diff --git a/pod/perlvar.pod b/pod/perlvar.pod
index a2b0abfbdcdb..6e27739b5213 100644
--- a/pod/perlvar.pod
+++ b/pod/perlvar.pod
@@ -1096,8 +1096,8 @@ An array which exposes the contents of the capture buffers, if any, of
 the last successful pattern match, not counting patterns matched
 in nested blocks that have been exited already.
 
-Note that the 0 index of @{^CAPTURE} is equivalent to $1, the 1 index
-is equivalent to $2, etc.
+Note that the 0 index of C<@{^CAPTURE}> is equivalent to C<$1>, the 1 index
+is equivalent to C<$2>, etc.
 
     if ("foal"=~/(.)(.)(.)(.)/) {
         print join "-", @{^CAPTURE};
@@ -1120,6 +1120,19 @@ information on this form and its uses.
 
 This variable was added in 5.25.7
 
+If you need access to this functionality in older Perls you can use this
+function immediately after your regexp.
+
+	sub get_captures {
+		no strict 'refs';
+
+		my $last_idx = scalar(@-) - 1;
+		my @arr      = 1 .. $last_idx;
+		my @ret      = map { $$_; } @arr;
+
+		return @ret;
+	}
+
 =item $MATCH
 
 =item $&