diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/src/hackVisitor.ts b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/src/hackVisitor.ts
index 440b8df31f80..ab8be5de7947 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/src/hackVisitor.ts
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/src/hackVisitor.ts
@@ -1,8 +1,27 @@
 import { types as t } from "@babel/core";
+import type { NodePath, Visitor } from "@babel/traverse";
 
-const topicReferenceReplacementVisitor = {
-  TopicReference(path) {
-    path.replaceWith(t.cloneNode(this.topicVariable));
+const topicReferenceVisitor: Visitor<{
+  topicReferences: NodePath<t.TopicReference>[];
+  sideEffectsBeforeFirstTopicReference: boolean;
+}> = {
+  exit(path, state) {
+    if (path.isTopicReference()) {
+      state.topicReferences.push(path);
+    } else {
+      if (
+        state.topicReferences.length === 0 &&
+        !state.sideEffectsBeforeFirstTopicReference &&
+        !path.isPure()
+      ) {
+        state.sideEffectsBeforeFirstTopicReference = true;
+      }
+    }
+  },
+  "ClassBody|Function"(_, state) {
+    if (state.topicReferences.length === 0) {
+      state.sideEffectsBeforeFirstTopicReference = true;
+    }
   },
 };
 
@@ -22,22 +41,41 @@ export default {
         return;
       }
 
-      const topicVariable = scope.generateUidIdentifierBasedOnNode(node);
       const pipeBodyPath = path.get("right");
-
-      scope.push({ id: topicVariable });
-
       if (pipeBodyPath.node.type === "TopicReference") {
         // If the pipe body is itself a lone topic reference,
-        // then replace it with the topic variable.
-        pipeBodyPath.replaceWith(t.cloneNode(topicVariable));
-      } else {
-        // Replace topic references with the topic variable.
-        pipeBodyPath.traverse(topicReferenceReplacementVisitor, {
-          topicVariable,
-        });
+        // then replace the whole expression with its left operand.
+        path.replaceWith(node.left);
+        return;
+      }
+
+      const visitorState = {
+        topicReferences: [],
+        // pipeBodyPath might be a function, and it won't be visited by
+        // topicReferenceVisitor because traverse() skips the top-level
+        // node. We must handle that case here manually.
+        sideEffectsBeforeFirstTopicReference: pipeBodyPath.isFunction(),
+      };
+      pipeBodyPath.traverse(topicReferenceVisitor, visitorState);
+
+      if (
+        visitorState.topicReferences.length === 1 &&
+        (!visitorState.sideEffectsBeforeFirstTopicReference ||
+          path.scope.isPure(node.left, true))
+      ) {
+        visitorState.topicReferences[0].replaceWith(node.left);
+        path.replaceWith(node.right);
+        return;
       }
 
+      const topicVariable = scope.generateUidIdentifierBasedOnNode(node);
+      scope.push({ id: topicVariable });
+
+      // Replace topic references with the topic variable.
+      visitorState.topicReferences.forEach(path =>
+        path.replaceWith(t.cloneNode(topicVariable)),
+      );
+
       // Replace the pipe expression itself with an assignment expression.
       path.replaceWith(
         t.sequenceExpression([
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/hash-tuple/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/hash-tuple/output.js
index 877d41141fbe..d4cfc944b3b8 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/hash-tuple/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/hash-tuple/output.js
@@ -1,4 +1,2 @@
-var _ref;
-
 Tuple(0);
-_ref = 1, Tuple(0, _ref);
+Tuple(0, 1);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-body-identity/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-body-identity/output.js
index ab1b47369050..fff94385d04c 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-body-identity/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-body-identity/output.js
@@ -1,4 +1,2 @@
-var _ref;
-
-const result = (_ref = 5, _ref);
+const result = 5;
 expect(result).toBe(5);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-body-with-addition/input.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-body-with-addition/input.js
index 74b9e61a826f..d276b2ea885a 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-body-with-addition/input.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-body-with-addition/input.js
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
-const result = 5 |> ^ + 1 |> ^ + ^;
+const result = 5 |> ^ + 1 |> 2 + ^ |> ^ + ^;
 
 expect(result).toBe(12);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-body-with-addition/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-body-with-addition/output.js
index 62a22e6b7067..a5ad33604731 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-body-with-addition/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-body-with-addition/output.js
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-var _ref, _ref2;
+var _ref;
 
-const result = (_ref2 = 5, (_ref = _ref2 + 1, _ref + _ref));
+const result = (_ref = 2 + (5 + 1), _ref + _ref);
 expect(result).toBe(12);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-body-with-arrow-function-and-nested-pipe/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-body-with-arrow-function-and-nested-pipe/output.js
index bf1fcd321aef..de6a062dd636 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-body-with-arrow-function-and-nested-pipe/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-body-with-arrow-function-and-nested-pipe/output.js
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
-var _ref4, _ref5, _ref6;
+var _ref2;
 
-const result = (_ref6 = 5, (_ref5 = Math.pow(_ref6, 2), (_ref4 = [1, 2, 3].map(n => {
-  var _ref, _ref2, _ref3;
+const result = (_ref2 = Math.pow(5, 2), [1, 2, 3].map(n => {
+  var _ref;
 
-  return _ref3 = n + _ref5, (_ref2 = _ref3 * 2, (_ref = `${_ref2} apples`, _ref.toUpperCase()));
-}), _ref4.join())));
+  return _ref = (n + _ref2) * 2, `${_ref} apples`.toUpperCase();
+}).join());
 expect(result).toEqual('52 APPLES,54 APPLES,56 APPLES');
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-body-with-arrow-function/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-body-with-arrow-function/output.js
index 5def3730d465..1aa133d6dc19 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-body-with-arrow-function/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-body-with-arrow-function/output.js
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
-var _ref, _ref2, _ref3;
+var _ref;
 
-const result = (_ref3 = -2.2 // -2.2
-, (_ref2 = Math.floor(_ref3) // -3
-, (_ref = () => Math.pow(_ref2, 5) // () => -243
-, _ref()))); // -243
+const result = (_ref = Math.floor(-2.2 // -2.2
+) // -3
+, (() => Math.pow(_ref, 5) // () => -243
+)()); // -243
 
 expect(result).toBe(-243);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-body-with-await/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-body-with-await/output.js
index aa3d4e62d419..6a06c7506e69 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-body-with-await/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-body-with-await/output.js
@@ -3,9 +3,9 @@ function triple(x) {
 }
 
 async function asyncFunction(n) {
-  var _ref, _ref2, _ref3;
+  var _ref;
 
-  return _ref3 = n, (_ref2 = Math.abs(_ref3), (_ref = await Promise.resolve(_ref2), triple(_ref)));
+  return _ref = Math.abs(n), triple(await Promise.resolve(_ref));
 }
 
 asyncFunction(-7).then(result => {
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-body-with-class-expression-and-private-properties/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-body-with-class-expression-and-private-properties/output.js
index 638f9cda750f..ca3556d1ea71 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-body-with-class-expression-and-private-properties/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-body-with-class-expression-and-private-properties/output.js
@@ -1,10 +1,8 @@
-var _ref, _ref2, _ref3;
-
-const result = (_ref3 = 1, (_ref2 = class {
+const result = new class {
   #baz;
 
   constructor() {
-    this.#baz = _ref3;
+    this.#baz = 1;
   }
 
   #bar() {
@@ -15,5 +13,5 @@ const result = (_ref3 = 1, (_ref2 = class {
     return this.#bar() + 3;
   }
 
-}, (_ref = new _ref2(), _ref.foo())));
+}().foo();
 expect(result).toBe(1 + 2 + 3);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-body-with-eval/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-body-with-eval/output.js
index c5dbd6107a44..e78e6ed5fb22 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-body-with-eval/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-body-with-eval/output.js
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-var _ref;
-
 const program = '(function() { return this; })()';
-const result = (_ref = program, eval(_ref));
+const result = eval(program);
 expect(result).not.toBeUndefined();
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-body-with-nested-pipe/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-body-with-nested-pipe/output.js
index 8ee6b4bbf42f..c877ba76e3ab 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-body-with-nested-pipe/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-body-with-nested-pipe/output.js
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-var _ref, _ref2, _ref3, _ref4;
+var _ref;
 
-const result = (_ref4 = 5, (_ref3 = Math.pow(_ref4, 2), (_ref2 = _ref3 + 1, (_ref = `${_ref2} apples`, _ref.toUpperCase()))));
+const result = (_ref = Math.pow(5, 2) + 1, `${_ref} apples`.toUpperCase());
 expect(result).toEqual('26 APPLES');
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-body-with-object-literal/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-body-with-object-literal/output.js
index cd74f2422e0a..d324ac803e31 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-body-with-object-literal/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-body-with-object-literal/output.js
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
-var _ref, _ref2, _ref3;
+var _ref;
 
 function area(rect) {
   return rect.width * rect.height;
 }
 
-const result = (_ref3 = -5, (_ref2 = Math.abs(_ref3), (_ref = {
-  width: _ref2,
-  height: _ref2 + 3
-}, area(_ref))));
+const result = (_ref = Math.abs(-5), area({
+  width: _ref,
+  height: _ref + 3
+}));
 expect(result).toBe(40);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-body-with-topic-method-call/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-body-with-topic-method-call/output.js
index 029efa564267..6e67dad6e05e 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-body-with-topic-method-call/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-body-with-topic-method-call/output.js
@@ -1,4 +1,2 @@
-var _ref;
-
-const result = (_ref = 'Hello', _ref.toUpperCase());
+const result = 'Hello'.toUpperCase();
 expect(result).toBe('HELLO');
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-body-with-yield/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-body-with-yield/output.js
index 40f127c27ae2..5461ced6396b 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-body-with-yield/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-body-with-yield/output.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 function* myGenerator(n) {
-  var _ref, _ref2;
+  var _ref;
 
