diff --git a/include/wrenpp/vm_fun.hpp b/include/wrenpp/vm_fun.hpp
index a2b3ee2..f580a59 100644
--- a/include/wrenpp/vm_fun.hpp
+++ b/include/wrenpp/vm_fun.hpp
@@ -83,6 +83,8 @@ namespace wren {
 	template <typename T> T* foreign (VM& vm, int slot_num);
 	void variable(VM& vm, const ModuleAndName& mod_and_name, int slot);
 	void variable(VM& vm, const Handle& handle, int slot);
+	void variable_ensure_slot(VM& vm, const ModuleAndName& mod_and_name, int slot);
+	void variable_ensure_slot(VM& vm, const Handle& handle, int slot);
 
 	namespace detail {
 		template <typename T> struct TType { typedef T type; };
diff --git a/src/vm_fun.cpp b/src/vm_fun.cpp
index bd2855b..57fb118 100644
--- a/src/vm_fun.cpp
+++ b/src/vm_fun.cpp
@@ -79,4 +79,14 @@ namespace wren {
 	void variable (VM& vm, const Handle& handle, int slot) {
 		vm.set_slot_handle(handle, slot);
 	}
+
+	void variable_ensure_slot(VM& vm, const ModuleAndName& mod_and_name, int slot) {
+		vm.ensure_slots(1);
+		variable(vm, mod_and_name, slot);
+	}
+
+	void variable_ensure_slot (VM& vm, const Handle& handle, int slot) {
+		vm.ensure_slots(1);
+		variable(vm, handle, slot);
+	}
 } //namespace wren