diff --git epan/wslua/init_wslua.c epan/wslua/init_wslua.c
index d7f2e3a..4407eb4 100644
--- epan/wslua/init_wslua.c
+++ epan/wslua/init_wslua.c
@@ -130,12 +130,11 @@ int dissect_lua(tvbuff_t* tvb, packet_info* pinfo, proto_tree* tree) {
 
 }
 
-static void iter_table_and_call(lua_State* LS, int env, const gchar* table_name, lua_CFunction error_handler) {
+static void iter_table_and_call(lua_State* LS, const gchar* table_name, lua_CFunction error_handler) {
     lua_settop(LS,0);
 
     lua_pushcfunction(LS,error_handler);
-    lua_pushstring(LS, table_name);
-    lua_gettable(LS, env);
+    lua_getglobal(LS, table_name);
 
     if (!lua_istable(LS, 2)) {
         report_failure("Lua: either `%s' does not exist or it is not a table!\n",table_name);
@@ -183,7 +182,7 @@ static void wslua_init_routine(void) {
     }
 
     if (L) {
-        iter_table_and_call(L, LUA_GLOBALSINDEX, WSLUA_INIT_ROUTINES,init_error_handler);
+        iter_table_and_call(L, WSLUA_INIT_ROUTINES,init_error_handler);
     }
 
 }
@@ -239,7 +238,11 @@ static gboolean lua_load_script(const gchar* filename) {
 
     lua_pushcfunction(L,lua_main_error_handler);
 
+#if LUA_VERSION_NUM >= 502
+    error = lua_load(L,getF,file,filename,NULL);
+#else
     error = lua_load(L,getF,file,filename);
+#endif
     switch (error) {
         case 0:
             lua_pcall(L,0,0,1);
@@ -254,6 +257,10 @@ static gboolean lua_load_script(const gchar* filename) {
             report_failure("Lua: memory allocation error during execution of %s",filename);
             fclose(file);
             return FALSE;
+        default:
+        	report_failure("Lua: unspecified error during execution of %s", filename);
+        	fclose(file);
+        	return FALSE;
     }
 
     report_failure("Lua: unknown error during execution of %s: %d",filename,error);
@@ -348,9 +355,8 @@ int wslua_init(register_cb cb, gpointer client_data) {
     lua_atpanic(L,wslua_panic);
 
     /* the init_routines table (accessible by the user) */
-    lua_pushstring(L, WSLUA_INIT_ROUTINES);
     lua_newtable (L);
-    lua_settable(L, LUA_GLOBALSINDEX);
+	lua_setglobal(L, WSLUA_INIT_ROUTINES);
 
     /* the dissectors table goes in the registry (not accessible) */
     lua_newtable (L);
@@ -374,8 +380,7 @@ int wslua_init(register_cb cb, gpointer client_data) {
     filename = NULL;
 
     /* check if lua is to be disabled */
-    lua_pushstring(L,"disable_lua");
-    lua_gettable(L, LUA_GLOBALSINDEX);
+    lua_getglobal(L,"disable_lua");
 
     if (lua_isboolean(L,-1) && lua_toboolean(L,-1)) {
         /* disable lua */
@@ -388,8 +393,7 @@ int wslua_init(register_cb cb, gpointer client_data) {
     lua_load_plugins(get_plugin_dir());
 
     /* check whether we should run other scripts even if running superuser */
-    lua_pushstring(L,"run_user_scripts_when_superuser");
-    lua_gettable(L, LUA_GLOBALSINDEX);
+    lua_getglobal(L,"run_user_scripts_when_superuser");
 
     if (lua_isboolean(L,-1) && lua_toboolean(L,-1)) {
         run_anyway = TRUE;
@@ -424,9 +428,8 @@ int wslua_init(register_cb cb, gpointer client_data) {
      * after this point it is too late to register a menu
      * disable the function to avoid weirdness
      */
-    lua_pushstring(L, "register_menu");
     lua_pushcfunction(L, wslua_not_register_menu);
-    lua_settable(L, LUA_GLOBALSINDEX);
+    lua_setglobal(L, "register_menu");
 
