diff --git a/src/View/Antlers/Language/Runtime/NodeProcessor.php b/src/View/Antlers/Language/Runtime/NodeProcessor.php
index 2d4a117668f..1d7bf42b81a 100644
--- a/src/View/Antlers/Language/Runtime/NodeProcessor.php
+++ b/src/View/Antlers/Language/Runtime/NodeProcessor.php
@@ -2589,7 +2589,7 @@ private function evaluatePhpBuffer(string $___phpBuffer, bool $___processAssignm
                 foreach ($___antlersVarAfter as $___varKey => $___varValue) {
                     if (
                         str_starts_with($___varKey, '___') ||
-                        (isset($___antlersVarBefore[$___varKey]) && $___antlersVarBefore[$___varKey] === $___varValue)
+                        (array_key_exists($___varKey, $___antlersVarBefore) && $___antlersVarBefore[$___varKey] === $___varValue)
                     ) {
                         continue;
                     }
diff --git a/tests/Antlers/Runtime/PartialsTest.php b/tests/Antlers/Runtime/PartialsTest.php
index 99b5de565a7..223a3f2c555 100644
--- a/tests/Antlers/Runtime/PartialsTest.php
+++ b/tests/Antlers/Runtime/PartialsTest.php
@@ -82,4 +82,17 @@ public function test_double_colons_may_be_used_in_tag_method_part()
 
         $this->renderString($template, [], true);
     }
+
+    public function test_assignments_in_earlier_partials_do_not_blank_a_later_partials_slot()
+    {
+        $template = <<<'EOT'
+{{? $foo = 'bar' ?}}{{ partial:filter /}}{{ partial:card }}KEEPME{{ /partial:card }}
+EOT;
+
+        $this->withFakeViews();
+        $this->viewShouldReturnRaw('filter', "{{? \$values = 'v' ?}}FILTER");
+        $this->viewShouldReturnRaw('card', "{{ trans key='hi' }}<slot>{{ slot }}</slot>");
+
+        $this->assertSame('FILTERhi<slot>KEEPME</slot>', $this->renderString($template, [], true));
+    }
 }