diff --git a/meta/lib/oeqa/utils/commands.py b/meta/lib/oeqa/utils/commands.py
index 5cd0f7477b..e00c8797aa 100644
--- a/meta/lib/oeqa/utils/commands.py
+++ b/meta/lib/oeqa/utils/commands.py
@@ -149,6 +149,7 @@ def get_bb_vars(variables=None, target=None, postconfig=None):
     """Get values of multiple bitbake variables"""
     bbenv = get_bb_env(target, postconfig=postconfig)
 
+    variables = variables.copy()
     var_re = re.compile(r'^(export )?(?P<var>\w+)="(?P<value>.*)"$')
     unset_re = re.compile(r'^unset (?P<var>\w+)$')
     lastline = None