diff --git a/rules-tests/DeadCode/Rector/Assign/RemoveUnusedVariableAssignRector/Fixture/skip_in_get_defined_vars.php.inc b/rules-tests/DeadCode/Rector/Assign/RemoveUnusedVariableAssignRector/Fixture/skip_in_get_defined_vars.php.inc
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..0d8ec21d667
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rules-tests/DeadCode/Rector/Assign/RemoveUnusedVariableAssignRector/Fixture/skip_in_get_defined_vars.php.inc
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+<?php
+
+namespace Rector\Tests\DeadCode\Rector\Assign\RemoveUnusedVariableAssignRector\Fixture;
+
+class SkipInCompact
+{
+    public function run()
+    {
+        $value = 'foobar';
+        return get_defined_vars();
+    }
+}
+
+?>
diff --git a/rules/DeadCode/Rector/Assign/RemoveUnusedVariableAssignRector.php b/rules/DeadCode/Rector/Assign/RemoveUnusedVariableAssignRector.php
index e902b81150a..04e8d36e32a 100644
--- a/rules/DeadCode/Rector/Assign/RemoveUnusedVariableAssignRector.php
+++ b/rules/DeadCode/Rector/Assign/RemoveUnusedVariableAssignRector.php
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ private function shouldSkip(array $stmts): bool
                 return false;
             }
 
-            return $this->isName($node, 'compact');
+            return $this->isNames($node, ['compact', 'get_defined_vars']);
         });
     }