diff --git a/polymer/eduke32/source/lunatic/defs.ilua b/polymer/eduke32/source/lunatic/defs.ilua
index 18bd75db3..855ff913e 100644
--- a/polymer/eduke32/source/lunatic/defs.ilua
+++ b/polymer/eduke32/source/lunatic/defs.ilua
@@ -2482,7 +2482,9 @@ if (concode) then
     local function protect_con_table(tab)
         -- NOTE: Some of our code specifically excepts the name tables to be
         -- indexable with nonexistent keys. See e.g. control.c: _A_SpawnGlass()
---        tab = setmetatable(tab, index_error_mt)
+        if (ffiC._LUNATIC_STRICT ~= 0) then
+            tab = setmetatable(tab, index_error_mt)
+        end
         return setmtonce({}, { __index=tab, __newindex=basemod_newidx })
     end