diff --git a/cider-util.el b/cider-util.el
index 21c9ff1a4..9c4124434 100644
--- a/cider-util.el
+++ b/cider-util.el
@@ -134,7 +134,12 @@ find a symbol if there isn't one at point."
           (setq str (or (ignore-errors (cider-sync-request:macroexpand "macroexpand-1" str)) "")))
         (unless (text-property-any 0 (length str) 'field 'cider-repl-prompt str)
           ;; Remove font-locking, prefix quotes, and trailing . from constructors like Record.
-          (string-remove-prefix "'" (string-remove-suffix "." (substring-no-properties str)))))
+          (thread-last (substring-no-properties str)
+            ;; constructurs (Foo.)
+            (string-remove-suffix ".")
+            (string-remove-prefix "'")
+            ;; var references (#'inc 2)
+            (string-remove-prefix "#'"))))
       (when look-back
         (save-excursion
           (ignore-errors
diff --git a/test/cider-util-tests.el b/test/cider-util-tests.el
index b2b163629..d99a11bdb 100644
--- a/test/cider-util-tests.el
+++ b/test/cider-util-tests.el
@@ -107,6 +107,11 @@ buffer."
       (with-clojure-buffer "'foo'bar"
         (expect (cider-symbol-at-point) :to-equal "foo'bar"))))
 
+  (describe "when the symbol at point is var-quoted"
+    (it "returns the symbol without the preceding #'"
+      (with-clojure-buffer "#'inc"
+        (expect (cider-symbol-at-point) :to-equal "inc"))))
+
   (describe "when point is on a keyword"
     (it "returns the keyword along with beginning : character"
       (with-clojure-buffer ":abc"