diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index c2d1549..03f8713 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # FS51
 
-A compatibility layer that makes formspec_version 3 (and later) formspecs
-render more correctly in Minetest 5.1.0 and earlier.
+A compatibility layer that makes formspec_version 4 (and later) formspecs
+render more correctly in Minetest 5.3.0 and earlier.
 
 This will work with most mods without any additional configuration. If you want
 to disable automatic formspec translation, add
diff --git a/monkey_patching.lua b/monkey_patching.lua
index 66da337..c148081 100644
--- a/monkey_patching.lua
+++ b/monkey_patching.lua
@@ -33,10 +33,31 @@ local function remove_hypertext(text)
     return res
 end
 
+-- Backport index_event by modifying the dropdown items so that they all start
+-- with \x1b(fs51@idx_<N>). This is then parsed out here if the player has been
+-- shown any formspec with a dropdown that has index_event. The extra check is
+-- done to prevent trying to parse every single field for every single player.
+local dropdown_hack_enabled = {}
+minetest.after(0, table.insert, minetest.registered_on_player_receive_fields,
+        1, function(player, formname, fields)
+    if dropdown_hack_enabled[player:get_player_name()] then
+        for k, v in pairs(fields) do
+            local i = v:match("^\27%(fs51@idx_([0-9]+)%)")
+            if i then
+                fields[k] = i
+            end
+        end
+    end
+end)
+
+minetest.register_on_leaveplayer(function(player)
+    dropdown_hack_enabled[player:get_player_name()] = nil
+end)
+
 local function backport_for(name, formspec)
     local info = get_player_information(name)
     local formspec_version = info and info.formspec_version or 1
-    if formspec_version >= 3 then return formspec end
+    if formspec_version >= 4 then return formspec end
 
     local tree, err = formspec_ast.parse(formspec)
     if not tree then
@@ -49,7 +70,18 @@ local function backport_for(name, formspec)
     local modified
     for node in formspec_ast.walk(tree) do
         local node_type = node.type
-        if formspec_version == 1 and node_type == 'background9' then
+        if node_type == "dropdown" and node.index_event and node.item then
+            -- Enable the dropdown hack for this player
+            dropdown_hack_enabled[name] = true
+
+            modified = true
+            for i, item in ipairs(node.item) do
+                node.item[i] = "\27(fs51@idx_" .. i .. ")" .. item
+            end
+            node.index_event = nil
+        elseif formspec_version == 3 then
+            -- Don't do anything else
+        elseif formspec_version == 1 and node_type == 'background9' then
             -- No need to set modified here
             node.type = 'background'
             node.middle_x, node.middle_y = nil, nil