use strict; use warnings; my $hashref; $hashref->{'globalkey'}->{'key2'}->{'key3'}->{'key4'}='ARRAY VALUE'; $hashref->{'globalkey'}->{'key2'}->{'key3'}->{'key4'}->{'key5'}='ARRAY VALUE'; $hashref->{'globalkey'}->{'key2'}->{'key3'}->{'key4'}->{'key5'}->{'any arbitrary number of keys'}='ARRAY VALUE'; __END__ Can't use string ("ARRAY VALUE") as a HASH ref while "strict refs" in use at - line 6.