diff --git a/src/builtin.jq b/src/builtin.jq
index d1be3f40..d5fa9b99 100644
--- a/src/builtin.jq
+++ b/src/builtin.jq
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ def max_by(f): _max_by_impl(map([f]));
 def min_by(f): _min_by_impl(map([f]));
 def add: reduce .[] as $x (null; . + $x);
 def del(f): delpaths([path(f)]);
-def _assign(paths; value): value as $v | reduce path(paths) as $p (.; setpath($p; $v));
+def _assign(paths; $value): reduce path(paths) as $p (.; setpath($p; $value));
 def _modify(paths; update): reduce path(paths) as $p (.; label $out | (setpath($p; getpath($p) | update) | ., break $out), delpaths([$p]));
 def map_values(f): .[] |= f;