diff --git a/src/lua_baselib.c b/src/lua_baselib.c
index 468af0aa1..ac9b6053d 100644
--- a/src/lua_baselib.c
+++ b/src/lua_baselib.c
@@ -250,12 +250,15 @@ static int lib_userdataType(lua_State *L)
 // Only callable during script loading
 static int lib_registerMetatable(lua_State *L)
 {
-	static UINT32 nextid = 1;
+	static UINT16 nextid = 1;
 
 	if (!lua_lumploading)
 		return luaL_error(L, "This function cannot be called from within a hook or coroutine!");
 	luaL_checktype(L, 1, LUA_TTABLE);
 
+	if (nextid == 0)
+		luaL_error(L, "Too many metatables registered?! Please consider rewriting your script once you are sober again.\n");
+
 	lua_getfield(L, LUA_REGISTRYINDEX, LREG_METATABLES); // 2
 		// registry.metatables[metatable] = nextid
 		lua_pushvalue(L, 1); // 3