     /* set up some essential globals */
     lua_pinfo = NULL;
diff --git epan/wslua/lua_bitop.c epan/wslua/lua_bitop.c
index 5fb7789..e602615 100644
--- epan/wslua/lua_bitop.c
+++ epan/wslua/lua_bitop.c
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ static UBits barg(lua_State *L, int idx)
 #error "Unknown number type, check LUA_NUMBER_* in luaconf.h"
 #endif
   if (b == 0 && !lua_isnumber(L, idx))
-    luaL_typerror(L, idx, "number");
+    luaL_error(L, "bad argument %d (number expected, got %s)", idx, lua_typename(L, lua_type(L, idx)));
   return b;
 }
 
@@ -174,7 +174,14 @@ LUALIB_API int luaopen_bit(lua_State *L)
       msg = "arithmetic right-shift broken";
     luaL_error(L, "bit library self-test failed (%s)", msg);
   }
+
+#if LUA_VERSION_NUM >= 502
+  luaL_newlib(L, bit_funcs);
+  lua_setglobal(L, "bit");
+#else
   luaL_register(L, "bit", bit_funcs);
+#endif
+
   return 1;
 }
 
diff --git epan/wslua/make-taps.pl epan/wslua/make-taps.pl
index c916d86..0ca8e46 100755
--- epan/wslua/make-taps.pl
+++ epan/wslua/make-taps.pl
@@ -195,14 +195,14 @@ TBLFTR
 
 
 for my $ename (sort keys %enums) {
-	print CFILE  "\n\t/*\n\t * $ename\n\t */\n\tlua_pushstring(L,\"$ename\"); lua_newtable(L);\n";
+	print CFILE  "\n\t/*\n\t * $ename\n\t */\n\tlua_newtable(L);\n";
 	for my $a (@{$enums{$ename}}) {
 		print CFILE  <<"ENUMELEM";
-		lua_pushstring(L,"$a"); lua_pushnumber(L,(lua_Number)$a); lua_settable(L,LUA_GLOBALSINDEX);
+		lua_pushnumber(L,(lua_Number)$a); lua_setglobal(L,"$a");
 		lua_pushnumber(L,(lua_Number)$a); lua_pushstring(L,"$a"); lua_settable(L,-3);
 ENUMELEM
 	}
-	print CFILE  "\tlua_settable(L,LUA_GLOBALSINDEX);\n";
+	print CFILE "\tlua_setglobal(L,\"$ename\");\n";
 }
 
 print CFILE <<"TAIL";
diff --git epan/wslua/wslua.h epan/wslua/wslua.h
index b593b7e..a919543 100644
--- epan/wslua/wslua.h
+++ epan/wslua/wslua.h
@@ -258,7 +258,7 @@ typedef struct _wslua_private_table* PrivateTable;
 #define WSLUA_CLASS_DEFINE(C,check_code,push_code) \
 C to##C(lua_State* L, int idx) { \
     C* v = (C*)lua_touserdata (L, idx); \
-    if (!v) luaL_typerror(L,idx,#C); \
+    if (!v) luaL_error(L, "bad argument %d (%s expected, got %s)", idx, #C, lua_typename(L, lua_type(L, idx))); \
     return v ? *v : NULL; \
 } \
 C check##C(lua_State* L, int idx) { \
@@ -299,6 +299,29 @@ typedef int dummy##C
 
 #ifdef HAVE_LUA_5_1
 
+#if LUA_VERSION_NUM >= 502
+#define WSLUA_REGISTER_CLASS(C) { \
+    int lib_idx, meta_idx; \
+	lua_createtable(L, 0, 0); \
+    lib_idx = lua_gettop(L); \
+	luaL_newmetatable(L, #C); \
+    meta_idx = lua_gettop(L); \
+	luaL_setfuncs(L, C ## _meta, 0); \
+	luaL_newlib(L, C ## _methods); \
+	lua_setfield(L, meta_idx, "__index"); \
+	luaL_newlib(L, C ## _meta); \
+	lua_setfield(L, meta_idx, "__metatable"); \
+	lua_setmetatable(L, lib_idx); \
+	lua_setglobal(L, #C); \
+}
+
+#define WSLUA_REGISTER_META(C) { \
+    luaL_newmetatable (L, #C); \
+    luaL_setfuncs (L, C ## _meta, 0); \
+    lua_pop(L,1); \
+}
+
+#else
 #define WSLUA_REGISTER_CLASS(C) { \
     luaL_register (L, #C, C ## _methods); \
     luaL_newmetatable (L, #C); \
@@ -317,6 +340,7 @@ typedef int dummy##C
     luaL_register (L, NULL, C ## _meta); \
     lua_pop(L,1); \
 }
+#endif
 
