diff --git a/src/cpp/shared-table.cpp b/src/cpp/shared-table.cpp
index a4bc48c..6af0d4c 100644
--- a/src/cpp/shared-table.cpp
+++ b/src/cpp/shared-table.cpp
@@ -280,7 +280,8 @@ SharedTable SharedTable::luaSetMetatable(const sol::stack_object& tbl, const sol
         stable.ctx_->metatable = GCNull;
     }
 
-    stable.ctx_->metatable = createStoredObject(mt)->gcHandle();
+    const auto mtObj = createStoredObject(mt);
+    stable.ctx_->metatable = mtObj->gcHandle();
     stable.ctx_->addReference(stable.ctx_->metatable);
 
     return stable;