diff --git a/lisp/eshell/esh-cmd.el b/lisp/eshell/esh-cmd.el
index c9096b0d159..137abe6eb75 100644
--- a/lisp/eshell/esh-cmd.el
+++ b/lisp/eshell/esh-cmd.el
@@ -488,7 +488,7 @@ command hooks should be run before and after the command."
           (grouped-terms (eshell-prepare-splice terms)))
       (cond
        (grouped-terms
-        `(let ((new-terms (nconc ,@grouped-terms)))
+        `(let ((new-terms (append ,@grouped-terms)))
            (,sym (car new-terms) (cdr new-terms))))
        ;; If no terms are spliced, use a simpler command form.
        ((cdr terms)
diff --git a/test/lisp/eshell/esh-var-tests.el b/test/lisp/eshell/esh-var-tests.el
index 70f6e9c7777..38f90e615a8 100644
--- a/test/lisp/eshell/esh-var-tests.el
+++ b/test/lisp/eshell/esh-var-tests.el
@@ -217,7 +217,8 @@ nil, use FUNCTION instead."
   "Splice-interpolate list variable."
   (let ((eshell-test-value '(1 2 3)))
     (eshell-command-result-equal "echo a $@eshell-test-value z"
-                                 '("a" 1 2 3 "z"))))
+                                 '("a" 1 2 3 "z"))
+    (should (equal eshell-test-value '(1 2 3)))))
 
 (ert-deftest esh-var-test/interp-var-splice-concat ()
   "Splice-interpolate and concat list variable."
@@ -428,7 +429,8 @@ nil, use FUNCTION instead."
   "Splice-interpolate list variable inside double-quotes."
   (let ((eshell-test-value '(1 2 3)))
     (eshell-command-result-equal "echo a \"$@eshell-test-value\" z"
-                                 '("a" "1 2 3" "z"))))
+                                 '("a" "1 2 3" "z"))
+    (should (equal eshell-test-value '(1 2 3)))))
 
 (ert-deftest esh-var-test/quoted-interp-var-splice-concat ()
   "Splice-interpolate and concat list variable inside double-quotes"