 #define WSLUA_INIT(L) \
     luaL_openlibs(L); \
@@ -326,7 +350,9 @@ typedef int dummy##C
 #endif
 
 #define WSLUA_FUNCTION extern int 
-#define WSLUA_REGISTER_FUNCTION(name)     { lua_pushstring(L, #name); lua_pushcfunction(L, wslua_## name); lua_settable(L, LUA_GLOBALSINDEX); }
+
+#define WSLUA_REGISTER_FUNCTION(name)     { lua_pushcfunction(L, wslua_## name); lua_setglobal(L, #name); }
+
 #define WSLUA_REGISTER extern int
 
 #define WSLUA_METHOD static int 
@@ -335,17 +361,17 @@ typedef int dummy##C
 #define WSLUA_ATTR_GET static int 
 #define WSLUA_METAMETHOD static int
 
-#define WSLUA_METHODS static const luaL_reg 
-#define WSLUA_META static const luaL_reg
+#define WSLUA_METHODS static const luaL_Reg 
+#define WSLUA_META static const luaL_Reg
 #define WSLUA_CLASS_FNREG(class,name) { #name, class##_##name }
 
 #define WSLUA_ERROR(name,error) { luaL_error(L, ep_strdup_printf("%s%s", #name ": " ,error) ); return 0; }
 #define WSLUA_ARG_ERROR(name,attr,error) { luaL_argerror(L,WSLUA_ARG_ ## name ## _ ## attr, #name  ": " error); return 0; }
 #define WSLUA_OPTARG_ERROR(name,attr,error) { luaL_argerror(L,WSLUA_OPTARG_##name##_ ##attr, #name  ": " error); return 0; }
 
-#define WSLUA_REG_GLOBAL_BOOL(L,n,v) { lua_pushstring(L,n); lua_pushboolean(L,v); lua_settable(L, LUA_GLOBALSINDEX); }
-#define WSLUA_REG_GLOBAL_STRING(L,n,v) { lua_pushstring(L,n); lua_pushstring(L,v); lua_settable(L, LUA_GLOBALSINDEX); }
-#define WSLUA_REG_GLOBAL_NUMBER(L,n,v) { lua_pushstring(L,n); lua_pushnumber(L,v); lua_settable(L, LUA_GLOBALSINDEX); }
+#define WSLUA_REG_GLOBAL_BOOL(L,n,v) { lua_pushboolean(L,v); lua_setglobal(L,n); }
+#define WSLUA_REG_GLOBAL_STRING(L,n,v) { lua_pushstring(L,v); lua_setglobal(L,n); }
+#define WSLUA_REG_GLOBAL_NUMBER(L,n,v) { lua_pushnumber(L,v); lua_setglobal(L,n); }
 
 #define WSLUA_RETURN(i) return (i);
 
diff --git epan/wslua/wslua_field.c epan/wslua/wslua_field.c
index b9505b7..7a380e0 100644
--- epan/wslua/wslua_field.c
+++ epan/wslua/wslua_field.c
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ static int FieldInfo_get_name(lua_State* L) {
 	return 1;
 }
 
-static const luaL_reg FieldInfo_get[] = {
+static const luaL_Reg FieldInfo_get[] = {
 /*    {"data_source", FieldInfo_get_data_source }, */
     {"range", FieldInfo_get_range},
 /*    {"hidden", FieldInfo_get_hidden}, */
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ static int FieldInfo__index(lua_State* L) {
 	 Other attributes:
 	 */
 	const gchar* idx = luaL_checkstring(L,2);
-	const luaL_reg* r;
+	const luaL_Reg* r;
 
 	checkFieldInfo(L,1);
 
