diff --git a/src/parser/mod.rs b/src/parser/mod.rs
index cd9be1d8f..b4c0487b4 100644
--- a/src/parser/mod.rs
+++ b/src/parser/mod.rs
@@ -9416,27 +9416,35 @@ impl<'a> Parser<'a> {
         }
     }
 
+    /// Parse a `SET ROLE` statement. Expects SET to be consumed already.
+    fn parse_set_role(&mut self, modifier: Option<Keyword>) -> Result<Statement, ParserError> {
+        self.expect_keyword(Keyword::ROLE)?;
+        let context_modifier = match modifier {
+            Some(Keyword::LOCAL) => ContextModifier::Local,
+            Some(Keyword::SESSION) => ContextModifier::Session,
+            _ => ContextModifier::None,
+        };
+
+        let role_name = if self.parse_keyword(Keyword::NONE) {
+            None
+        } else {
+            Some(self.parse_identifier(false)?)
+        };
+        Ok(Statement::SetRole {
+            context_modifier,
+            role_name,
+        })
+    }
+
     pub fn parse_set(&mut self) -> Result<Statement, ParserError> {
         let modifier =
             self.parse_one_of_keywords(&[Keyword::SESSION, Keyword::LOCAL, Keyword::HIVEVAR]);
         if let Some(Keyword::HIVEVAR) = modifier {
             self.expect_token(&Token::Colon)?;
-        } else if self.parse_keyword(Keyword::ROLE) {
-            let context_modifier = match modifier {
-                Some(Keyword::LOCAL) => ContextModifier::Local,
-                Some(Keyword::SESSION) => ContextModifier::Session,
-                _ => ContextModifier::None,
-            };
-
-            let role_name = if self.parse_keyword(Keyword::NONE) {
-                None
-            } else {
-                Some(self.parse_identifier(false)?)
-            };
-            return Ok(Statement::SetRole {
-                context_modifier,
-                role_name,
-            });
+        } else if let Some(set_role_stmt) =
+            self.maybe_parse(|parser| parser.parse_set_role(modifier))
+        {
+            return Ok(set_role_stmt);
         }
 
         let variables = if self.parse_keywords(&[Keyword::TIME, Keyword::ZONE]) {
diff --git a/tests/sqlparser_common.rs b/tests/sqlparser_common.rs
index 5327880a4..447fea318 100644
--- a/tests/sqlparser_common.rs
+++ b/tests/sqlparser_common.rs
@@ -7665,6 +7665,30 @@ fn parse_set_variable() {
     one_statement_parses_to("SET SOMETHING TO '1'", "SET SOMETHING = '1'");
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn parse_set_role_as_variable() {
+    match verified_stmt("SET role = 'foobar'") {
+        Statement::SetVariable {
+            local,
+            hivevar,
+            variables,
+            value,
+        } => {
+            assert!(!local);
+            assert!(!hivevar);
+            assert_eq!(
+                variables,
+                OneOrManyWithParens::One(ObjectName(vec!["role".into()]))
+            );
+            assert_eq!(
+                value,
+                vec![Expr::Value(Value::SingleQuotedString("foobar".into()))]
+            );
+        }
+        _ => unreachable!(),
+    }
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn parse_double_colon_cast_at_timezone() {
     let sql = "SELECT '2001-01-01T00:00:00.000Z'::TIMESTAMP AT TIME ZONE 'Europe/Brussels' FROM t";