-  return _ref2 = n, (_ref = yield _ref2, Math.abs(_ref));
+  return _ref = yield n, Math.abs(_ref);
 }
 
 const myIterator = myGenerator(15);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-head-with-nested-pipe/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-head-with-nested-pipe/output.js
index 1adde6582021..9693f27b9639 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-head-with-nested-pipe/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-head-with-nested-pipe/output.js
@@ -1,4 +1,2 @@
-var _ref, _ref2;
-
-const result = (_ref2 = (_ref = 5, Math.pow(_ref, 2)), _ref2 + 1);
+const result = Math.pow(5, 2) + 1;
 expect(result).toEqual(26);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-in-arrow-function/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-in-arrow-function/output.js
index 66106a985d16..cfbe06c1cd17 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-in-arrow-function/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/pipe-in-arrow-function/output.js
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 const result = () => {
-  var _ref, _ref2, _ref3;
+  var _ref;
 
-  return _ref3 = -2.2 // -2.2
-  , (_ref2 = Math.floor(_ref3) // -3
-  , (_ref = () => Math.pow(_ref2, 5) // () => -243
-  , _ref()));
+  return _ref = Math.floor(-2.2 // -2.2
+  ) // -3
+  , (() => Math.pow(_ref, 5) // () => -243
+  )();
 }; // -243
 
 
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/topic-token-in-function/exec.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/topic-token-in-function/exec.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..e012db62b173
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/topic-token-in-function/exec.js
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+let x = 0;
+
+let fnA = x++ |> (() => ^);
+let fnB = x++ |> (0, () => ^);
+
+expect(x).toBe(2);
+expect(fnA()).toBe(0);
+expect(fnB()).toBe(1);
+expect(x).toBe(2);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/topic-token-in-function/input.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/topic-token-in-function/input.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..e012db62b173
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/topic-token-in-function/input.js
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+let x = 0;
+
+let fnA = x++ |> (() => ^);
+let fnB = x++ |> (0, () => ^);
+
+expect(x).toBe(2);
+expect(fnA()).toBe(0);
+expect(fnB()).toBe(1);
+expect(x).toBe(2);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/topic-token-in-function/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/topic-token-in-function/output.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..83c350683151
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/topic-token-in-function/output.js
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+var _ref, _ref2;
+
+let x = 0;
+let fnA = (_ref = x++, () => _ref);
+let fnB = (_ref2 = x++, (0, () => _ref2));
+expect(x).toBe(2);
+expect(fnA()).toBe(0);
+expect(fnB()).toBe(1);
+expect(x).toBe(2);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/transform-arrow-functions/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/transform-arrow-functions/output.js
index 23cdd3fe2a2b..295f89096289 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/transform-arrow-functions/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/transform-arrow-functions/output.js
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
-var _ref, _ref2;
-
 const triple = function (x) {
   return x * 3;
 };
 
-const result = (_ref2 = -7, (_ref = Math.abs(_ref2), triple(_ref)));
+const result = triple(Math.abs(-7));
 return expect(result).toBe(21);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/transform-await-and-arrow-functions/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/transform-await-and-arrow-functions/output.js
index 3a32f6e23831..38d23643558d 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/transform-await-and-arrow-functions/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/transform-await-and-arrow-functions/output.js
@@ -3,9 +3,9 @@ const triple = function (x) {
 };
 
 async function myFunction(n) {
-  var _ref, _ref2, _ref3, _ref4;
+  var _ref;
 
-  return _ref4 = n, (_ref3 = Math.abs(_ref4), (_ref2 = Promise.resolve(_ref3), (_ref = await _ref2, triple(_ref))));
+  return _ref = Math.abs(n), triple(await Promise.resolve(_ref));
 }
 
 return myFunction(-7).then(function (result) {
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/exec.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/exec.js
index 5d893fe9e1ed..bb134909d889 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/exec.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/exec.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 let i = 0;
 let sum = 0;
 
-while (i |> (i = ^ + 1) |> ^ <= 10)
+while (i |> (i = 2 * ^ - ^ + 1) |> ^ <= 10)
   sum += i;
 
 expect(sum).toBe(10 + 9 + 8 + 7 + 6 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/input.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/input.js
index 5d893fe9e1ed..bb134909d889 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/input.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/input.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 let i = 0;
 let sum = 0;
 
-while (i |> (i = ^ + 1) |> ^ <= 10)
+while (i |> (i = 2 * ^ - ^ + 1) |> ^ <= 10)
   sum += i;
 
 expect(sum).toBe(10 + 9 + 8 + 7 + 6 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/output.js
index 0622dfee4902..b7555717c674 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/output.js
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 let i = 0;
 let sum = 0;
 
-while (_ref2 = i, (_ref = i = _ref2 + 1, _ref <= 10)) {
-  var _ref, _ref2;
+while (_ref = i, (i = 2 * _ref - _ref + 1) <= 10) {
+  var _ref;
 
   sum += i;
 }
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/within-assignment/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/within-assignment/output.js
index 5ca2ce9e5390..67e71ae3eb19 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/within-assignment/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/within-assignment/output.js
@@ -1,4 +1,2 @@
-var _ref;
-
-const x = (_ref = 0, _ref + 1);
+const x = 0 + 1;
 expect(x).toBe(1);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/within-for-classic-statement-init/input.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/within-for-classic-statement-init/input.js
index 444eb6750af8..d99226b077a0 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/within-for-classic-statement-init/input.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/within-for-classic-statement-init/input.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 let sum = 0;
-for (var i = 0 |> ^; i <= 10; i++)
+for (var i = 0 |> ^*^; i <= 10; i++)
   sum += i;
 
 expect(sum).toBe(10 + 9 + 8 + 7 + 6 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/within-for-classic-statement-init/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/within-for-classic-statement-init/output.js
index dd399138c6fb..a9a09d54d313 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/within-for-classic-statement-init/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/within-for-classic-statement-init/output.js
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 let sum = 0;
 
-for (var i = (_ref = 0, _ref); i <= 10; i++) {
+for (var i = (_ref = 0, _ref * _ref); i <= 10; i++) {
   var _ref;
 
   sum += i;
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/within-for-classic-statement-test/exec.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/within-for-classic-statement-test/exec.js
index 5abd941fbefb..d47c4d7a0b94 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/within-for-classic-statement-test/exec.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/within-for-classic-statement-test/exec.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 let sum = 0;
-for (var i = 0; i |> ^ <= 10; i++)
+for (var i = 0; i |> ^ + ^ <= 20; i++)
   sum = sum + i;
 
 expect(sum).toBe(10 + 9 + 8 + 7 + 6 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1)
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/within-for-classic-statement-test/input.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/within-for-classic-statement-test/input.js
index 5abd941fbefb..d47c4d7a0b94 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/within-for-classic-statement-test/input.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/within-for-classic-statement-test/input.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 let sum = 0;
-for (var i = 0; i |> ^ <= 10; i++)
+for (var i = 0; i |> ^ + ^ <= 20; i++)
   sum = sum + i;
 
 expect(sum).toBe(10 + 9 + 8 + 7 + 6 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1)
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/within-for-classic-statement-test/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/within-for-classic-statement-test/output.js
index 14ae06d74abf..0f9c6baa98ec 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/within-for-classic-statement-test/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/within-for-classic-statement-test/output.js
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 let sum = 0;
 
-for (var i = 0; _ref = i, _ref <= 10; i++) {
+for (var i = 0; _ref = i, _ref + _ref <= 20; i++) {
   var _ref;
 
   sum = sum + i;
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/within-for-classic-statement-update/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/within-for-classic-statement-update/output.js
index a741096b130d..2d117859e8b1 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/within-for-classic-statement-update/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/within-for-classic-statement-update/output.js
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 let sum = 0;
 
-for (var i = 0; i <= 10; i = (_ref = i, _ref + 1)) {
-  var _ref;
-
+for (var i = 0; i <= 10; i = i + 1) {
   sum = sum + i;
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/within-generator-with-yield/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/within-generator-with-yield/output.js
index 4e9cfe3a1240..e0876570a06e 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/within-generator-with-yield/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-caret/within-generator-with-yield/output.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 function* myGenerator(n) {
-  var _ref, _ref2;
+  var _ref;
 
-  return _ref2 = n, (_ref = yield _ref2, Math.abs(_ref));
+  return _ref = yield n, Math.abs(_ref);
 }
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/class-decorator/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/class-decorator/output.js
index 743b6624c395..3d2b64ddf390 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/class-decorator/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/class-decorator/output.js
@@ -1,19 +1,17 @@
-var _ref;
-
 const expectedValue = 42;
 
 function decorator(target) {
   target.decoratorValue = expectedValue;
 }
 
-const result = (_ref = expectedValue, babelHelpers.decorate([decorator], function (_initialize) {
+const result = babelHelpers.decorate([decorator], function (_initialize) {
   "use strict";
 
   class _class {
     constructor() {
       _initialize(this);
 
-      this.value = _ref;
+      this.value = expectedValue;
     }
 
   }
@@ -22,6 +20,6 @@ const result = (_ref = expectedValue, babelHelpers.decorate([decorator], functio
     F: _class,
     d: []
   };
-}));
+});
 expect(result.decoratorValue).toBe(expectedValue);
 expect(new result().value).toBe(expectedValue);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/hash-tuple/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/hash-tuple/output.js
index 877d41141fbe..d4cfc944b3b8 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/hash-tuple/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/hash-tuple/output.js
@@ -1,4 +1,2 @@
-var _ref;
-
 Tuple(0);
-_ref = 1, Tuple(0, _ref);
+Tuple(0, 1);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-body-identity/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-body-identity/output.js
index ab1b47369050..fff94385d04c 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-body-identity/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-body-identity/output.js
@@ -1,4 +1,2 @@
-var _ref;
-
-const result = (_ref = 5, _ref);
+const result = 5;
 expect(result).toBe(5);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-body-with-addition/input.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-body-with-addition/input.js
index 787c506985e2..0f2ce0911c24 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-body-with-addition/input.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-body-with-addition/input.js
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
-const result = 5 |> @@ + 1 |> @@ + @@;
+const result = 5 |> @@ + 1 |> 2 + @@ |> @@ + @@;
 
 expect(result).toBe(12);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-body-with-addition/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-body-with-addition/output.js
index 62a22e6b7067..a5ad33604731 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-body-with-addition/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-body-with-addition/output.js
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-var _ref, _ref2;
+var _ref;
 
