diff --git a/changelog/977.md b/changelog/977.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d41453c1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog/977.md
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+- Fix warning when calling hasVariable for an undefined variable [#977](https://github.com/smarty-php/smarty/issues/977)
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/Data.php b/src/Data.php
index 582ee660..3bb7814d 100644
--- a/src/Data.php
+++ b/src/Data.php
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ class Data
 	 * @return bool
 	 */
 	public function hasVariable($varName): bool {
-		return !($this->getVariable($varName) instanceof UndefinedVariable);
+		return !($this->getVariable($varName, true, false) instanceof UndefinedVariable);
 	}
 
 	/**