diff --git a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_doors/api_trapdoors.lua b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_doors/api_trapdoors.lua
index 8053be8ec7..c8fbe4b914 100644
--- a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_doors/api_trapdoors.lua
+++ b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_doors/api_trapdoors.lua
@@ -1,3 +1,20 @@
+-- Wrapper around mintest.pointed_thing_to_face_pos.
+local function get_fpos(placer, pointed_thing)
+	local fpos
+	-- Workaround: minetest.pointed_thing_to_face_pos crashes in MT 0.4.16 if
+	-- pointed_thing.under and pointed_thing.above are equal
+	-- FIXME: Remove this when MT got fixed.
+	if not vector.equals(pointed_thing.under, pointed_thing.above) then
+		-- The happy case: Everything is normal
+		local finepos = minetest.pointed_thing_to_face_pos(placer, pointed_thing)
+		fpos = finepos.y % 1
+	else
+		-- Fallback if both above and under are equal
+		fpos = 0
+	end
+	return fpos
+end
+
 ---- Trapdoor ----
 
 function mcl_doors:register_trapdoor(name, def)
@@ -91,9 +108,7 @@ function mcl_doors:register_trapdoor(name, def)
 				param2 = minetest.dir_to_facedir(vector.subtract(p1, placer_pos))
 			end
 
-			local finepos = minetest.pointed_thing_to_face_pos(placer, pointed_thing)
-			local fpos = finepos.y % 1
-
+			local fpos = get_fpos(placer, pointed_thing)
 
 			local origname = itemstack:get_name()
 			if p0.y - 1 == p1.y or (fpos > 0 and fpos < 0.5)
diff --git a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_stairs/api.lua b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_stairs/api.lua
index 77a0e2259f..82c2d7c395 100644
--- a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_stairs/api.lua
+++ b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_stairs/api.lua
@@ -1,3 +1,20 @@
+-- Wrapper around mintest.pointed_thing_to_face_pos.
+local function get_fpos(placer, pointed_thing)
+	local fpos
+	-- Workaround: minetest.pointed_thing_to_face_pos crashes in MT 0.4.16 if
+	-- pointed_thing.under and pointed_thing.above are equal
+	-- FIXME: Remove this when MT got fixed.
+	if not vector.equals(pointed_thing.under, pointed_thing.above) then
+		-- The happy case: Everything is normal
+		local finepos = minetest.pointed_thing_to_face_pos(placer, pointed_thing)
+		fpos = finepos.y % 1
+	else
+		-- Fallback if both above and under are equal
+		fpos = 0
+	end
+	return fpos
+end
+
 local function place_slab_normal(itemstack, placer, pointed_thing)
 	-- Use pointed node's on_rightclick function first, if present
 	local node = minetest.get_node(pointed_thing.under)
@@ -12,8 +29,7 @@ local function place_slab_normal(itemstack, placer, pointed_thing)
 
 	local placer_pos = placer:getpos()
 
-	local finepos = minetest.pointed_thing_to_face_pos(placer, pointed_thing)
-	local fpos = finepos.y % 1
+	local fpos = get_fpos(placer, pointed_thing)
 
 	local place = ItemStack(itemstack)
 	local origname = itemstack:get_name()
@@ -44,8 +60,7 @@ local function place_stair(itemstack, placer, pointed_thing)
 		param2 = minetest.dir_to_facedir(vector.subtract(p1, placer_pos))
 	end
 
-	local finepos = minetest.pointed_thing_to_face_pos(placer, pointed_thing)
-	local fpos = finepos.y % 1
+	local fpos = get_pos(placer, pointed_thing)
 
 	if p0.y - 1 == p1.y or (fpos > 0 and fpos < 0.5)
 			or (fpos < -0.5 and fpos > -0.999999999) then