diff --git a/LuaIntf/LuaCompat.h b/LuaIntf/LuaCompat.h
index 5f3a1ff..ca9c55e 100644
--- a/LuaIntf/LuaCompat.h
+++ b/LuaIntf/LuaCompat.h
@@ -222,6 +222,9 @@ int luaL_fileresult(lua_State* L, int stat, const char* fname);
 
 #endif
 
+void lua_register_mainthread(lua_State* L);
+lua_State* lua_get_mainthread(lua_State* L);
+
 //---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 #if LUAINTF_HEADERS_ONLY
diff --git a/LuaIntf/LuaRef.h b/LuaIntf/LuaRef.h
index 1e8838b..8aedc65 100644
--- a/LuaIntf/LuaRef.h
+++ b/LuaIntf/LuaRef.h
@@ -420,7 +420,7 @@ class LuaRef
      * Create reference to Lua nil.
      */
     LuaRef(lua_State* state, std::nullptr_t)
-        : L(state)
+        : L(lua_get_mainthread(state))
         , m_ref(LUA_REFNIL)
     {
         assert(L);
@@ -433,7 +433,7 @@ class LuaRef
      * @param index position on stack
      */
     LuaRef(lua_State* state, int index)
-        : L(state)
+        : L(lua_get_mainthread(state))
     {
         assert(L);
         lua_pushvalue(L, index);
@@ -447,7 +447,7 @@ class LuaRef
      * @param name the global name, may contains '.' to access sub obejct
      */
     LuaRef(lua_State* state, const char* name)
-        : L(state)
+        : L(lua_get_mainthread(state))
     {
         assert(L);
         Lua::pushGlobal(L, name);
@@ -1190,7 +1190,7 @@ class LuaRef
      * Special constructor for popFromStack.
      */
     explicit LuaRef(lua_State* state)
-        : L(state)
+        : L(lua_get_mainthread(state))
     {
         assert(L);
         m_ref = luaL_ref(state, LUA_REGISTRYINDEX);
@@ -1234,7 +1234,7 @@ class LuaRef
         static R invoke(lua_State* L, const LuaRef& f, P&&... args)
         {
             lua_pushcfunction(L, &LuaException::traceback);
-            f.pushToStack();
+            f.pushToStack(L);
             pushArg(L, std::forward<P>(args)...);
             if (lua_pcall(L, sizeof...(P), 1, -int(sizeof...(P) + 2)) != LUA_OK) {
                 lua_remove(L, -2);
@@ -1252,7 +1252,7 @@ class LuaRef
         static void invoke(lua_State* L, const LuaRef& f, P&&... args)
         {
             lua_pushcfunction(L, &LuaException::traceback);
-            f.pushToStack();
+            f.pushToStack(L);
             pushArg(L, std::forward<P>(args)...);
             if (lua_pcall(L, sizeof...(P), 0, -int(sizeof...(P) + 2)) != LUA_OK) {
                 lua_remove(L, -2);
@@ -1268,7 +1268,7 @@ class LuaRef
         static std::tuple<R...> invoke(lua_State* L, const LuaRef& f, P&&... args)
         {
             lua_pushcfunction(L, &LuaException::traceback);
-            f.pushToStack();
+            f.pushToStack(L);
             pushArg(L, std::forward<P>(args)...);
             if (lua_pcall(L, sizeof...(P), sizeof...(R), -int(sizeof...(P) + 2)) != LUA_OK) {
                 lua_remove(L, -2);
diff --git a/LuaIntf/impl/CppBindModule.h b/LuaIntf/impl/CppBindModule.h
index 477b812..f4d131a 100644
--- a/LuaIntf/impl/CppBindModule.h
+++ b/LuaIntf/impl/CppBindModule.h
@@ -584,7 +584,7 @@ class LuaBinding
      *         LuaRef mod = LuaRef::createTable(L);
      *         LuaBinding(mod)
      *             ...;
-     *         mod.pushToStack();
+     *         mod.pushToStack(L);
      *         return 1;
      *     }
      */
diff --git a/LuaIntf/impl/CppFunction.h b/LuaIntf/impl/CppFunction.h
index 541a231..bf30dad 100644
--- a/LuaIntf/impl/CppFunction.h
+++ b/LuaIntf/impl/CppFunction.h
@@ -136,7 +136,7 @@ struct LuaCppFunction
     {
         using CppProc = CppBindMethod<FN>;
         LuaRef ref = LuaRef::createUserDataFrom(L, proc);
-        ref.pushToStack();
+        ref.pushToStack(L);
         lua_pushlightuserdata(L, CppSignature<FN>::value());
         lua_pushcclosure(L, &CppProc::call, 2);
     }
diff --git a/LuaIntf/src/LuaCompat.cpp b/LuaIntf/src/LuaCompat.cpp
index 23f18e5..67ecc60 100644
--- a/LuaIntf/src/LuaCompat.cpp
+++ b/LuaIntf/src/LuaCompat.cpp
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@
 #include <errno.h>
 #include <string.h>
 #include <limits.h>
+#include <assert.h>
 
 #define LUA_PACKAGE_KEY "_LUAINTF_COMPAT"
 
@@ -460,6 +461,33 @@ LUA_INLINE int luaL_fileresult(lua_State* L, int stat, const char* fname)
     }
 }
 
+#if LUA_VERSION_NUM <= 501
+#define LUA_RIDX_MAINTHREAD -3
+#endif
+
+void lua_register_mainthread(lua_State* L) {
+#if LUA_VERSION_NUM <= 501
+    if (lua_pushthread(L) == 1)
+        lua_rawseti(L, LUA_REGISTRYINDEX, LUA_RIDX_MAINTHREAD);
+    else
+        lua_pop(L, 1);
+#endif
+}
+
+lua_State* lua_get_mainthread(lua_State* L) {
+    assert(L);
+    lua_rawgeti(L, LUA_REGISTRYINDEX, LUA_RIDX_MAINTHREAD);
+    lua_State* L1 = lua_tothread(L, -1);
+    lua_pop(L, 1);
+    if (!L1) {
+        lua_register_mainthread(L);
+        lua_rawgeti(L, LUA_REGISTRYINDEX, LUA_RIDX_MAINTHREAD);
+        L1 = lua_tothread(L, -1);
+        lua_pop(L, 1);
+    }
+    return L1 ? L1 : L;
+}
+
 //---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 #endif