@@ -294,7 +294,7 @@ WSLUA_METAMETHOD FieldInfo__lt(lua_State* L) {
 }
 
 
-static const luaL_reg FieldInfo_meta[] = {
+static const luaL_Reg FieldInfo_meta[] = {
     {"__tostring", FieldInfo__tostring},
     {"__call", FieldInfo__call},
     {"__index", FieldInfo__index},
@@ -469,12 +469,12 @@ WSLUA_METAMETHOD Field_tostring(lua_State* L) {
     return 1;
 }
 
-static const luaL_reg Field_methods[] = {
+static const luaL_Reg Field_methods[] = {
     {"new", Field_new},
     { NULL, NULL }
 };
 
-static const luaL_reg Field_meta[] = {
+static const luaL_Reg Field_meta[] = {
     {"__tostring", Field_tostring},
     {"__call", Field__call},
     { NULL, NULL }
diff --git epan/wslua/wslua_listener.c epan/wslua/wslua_listener.c
index 6e43f6b..fb04a4c 100644
--- epan/wslua/wslua_listener.c
+++ epan/wslua/wslua_listener.c
@@ -297,13 +297,13 @@ static int Listener_newindex(lua_State* L) {
 }
 
 
-static const luaL_reg Listener_methods[] = {
+static const luaL_Reg Listener_methods[] = {
     {"new", Listener_new},
     {"remove", Listener_remove},
     { NULL, NULL }
 };
 
-static const luaL_reg Listener_meta[] = {
+static const luaL_Reg Listener_meta[] = {
     {"__tostring", Listener_tostring},
     {"__newindex", Listener_newindex},
     { NULL, NULL }
diff --git epan/wslua/wslua_pinfo.c epan/wslua/wslua_pinfo.c
index 435b890..f61b14c 100644
--- epan/wslua/wslua_pinfo.c
+++ epan/wslua/wslua_pinfo.c
@@ -301,9 +301,9 @@ WSLUA_META NSTime_meta[] = {
 int NSTime_register(lua_State* L) {
     WSLUA_REGISTER_META(NSTime);
 
-    lua_pushstring(L, "NSTime");
     lua_pushcfunction(L, NSTime_new);
-    lua_settable(L, LUA_GLOBALSINDEX);
+    lua_setglobal(L, "NSTime");
+
     return 1;
 }
 
@@ -809,7 +809,7 @@ static int Columns_gc(lua_State* L) {
 }
 
 
-static const luaL_reg Columns_meta[] = {
+static const luaL_Reg Columns_meta[] = {
     {"__tostring", Columns__tostring },
     {"__newindex", Columns__newindex },
     {"__index",  Columns_index},
@@ -1444,7 +1444,7 @@ static int Pinfo_gc(lua_State* L) {
 
 }
 
-static const luaL_reg Pinfo_meta[] = {
+static const luaL_Reg Pinfo_meta[] = {
     {"__index", Pinfo_index},
     {"__newindex",Pinfo_setindex},
     {"__tostring", Pinfo_tostring},
diff --git epan/wslua/wslua_proto.c epan/wslua/wslua_proto.c
index 439a91c..384f83f 100644
--- epan/wslua/wslua_proto.c
+++ epan/wslua/wslua_proto.c
@@ -1095,7 +1095,7 @@ static int ProtoField_gc(lua_State* L) {
     return 0;
 }
 
-static const luaL_reg ProtoField_methods[] = {
+static const luaL_Reg ProtoField_methods[] = {
     {"new",   ProtoField_new},
     {"uint8",ProtoField_uint8},
     {"uint16",ProtoField_uint16},
@@ -1126,7 +1126,7 @@ static const luaL_reg ProtoField_methods[] = {
     { NULL, NULL }
 };
 