-const result = (_ref2 = 5, (_ref = _ref2 + 1, _ref + _ref));
+const result = (_ref = 2 + (5 + 1), _ref + _ref);
 expect(result).toBe(12);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-body-with-arrow-function-and-nested-pipe/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-body-with-arrow-function-and-nested-pipe/output.js
index bf1fcd321aef..de6a062dd636 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-body-with-arrow-function-and-nested-pipe/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-body-with-arrow-function-and-nested-pipe/output.js
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
-var _ref4, _ref5, _ref6;
+var _ref2;
 
-const result = (_ref6 = 5, (_ref5 = Math.pow(_ref6, 2), (_ref4 = [1, 2, 3].map(n => {
-  var _ref, _ref2, _ref3;
+const result = (_ref2 = Math.pow(5, 2), [1, 2, 3].map(n => {
+  var _ref;
 
-  return _ref3 = n + _ref5, (_ref2 = _ref3 * 2, (_ref = `${_ref2} apples`, _ref.toUpperCase()));
-}), _ref4.join())));
+  return _ref = (n + _ref2) * 2, `${_ref} apples`.toUpperCase();
+}).join());
 expect(result).toEqual('52 APPLES,54 APPLES,56 APPLES');
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-body-with-arrow-function/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-body-with-arrow-function/output.js
index 5def3730d465..1aa133d6dc19 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-body-with-arrow-function/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-body-with-arrow-function/output.js
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
-var _ref, _ref2, _ref3;
+var _ref;
 
-const result = (_ref3 = -2.2 // -2.2
-, (_ref2 = Math.floor(_ref3) // -3
-, (_ref = () => Math.pow(_ref2, 5) // () => -243
-, _ref()))); // -243
+const result = (_ref = Math.floor(-2.2 // -2.2
+) // -3
+, (() => Math.pow(_ref, 5) // () => -243
+)()); // -243
 
 expect(result).toBe(-243);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-body-with-await/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-body-with-await/output.js
index aa3d4e62d419..6a06c7506e69 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-body-with-await/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-body-with-await/output.js
@@ -3,9 +3,9 @@ function triple(x) {
 }
 
 async function asyncFunction(n) {
-  var _ref, _ref2, _ref3;
+  var _ref;
 
-  return _ref3 = n, (_ref2 = Math.abs(_ref3), (_ref = await Promise.resolve(_ref2), triple(_ref)));
+  return _ref = Math.abs(n), triple(await Promise.resolve(_ref));
 }
 
 asyncFunction(-7).then(result => {
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-body-with-class-expression-and-private-properties/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-body-with-class-expression-and-private-properties/output.js
index 638f9cda750f..ca3556d1ea71 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-body-with-class-expression-and-private-properties/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-body-with-class-expression-and-private-properties/output.js
@@ -1,10 +1,8 @@
-var _ref, _ref2, _ref3;
-
-const result = (_ref3 = 1, (_ref2 = class {
+const result = new class {
   #baz;
 
   constructor() {
-    this.#baz = _ref3;
+    this.#baz = 1;
   }
 
   #bar() {
@@ -15,5 +13,5 @@ const result = (_ref3 = 1, (_ref2 = class {
     return this.#bar() + 3;
   }
 
-}, (_ref = new _ref2(), _ref.foo())));
+}().foo();
 expect(result).toBe(1 + 2 + 3);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-body-with-eval/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-body-with-eval/output.js
index c5dbd6107a44..e78e6ed5fb22 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-body-with-eval/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-body-with-eval/output.js
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-var _ref;
-
 const program = '(function() { return this; })()';
-const result = (_ref = program, eval(_ref));
+const result = eval(program);
 expect(result).not.toBeUndefined();
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-body-with-nested-pipe/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-body-with-nested-pipe/output.js
index 8ee6b4bbf42f..c877ba76e3ab 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-body-with-nested-pipe/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-body-with-nested-pipe/output.js
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-var _ref, _ref2, _ref3, _ref4;
+var _ref;
 
-const result = (_ref4 = 5, (_ref3 = Math.pow(_ref4, 2), (_ref2 = _ref3 + 1, (_ref = `${_ref2} apples`, _ref.toUpperCase()))));
+const result = (_ref = Math.pow(5, 2) + 1, `${_ref} apples`.toUpperCase());
 expect(result).toEqual('26 APPLES');
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-body-with-object-literal/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-body-with-object-literal/output.js
index cd74f2422e0a..d324ac803e31 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-body-with-object-literal/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-body-with-object-literal/output.js
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
-var _ref, _ref2, _ref3;
+var _ref;
 
 function area(rect) {
   return rect.width * rect.height;
 }
 
-const result = (_ref3 = -5, (_ref2 = Math.abs(_ref3), (_ref = {
-  width: _ref2,
-  height: _ref2 + 3
-}, area(_ref))));
+const result = (_ref = Math.abs(-5), area({
+  width: _ref,
+  height: _ref + 3
+}));
 expect(result).toBe(40);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-body-with-topic-method-call/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-body-with-topic-method-call/output.js
index 029efa564267..6e67dad6e05e 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-body-with-topic-method-call/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-body-with-topic-method-call/output.js
@@ -1,4 +1,2 @@
-var _ref;
-
-const result = (_ref = 'Hello', _ref.toUpperCase());
+const result = 'Hello'.toUpperCase();
 expect(result).toBe('HELLO');
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-body-with-yield/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-body-with-yield/output.js
index 40f127c27ae2..5461ced6396b 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-body-with-yield/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-body-with-yield/output.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 function* myGenerator(n) {
-  var _ref, _ref2;
+  var _ref;
 
-  return _ref2 = n, (_ref = yield _ref2, Math.abs(_ref));
+  return _ref = yield n, Math.abs(_ref);
 }
 
 const myIterator = myGenerator(15);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-head-with-nested-pipe/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-head-with-nested-pipe/output.js
index 1adde6582021..9693f27b9639 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-head-with-nested-pipe/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-head-with-nested-pipe/output.js
@@ -1,4 +1,2 @@
-var _ref, _ref2;
-
-const result = (_ref2 = (_ref = 5, Math.pow(_ref, 2)), _ref2 + 1);
+const result = Math.pow(5, 2) + 1;
 expect(result).toEqual(26);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-in-arrow-function/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-in-arrow-function/output.js
index 66106a985d16..cfbe06c1cd17 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-in-arrow-function/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/pipe-in-arrow-function/output.js
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 const result = () => {
-  var _ref, _ref2, _ref3;
+  var _ref;
 
-  return _ref3 = -2.2 // -2.2
-  , (_ref2 = Math.floor(_ref3) // -3
-  , (_ref = () => Math.pow(_ref2, 5) // () => -243
-  , _ref()));
+  return _ref = Math.floor(-2.2 // -2.2
+  ) // -3
+  , (() => Math.pow(_ref, 5) // () => -243
+  )();
 }; // -243
 
 
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/topic-token-in-function/exec.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/topic-token-in-function/exec.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..7ee189eda034
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/topic-token-in-function/exec.js
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+let x = 0;
+
+let fnA = x++ |> (() => @@);
+let fnB = x++ |> (0, () => @@);
+
+expect(x).toBe(2);
+expect(fnA()).toBe(0);
+expect(fnB()).toBe(1);
+expect(x).toBe(2);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/topic-token-in-function/input.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/topic-token-in-function/input.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..7ee189eda034
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/topic-token-in-function/input.js
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+let x = 0;
+
+let fnA = x++ |> (() => @@);
+let fnB = x++ |> (0, () => @@);
+
+expect(x).toBe(2);
+expect(fnA()).toBe(0);
+expect(fnB()).toBe(1);
+expect(x).toBe(2);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/topic-token-in-function/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/topic-token-in-function/output.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..83c350683151
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/topic-token-in-function/output.js
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+var _ref, _ref2;
+
+let x = 0;
+let fnA = (_ref = x++, () => _ref);
+let fnB = (_ref2 = x++, (0, () => _ref2));
+expect(x).toBe(2);
+expect(fnA()).toBe(0);
+expect(fnB()).toBe(1);
+expect(x).toBe(2);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/transform-arrow-functions/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/transform-arrow-functions/output.js
index 23cdd3fe2a2b..295f89096289 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/transform-arrow-functions/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/transform-arrow-functions/output.js
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
-var _ref, _ref2;
-
 const triple = function (x) {
   return x * 3;
 };
 
-const result = (_ref2 = -7, (_ref = Math.abs(_ref2), triple(_ref)));
+const result = triple(Math.abs(-7));
 return expect(result).toBe(21);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/transform-await-and-arrow-functions/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/transform-await-and-arrow-functions/output.js
index 3a32f6e23831..38d23643558d 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/transform-await-and-arrow-functions/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/transform-await-and-arrow-functions/output.js
@@ -3,9 +3,9 @@ const triple = function (x) {
 };
 
 async function myFunction(n) {
-  var _ref, _ref2, _ref3, _ref4;
+  var _ref;
 
-  return _ref4 = n, (_ref3 = Math.abs(_ref4), (_ref2 = Promise.resolve(_ref3), (_ref = await _ref2, triple(_ref))));
+  return _ref = Math.abs(n), triple(await Promise.resolve(_ref));
 }
 
 return myFunction(-7).then(function (result) {
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/exec.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/exec.js
index 4e676936116b..4123e8a87a8d 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/exec.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/exec.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 let i = 0;
 let sum = 0;
 
-while (i |> (i = @@ + 1) |> @@ <= 10)
+while (i |> (i = 2 * @@ - @@ + 1) |> @@ <= 10)
   sum += i;
 
 expect(sum).toBe(10 + 9 + 8 + 7 + 6 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/input.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/input.js
index 4e676936116b..4123e8a87a8d 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/input.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/input.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 let i = 0;
 let sum = 0;
 
-while (i |> (i = @@ + 1) |> @@ <= 10)
+while (i |> (i = 2 * @@ - @@ + 1) |> @@ <= 10)
   sum += i;
 
 expect(sum).toBe(10 + 9 + 8 + 7 + 6 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/output.js
index 0622dfee4902..b7555717c674 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/output.js
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 let i = 0;
 let sum = 0;
 
