diff --git a/engine/compiler.c b/engine/compiler.c
index 5bfa1ff..2b33b60 100644
--- a/engine/compiler.c
+++ b/engine/compiler.c
@@ -2557,7 +2557,7 @@ static sxi32 PH7_CompileVar(ph7_gen_state *pGen) {
 			}
 			void *p3 = (void *) zDup;
 			/* Emit OP_LOAD instruction */
-			PH7_VmEmitInstr(pGen->pVm, pGen->pIn->nLine, PH7_OP_LOAD, 0, nType, p3, 0);
+			PH7_VmEmitInstr(pGen->pVm, pGen->pIn->nLine, PH7_OP_DECLARE, 0, nType, p3, 0);
 			/* Check if we have an expression to compile */
 			if(pGen->pIn < pGen->pEnd && (pGen->pIn[2].nType & PH7_TK_EQUAL)) {
 				/* Compile the expression */
diff --git a/engine/vm.c b/engine/vm.c
index 6a67477..02c553e 100644
--- a/engine/vm.c
+++ b/engine/vm.c
@@ -2395,6 +2395,39 @@ static sxi32 VmByteCodeExec(
 					break;
 				}
 			/*
+			 * DECLARE: * P2 P3
+			 *
+			 * Create a variable where it's name is taken from the top of the stack or
+			 * from the P3 operand. It takes a variable type from P2 operand.
+			 */
+			case PH7_OP_DECLARE: {
+					ph7_value *pObj;
+					SyString sName;
+					SyStringInitFromBuf(&sName, pInstr->p3, SyStrlen((const char *)pInstr->p3));
+					/* Reserve a room for the target object */
+					pTos++;
+					/* Create a new variable */
+					pObj = VmCreateMemObj(&(*pVm), &sName, FALSE);
+					if(!pObj) {
+						PH7_VmThrowError(&(*pVm), PH7_CTX_ERR,
+										"Redeclaration of ‘$%z’ variable", &sName);
+					}
+					if(pInstr->iP2 & MEMOBJ_MIXED && (pInstr->iP2 & MEMOBJ_HASHMAP) == 0) {
+						pObj->iFlags = MEMOBJ_MIXED | MEMOBJ_VOID;
+					} else {
+						if(pInstr->iP2 & MEMOBJ_HASHMAP) {
+							ph7_hashmap *pMap;
+							pMap = PH7_NewHashmap(&(*pVm), 0, 0);
+							if(pMap == 0) {
+								PH7_VmMemoryError(&(*pVm));
+							}
+							pObj->x.pOther = pMap;
+						}
+						MemObjSetType(pObj, pInstr->iP2);
+					}
+					pTos->nIdx = SXU32_HIGH; /* Mark as constant */
+					break;
+				}			/*
 			 * LOADC P1 P2 *
 			 *
 			 * Load a constant [i.e: PHP_EOL,PHP_OS,__TIME__,...] indexed at P2 in the constant pool.
@@ -5369,6 +5402,9 @@ static const char *VmInstrToString(sxi32 nOp) {
 		case PH7_OP_HALT:
 			zOp = "HALT";
 			break;
+		case PH7_OP_DECLARE:
+			zOp = "DECLARE";
+			break;
 		case PH7_OP_LOAD:
 			zOp = "LOAD";
 			break;
diff --git a/include/ph7int.h b/include/ph7int.h
index 112a289..82272a6 100644
--- a/include/ph7int.h
+++ b/include/ph7int.h
@@ -1389,6 +1389,7 @@ enum iErrCode {
 enum ph7_vm_op {
 	PH7_OP_DONE =   1,   /* Done */
 	PH7_OP_HALT,         /* Halt */
+	PH7_OP_DECLARE,      /* Declare a variable */
 	PH7_OP_LOAD,         /* Load memory object */
 	PH7_OP_LOADC,        /* Load constant */
 	PH7_OP_LOAD_IDX,     /* Load array entry */