-static const luaL_reg ProtoField_meta[] = {
+static const luaL_Reg ProtoField_meta[] = {
     {"__tostring", ProtoField__tostring },
     {"__gc", ProtoField_gc },
     { NULL, NULL }
@@ -1281,12 +1281,21 @@ static int Proto_set_init(lua_State* L) {
     if (lua_isfunction(L,3)) {
         /* insert the dissector into the dissectors table */
         lua_pushstring(L, WSLUA_INIT_ROUTINES);
+#if LUA_VERSION_NUM >= 502
+        lua_pushglobaltable(L);
+#else
         lua_gettable(L, LUA_GLOBALSINDEX);
+#endif
         lua_replace(L, 1);
         lua_pushstring(L,proto->name);
         lua_replace(L, 2);
         lua_settable(L,1);
 
+#if LUA_VERSION_NUM >= 502
+        /* remove the global environment table from the stack */
+        lua_pop(L,1);
+#endif
+
         return 0;
     }  else {
         luaL_argerror(L,3,"The initializer of a protocol must be a function");
@@ -1423,7 +1432,7 @@ static int Proto_newindex(lua_State* L) {
     return 0;
 }
 
-static const luaL_reg Proto_meta[] = {
+static const luaL_Reg Proto_meta[] = {
     {"__tostring", Proto_tostring},
     {"__index", Proto_index},
     {"__newindex", Proto_newindex},
@@ -1437,10 +1446,9 @@ int Proto_register(lua_State* L) {
     lua_newtable(L);
     protocols_table_ref = luaL_ref(L, LUA_REGISTRYINDEX);
 
-    lua_pushstring(L, "Proto");
-    lua_pushcfunction(L, Proto_new);
-    lua_settable(L, LUA_GLOBALSINDEX);
-
+	lua_pushcfunction(L, Proto_new);
+	lua_setglobal(L, "Proto");
+	
     Pref_register(L);
     Prefs_register(L);
 
@@ -1539,13 +1547,13 @@ WSLUA_METAMETHOD Dissector_tostring(lua_State* L) {
     return 1;
 }
 
-static const luaL_reg Dissector_methods[] = {
+static const luaL_Reg Dissector_methods[] = {
     {"get", Dissector_get },
     {"call", Dissector_call },
     { NULL, NULL }
 };
 
-static const luaL_reg Dissector_meta[] = {
+static const luaL_Reg Dissector_meta[] = {
     {"__tostring", Dissector_tostring},
     { NULL, NULL }
 };
@@ -1825,7 +1833,7 @@ WSLUA_METAMETHOD DissectorTable_tostring(lua_State* L) {
     return 1;
 }
 
-static const luaL_reg DissectorTable_methods[] = {
+static const luaL_Reg DissectorTable_methods[] = {
     {"new", DissectorTable_new },
     {"get", DissectorTable_get },
     {"add", DissectorTable_add },
@@ -1835,7 +1843,7 @@ static const luaL_reg DissectorTable_methods[] = {
     { NULL, NULL }
 };
 
-static const luaL_reg DissectorTable_meta[] = {
+static const luaL_Reg DissectorTable_meta[] = {
     {"__tostring", DissectorTable_tostring},
     { NULL, NULL }
 };
diff --git epan/wslua/wslua_tree.c epan/wslua/wslua_tree.c
index 88270d3..18592b2 100644
--- epan/wslua/wslua_tree.c
+++ epan/wslua/wslua_tree.c
@@ -419,7 +419,7 @@ static int TreeItem_gc(lua_State* L) {
     return 0;
 }
 
-static const luaL_reg TreeItem_methods[] = {
+static const luaL_Reg TreeItem_methods[] = {
     {"add_packet_field", TreeItem_add_packet_field},
     {"add",              TreeItem_add},
     {"add_le",           TreeItem_add_le},
@@ -433,7 +433,7 @@ static const luaL_reg TreeItem_methods[] = {
     { NULL, NULL }
 };
 