-while (_ref2 = i, (_ref = i = _ref2 + 1, _ref <= 10)) {
-  var _ref, _ref2;
+while (_ref = i, (i = 2 * _ref - _ref + 1) <= 10) {
+  var _ref;
 
   sum += i;
 }
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/within-assignment/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/within-assignment/output.js
index 5ca2ce9e5390..67e71ae3eb19 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/within-assignment/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/within-assignment/output.js
@@ -1,4 +1,2 @@
-var _ref;
-
-const x = (_ref = 0, _ref + 1);
+const x = 0 + 1;
 expect(x).toBe(1);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/within-for-classic-statement-init/input.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/within-for-classic-statement-init/input.js
index 10982a809f34..d6cfda1c9749 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/within-for-classic-statement-init/input.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/within-for-classic-statement-init/input.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 let sum = 0;
-for (var i = 0 |> @@; i <= 10; i++)
+for (var i = 0 |> @@*@@; i <= 10; i++)
   sum += i;
 
 expect(sum).toBe(10 + 9 + 8 + 7 + 6 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/within-for-classic-statement-init/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/within-for-classic-statement-init/output.js
index dd399138c6fb..a9a09d54d313 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/within-for-classic-statement-init/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/within-for-classic-statement-init/output.js
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 let sum = 0;
 
-for (var i = (_ref = 0, _ref); i <= 10; i++) {
+for (var i = (_ref = 0, _ref * _ref); i <= 10; i++) {
   var _ref;
 
   sum += i;
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/within-for-classic-statement-test/exec.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/within-for-classic-statement-test/exec.js
index 97f7d9b45e87..3b6877c8e629 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/within-for-classic-statement-test/exec.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/within-for-classic-statement-test/exec.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 let sum = 0;
-for (var i = 0; i |> @@ <= 10; i++)
+for (var i = 0; i |> @@ + @@ <= 20; i++)
   sum = sum + i;
 
 expect(sum).toBe(10 + 9 + 8 + 7 + 6 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1)
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/within-for-classic-statement-test/input.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/within-for-classic-statement-test/input.js
index 97f7d9b45e87..3b6877c8e629 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/within-for-classic-statement-test/input.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/within-for-classic-statement-test/input.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 let sum = 0;
-for (var i = 0; i |> @@ <= 10; i++)
+for (var i = 0; i |> @@ + @@ <= 20; i++)
   sum = sum + i;
 
 expect(sum).toBe(10 + 9 + 8 + 7 + 6 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1)
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/within-for-classic-statement-test/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/within-for-classic-statement-test/output.js
index 14ae06d74abf..0f9c6baa98ec 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/within-for-classic-statement-test/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/within-for-classic-statement-test/output.js
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 let sum = 0;
 
-for (var i = 0; _ref = i, _ref <= 10; i++) {
+for (var i = 0; _ref = i, _ref + _ref <= 20; i++) {
   var _ref;
 
   sum = sum + i;
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/within-for-classic-statement-update/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/within-for-classic-statement-update/output.js
index a741096b130d..2d117859e8b1 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/within-for-classic-statement-update/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/within-for-classic-statement-update/output.js
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 let sum = 0;
 
-for (var i = 0; i <= 10; i = (_ref = i, _ref + 1)) {
-  var _ref;
-
+for (var i = 0; i <= 10; i = i + 1) {
   sum = sum + i;
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/within-generator-with-yield/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/within-generator-with-yield/output.js
index 4e9cfe3a1240..e0876570a06e 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/within-generator-with-yield/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-at/within-generator-with-yield/output.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 function* myGenerator(n) {
-  var _ref, _ref2;
+  var _ref;
 
-  return _ref2 = n, (_ref = yield _ref2, Math.abs(_ref));
+  return _ref = yield n, Math.abs(_ref);
 }
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/class-decorator/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/class-decorator/output.js
index 743b6624c395..3d2b64ddf390 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/class-decorator/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/class-decorator/output.js
@@ -1,19 +1,17 @@
-var _ref;
-
 const expectedValue = 42;
 
 function decorator(target) {
   target.decoratorValue = expectedValue;
 }
 
-const result = (_ref = expectedValue, babelHelpers.decorate([decorator], function (_initialize) {
+const result = babelHelpers.decorate([decorator], function (_initialize) {
   "use strict";
 
   class _class {
     constructor() {
       _initialize(this);
 
-      this.value = _ref;
+      this.value = expectedValue;
     }
 
   }
@@ -22,6 +20,6 @@ const result = (_ref = expectedValue, babelHelpers.decorate([decorator], functio
     F: _class,
     d: []
   };
-}));
+});
 expect(result.decoratorValue).toBe(expectedValue);
 expect(new result().value).toBe(expectedValue);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/hash-tuple/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/hash-tuple/output.js
index 877d41141fbe..d4cfc944b3b8 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/hash-tuple/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/hash-tuple/output.js
@@ -1,4 +1,2 @@
-var _ref;
-
 Tuple(0);
-_ref = 1, Tuple(0, _ref);
+Tuple(0, 1);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-body-identity/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-body-identity/output.js
index ab1b47369050..fff94385d04c 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-body-identity/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-body-identity/output.js
@@ -1,4 +1,2 @@
-var _ref;
-
-const result = (_ref = 5, _ref);
+const result = 5;
 expect(result).toBe(5);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-body-with-addition/input.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-body-with-addition/input.js
index e8f7dd54ac2a..efe0bc567b7c 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-body-with-addition/input.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-body-with-addition/input.js
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
-const result = 5 |> ^^ + 1 |> ^^ + ^^;
+const result = 5 |> ^^ + 1 |> 2 + ^^ |> ^^ + ^^;
 
 expect(result).toBe(12);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-body-with-addition/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-body-with-addition/output.js
index 62a22e6b7067..a5ad33604731 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-body-with-addition/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-body-with-addition/output.js
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-var _ref, _ref2;
+var _ref;
 
-const result = (_ref2 = 5, (_ref = _ref2 + 1, _ref + _ref));
+const result = (_ref = 2 + (5 + 1), _ref + _ref);
 expect(result).toBe(12);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-body-with-arrow-function-and-nested-pipe/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-body-with-arrow-function-and-nested-pipe/output.js
index bf1fcd321aef..de6a062dd636 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-body-with-arrow-function-and-nested-pipe/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-body-with-arrow-function-and-nested-pipe/output.js
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
-var _ref4, _ref5, _ref6;
+var _ref2;
 
-const result = (_ref6 = 5, (_ref5 = Math.pow(_ref6, 2), (_ref4 = [1, 2, 3].map(n => {
-  var _ref, _ref2, _ref3;
+const result = (_ref2 = Math.pow(5, 2), [1, 2, 3].map(n => {
+  var _ref;
 
-  return _ref3 = n + _ref5, (_ref2 = _ref3 * 2, (_ref = `${_ref2} apples`, _ref.toUpperCase()));
-}), _ref4.join())));
+  return _ref = (n + _ref2) * 2, `${_ref} apples`.toUpperCase();
+}).join());
 expect(result).toEqual('52 APPLES,54 APPLES,56 APPLES');
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-body-with-arrow-function/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-body-with-arrow-function/output.js
index 5def3730d465..1aa133d6dc19 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-body-with-arrow-function/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-body-with-arrow-function/output.js
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
-var _ref, _ref2, _ref3;
+var _ref;
 
-const result = (_ref3 = -2.2 // -2.2
-, (_ref2 = Math.floor(_ref3) // -3
-, (_ref = () => Math.pow(_ref2, 5) // () => -243
-, _ref()))); // -243
+const result = (_ref = Math.floor(-2.2 // -2.2
+) // -3
+, (() => Math.pow(_ref, 5) // () => -243
+)()); // -243
 
 expect(result).toBe(-243);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-body-with-await/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-body-with-await/output.js
index aa3d4e62d419..6a06c7506e69 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-body-with-await/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-body-with-await/output.js
@@ -3,9 +3,9 @@ function triple(x) {
 }
 
 async function asyncFunction(n) {
-  var _ref, _ref2, _ref3;
+  var _ref;
 
-  return _ref3 = n, (_ref2 = Math.abs(_ref3), (_ref = await Promise.resolve(_ref2), triple(_ref)));
+  return _ref = Math.abs(n), triple(await Promise.resolve(_ref));
 }
 
 asyncFunction(-7).then(result => {
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-body-with-class-expression-and-private-properties/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-body-with-class-expression-and-private-properties/output.js
index 638f9cda750f..ca3556d1ea71 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-body-with-class-expression-and-private-properties/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-body-with-class-expression-and-private-properties/output.js
@@ -1,10 +1,8 @@
-var _ref, _ref2, _ref3;
-
-const result = (_ref3 = 1, (_ref2 = class {
+const result = new class {
   #baz;
 
   constructor() {
-    this.#baz = _ref3;
+    this.#baz = 1;
   }
 
   #bar() {
@@ -15,5 +13,5 @@ const result = (_ref3 = 1, (_ref2 = class {
     return this.#bar() + 3;
   }
 
-}, (_ref = new _ref2(), _ref.foo())));
+}().foo();
 expect(result).toBe(1 + 2 + 3);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-body-with-eval/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-body-with-eval/output.js
index c5dbd6107a44..e78e6ed5fb22 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-body-with-eval/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-body-with-eval/output.js
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-var _ref;
-
 const program = '(function() { return this; })()';
-const result = (_ref = program, eval(_ref));
+const result = eval(program);
 expect(result).not.toBeUndefined();
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-body-with-nested-pipe/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-body-with-nested-pipe/output.js
index 8ee6b4bbf42f..c877ba76e3ab 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-body-with-nested-pipe/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-body-with-nested-pipe/output.js
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-var _ref, _ref2, _ref3, _ref4;
+var _ref;
 
