diff --git a/pkg/target/kusttarget_test.go b/pkg/target/kusttarget_test.go
index bce667681..68bc55d7f 100644
--- a/pkg/target/kusttarget_test.go
+++ b/pkg/target/kusttarget_test.go
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ package target_test
 import (
 	"encoding/base64"
 	"fmt"
+	"reflect"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
@@ -333,7 +334,12 @@ vars:
 		t.Fatalf("unexpected size %d", len(vars))
 	}
 	for i := range vars[:2] {
-		if !vars[i].DeepEqual(someVars[i]) {
+		// We have to enforce the Defaulting call in someVars[i]
+		// to protect from a potential call of vars[i].ObjRef.GVK()
+		// during AccumulateTarget
+		vars[i].Defaulting()
+		someVars[i].Defaulting()
+		if !reflect.DeepEqual(vars[i], someVars[i]) {
 			t.Fatalf("unexpected var[%d]:\n  %v\n  %v", i, vars[i], someVars[i])
 		}
 	}
@@ -386,7 +392,9 @@ resources:
 		t.Fatalf("expected 4 vars, got %d", len(vars))
 	}
 	for i := range vars {
-		if !vars[i].DeepEqual(someVars[i]) {
+		vars[i].Defaulting()
+		someVars[i].Defaulting()
+		if !reflect.DeepEqual(vars[i], someVars[i]) {
 			t.Fatalf("unexpected var[%d]:\n  %v\n  %v", i, vars[i], someVars[i])
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/pkg/types/var.go b/pkg/types/var.go
index 3a911f625..1306c1b02 100644
--- a/pkg/types/var.go
+++ b/pkg/types/var.go
@@ -66,22 +66,21 @@ type FieldSelector struct {
 }
 
 // defaulting sets reference to field used by default.
-func (v *Var) defaulting() {
+func (v *Var) Defaulting() {
 	if v.FieldRef.FieldPath == "" {
 		v.FieldRef.FieldPath = defaultFieldPath
 	}
+	v.ObjRef.GVK()
 }
 
-// VarEquals returns true if var a and b are Equals.
+// DeepEqual returns true if var a and b are Equals.
+// Note 1: The objects are unchanged by the VarEqual
+// Note 2: Should be normalize be FieldPath before doing
+// the DeepEqual. spec.a[b] is supposed to be the same
+// as spec.a.b
 func (v Var) DeepEqual(other Var) bool {
-	v.ObjRef.GVK()
-	if v.FieldRef.FieldPath == "" {
-		v.FieldRef.FieldPath = "metadata.name"
-	}
-	other.ObjRef.GVK()
-	if other.FieldRef.FieldPath == "" {
-		other.FieldRef.FieldPath = "metadata.name"
-	}
+	v.Defaulting()
+	other.Defaulting()
 	return reflect.DeepEqual(v, other)
 }
 
@@ -144,7 +143,7 @@ func (vs *VarSet) Merge(v Var) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf(
 			"var '%s' already encountered", v.Name)
 	}
-	v.defaulting()
+	v.Defaulting()
 	vs.set[v.Name] = v
 	return nil
 }
@@ -152,7 +151,9 @@ func (vs *VarSet) Merge(v Var) error {
 // AbsorbSet absorbs other vars with error on (name,value) collision.
 func (vs *VarSet) AbsorbSet(incoming VarSet) error {
 	for _, v := range incoming.set {
-		vs.Absorb(v)
+		if err := vs.Absorb(v); err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
 	}
 	return nil
 }
@@ -174,12 +175,12 @@ func (vs *VarSet) Absorb(v Var) error {
 	conflicting := vs.Get(v.Name)
 	if conflicting == nil {
 		// no conflict. The var is valid.
-		v.defaulting()
+		v.Defaulting()
 		vs.set[v.Name] = v
 		return nil
 	}
 
-	if !v.DeepEqual(*conflicting) {
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(v, *conflicting) {
 		// two vars with the same name are pointing at two
 		// different resources.
 		return fmt.Errorf(
diff --git a/pkg/types/var_test.go b/pkg/types/var_test.go
index 95f799e02..efd3db7a9 100644
--- a/pkg/types/var_test.go
+++ b/pkg/types/var_test.go
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ func TestDefaulting(t *testing.T) {
 			Name: "my-secret",
 		},
 	}
-	v.defaulting()
+	v.Defaulting()
 	if v.FieldRef.FieldPath != defaultFieldPath {
 		t.Fatalf("expected %s, got %v",
 			defaultFieldPath, v.FieldRef.FieldPath)