diff --git a/mods/ITEMS/REDSTONE/mcl_dispensers/init.lua b/mods/ITEMS/REDSTONE/mcl_dispensers/init.lua
index 47acacbb9a..0cd0608c4f 100644
--- a/mods/ITEMS/REDSTONE/mcl_dispensers/init.lua
+++ b/mods/ITEMS/REDSTONE/mcl_dispensers/init.lua
@@ -82,7 +82,7 @@ local dispenserdef = {
 	end,
 	after_dig_node = function(pos, oldnode, oldmetadata, digger)
 		local meta = minetest.get_meta(pos)
-		local meta2 = meta
+		local meta2 = meta:to_table()
 		meta:from_table(oldmetadata)
 		local inv = meta:get_inventory()
 		for i=1, inv:get_size("main") do
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ local dispenserdef = {
 				minetest.add_item(p, stack)
 			end
 		end
-		meta:from_table(meta2:to_table())
+		meta:from_table(meta2)
 	end,
 	_mcl_blast_resistance = 3.5,
 	_mcl_hardness = 3.5,
diff --git a/mods/ITEMS/REDSTONE/mcl_droppers/init.lua b/mods/ITEMS/REDSTONE/mcl_droppers/init.lua
index b5bcc1d084..abb3510913 100644
--- a/mods/ITEMS/REDSTONE/mcl_droppers/init.lua
+++ b/mods/ITEMS/REDSTONE/mcl_droppers/init.lua
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ local dropperdef = {
 	sounds = mcl_sounds.node_sound_stone_defaults(),
 	after_dig_node = function(pos, oldnode, oldmetadata, digger)
 		local meta = minetest.get_meta(pos)
-		local meta2 = meta
+		local meta2 = meta:to_table()
 		meta:from_table(oldmetadata)
 		local inv = meta:get_inventory()
 		for i=1, inv:get_size("main") do
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ local dropperdef = {
 				minetest.add_item(p, stack)
 			end
 		end
-		meta:from_table(meta2:to_table())
+		meta:from_table(meta2)
 	end,
 	allow_metadata_inventory_move = function(pos, from_list, from_index, to_list, to_index, count, player)
 		local name = player:get_player_name()
diff --git a/mods/ITEMS/REDSTONE/mcl_droppers/init_new.lua b/mods/ITEMS/REDSTONE/mcl_droppers/init_new.lua
index 5409e6abc7..bd8c0a3c37 100644
--- a/mods/ITEMS/REDSTONE/mcl_droppers/init_new.lua
+++ b/mods/ITEMS/REDSTONE/mcl_droppers/init_new.lua
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ local dropperdef = {
 	sounds = mcl_sounds.node_sound_stone_defaults(),
 	after_dig_node = function(pos, oldnode, oldmetadata, digger)
 		local meta = minetest.get_meta(pos)
-		local meta2 = meta
+		local meta2 = meta:to_table()
 		meta:from_table(oldmetadata)
 		local inv = meta:get_inventory()
 		for i=1, inv:get_size("main") do
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ local dropperdef = {
 				minetest.add_item(p, stack)
 			end
 		end
-		meta:from_table(meta2:to_table())
+		meta:from_table(meta2)
 	end,
 	allow_metadata_inventory_move = function(pos, from_list, from_index, to_list, to_index, count, player)
 		local name = player:get_player_name()