-const result = (_ref4 = 5, (_ref3 = Math.pow(_ref4, 2), (_ref2 = _ref3 + 1, (_ref = `${_ref2} apples`, _ref.toUpperCase()))));
+const result = (_ref = Math.pow(5, 2) + 1, `${_ref} apples`.toUpperCase());
 expect(result).toEqual('26 APPLES');
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-body-with-object-literal/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-body-with-object-literal/output.js
index cd74f2422e0a..d324ac803e31 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-body-with-object-literal/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-body-with-object-literal/output.js
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
-var _ref, _ref2, _ref3;
+var _ref;
 
 function area(rect) {
   return rect.width * rect.height;
 }
 
-const result = (_ref3 = -5, (_ref2 = Math.abs(_ref3), (_ref = {
-  width: _ref2,
-  height: _ref2 + 3
-}, area(_ref))));
+const result = (_ref = Math.abs(-5), area({
+  width: _ref,
+  height: _ref + 3
+}));
 expect(result).toBe(40);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-body-with-topic-method-call/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-body-with-topic-method-call/output.js
index 029efa564267..6e67dad6e05e 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-body-with-topic-method-call/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-body-with-topic-method-call/output.js
@@ -1,4 +1,2 @@
-var _ref;
-
-const result = (_ref = 'Hello', _ref.toUpperCase());
+const result = 'Hello'.toUpperCase();
 expect(result).toBe('HELLO');
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-body-with-yield/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-body-with-yield/output.js
index 40f127c27ae2..5461ced6396b 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-body-with-yield/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-body-with-yield/output.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 function* myGenerator(n) {
-  var _ref, _ref2;
+  var _ref;
 
-  return _ref2 = n, (_ref = yield _ref2, Math.abs(_ref));
+  return _ref = yield n, Math.abs(_ref);
 }
 
 const myIterator = myGenerator(15);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-head-with-nested-pipe/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-head-with-nested-pipe/output.js
index 1adde6582021..9693f27b9639 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-head-with-nested-pipe/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-head-with-nested-pipe/output.js
@@ -1,4 +1,2 @@
-var _ref, _ref2;
-
-const result = (_ref2 = (_ref = 5, Math.pow(_ref, 2)), _ref2 + 1);
+const result = Math.pow(5, 2) + 1;
 expect(result).toEqual(26);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-in-arrow-function/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-in-arrow-function/output.js
index 66106a985d16..cfbe06c1cd17 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-in-arrow-function/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/pipe-in-arrow-function/output.js
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 const result = () => {
-  var _ref, _ref2, _ref3;
+  var _ref;
 
-  return _ref3 = -2.2 // -2.2
-  , (_ref2 = Math.floor(_ref3) // -3
-  , (_ref = () => Math.pow(_ref2, 5) // () => -243
-  , _ref()));
+  return _ref = Math.floor(-2.2 // -2.2
+  ) // -3
+  , (() => Math.pow(_ref, 5) // () => -243
+  )();
 }; // -243
 
 
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/topic-token-in-function/exec.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/topic-token-in-function/exec.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..f2cbe008648f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/topic-token-in-function/exec.js
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+let x = 0;
+
+let fnA = x++ |> (() => ^^);
+let fnB = x++ |> (0, () => ^^);
+
+expect(x).toBe(2);
+expect(fnA()).toBe(0);
+expect(fnB()).toBe(1);
+expect(x).toBe(2);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/topic-token-in-function/input.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/topic-token-in-function/input.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..f2cbe008648f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/topic-token-in-function/input.js
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+let x = 0;
+
+let fnA = x++ |> (() => ^^);
+let fnB = x++ |> (0, () => ^^);
+
+expect(x).toBe(2);
+expect(fnA()).toBe(0);
+expect(fnB()).toBe(1);
+expect(x).toBe(2);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/topic-token-in-function/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/topic-token-in-function/output.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..83c350683151
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/topic-token-in-function/output.js
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+var _ref, _ref2;
+
+let x = 0;
+let fnA = (_ref = x++, () => _ref);
+let fnB = (_ref2 = x++, (0, () => _ref2));
+expect(x).toBe(2);
+expect(fnA()).toBe(0);
+expect(fnB()).toBe(1);
+expect(x).toBe(2);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/transform-arrow-functions/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/transform-arrow-functions/output.js
index 23cdd3fe2a2b..295f89096289 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/transform-arrow-functions/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/transform-arrow-functions/output.js
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
-var _ref, _ref2;
-
 const triple = function (x) {
   return x * 3;
 };
 
-const result = (_ref2 = -7, (_ref = Math.abs(_ref2), triple(_ref)));
+const result = triple(Math.abs(-7));
 return expect(result).toBe(21);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/transform-await-and-arrow-functions/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/transform-await-and-arrow-functions/output.js
index 3a32f6e23831..38d23643558d 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/transform-await-and-arrow-functions/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/transform-await-and-arrow-functions/output.js
@@ -3,9 +3,9 @@ const triple = function (x) {
 };
 
 async function myFunction(n) {
-  var _ref, _ref2, _ref3, _ref4;
+  var _ref;
 
-  return _ref4 = n, (_ref3 = Math.abs(_ref4), (_ref2 = Promise.resolve(_ref3), (_ref = await _ref2, triple(_ref))));
+  return _ref = Math.abs(n), triple(await Promise.resolve(_ref));
 }
 
 return myFunction(-7).then(function (result) {
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/exec.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/exec.js
index 931b5fb0b577..d7faaa72d98a 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/exec.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/exec.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 let i = 0;
 let sum = 0;
 
-while (i |> (i = ^^ + 1) |> ^^ <= 10)
+while (i |> (i = 2 * ^^ - ^^ + 1) |> ^^ <= 10)
   sum += i;
 
 expect(sum).toBe(10 + 9 + 8 + 7 + 6 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/input.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/input.js
index 931b5fb0b577..d7faaa72d98a 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/input.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/input.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 let i = 0;
 let sum = 0;
 
-while (i |> (i = ^^ + 1) |> ^^ <= 10)
+while (i |> (i = 2 * ^^ - ^^ + 1) |> ^^ <= 10)
   sum += i;
 
 expect(sum).toBe(10 + 9 + 8 + 7 + 6 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/output.js
index 0622dfee4902..b7555717c674 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/output.js
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 let i = 0;
 let sum = 0;
 
-while (_ref2 = i, (_ref = i = _ref2 + 1, _ref <= 10)) {
-  var _ref, _ref2;
+while (_ref = i, (i = 2 * _ref - _ref + 1) <= 10) {
+  var _ref;
 
   sum += i;
 }
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/within-assignment/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/within-assignment/output.js
index 5ca2ce9e5390..67e71ae3eb19 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/within-assignment/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/within-assignment/output.js
@@ -1,4 +1,2 @@
-var _ref;
-
-const x = (_ref = 0, _ref + 1);
+const x = 0 + 1;
 expect(x).toBe(1);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/within-for-classic-statement-init/input.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/within-for-classic-statement-init/input.js
index d8eca0034388..aa6ce36b51d5 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/within-for-classic-statement-init/input.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/within-for-classic-statement-init/input.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 let sum = 0;
-for (var i = 0 |> ^^; i <= 10; i++)
+for (var i = 0 |> ^^*^^; i <= 10; i++)
   sum += i;
 
 expect(sum).toBe(10 + 9 + 8 + 7 + 6 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/within-for-classic-statement-init/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/within-for-classic-statement-init/output.js
index dd399138c6fb..a9a09d54d313 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/within-for-classic-statement-init/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/within-for-classic-statement-init/output.js
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 let sum = 0;
 
-for (var i = (_ref = 0, _ref); i <= 10; i++) {
+for (var i = (_ref = 0, _ref * _ref); i <= 10; i++) {
   var _ref;
 
   sum += i;
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/within-for-classic-statement-test/exec.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/within-for-classic-statement-test/exec.js
index 1c3a2949330b..4118141e1f6f 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/within-for-classic-statement-test/exec.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/within-for-classic-statement-test/exec.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 let sum = 0;
-for (var i = 0; i |> ^^ <= 10; i++)
+for (var i = 0; i |> ^^ + ^^ <= 20; i++)
   sum = sum + i;
 
 expect(sum).toBe(10 + 9 + 8 + 7 + 6 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1)
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/within-for-classic-statement-test/input.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/within-for-classic-statement-test/input.js
index 1c3a2949330b..4118141e1f6f 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/within-for-classic-statement-test/input.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/within-for-classic-statement-test/input.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 let sum = 0;
-for (var i = 0; i |> ^^ <= 10; i++)
+for (var i = 0; i |> ^^ + ^^ <= 20; i++)
   sum = sum + i;
 
 expect(sum).toBe(10 + 9 + 8 + 7 + 6 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1)
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/within-for-classic-statement-test/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/within-for-classic-statement-test/output.js
index 14ae06d74abf..0f9c6baa98ec 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/within-for-classic-statement-test/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/within-for-classic-statement-test/output.js
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 let sum = 0;
 
-for (var i = 0; _ref = i, _ref <= 10; i++) {
+for (var i = 0; _ref = i, _ref + _ref <= 20; i++) {
   var _ref;
 
   sum = sum + i;
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/within-for-classic-statement-update/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/within-for-classic-statement-update/output.js
index a741096b130d..2d117859e8b1 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/within-for-classic-statement-update/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/within-for-classic-statement-update/output.js
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 let sum = 0;
 
-for (var i = 0; i <= 10; i = (_ref = i, _ref + 1)) {
-  var _ref;
-
+for (var i = 0; i <= 10; i = i + 1) {
   sum = sum + i;
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/within-generator-with-yield/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/within-generator-with-yield/output.js
index 4e9cfe3a1240..e0876570a06e 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/within-generator-with-yield/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-double-caret/within-generator-with-yield/output.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 function* myGenerator(n) {
-  var _ref, _ref2;
+  var _ref;
 
-  return _ref2 = n, (_ref = yield _ref2, Math.abs(_ref));
+  return _ref = yield n, Math.abs(_ref);
 }
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-body-identity/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-body-identity/output.js
index ab1b47369050..fff94385d04c 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-body-identity/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-body-identity/output.js
@@ -1,4 +1,2 @@
-var _ref;
-
-const result = (_ref = 5, _ref);
+const result = 5;
 expect(result).toBe(5);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-body-with-addition/input.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-body-with-addition/input.js
index 8794728949df..5a9d8f8c2413 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-body-with-addition/input.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-body-with-addition/input.js
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
-const result = 5 |> # + 1 |> # + #;
+const result = 5 |> # + 1 |> 2 + # |> # + #;
 
 expect(result).toBe(12);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-body-with-addition/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-body-with-addition/output.js
index 62a22e6b7067..a5ad33604731 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-body-with-addition/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-body-with-addition/output.js
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-var _ref, _ref2;
+var _ref;
 
