diff --git a/nselib/outlib.lua b/nselib/outlib.lua
index 933206058..3379256fe 100644
--- a/nselib/outlib.lua
+++ b/nselib/outlib.lua
@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@ local table = require "table"
 local sort = table.sort
 local concat = table.concat
 
+local getmetatable = getmetatable
 local setmetatable = setmetatable
 local ipairs = ipairs