diff --git a/app/controllers/groups/variables_controller.rb b/app/controllers/groups/variables_controller.rb
index c0eff63da18..afa98aa8267 100644
--- a/app/controllers/groups/variables_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/groups/variables_controller.rb
@@ -16,7 +16,12 @@ module Groups
     def update
       respond_to do |format|
         format.json do
-          return head :ok if @group.update(variables_params)
+          if @group.update(variables_params)
+            variables = @group.variables
+              .map { |variable| variable.present(current_user: current_user) }
+
+            return render status: :ok, json: { variables: variables }
+          end
 
           render status: :bad_request, json: @group.errors.full_messages
         end
diff --git a/app/controllers/projects/variables_controller.rb b/app/controllers/projects/variables_controller.rb
index 2f03603bd1d..58fa600eb34 100644
--- a/app/controllers/projects/variables_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/projects/variables_controller.rb
@@ -15,7 +15,12 @@ class Projects::VariablesController < Projects::ApplicationController
   def update
     respond_to do |format|
       format.json do
-        return head :ok if @project.update(variables_params)
+        if @project.update(variables_params)
+          variables = @project.variables
+            .map { |variable| variable.present(current_user: current_user) }
+
+          return render status: :ok, json: { variables: variables }
+        end
 
         render status: :bad_request, json: @project.errors.full_messages
       end
diff --git a/spec/controllers/groups/variables_controller_spec.rb b/spec/controllers/groups/variables_controller_spec.rb
index a462d64c0f5..4927a9ee402 100644
--- a/spec/controllers/groups/variables_controller_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/controllers/groups/variables_controller_spec.rb
@@ -78,6 +78,12 @@ describe Groups::VariablesController do
 
         expect(response).to have_gitlab_http_status(:ok)
       end
+
+      it 'has all variables in response' do
+        subject
+
+        expect(response.body).to include(group.variables.reload.to_json)
+      end
     end
 
     context 'with a deleted variable' do
@@ -101,6 +107,12 @@ describe Groups::VariablesController do
 
         expect(response).to have_gitlab_http_status(:ok)
       end
+
+      it 'has all variables in response' do
+        subject
+
+        expect(response.body).to include(group.variables.reload.to_json)
+      end
     end
   end
 end
diff --git a/spec/controllers/projects/variables_controller_spec.rb b/spec/controllers/projects/variables_controller_spec.rb
index ab8915c58d0..ddba6cd83f4 100644
--- a/spec/controllers/projects/variables_controller_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/controllers/projects/variables_controller_spec.rb
@@ -87,6 +87,12 @@ describe Projects::VariablesController do
 
         expect(response).to have_gitlab_http_status(:ok)
       end
+
+      it 'has all variables in response' do
+        subject
+
+        expect(response.body).to include(project.variables.reload.to_json)
+      end
     end
 
     context 'with a deleted variable' do
@@ -110,6 +116,12 @@ describe Projects::VariablesController do
 
         expect(response).to have_gitlab_http_status(:ok)
       end
+
+      it 'has all variables in response' do
+        subject
+
+        expect(response.body).to include(project.variables.reload.to_json)
+      end
     end
   end
 end