diff --git a/awesome/dbus.lua b/awesome/dbus.lua
index 4809fbe..48580a3 100644
--- a/awesome/dbus.lua
+++ b/awesome/dbus.lua
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 -- implementing awesome dbus api with ldbus
 
+local unpack = unpack or table.unpack
+
 local ldbus = require "ldbus"
 ldbus.basic_types.double = 'd'
 ldbus.types.double = 'd'
diff --git a/init.lua b/init.lua
index 5d81802..9af91f3 100644
--- a/init.lua
+++ b/init.lua
@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@ else
     dbus.exit = dbus.raw.exit
 end
 
+local unpack = unpack or table.unpack
+
 function dbus.signal_handler(signal, ...)
     signal.events = ((dbus.signals[signal.bus] or {})[signal.interface] or {}).events
     if not signal.events then return end