diff --git a/parser/tst/equality.sh b/parser/tst/equality.sh
index 418043a15..7370c61f7 100755
--- a/parser/tst/equality.sh
+++ b/parser/tst/equality.sh
@@ -170,12 +170,19 @@ verify_binary_equality "dbus variable expansion" \
 
 verify_binary_equality "dbus variable expansion, multiple values/rules" \
 	"/t { dbus (send, receive) path=/com/foo, dbus (send, receive) path=/com/bar, }" \
+	"/t { dbus (send, receive) path=/com/{foo,bar}, }" \
+	"/t { dbus (send, receive) path={/com/foo,/com/bar}, }" \
 	"@{FOO}=foo
 	    /t { dbus (send, receive) path=/com/@{FOO}, dbus (send, receive) path=/com/bar, }" \
 	"@{FOO}=foo bar
 	    /t { dbus (send, receive) path=/com/@{FOO}, }" \
 	"@{FOO}=bar foo
-	    /t { dbus (send, receive) path=/com/@{FOO}, }"
+	    /t { dbus (send, receive) path=/com/@{FOO}, }" \
+	"@{FOO}={bar,foo}
+	    /t { dbus (send, receive) path=/com/@{FOO}, }" \
+	"@{FOO}=foo
+	 @{BAR}=bar
+	    /t { dbus (send, receive) path=/com/{@{FOO},@{BAR}}, }" \
 
 verify_binary_equality "dbus variable expansion, ensure rule de-duping occurs" \
 	"/t { dbus (send, receive) path=/com/foo, dbus (send, receive) path=/com/bar, }" \
diff --git a/parser/tst/simple_tests/vars/vars_alternation_3.sd b/parser/tst/simple_tests/vars/vars_alternation_3.sd
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..2b1bc0c96
--- /dev/null
+++ b/parser/tst/simple_tests/vars/vars_alternation_3.sd
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+#=DESCRIPTION variable w/part of an alternation included
+#=EXRESULT PASS
+
+@{BAR}={bar,baz,blort
+
+/does/not/exist {
+  /does/not/@{BAR},exist,notexist} r,
+}
diff --git a/parser/tst/simple_tests/vars/vars_alternation_4.sd b/parser/tst/simple_tests/vars/vars_alternation_4.sd
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c57adac06
--- /dev/null
+++ b/parser/tst/simple_tests/vars/vars_alternation_4.sd
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+#=DESCRIPTION variable w/part of an alternation included
+#=EXRESULT PASS
+
+@{BAR}=bar,baz,blort}
+
+/does/not/exist {
+  /does/not/{exist,notexist@{BAR}/meep r,
+}
diff --git a/parser/tst/simple_tests/vars/vars_alternation_5.sd b/parser/tst/simple_tests/vars/vars_alternation_5.sd
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..46954a81d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/parser/tst/simple_tests/vars/vars_alternation_5.sd
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+#=DESCRIPTION variable w/part of an alternation included
+#=EXRESULT PASS
+
+@{BAR}=bar,baz,blort
+
+/does/not/exist {
+  /does/not/{exist@{BAR}notexist}/meep r,
+}
diff --git a/parser/tst/simple_tests/vars/vars_dbus_10.sd b/parser/tst/simple_tests/vars/vars_dbus_10.sd
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..4a5637edf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/parser/tst/simple_tests/vars/vars_dbus_10.sd
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+#=DESCRIPTION reference variables in dbus rules, var containing alternation
+#=EXRESULT PASS
+
+@{BUSES}=session system
+@{TLDS}=com org
+@{MEMBERS}={Get,Set}
+
+/does/not/exist {
+   dbus (send, receive)
+       bus=@{BUSES}
+       path=/@{TLDS}/foo
+       member=@{MEMBERS}.bar,
+
+}
diff --git a/parser/tst/simple_tests/vars/vars_dbus_11.sd b/parser/tst/simple_tests/vars/vars_dbus_11.sd
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..03f2c40a5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/parser/tst/simple_tests/vars/vars_dbus_11.sd
@@ -0,0 +1,14 @@
+#=DESCRIPTION reference variables in dbus rules, nested embedded alternations
+#=EXRESULT PASS
+
+@{BUSES}=session system
+@{TLDS}=com org
+@{MEMBERS}={Get,Set}
+
+/does/not/exist {
+   dbus (send, receive)
+       bus=@{BUSES}
+       path=/@{TLDS}/foo
+       member={@{MEMBERS}.bar,List.baz},
+
+}
diff --git a/parser/tst/simple_tests/vars/vars_dbus_8.sd b/parser/tst/simple_tests/vars/vars_dbus_8.sd
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..03f135baa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/parser/tst/simple_tests/vars/vars_dbus_8.sd
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+#=DESCRIPTION reference variables in dbus rules, embedded within alternation
+#=EXRESULT PASS
+
+@{TLDS}=com org
+@{DOMAINS}=gnome freedesktop
+
+/does/not/exist {
+   dbus (send, receive)
+       bus=session
+       path={/@{TLDS}/foo,/com/@{DOMAINS}}
+       interface=@{TLDS}.freedesktop
+       peer=(name=@{TLDS}.freedesktop label=/@{TLDS}/freedesktop),
+}
diff --git a/parser/tst/simple_tests/vars/vars_dbus_9.sd b/parser/tst/simple_tests/vars/vars_dbus_9.sd
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1d25c279f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/parser/tst/simple_tests/vars/vars_dbus_9.sd
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+#=DESCRIPTION reference variables in dbus rules, multiple expansions
+#=EXRESULT PASS
+
+@{BUSES}=session system
+@{TLDS}=com org
+@{DOMAINS}=gnome freedesktop
+@{FOO}=bar baz
+@{BAR}=@{FOO}/blort
+@{MEMBERS}=Get Set
+
+/does/not/exist {
+   dbus (send, receive)
+       bus=@{BUSES}
+       path=/@{TLDS}/foo
+       member=@{MEMBERS}.bar
+       interface=@{TLDS}.@{DOMAINS}
+       peer=(name=@{TLDS}.@{DOMAINS} label=/@{TLDS}/@{BAR}),
+}