diff --git a/mesonbuild/interpreter.py b/mesonbuild/interpreter.py
index 2a7ad6e77..28f56c8f1 100644
--- a/mesonbuild/interpreter.py
+++ b/mesonbuild/interpreter.py
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import os, sys, subprocess, shutil, uuid, re
 from functools import wraps
 
 import importlib
+import copy
 
 run_depr_printed = False
 
@@ -188,6 +189,7 @@ class EnvironmentVariablesHolder(InterpreterObject):
         self.methods.update({'set': self.set_method,
                              'append': self.append_method,
                              'prepend' : self.prepend_method,
+                             'copy' : self.copy_method,
                             })
 
     @stringArgs
@@ -210,6 +212,9 @@ class EnvironmentVariablesHolder(InterpreterObject):
     def prepend_method(self, args, kwargs):
         self.add_var(self.held_object.prepend, args, kwargs)
 
+    def copy_method(self, args, kwargs):
+        return copy.deepcopy(self)
+
 
 class ConfigurationDataHolder(InterpreterObject):
     def __init__(self):