-const result = (_ref2 = 5, (_ref = _ref2 + 1, _ref + _ref));
+const result = (_ref = 2 + (5 + 1), _ref + _ref);
 expect(result).toBe(12);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-body-with-arrow-function-and-nested-pipe/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-body-with-arrow-function-and-nested-pipe/output.js
index bf1fcd321aef..de6a062dd636 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-body-with-arrow-function-and-nested-pipe/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-body-with-arrow-function-and-nested-pipe/output.js
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
-var _ref4, _ref5, _ref6;
+var _ref2;
 
-const result = (_ref6 = 5, (_ref5 = Math.pow(_ref6, 2), (_ref4 = [1, 2, 3].map(n => {
-  var _ref, _ref2, _ref3;
+const result = (_ref2 = Math.pow(5, 2), [1, 2, 3].map(n => {
+  var _ref;
 
-  return _ref3 = n + _ref5, (_ref2 = _ref3 * 2, (_ref = `${_ref2} apples`, _ref.toUpperCase()));
-}), _ref4.join())));
+  return _ref = (n + _ref2) * 2, `${_ref} apples`.toUpperCase();
+}).join());
 expect(result).toEqual('52 APPLES,54 APPLES,56 APPLES');
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-body-with-arrow-function/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-body-with-arrow-function/output.js
index 5def3730d465..1aa133d6dc19 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-body-with-arrow-function/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-body-with-arrow-function/output.js
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
-var _ref, _ref2, _ref3;
+var _ref;
 
-const result = (_ref3 = -2.2 // -2.2
-, (_ref2 = Math.floor(_ref3) // -3
-, (_ref = () => Math.pow(_ref2, 5) // () => -243
-, _ref()))); // -243
+const result = (_ref = Math.floor(-2.2 // -2.2
+) // -3
+, (() => Math.pow(_ref, 5) // () => -243
+)()); // -243
 
 expect(result).toBe(-243);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-body-with-await/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-body-with-await/output.js
index aa3d4e62d419..6a06c7506e69 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-body-with-await/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-body-with-await/output.js
@@ -3,9 +3,9 @@ function triple(x) {
 }
 
 async function asyncFunction(n) {
-  var _ref, _ref2, _ref3;
+  var _ref;
 
-  return _ref3 = n, (_ref2 = Math.abs(_ref3), (_ref = await Promise.resolve(_ref2), triple(_ref)));
+  return _ref = Math.abs(n), triple(await Promise.resolve(_ref));
 }
 
 asyncFunction(-7).then(result => {
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-body-with-class-expression-and-private-properties/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-body-with-class-expression-and-private-properties/output.js
index 638f9cda750f..ca3556d1ea71 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-body-with-class-expression-and-private-properties/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-body-with-class-expression-and-private-properties/output.js
@@ -1,10 +1,8 @@
-var _ref, _ref2, _ref3;
-
-const result = (_ref3 = 1, (_ref2 = class {
+const result = new class {
   #baz;
 
   constructor() {
-    this.#baz = _ref3;
+    this.#baz = 1;
   }
 
   #bar() {
@@ -15,5 +13,5 @@ const result = (_ref3 = 1, (_ref2 = class {
     return this.#bar() + 3;
   }
 
-}, (_ref = new _ref2(), _ref.foo())));
+}().foo();
 expect(result).toBe(1 + 2 + 3);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-body-with-eval/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-body-with-eval/output.js
index c5dbd6107a44..e78e6ed5fb22 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-body-with-eval/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-body-with-eval/output.js
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-var _ref;
-
 const program = '(function() { return this; })()';
-const result = (_ref = program, eval(_ref));
+const result = eval(program);
 expect(result).not.toBeUndefined();
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-body-with-nested-pipe/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-body-with-nested-pipe/output.js
index 8ee6b4bbf42f..c877ba76e3ab 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-body-with-nested-pipe/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-body-with-nested-pipe/output.js
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-var _ref, _ref2, _ref3, _ref4;
+var _ref;
 
-const result = (_ref4 = 5, (_ref3 = Math.pow(_ref4, 2), (_ref2 = _ref3 + 1, (_ref = `${_ref2} apples`, _ref.toUpperCase()))));
+const result = (_ref = Math.pow(5, 2) + 1, `${_ref} apples`.toUpperCase());
 expect(result).toEqual('26 APPLES');
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-body-with-object-literal/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-body-with-object-literal/output.js
index cd74f2422e0a..d324ac803e31 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-body-with-object-literal/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-body-with-object-literal/output.js
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
-var _ref, _ref2, _ref3;
+var _ref;
 
 function area(rect) {
   return rect.width * rect.height;
 }
 
-const result = (_ref3 = -5, (_ref2 = Math.abs(_ref3), (_ref = {
-  width: _ref2,
-  height: _ref2 + 3
-}, area(_ref))));
+const result = (_ref = Math.abs(-5), area({
+  width: _ref,
+  height: _ref + 3
+}));
 expect(result).toBe(40);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-body-with-topic-method-call/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-body-with-topic-method-call/output.js
index 029efa564267..6e67dad6e05e 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-body-with-topic-method-call/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-body-with-topic-method-call/output.js
@@ -1,4 +1,2 @@
-var _ref;
-
-const result = (_ref = 'Hello', _ref.toUpperCase());
+const result = 'Hello'.toUpperCase();
 expect(result).toBe('HELLO');
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-body-with-yield/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-body-with-yield/output.js
index 40f127c27ae2..5461ced6396b 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-body-with-yield/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-body-with-yield/output.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 function* myGenerator(n) {
-  var _ref, _ref2;
+  var _ref;
 
-  return _ref2 = n, (_ref = yield _ref2, Math.abs(_ref));
+  return _ref = yield n, Math.abs(_ref);
 }
 
 const myIterator = myGenerator(15);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-head-with-nested-pipe/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-head-with-nested-pipe/output.js
index 1adde6582021..9693f27b9639 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-head-with-nested-pipe/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-head-with-nested-pipe/output.js
@@ -1,4 +1,2 @@
-var _ref, _ref2;
-
-const result = (_ref2 = (_ref = 5, Math.pow(_ref, 2)), _ref2 + 1);
+const result = Math.pow(5, 2) + 1;
 expect(result).toEqual(26);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-in-arrow-function/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-in-arrow-function/output.js
index 66106a985d16..cfbe06c1cd17 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-in-arrow-function/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/pipe-in-arrow-function/output.js
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 const result = () => {
-  var _ref, _ref2, _ref3;
+  var _ref;
 
-  return _ref3 = -2.2 // -2.2
-  , (_ref2 = Math.floor(_ref3) // -3
-  , (_ref = () => Math.pow(_ref2, 5) // () => -243
-  , _ref()));
+  return _ref = Math.floor(-2.2 // -2.2
+  ) // -3
+  , (() => Math.pow(_ref, 5) // () => -243
+  )();
 }; // -243
 
 
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/topic-token-in-function/exec.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/topic-token-in-function/exec.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..7c630119211d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/topic-token-in-function/exec.js
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+let x = 0;
+
+let fnA = x++ |> (() => #);
+let fnB = x++ |> (0, () => #);
+
+expect(x).toBe(2);
+expect(fnA()).toBe(0);
+expect(fnB()).toBe(1);
+expect(x).toBe(2);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/topic-token-in-function/input.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/topic-token-in-function/input.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..7c630119211d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/topic-token-in-function/input.js
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+let x = 0;
+
+let fnA = x++ |> (() => #);
+let fnB = x++ |> (0, () => #);
+
+expect(x).toBe(2);
+expect(fnA()).toBe(0);
+expect(fnB()).toBe(1);
+expect(x).toBe(2);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/topic-token-in-function/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/topic-token-in-function/output.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..83c350683151
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/topic-token-in-function/output.js
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+var _ref, _ref2;
+
+let x = 0;
+let fnA = (_ref = x++, () => _ref);
+let fnB = (_ref2 = x++, (0, () => _ref2));
+expect(x).toBe(2);
+expect(fnA()).toBe(0);
+expect(fnB()).toBe(1);
+expect(x).toBe(2);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/transform-arrow-functions/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/transform-arrow-functions/output.js
index 23cdd3fe2a2b..295f89096289 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/transform-arrow-functions/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/transform-arrow-functions/output.js
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
-var _ref, _ref2;
-
 const triple = function (x) {
   return x * 3;
 };
 
-const result = (_ref2 = -7, (_ref = Math.abs(_ref2), triple(_ref)));
+const result = triple(Math.abs(-7));
 return expect(result).toBe(21);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/transform-await-and-arrow-functions/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/transform-await-and-arrow-functions/output.js
index 3a32f6e23831..38d23643558d 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/transform-await-and-arrow-functions/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/transform-await-and-arrow-functions/output.js
@@ -3,9 +3,9 @@ const triple = function (x) {
 };
 
 async function myFunction(n) {
-  var _ref, _ref2, _ref3, _ref4;
+  var _ref;
 
-  return _ref4 = n, (_ref3 = Math.abs(_ref4), (_ref2 = Promise.resolve(_ref3), (_ref = await _ref2, triple(_ref))));
+  return _ref = Math.abs(n), triple(await Promise.resolve(_ref));
 }
 
 return myFunction(-7).then(function (result) {
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/exec.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/exec.js
index b07c908a8958..c8db4c4e563b 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/exec.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/exec.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 let i = 0;
 let sum = 0;
 
-while (i |> (i = # + 1) |> # <= 10)
+while (i |> (i = 2 * # - # + 1) |> # <= 10)
   sum += i;
 
 expect(sum).toBe(10 + 9 + 8 + 7 + 6 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/input.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/input.js
index b07c908a8958..c8db4c4e563b 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/input.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/input.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 let i = 0;
 let sum = 0;
 
