diff --git a/weather/api.lua b/weather/api.lua
index cbaca7d..65234eb 100644
--- a/weather/api.lua
+++ b/weather/api.lua
@@ -62,14 +62,14 @@ function weather_mod.register_downfall(id,def)
 end
 
 if minetest.get_modpath("lightning") then
-	lightning.auto = false
+	rawset(lightning,"auto",false)
 end
 
 function weather_mod.handle_lightning()
 	if not minetest.get_modpath("lightning") then return end
 	local current_downfall = weather_mod.registered_downfalls[weather.type]
 	if not current_downfall then return end
-	lightning.auto = current_downfall.enable_lightning
+	rawset(lightning,"auto",current_downfall.enable_lightning)
 	if current_downfall.enable_lightning and math.random(1,2) == 1 then
 		local time = math.floor(math.random(lightning.interval_low/2,lightning.interval_low))
 		minetest.after(time, lightning.strike)
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ minetest.register_globalstep(function()
 		if math.random(1, 10000) == 1 then
 			weather.type = "none"
 			if minetest.get_modpath("lightning") then
-				lightning.auto = false
+				rawset(lightning,"auto",false)
 			end
 		end
 	end