my $foo = be({name => "foo"}); my $bar = be({name => "bar", data => $foo}); my $baz = be({name => "baz", data => $bar}); sub gotcha { $bar->{"bar can't go"} = "until this function is cleaned up"; } sub be { return bless shift; } sub DESTROY { my $self = shift; print "$self->{name} died\n"; } __END__ on 5.005_03 for me prints: baz died foo died bar died