diff --git a/platypush/backend/redis.py b/platypush/backend/redis.py
index 1fe93f074c..352f921598 100644
--- a/platypush/backend/redis.py
+++ b/platypush/backend/redis.py
@@ -69,7 +69,7 @@ class RedisBackend(Backend):
         while not self.should_stop():
             msg = self.get_message()
             self.logger.info('Received message on the Redis backend: {}'.format(msg))
-            self.bus.post(msg)
+            self.on_message(msg)
 
 
 # vim:sw=4:ts=4:et:
diff --git a/platypush/plugins/variable.py b/platypush/plugins/variable.py
index f16bdaf05f..68ac01e198 100644
--- a/platypush/plugins/variable.py
+++ b/platypush/plugins/variable.py
@@ -127,9 +127,12 @@ class VariablePlugin(Plugin):
         Set a variable or a set of variables on Redis.
 
         :param kwargs: Key-value list of variables to set (e.g. ``foo='bar', answer=42``)
+
+        :returns: A map with the set variables
         """
 
-        return self.redis_plugin.mset(**kwargs)
+        self.redis_plugin.mset(**kwargs)
+        return kwargs
 
 
     @action