You are mixing scalars($master_ref) and lists ().

Try this instead: 

$master_ref = { %$master_ref,  %{return_hash_ref()} }; # line 18 
  # .. both sides of "=" are now  scalars
  # hashrefs are expanded to hashes

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        "I can cast out either one of your demons, but not both of them." -- the XORcist

In reply to Re: Return a hashref into another by NetWallah
in thread Return a hashref into another by neilwatson

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