diff --git a/Lib/fontTools/feaLib/builder.py b/Lib/fontTools/feaLib/builder.py
index bda855e1e..81aa8c2e2 100644
--- a/Lib/fontTools/feaLib/builder.py
+++ b/Lib/fontTools/feaLib/builder.py
@@ -1658,38 +1658,31 @@ class Builder(object):
 
         return default, device
 
+    def makeAnchorPos(self, varscalar, deviceTable, location):
+        device = None
+        if not isinstance(varscalar, VariableScalar):
+            if deviceTable is not None:
+                device = otl.buildDevice(dict(deviceTable))
+            return varscalar, device
+        default, device = self.makeVariablePos(location, varscalar)
+        if device is not None and deviceTable is not None:
+            raise FeatureLibError(
+                "Can't define a device coordinate and variable scalar", location
+            )
+        return default, device
+
     def makeOpenTypeAnchor(self, location, anchor):
         """ast.Anchor --> otTables.Anchor"""
         if anchor is None:
             return None
-        variable = False
         deviceX, deviceY = None, None
         if anchor.xDeviceTable is not None:
             deviceX = otl.buildDevice(dict(anchor.xDeviceTable))
         if anchor.yDeviceTable is not None:
             deviceY = otl.buildDevice(dict(anchor.yDeviceTable))
-        for dim in ("x", "y"):
-            varscalar = getattr(anchor, dim)
-            if not isinstance(varscalar, VariableScalar):
-                continue
-            if getattr(anchor, dim + "DeviceTable") is not None:
-                raise FeatureLibError(
-                    "Can't define a device coordinate and variable scalar", location
-                )
-            default, device = self.makeVariablePos(location, varscalar)
-            setattr(anchor, dim, default)
-            if device is not None:
-                if dim == "x":
-                    deviceX = device
-                else:
-                    deviceY = device
-                variable = True
-
-        otlanchor = otl.buildAnchor(
-            anchor.x, anchor.y, anchor.contourpoint, deviceX, deviceY
-        )
-        if variable:
-            otlanchor.Format = 3
+        x, deviceX = self.makeAnchorPos(anchor.x, anchor.xDeviceTable, location)
+        y, deviceY = self.makeAnchorPos(anchor.y, anchor.yDeviceTable, location)
+        otlanchor = otl.buildAnchor(x, y, anchor.contourpoint, deviceX, deviceY)
         return otlanchor
 
     _VALUEREC_ATTRS = {
diff --git a/Tests/feaLib/builder_test.py b/Tests/feaLib/builder_test.py
index 6c1fdab24..434acdce9 100644
--- a/Tests/feaLib/builder_test.py
+++ b/Tests/feaLib/builder_test.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ from fontTools.feaLib.lexer import Lexer
 from fontTools.fontBuilder import addFvar
 import difflib
 from io import StringIO
+from textwrap import dedent
 import os
 import re
 import shutil
@@ -1160,6 +1161,22 @@ class BuilderTest(unittest.TestCase):
         var_region_axis = var_region_list.Region[0].VarRegionAxis[0]
         assert self.get_region(var_region_axis) == (0.0, 0.875, 1.0)
 
+    def test_variable_anchors_round_trip(self):
+        """Test that calling `addOpenTypeFeatures` with parsed feature file does
+        not discard variations from variable anchors."""
+        features = """\
+            feature curs {
+                pos cursive one <anchor 0 (wdth=100,wght=200:12 wdth=150,wght=900:42)> <anchor NULL>;
+            } curs;
+        """
+
+        f = StringIO(features)
+        feafile = Parser(f).parse()
+
+        font = self.make_mock_vf()
+        addOpenTypeFeatures(font, feafile)
+        assert dedent(str(feafile)) == dedent(features)
+
 
 def generate_feature_file_test(name):
     return lambda self: self.check_feature_file(name)