-while (i |> (i = # + 1) |> # <= 10)
+while (i |> (i = 2 * # - # + 1) |> # <= 10)
   sum += i;
 
 expect(sum).toBe(10 + 9 + 8 + 7 + 6 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/output.js
index 0622dfee4902..b7555717c674 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/output.js
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 let i = 0;
 let sum = 0;
 
-while (_ref2 = i, (_ref = i = _ref2 + 1, _ref <= 10)) {
-  var _ref, _ref2;
+while (_ref = i, (i = 2 * _ref - _ref + 1) <= 10) {
+  var _ref;
 
   sum += i;
 }
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/within-assignment/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/within-assignment/output.js
index 5ca2ce9e5390..67e71ae3eb19 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/within-assignment/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/within-assignment/output.js
@@ -1,4 +1,2 @@
-var _ref;
-
-const x = (_ref = 0, _ref + 1);
+const x = 0 + 1;
 expect(x).toBe(1);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/within-for-classic-statement-init/input.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/within-for-classic-statement-init/input.js
index dc3dd1f44151..e1805af41b67 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/within-for-classic-statement-init/input.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/within-for-classic-statement-init/input.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 let sum = 0;
-for (var i = 0 |> #; i <= 10; i++)
+for (var i = 0 |> #*#; i <= 10; i++)
   sum += i;
 
 expect(sum).toBe(10 + 9 + 8 + 7 + 6 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/within-for-classic-statement-init/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/within-for-classic-statement-init/output.js
index dd399138c6fb..a9a09d54d313 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/within-for-classic-statement-init/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/within-for-classic-statement-init/output.js
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 let sum = 0;
 
-for (var i = (_ref = 0, _ref); i <= 10; i++) {
+for (var i = (_ref = 0, _ref * _ref); i <= 10; i++) {
   var _ref;
 
   sum += i;
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/within-for-classic-statement-test/exec.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/within-for-classic-statement-test/exec.js
index 53db1fed695c..c85317353258 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/within-for-classic-statement-test/exec.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/within-for-classic-statement-test/exec.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 let sum = 0;
-for (var i = 0; i |> # <= 10; i++)
+for (var i = 0; i |> # + # <= 20; i++)
   sum = sum + i;
 
 expect(sum).toBe(10 + 9 + 8 + 7 + 6 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1)
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/within-for-classic-statement-test/input.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/within-for-classic-statement-test/input.js
index 53db1fed695c..c85317353258 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/within-for-classic-statement-test/input.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/within-for-classic-statement-test/input.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 let sum = 0;
-for (var i = 0; i |> # <= 10; i++)
+for (var i = 0; i |> # + # <= 20; i++)
   sum = sum + i;
 
 expect(sum).toBe(10 + 9 + 8 + 7 + 6 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1)
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/within-for-classic-statement-test/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/within-for-classic-statement-test/output.js
index 14ae06d74abf..0f9c6baa98ec 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/within-for-classic-statement-test/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/within-for-classic-statement-test/output.js
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 let sum = 0;
 
-for (var i = 0; _ref = i, _ref <= 10; i++) {
+for (var i = 0; _ref = i, _ref + _ref <= 20; i++) {
   var _ref;
 
   sum = sum + i;
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/within-for-classic-statement-update/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/within-for-classic-statement-update/output.js
index a741096b130d..2d117859e8b1 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/within-for-classic-statement-update/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/within-for-classic-statement-update/output.js
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 let sum = 0;
 
-for (var i = 0; i <= 10; i = (_ref = i, _ref + 1)) {
-  var _ref;
-
+for (var i = 0; i <= 10; i = i + 1) {
   sum = sum + i;
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/within-generator-with-yield/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/within-generator-with-yield/output.js
index 4e9cfe3a1240..e0876570a06e 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/within-generator-with-yield/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-hash/within-generator-with-yield/output.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 function* myGenerator(n) {
-  var _ref, _ref2;
+  var _ref;
 
-  return _ref2 = n, (_ref = yield _ref2, Math.abs(_ref));
+  return _ref = yield n, Math.abs(_ref);
 }
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/hash-tuple/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/hash-tuple/output.js
index 877d41141fbe..d4cfc944b3b8 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/hash-tuple/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/hash-tuple/output.js
@@ -1,4 +1,2 @@
-var _ref;
-
 Tuple(0);
-_ref = 1, Tuple(0, _ref);
+Tuple(0, 1);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-body-identity/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-body-identity/output.js
index ab1b47369050..fff94385d04c 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-body-identity/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-body-identity/output.js
@@ -1,4 +1,2 @@
-var _ref;
-
-const result = (_ref = 5, _ref);
+const result = 5;
 expect(result).toBe(5);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-body-with-addition/input.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-body-with-addition/input.js
index aaeaa5f793ea..69951aa82a06 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-body-with-addition/input.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-body-with-addition/input.js
@@ -1,3 +1,3 @@
-const result = 5 |> % + 1 |> % + %;
+const result = 5 |> % + 1 |> 2 + % |> % + %;
 
 expect(result).toBe(12);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-body-with-addition/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-body-with-addition/output.js
index 62a22e6b7067..a5ad33604731 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-body-with-addition/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-body-with-addition/output.js
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-var _ref, _ref2;
+var _ref;
 
-const result = (_ref2 = 5, (_ref = _ref2 + 1, _ref + _ref));
+const result = (_ref = 2 + (5 + 1), _ref + _ref);
 expect(result).toBe(12);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-body-with-arrow-function-and-nested-pipe/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-body-with-arrow-function-and-nested-pipe/output.js
index bf1fcd321aef..de6a062dd636 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-body-with-arrow-function-and-nested-pipe/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-body-with-arrow-function-and-nested-pipe/output.js
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
-var _ref4, _ref5, _ref6;
+var _ref2;
 
-const result = (_ref6 = 5, (_ref5 = Math.pow(_ref6, 2), (_ref4 = [1, 2, 3].map(n => {
-  var _ref, _ref2, _ref3;
+const result = (_ref2 = Math.pow(5, 2), [1, 2, 3].map(n => {
+  var _ref;
 
-  return _ref3 = n + _ref5, (_ref2 = _ref3 * 2, (_ref = `${_ref2} apples`, _ref.toUpperCase()));
-}), _ref4.join())));
+  return _ref = (n + _ref2) * 2, `${_ref} apples`.toUpperCase();
+}).join());
 expect(result).toEqual('52 APPLES,54 APPLES,56 APPLES');
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-body-with-arrow-function/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-body-with-arrow-function/output.js
index 5def3730d465..1aa133d6dc19 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-body-with-arrow-function/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-body-with-arrow-function/output.js
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
-var _ref, _ref2, _ref3;
+var _ref;
 
-const result = (_ref3 = -2.2 // -2.2
-, (_ref2 = Math.floor(_ref3) // -3
-, (_ref = () => Math.pow(_ref2, 5) // () => -243
-, _ref()))); // -243
+const result = (_ref = Math.floor(-2.2 // -2.2
+) // -3
+, (() => Math.pow(_ref, 5) // () => -243
+)()); // -243
 
 expect(result).toBe(-243);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-body-with-await/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-body-with-await/output.js
index aa3d4e62d419..6a06c7506e69 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-body-with-await/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-body-with-await/output.js
@@ -3,9 +3,9 @@ function triple(x) {
 }
 
 async function asyncFunction(n) {
-  var _ref, _ref2, _ref3;
+  var _ref;
 
-  return _ref3 = n, (_ref2 = Math.abs(_ref3), (_ref = await Promise.resolve(_ref2), triple(_ref)));
+  return _ref = Math.abs(n), triple(await Promise.resolve(_ref));
 }
 
 asyncFunction(-7).then(result => {
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-body-with-class-expression-and-private-properties/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-body-with-class-expression-and-private-properties/output.js
index 638f9cda750f..ca3556d1ea71 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-body-with-class-expression-and-private-properties/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-body-with-class-expression-and-private-properties/output.js
@@ -1,10 +1,8 @@
-var _ref, _ref2, _ref3;
-
-const result = (_ref3 = 1, (_ref2 = class {
+const result = new class {
   #baz;
 
   constructor() {
-    this.#baz = _ref3;
+    this.#baz = 1;
   }
 
   #bar() {
@@ -15,5 +13,5 @@ const result = (_ref3 = 1, (_ref2 = class {
     return this.#bar() + 3;
   }
 
-}, (_ref = new _ref2(), _ref.foo())));
+}().foo();
 expect(result).toBe(1 + 2 + 3);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-body-with-eval/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-body-with-eval/output.js
index c5dbd6107a44..e78e6ed5fb22 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-body-with-eval/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-body-with-eval/output.js
@@ -1,5 +1,3 @@
-var _ref;
-
 const program = '(function() { return this; })()';
-const result = (_ref = program, eval(_ref));
+const result = eval(program);
 expect(result).not.toBeUndefined();
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-body-with-nested-pipe/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-body-with-nested-pipe/output.js
index 8ee6b4bbf42f..c877ba76e3ab 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-body-with-nested-pipe/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-body-with-nested-pipe/output.js
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-var _ref, _ref2, _ref3, _ref4;
+var _ref;
 
-const result = (_ref4 = 5, (_ref3 = Math.pow(_ref4, 2), (_ref2 = _ref3 + 1, (_ref = `${_ref2} apples`, _ref.toUpperCase()))));
+const result = (_ref = Math.pow(5, 2) + 1, `${_ref} apples`.toUpperCase());
 expect(result).toEqual('26 APPLES');
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-body-with-object-literal/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-body-with-object-literal/output.js
index cd74f2422e0a..d324ac803e31 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-body-with-object-literal/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-body-with-object-literal/output.js
@@ -1,11 +1,11 @@
-var _ref, _ref2, _ref3;
+var _ref;
 
 function area(rect) {
   return rect.width * rect.height;
 }
 
-const result = (_ref3 = -5, (_ref2 = Math.abs(_ref3), (_ref = {
-  width: _ref2,
-  height: _ref2 + 3
-}, area(_ref))));
+const result = (_ref = Math.abs(-5), area({
+  width: _ref,
+  height: _ref + 3
+}));
 expect(result).toBe(40);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-body-with-topic-method-call/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-body-with-topic-method-call/output.js
index 029efa564267..6e67dad6e05e 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-body-with-topic-method-call/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-body-with-topic-method-call/output.js
@@ -1,4 +1,2 @@
-var _ref;
-
-const result = (_ref = 'Hello', _ref.toUpperCase());
+const result = 'Hello'.toUpperCase();
 expect(result).toBe('HELLO');
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-body-with-yield/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-body-with-yield/output.js
index 40f127c27ae2..5461ced6396b 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-body-with-yield/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-body-with-yield/output.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 function* myGenerator(n) {
-  var _ref, _ref2;
+  var _ref;
 
