diff --git a/init.lua b/init.lua
index 729dca1..346eca2 100644
--- a/init.lua
+++ b/init.lua
@@ -28,6 +28,10 @@ if not ie then
   return
 end
 
+-- We need raw read access to the metatables for monkey-patching
+local getmetatable = ie.debug.getmetatable
+local setmetatable = setmetatable
+
 local ok, ffi = pcall(ie.require, 'ffi')
 if not ok or not ffi then
   minetest.log("warning", err_prefix .. "FFI is not available in this system")