSize) {
                     rhsIndex++;
                 }