diff --git a/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/MethodCall/MergeWithCallableAndWillReturnRector/Fixture/return_variable_use.php.inc b/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/MethodCall/MergeWithCallableAndWillReturnRector/Fixture/return_variable_use.php.inc
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8291b1b8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/rules-tests/CodeQuality/Rector/MethodCall/MergeWithCallableAndWillReturnRector/Fixture/return_variable_use.php.inc
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+<?php
+
+namespace Rector\PHPUnit\Tests\CodeQuality\Rector\MethodCall\MergeWithCallableAndWillReturnRector\Fixture;
+
+use PHPUnit\Framework\TestCase;
+
+final class ReturnVariableUse extends TestCase
+{
+    public function test()
+    {
+        $anotherValue = 1000;
+
+        $this->createMock('SomeClass')
+            ->method('someMethod')
+            ->with($this->callback(function ($arg): bool {
+                return true;
+            }))
+            ->willReturn($anotherValue);
+    }
+}
+
+?>
+-----
+<?php
+
+namespace Rector\PHPUnit\Tests\CodeQuality\Rector\MethodCall\MergeWithCallableAndWillReturnRector\Fixture;
+
+use PHPUnit\Framework\TestCase;
+
+final class ReturnVariableUse extends TestCase
+{
+    public function test()
+    {
+        $anotherValue = 1000;
+
+        $this->createMock('SomeClass')
+            ->method('someMethod')
+            ->willReturnCallback(function ($arg) use ($anotherValue): int {
+                return $anotherValue;
+            });
+    }
+}
+
+?>
diff --git a/rules/CodeQuality/Rector/MethodCall/MergeWithCallableAndWillReturnRector.php b/rules/CodeQuality/Rector/MethodCall/MergeWithCallableAndWillReturnRector.php
index ea0577a5..77011f06 100644
--- a/rules/CodeQuality/Rector/MethodCall/MergeWithCallableAndWillReturnRector.php
+++ b/rules/CodeQuality/Rector/MethodCall/MergeWithCallableAndWillReturnRector.php
@@ -6,8 +6,10 @@
 
 use PhpParser\Node;
 use PhpParser\Node\Arg;
+use PhpParser\Node\ClosureUse;
 use PhpParser\Node\Expr\Closure;
 use PhpParser\Node\Expr\MethodCall;
+use PhpParser\Node\Expr\Variable;
 use PhpParser\Node\Identifier;
 use PhpParser\Node\Stmt\Return_;
 use Rector\PhpParser\Node\Value\ValueResolver;
@@ -141,9 +143,15 @@ public function refactor(Node $node): MethodCall|null
         $parentCaller->name = new Identifier('willReturnCallback');
         $parentCaller->args = [new Arg($innerClosure)];
 
+        if ($returnedExpr instanceof Variable) {
+            $innerClosure->uses[] = new ClosureUse($returnedExpr);
+        }
+
         $returnedExprType = $this->staticTypeMapper->mapPhpParserNodePHPStanType($returnedExpr);
-        $returnTypeNode = $this->staticTypeMapper->mapPHPStanTypeToPhpParserNode($returnedExprType, TypeKind::RETURN);
-        $innerClosure->returnType = $returnTypeNode instanceof Node ? $returnTypeNode : null;
+        $innerClosure->returnType = $this->staticTypeMapper->mapPHPStanTypeToPhpParserNode(
+            $returnedExprType,
+            TypeKind::RETURN
+        );
 
         return $parentCaller;
     }