diff --git a/mods/player_api/api.lua b/mods/player_api/api.lua
index 12d23bcb..8517d58a 100644
--- a/mods/player_api/api.lua
+++ b/mods/player_api/api.lua
@@ -211,8 +211,11 @@ function player_api.globalstep()
 end
 
 -- Mods can modify the globalstep by overriding player_api.globalstep
+
+-- local for speed
+local player_api_globalstep = player_api.globalstep
 minetest.register_globalstep(function(...)
-	player_api.globalstep(players, ...)
+	player_api_globalstep(players, ...)
 end)
 
 for _, api_function in pairs({"get_animation", "set_animation", "set_model", "set_textures"}) do