diff --git a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_bamboo/bamboo_base.lua b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_bamboo/bamboo_base.lua
index 7d54ef6844..c23836c9ba 100644
--- a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_bamboo/bamboo_base.lua
+++ b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_bamboo/bamboo_base.lua
@@ -14,9 +14,9 @@ local node_sound = mcl_sounds.node_sound_wood_defaults()
 local DOUBLE_DROP_CHANCE = 8
 local DEBUG = false
 
-local strlen = string.len()
-local substr = string.sub()
-local rand = math.random()
+local strlen = string.len
+local substr = string.sub
+local rand = math.random
 
 -- basic bamboo nodes.
 local bamboo_def = {
diff --git a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_bamboo/globals.lua b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_bamboo/globals.lua
index 077c26f9ee..a2bfacb15f 100644
--- a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_bamboo/globals.lua
+++ b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_bamboo/globals.lua
@@ -9,9 +9,9 @@ local S = minetest.get_translator(modname)
 local bamboo = "mcl_bamboo:bamboo"
 local DEBUG = false
 
-local strlen = string.len()
-local substr = string.sub()
-local rand = math.random()
+local strlen = string.len
+local substr = string.sub
+local rand = math.random
 
 --Bamboo can be planted on moss blocks, grass blocks, dirt, coarse dirt, rooted dirt, gravel, mycelium, podzol, sand, red sand, or mud
 mcl_bamboo.bamboo_dirt_nodes = {
diff --git a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_bamboo/init.lua b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_bamboo/init.lua
index af782340e3..93191f49cc 100644
--- a/mods/ITEMS/mcl_bamboo/init.lua
+++ b/mods/ITEMS/mcl_bamboo/init.lua
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@
 
 -- LOCALS
 local modname = minetest.get_current_modname()
-local S = minetest.get_translator(modname)
 local bamboo = "mcl_bamboo:bamboo"
 
 mcl_bamboo = {}