-static const luaL_reg TreeItem_meta[] = {
+static const luaL_Reg TreeItem_meta[] = {
     {"__gc", TreeItem_gc},
     { NULL, NULL }
 };
diff --git epan/wslua/wslua_tvb.c epan/wslua/wslua_tvb.c
index 6ba756e..db5f757 100644
--- epan/wslua/wslua_tvb.c
+++ epan/wslua/wslua_tvb.c
@@ -287,7 +287,7 @@ static int ByteArray_tostring(lua_State* L) {
 
 static int ByteArray_tvb (lua_State *L);
 
-static const luaL_reg ByteArray_methods[] = {
+static const luaL_Reg ByteArray_methods[] = {
     {"new", ByteArray_new},
     {"len", ByteArray_len},
     {"prepend", ByteArray_prepend},
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ static const luaL_reg ByteArray_methods[] = {
     { NULL, NULL }
 };
 
-static const luaL_reg ByteArray_meta[] = {
+static const luaL_Reg ByteArray_meta[] = {
     {"__tostring", ByteArray_tostring},
     {"__gc",       ByteArray_gc},
     {"__concat", ByteArray__concat},
@@ -623,7 +623,7 @@ WSLUA_METHOD Tvb_range(lua_State* L) {
     return 0;
 }
 
-static const luaL_reg Tvb_methods[] = {
+static const luaL_Reg Tvb_methods[] = {
     {"range", Tvb_range},
     {"len", Tvb_len},
     {"offset", Tvb_offset},
@@ -632,7 +632,7 @@ static const luaL_reg Tvb_methods[] = {
     { NULL, NULL }
 };
 
-static const luaL_reg Tvb_meta[] = {
+static const luaL_Reg Tvb_meta[] = {
     {"__call", Tvb_range},
     {"__tostring", Tvb__tostring},
     {"__gc", Tvb__gc},
@@ -1314,7 +1314,7 @@ WSLUA_METAMETHOD TvbRange__tostring(lua_State* L) {
     return 1;
 }
 
-static const luaL_reg TvbRange_methods[] = {
+static const luaL_Reg TvbRange_methods[] = {
     {"uint", TvbRange_uint},
     {"le_uint", TvbRange_le_uint},
     {"int", TvbRange_int},
@@ -1345,7 +1345,7 @@ static const luaL_reg TvbRange_methods[] = {
     { NULL, NULL }
 };
 
-static const luaL_reg TvbRange_meta[] = {
+static const luaL_Reg TvbRange_meta[] = {
     {"__tostring", TvbRange__tostring},
     {"__concat", wslua__concat},
     {"__call", TvbRange_range},
@@ -1386,11 +1386,11 @@ static int Int64__gc(lua_State* L) {
     return 0;
 }
 
-static const luaL_reg Int64_methods[] = {
+static const luaL_Reg Int64_methods[] = {
     { NULL, NULL }
 };
 
-static const luaL_reg Int64_meta[] = {
+static const luaL_Reg Int64_meta[] = {
     {"__tostring", Int64__tostring},
     {"__concat", wslua__concat},
     {"__gc", Int64__gc},
@@ -1422,11 +1422,11 @@ static int UInt64__gc(lua_State* L) {
     return 0;
 }
 
-static const luaL_reg UInt64_methods[] = {
+static const luaL_Reg UInt64_methods[] = {
     { NULL, NULL }
 };
 
-static const luaL_reg UInt64_meta[] = {
+static const luaL_Reg UInt64_meta[] = {
     {"__tostring", UInt64__tostring},
     {"__concat", wslua__concat},
     {"__gc", UInt64__gc},
diff --git epan/wslua/wslua_util.c epan/wslua/wslua_util.c
index 8dd2002..a6f1bf5 100644
--- epan/wslua/wslua_util.c
+++ epan/wslua/wslua_util.c
@@ -373,13 +373,13 @@ static int wslua_Dir__gc(lua_State* L) {
 	return 0;
 }
 
-static const luaL_reg Dir_methods[] = {
+static const luaL_Reg Dir_methods[] = {
     {"open", Dir_open},
     {"close", Dir_close},
     { NULL, NULL }
 };
 
-static const luaL_reg Dir_meta[] = {
+static const luaL_Reg Dir_meta[] = {
     {"__call", Dir__call},
     {"__gc", wslua_Dir__gc},
     { NULL, NULL }