diff --git a/.github/workflows/test.yml b/.github/workflows/test.yml
index 645d1637e8..e809511a3f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/test.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/test.yml
@@ -187,6 +187,9 @@ jobs:
       - if: ${{ matrix.task == 'optimization' }}
         name: Test Action Space
         run: PYTHONPATH="." GPU=1 python3 extra/optimization/get_action_space.py
+      - if: ${{ matrix.task == 'optimization' }}
+        name: Test Beam Search
+        run: PYTHONPATH="." GPU=1 python3 -m pytest extra/optimization/test_beam_search.py
 
   testmetalwebgpu:
     name: Metal and WebGPU Tests
diff --git a/extra/optimization/test_beam_search.py b/extra/optimization/test_beam_search.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2be6e234f2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/extra/optimization/test_beam_search.py
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+import unittest
+
+from tinygrad.helpers import BEAM
+from tinygrad.shape.symbolic import Variable
+from tinygrad.tensor import Tensor
+
+class TestBeamSearch(unittest.TestCase):
+  def setUp(self):
+    self.old_beam = BEAM.value
+    BEAM.value = 2
+  def tearDown(self):
+    BEAM.value = self.old_beam
+
+  def test_variable_ast_no_beam(self):
+    a = Tensor.rand(3, 3).reshape((Variable("a", 1, 10).bind(3), 3))
+    a = (a+1).realize()
diff --git a/tinygrad/ops.py b/tinygrad/ops.py
index 885e0b7cfe..e384591d34 100644
--- a/tinygrad/ops.py
+++ b/tinygrad/ops.py
@@ -288,7 +288,7 @@ class Compiled:
       assert k.info.dtype == output.dtype, f"linearizer must match dtype. linearizer wants {k.info.dtype} but buffer is {output.dtype}"
       if not getenv("NOOPT"):
         if not (used_tensor_cores:=k.apply_tensor_cores(getenv("TC", 1))): k.hand_coded_optimizations()
-        if BEAM:
+        if BEAM and not vars_from_ast(ast):
           kb = Linearizer(ast, self.linearizer_opts)
           kb.required_optimizations()
           kb.dont_use_locals = bool(getenv("NOLOCALS"))