diff --git a/HISTORY.rst b/HISTORY.rst
index 9624b244..f26bad63 100644
--- a/HISTORY.rst
+++ b/HISTORY.rst
@@ -17,6 +17,11 @@ Unlock the true potential of embedded software development with
 PlatformIO's collaborative ecosystem, embracing declarative principles,
 test-driven methodologies, and modern toolchains for unrivaled success.
 
+6.1.13 (2024-01-12)
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+* Expanded support for SCons variables declared in the legacy format ``${SCONS_VARNAME}`` (`issue #4828 <https://github.com/platformio/platformio-core/issues/4828>`_)
+
 6.1.12 (2024-01-10)
 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
diff --git a/docs b/docs
index c3657d69..3f021525 160000
--- a/docs
+++ b/docs
@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit c3657d698d29cb8ba02bc709958ec22e7f5def04
+Subproject commit 3f02152561334a92bd8cae5c49e35cc194f86721
diff --git a/platformio/__init__.py b/platformio/__init__.py
index 0e79928a..7024104f 100644
--- a/platformio/__init__.py
+++ b/platformio/__init__.py
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
-VERSION = (6, 1, 12)
+VERSION = (6, 1, 13)
 __version__ = ".".join([str(s) for s in VERSION])
 
 __title__ = "platformio"
diff --git a/platformio/pipdeps.py b/platformio/pipdeps.py
index e9674dda..677d8c9d 100644
--- a/platformio/pipdeps.py
+++ b/platformio/pipdeps.py
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ def get_pip_dependencies():
     home = [
         # PIO Home requirements
         "ajsonrpc == 1.2.*",
-        "starlette >=0.19, <0.35",
+        "starlette >=0.19, <0.36",
         "uvicorn %s" % ("== 0.16.0" if PY36 else ">=0.16, <0.26"),
         "wsproto == 1.*",
     ]
diff --git a/platformio/project/config.py b/platformio/project/config.py
index 3d92a5ae..c583c0d2 100644
--- a/platformio/project/config.py
+++ b/platformio/project/config.py
@@ -164,6 +164,7 @@ class ProjectConfigBase:
 
     @staticmethod
     def get_section_scope(section):
+        assert section
         return section.split(":", 1)[0] if ":" in section else section
 
     def walk_options(self, root_section):
@@ -343,8 +344,11 @@ class ProjectConfigBase:
         section, option = match.group(1), match.group(2)
 
         # handle built-in variables
-        if section is None and option in self.BUILTIN_VARS:
-            return self.BUILTIN_VARS[option]()
+        if section is None:
+            if option in self.BUILTIN_VARS:
+                return self.BUILTIN_VARS[option]()
+            # SCons varaibles
+            return f"${{{option}}}"
 
         # handle system environment variables
         if section == "sysenv":
diff --git a/tests/project/test_config.py b/tests/project/test_config.py
index 3f368fe1..02741b95 100644
--- a/tests/project/test_config.py
+++ b/tests/project/test_config.py
@@ -657,13 +657,17 @@ build_dir = /tmp/pio-$PROJECT_HASH
 data_dir = $PROJECT_DIR/assets
 
 [env:myenv]
-build_flags = -D UTIME=${UNIX_TIME}
+build_flags =
+    -D UTIME=${UNIX_TIME}
+    -I ${PROJECTSRC_DIR}/hal
+    -Wl,-Map,${BUILD_DIR}/${PROGNAME}.map
 test_testing_command =
     ${platformio.packages_dir}/tool-simavr/bin/simavr
      -m
      atmega328p
      -f
      16000000L
+     ${UPLOAD_PORT and "-p "+UPLOAD_PORT}
      ${platformio.build_dir}/${this.__env__}/firmware.elf
     """
     )
@@ -672,8 +676,14 @@ test_testing_command =
         os.path.join("$PROJECT_DIR", "assets")
     )
     assert config.get("env:myenv", "build_flags")[0][-10:].isdigit()
+    assert config.get("env:myenv", "build_flags")[1] == "-I ${PROJECTSRC_DIR}/hal"
+    assert (
+        config.get("env:myenv", "build_flags")[2]
+        == "-Wl,-Map,${BUILD_DIR}/${PROGNAME}.map"
+    )
     testing_command = config.get("env:myenv", "test_testing_command")
-    assert "$" not in " ".join(testing_command)
+    assert "$" not in testing_command[0]
+    assert testing_command[5] == '${UPLOAD_PORT and "-p "+UPLOAD_PORT}'
 
 
 def test_extends_order(tmp_path: Path):