diff --git a/src/rules/prefer-mock-return-shorthand.ts b/src/rules/prefer-mock-return-shorthand.ts
index 41e557cf..97749a5b 100644
--- a/src/rules/prefer-mock-return-shorthand.ts
+++ b/src/rules/prefer-mock-return-shorthand.ts
@@ -75,6 +75,21 @@ export default createEslintRule<Options, MESSAGE_IDS>({
           return
         }
 
+        // check if we're using a non-constant variable
+        if (returnNode.type === AST_NODE_TYPES.Identifier) {
+          const scope = context.sourceCode.getScope(returnNode)
+
+          const isMutable = scope.through.some((v) =>
+            v.resolved?.defs.some(
+              (n) => n.type === 'Variable' && n.parent.kind !== 'const',
+            ),
+          )
+
+          if (isMutable) {
+            return
+          }
+        }
+
         context.report({
           node: property,
           messageId: 'useMockShorthand',
diff --git a/tests/prefer-mock-return-shorthand.test.ts b/tests/prefer-mock-return-shorthand.test.ts
index a4b7f3be..dac6082f 100644
--- a/tests/prefer-mock-return-shorthand.test.ts
+++ b/tests/prefer-mock-return-shorthand.test.ts
@@ -57,6 +57,56 @@ ruleTester.run(RULE_NAME, rule, {
       });
     `,
     'aVariable.mockReturnValue(Promise.all([1, 2, 3]));',
+    `
+      let currentX = 0;
+      jest.spyOn(X, getCount).mockImplementation(() => currentX);
+
+      // stuff happens
+
+      currentX++;
+
+      // more stuff happens
+    `,
+    `
+      let currentX = 0;
+      jest.spyOn(X, getCount).mockImplementation(() => currentX);
+    `,
+    `
+      let currentX = 0;
+      currentX = 0;
+      jest.spyOn(X, getCount).mockImplementation(() => currentX);
+    `,
+    `
+      var currentX = 0;
+      currentX = 0;
+      jest.spyOn(X, getCount).mockImplementation(() => currentX);
+    `,
+    `
+      var currentX = 0;
+      var currentX = 0;
+      jest.spyOn(X, getCount).mockImplementation(() => currentX);
+    `,
+    `
+      let doSomething = () => {};
+
+      jest.spyOn(X, getCount).mockImplementation(() => doSomething);
+    `,
+    `
+      let currentX = 0;
+      jest.spyOn(X, getCount).mockImplementation(() => {
+        currentX += 1;
+
+        return currentX;
+      });
+    `,
+    `
+      const currentX = 0;
+      jest.spyOn(X, getCount).mockImplementation(() => {
+        console.log('returning', currentX);
+
+        return currentX;
+      });
+    `,
   ],
 
   invalid: [
@@ -404,5 +454,111 @@ ruleTester.run(RULE_NAME, rule, {
         },
       ],
     },
+    {
+      code: `
+        const currentX = 0;
+        jest.spyOn(X, getCount).mockImplementation(() => currentX);
+      `.trim(),
+      output: `
+        const currentX = 0;
+        jest.spyOn(X, getCount).mockReturnValue(currentX);
+      `.trim(),
+      errors: [
+        {
+          messageId: 'useMockShorthand',
+          data: { replacement: 'mockReturnValue' },
+          column: 33,
+          line: 2,
+        },
+      ],
+    },
+    // currently we assume that exported stuff is immutable, since that
+    // is generally considered a bad idea especially when testing
+    {
+      code: `
+        import { currentX } from './elsewhere';
+        jest.spyOn(X, getCount).mockImplementation(() => currentX);
+      `.trim(),
+      output: `
+        import { currentX } from './elsewhere';
+        jest.spyOn(X, getCount).mockReturnValue(currentX);
+      `.trim(),
+      errors: [
+        {
+          messageId: 'useMockShorthand',
+          data: { replacement: 'mockReturnValue' },
+          column: 33,
+          line: 2,
+        },
+      ],
+    },
+    {
+      code: `
+        const currentX = 0;
+
+        describe('some tests', () => {
+          it('works', () => {
+            jest.spyOn(X, getCount).mockImplementation(() => currentX);
+          });
+        });
+      `.trim(),
+      output: `
+        const currentX = 0;
+
+        describe('some tests', () => {
+          it('works', () => {
+            jest.spyOn(X, getCount).mockReturnValue(currentX);
+          });
+        });
+      `.trim(),
+      errors: [
+        {
+          messageId: 'useMockShorthand',
+          data: { replacement: 'mockReturnValue' },
+          column: 37,
+          line: 5,
+        },
+      ],
+    },
+    {
+      code: `
+        function doSomething() {};
+
+        jest.spyOn(X, getCount).mockImplementation(() => doSomething);
+      `.trim(),
+      output: `
+        function doSomething() {};
+
+        jest.spyOn(X, getCount).mockReturnValue(doSomething);
+      `.trim(),
+      errors: [
+        {
+          messageId: 'useMockShorthand',
+          data: { replacement: 'mockReturnValue' },
+          column: 33,
+          line: 3,
+        },
+      ],
+    },
+    {
+      code: `
+        const doSomething = () => {};
+
+        jest.spyOn(X, getCount).mockImplementation(() => doSomething);
+      `.trim(),
+      output: `
+        const doSomething = () => {};
+
+        jest.spyOn(X, getCount).mockReturnValue(doSomething);
+      `.trim(),
+      errors: [
+        {
+          messageId: 'useMockShorthand',
+          data: { replacement: 'mockReturnValue' },
+          column: 33,
+          line: 3,
+        },
+      ],
+    },
   ],
 })