diff --git a/src/script/lua_api/l_object.cpp b/src/script/lua_api/l_object.cpp
index 7a199e458..cd9be5428 100644
--- a/src/script/lua_api/l_object.cpp
+++ b/src/script/lua_api/l_object.cpp
@@ -1521,7 +1521,7 @@ int ObjectRef::l_get_meta(lua_State *L)
 	if (playersao == nullptr)
 		return 0;
 
-	PlayerMetaRef::create(L, &playersao->getMeta());
+	PlayerMetaRef::create(L, &getServer(L)->getEnv(), playersao->getPlayer()->getName());
 	return 1;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/script/lua_api/l_playermeta.cpp b/src/script/lua_api/l_playermeta.cpp
index e937c145c..a3377c524 100644
--- a/src/script/lua_api/l_playermeta.cpp
+++ b/src/script/lua_api/l_playermeta.cpp
@@ -21,6 +21,9 @@ with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
 #include "lua_api/l_playermeta.h"
 #include "lua_api/l_internal.h"
 #include "common/c_content.h"
+#include "serverenvironment.h"
+#include "remoteplayer.h"
+#include "server/player_sao.h"
 
 /*
 	PlayerMetaRef
@@ -28,12 +31,15 @@ with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
 
 IMetadata *PlayerMetaRef::getmeta(bool auto_create)
 {
-	return metadata;
+	auto *player = m_env->getPlayer(m_name);
+	auto *sao = player ? player->getPlayerSAO() : nullptr;
+	return sao ? &sao->getMeta() : nullptr;
 }
 
 void PlayerMetaRef::clearMeta()
 {
-	metadata->clear();
+	if (auto *meta = getmeta(true))
+		meta->clear();
 }
 
 void PlayerMetaRef::reportMetadataChange(const std::string *name)
@@ -43,9 +49,9 @@ void PlayerMetaRef::reportMetadataChange(const std::string *name)
 
 // Creates an PlayerMetaRef and leaves it on top of stack
 // Not callable from Lua; all references are created on the C side.
-void PlayerMetaRef::create(lua_State *L, IMetadata *metadata)
+void PlayerMetaRef::create(lua_State *L, ServerEnvironment *env, std::string_view name)
 {
-	PlayerMetaRef *o = new PlayerMetaRef(metadata);
+	PlayerMetaRef *o = new PlayerMetaRef(env, name);
 	*(void **)(lua_newuserdata(L, sizeof(void *))) = o;
 	luaL_getmetatable(L, className);
 	lua_setmetatable(L, -2);
diff --git a/src/script/lua_api/l_playermeta.h b/src/script/lua_api/l_playermeta.h
index f07bdcd09..3f39c3755 100644
--- a/src/script/lua_api/l_playermeta.h
+++ b/src/script/lua_api/l_playermeta.h
@@ -24,12 +24,14 @@ with this program; if not, write to the Free Software Foundation, Inc.,
 #include "lua_api/l_metadata.h"
 #include "irrlichttypes_bloated.h"
 #include "inventory.h"
-#include "metadata.h"
+
+class ServerEnvironment;
 
 class PlayerMetaRef : public MetaDataRef
 {
 private:
-	IMetadata *metadata = nullptr;
+	ServerEnvironment *m_env;
+	std::string m_name;
 
 	static const luaL_Reg methods[];
 
@@ -40,12 +42,17 @@ private:
 	virtual void reportMetadataChange(const std::string *name = nullptr);
 
 public:
-	PlayerMetaRef(IMetadata *metadata) : metadata(metadata) {}
+	PlayerMetaRef(ServerEnvironment *env, std::string_view name) :
+		m_env(env), m_name(name)
+	{
+		assert(m_env);
+		assert(!m_name.empty());
+	}
 	~PlayerMetaRef() = default;
 
-	// Creates an ItemStackMetaRef and leaves it on top of stack
+	// Creates an PlayerMetaRef and leaves it on top of stack
 	// Not callable from Lua; all references are created on the C side.
-	static void create(lua_State *L, IMetadata *metadata);
+	static void create(lua_State *L, ServerEnvironment *env, std::string_view name);
 
 	static void Register(lua_State *L);