-  return _ref2 = n, (_ref = yield _ref2, Math.abs(_ref));
+  return _ref = yield n, Math.abs(_ref);
 }
 
 const myIterator = myGenerator(15);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-head-with-nested-pipe/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-head-with-nested-pipe/output.js
index 1adde6582021..9693f27b9639 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-head-with-nested-pipe/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-head-with-nested-pipe/output.js
@@ -1,4 +1,2 @@
-var _ref, _ref2;
-
-const result = (_ref2 = (_ref = 5, Math.pow(_ref, 2)), _ref2 + 1);
+const result = Math.pow(5, 2) + 1;
 expect(result).toEqual(26);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-in-arrow-function/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-in-arrow-function/output.js
index 66106a985d16..cfbe06c1cd17 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-in-arrow-function/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/pipe-in-arrow-function/output.js
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 const result = () => {
-  var _ref, _ref2, _ref3;
+  var _ref;
 
-  return _ref3 = -2.2 // -2.2
-  , (_ref2 = Math.floor(_ref3) // -3
-  , (_ref = () => Math.pow(_ref2, 5) // () => -243
-  , _ref()));
+  return _ref = Math.floor(-2.2 // -2.2
+  ) // -3
+  , (() => Math.pow(_ref, 5) // () => -243
+  )();
 }; // -243
 
 
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/topic-token-in-function/exec.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/topic-token-in-function/exec.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..b2ebbce25fe3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/topic-token-in-function/exec.js
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+let x = 0;
+
+let fnA = x++ |> (() => %);
+let fnB = x++ |> (0, () => %);
+
+expect(x).toBe(2);
+expect(fnA()).toBe(0);
+expect(fnB()).toBe(1);
+expect(x).toBe(2);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/topic-token-in-function/input.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/topic-token-in-function/input.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..b2ebbce25fe3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/topic-token-in-function/input.js
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+let x = 0;
+
+let fnA = x++ |> (() => %);
+let fnB = x++ |> (0, () => %);
+
+expect(x).toBe(2);
+expect(fnA()).toBe(0);
+expect(fnB()).toBe(1);
+expect(x).toBe(2);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/topic-token-in-function/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/topic-token-in-function/output.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000000..83c350683151
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/topic-token-in-function/output.js
@@ -0,0 +1,9 @@
+var _ref, _ref2;
+
+let x = 0;
+let fnA = (_ref = x++, () => _ref);
+let fnB = (_ref2 = x++, (0, () => _ref2));
+expect(x).toBe(2);
+expect(fnA()).toBe(0);
+expect(fnB()).toBe(1);
+expect(x).toBe(2);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/transform-arrow-functions/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/transform-arrow-functions/output.js
index 23cdd3fe2a2b..295f89096289 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/transform-arrow-functions/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/transform-arrow-functions/output.js
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
-var _ref, _ref2;
-
 const triple = function (x) {
   return x * 3;
 };
 
-const result = (_ref2 = -7, (_ref = Math.abs(_ref2), triple(_ref)));
+const result = triple(Math.abs(-7));
 return expect(result).toBe(21);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/transform-await-and-arrow-functions/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/transform-await-and-arrow-functions/output.js
index 3a32f6e23831..38d23643558d 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/transform-await-and-arrow-functions/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/transform-await-and-arrow-functions/output.js
@@ -3,9 +3,9 @@ const triple = function (x) {
 };
 
 async function myFunction(n) {
-  var _ref, _ref2, _ref3, _ref4;
+  var _ref;
 
-  return _ref4 = n, (_ref3 = Math.abs(_ref4), (_ref2 = Promise.resolve(_ref3), (_ref = await _ref2, triple(_ref))));
+  return _ref = Math.abs(n), triple(await Promise.resolve(_ref));
 }
 
 return myFunction(-7).then(function (result) {
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/exec.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/exec.js
index 46cab09aa489..cfae2f24e5f4 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/exec.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/exec.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 let i = 0;
 let sum = 0;
 
-while (i |> (i = % + 1) |> % <= 10)
+while (i |> (i = 2 * % - % + 1) |> % <= 10)
   sum += i;
 
 expect(sum).toBe(10 + 9 + 8 + 7 + 6 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/input.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/input.js
index 46cab09aa489..cfae2f24e5f4 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/input.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/input.js
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 let i = 0;
 let sum = 0;
 
-while (i |> (i = % + 1) |> % <= 10)
+while (i |> (i = 2 * % - % + 1) |> % <= 10)
   sum += i;
 
 expect(sum).toBe(10 + 9 + 8 + 7 + 6 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/output.js
index 0622dfee4902..b7555717c674 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/while-statement-with-pipe-in-condition/output.js
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 let i = 0;
 let sum = 0;
 
-while (_ref2 = i, (_ref = i = _ref2 + 1, _ref <= 10)) {
-  var _ref, _ref2;
+while (_ref = i, (i = 2 * _ref - _ref + 1) <= 10) {
+  var _ref;
 
   sum += i;
 }
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/within-assignment/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/within-assignment/output.js
index 5ca2ce9e5390..67e71ae3eb19 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/within-assignment/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/within-assignment/output.js
@@ -1,4 +1,2 @@
-var _ref;
-
-const x = (_ref = 0, _ref + 1);
+const x = 0 + 1;
 expect(x).toBe(1);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/within-for-classic-statement-init/input.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/within-for-classic-statement-init/input.js
index 1f4c6486b595..d6d16edc4a45 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/within-for-classic-statement-init/input.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/within-for-classic-statement-init/input.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 let sum = 0;
-for (var i = 0 |> %; i <= 10; i++)
+for (var i = 0 |> %*%; i <= 10; i++)
   sum += i;
 
 expect(sum).toBe(10 + 9 + 8 + 7 + 6 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1);
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/within-for-classic-statement-init/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/within-for-classic-statement-init/output.js
index dd399138c6fb..a9a09d54d313 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/within-for-classic-statement-init/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/within-for-classic-statement-init/output.js
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 let sum = 0;
 
-for (var i = (_ref = 0, _ref); i <= 10; i++) {
+for (var i = (_ref = 0, _ref * _ref); i <= 10; i++) {
   var _ref;
 
   sum += i;
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/within-for-classic-statement-test/exec.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/within-for-classic-statement-test/exec.js
index 004b86f7c591..54903aff62a2 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/within-for-classic-statement-test/exec.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/within-for-classic-statement-test/exec.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 let sum = 0;
-for (var i = 0; i |> % <= 10; i++)
+for (var i = 0; i |> % + % <= 20; i++)
   sum = sum + i;
 
 expect(sum).toBe(10 + 9 + 8 + 7 + 6 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1)
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/within-for-classic-statement-test/input.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/within-for-classic-statement-test/input.js
index 004b86f7c591..54903aff62a2 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/within-for-classic-statement-test/input.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/within-for-classic-statement-test/input.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 let sum = 0;
-for (var i = 0; i |> % <= 10; i++)
+for (var i = 0; i |> % + % <= 20; i++)
   sum = sum + i;
 
 expect(sum).toBe(10 + 9 + 8 + 7 + 6 + 5 + 4 + 3 + 2 + 1)
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/within-for-classic-statement-test/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/within-for-classic-statement-test/output.js
index 14ae06d74abf..0f9c6baa98ec 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/within-for-classic-statement-test/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/within-for-classic-statement-test/output.js
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 let sum = 0;
 
-for (var i = 0; _ref = i, _ref <= 10; i++) {
+for (var i = 0; _ref = i, _ref + _ref <= 20; i++) {
   var _ref;
 
   sum = sum + i;
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/within-for-classic-statement-update/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/within-for-classic-statement-update/output.js
index a741096b130d..2d117859e8b1 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/within-for-classic-statement-update/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/within-for-classic-statement-update/output.js
@@ -1,8 +1,6 @@
 let sum = 0;
 
-for (var i = 0; i <= 10; i = (_ref = i, _ref + 1)) {
-  var _ref;
-
+for (var i = 0; i <= 10; i = i + 1) {
   sum = sum + i;
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/within-generator-with-yield/output.js b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/within-generator-with-yield/output.js
index 4e9cfe3a1240..e0876570a06e 100644
--- a/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/within-generator-with-yield/output.js
+++ b/packages/babel-plugin-proposal-pipeline-operator/test/fixtures/hack-percent/within-generator-with-yield/output.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 function* myGenerator(n) {
-  var _ref, _ref2;
+  var _ref;
 
-  return _ref2 = n, (_ref = yield _ref2, Math.abs(_ref));
+  return _ref = yield n, Math.abs(_ref);
 }
diff --git a/packages/babel-standalone/test/preset-stage-1.test.js b/packages/babel-standalone/test/preset-stage-1.test.js
index d8f2e111811c..b40159b77035 100644
--- a/packages/babel-standalone/test/preset-stage-1.test.js
+++ b/packages/babel-standalone/test/preset-stage-1.test.js
@@ -28,11 +28,7 @@ const require = createRequire(import.meta.url);
           ],
         ],
       }).code;
-      expect(output).toMatchInlineSnapshot(`
-"var _ref;
-
-_ref = x, _ref;"
-`);
+      expect(output).toMatchInlineSnapshot(`"x;"`);
     });
 
     it("should support hack pipeline with `#` topic token", () => {
@@ -49,11 +45,7 @@ _ref = x, _ref;"
           ],
         ],
       }).code;
-      expect(output).toMatchInlineSnapshot(`
-"var _ref;
-
-_ref = x, _ref;"
-`);
+      expect(output).toMatchInlineSnapshot(`"x;"`);
     });
     it("should support decorators versioned 2021-12", () => {
       const output = Babel.transform("@dec class C {}", {