diff --git a/autoplace_tubes.lua b/autoplace_tubes.lua
index 40a041f..51ee383 100644
--- a/autoplace_tubes.lua
+++ b/autoplace_tubes.lua
@@ -53,27 +53,28 @@ local function tube_autoroute(pos)
 	}
 	-- xm = 1, xp = 2, ym = 3, yp = 4, zm = 5, zp = 6
 
-	local positions = {}
-	local nodes = {}
-	for i, adj in ipairs(adjustments) do
-		positions[i] = vector.add(pos, adj)
-		nodes[i] = minetest.get_node(positions[i])
-	end
+	local adjlist = {} -- this will be used in item_transport
+
+	for i, adj in ipairs(adjustments) do
+		local position = vector.add(pos, adj)
+		local node = minetest.get_node(position)
 
-	for i, node in ipairs(nodes) do
 		local idef = minetest.registered_nodes[node.name]
 		-- handle the tubes themselves
 		if is_tube(node.name) then
 			active[i] = 1
+			table.insert(adjlist, adj)
 		-- handle new style connectors
 		elseif idef and idef.tube and idef.tube.connect_sides then
-			local dir = adjustments[i]
-			if idef.tube.connect_sides[nodeside(node, vector.multiply(dir, -1))] then
+			if idef.tube.connect_sides[nodeside(node, vector.multiply(adj, -1))] then
 				active[i] = 1
+				table.insert(adjlist, adj)
 			end
 		end
 	end
 
+	minetest.get_meta(pos):set_string("adjlist", minetest.serialize(adjlist))
+
 	-- all sides checked, now figure which tube to use.
 
 	local nodedef = minetest.registered_nodes[nctr.name]
diff --git a/item_transport.lua b/item_transport.lua
index 7f9e241..f4067d8 100644
--- a/item_transport.lua
+++ b/item_transport.lua
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@ end
 -- both optional w/ sensible defaults and fallback to normal allow_* function
 -- XXX: possibly change insert_object to insert_item
 
-local adjlist={{x=0,y=0,z=1},{x=0,y=0,z=-1},{x=0,y=1,z=0},{x=0,y=-1,z=0},{x=1,y=0,z=0},{x=-1,y=0,z=0}}
+local default_adjlist={{x=0,y=0,z=1},{x=0,y=0,z=-1},{x=0,y=1,z=0},{x=0,y=-1,z=0},{x=1,y=0,z=0},{x=-1,y=0,z=0}}
 
 function pipeworks.notvel(tbl, vel)
 	local tbl2={}
@@ -80,6 +80,9 @@ local function go_next_compat(pos, cnode, cmeta, cycledir, vel, stack, owner)
 	if minetest.registered_nodes[cnode.name] and minetest.registered_nodes[cnode.name].tube and minetest.registered_nodes[cnode.name].tube.can_go then
 		can_go = minetest.registered_nodes[cnode.name].tube.can_go(pos, cnode, vel, stack)
 	else
+		local adjlist_string = minetest.get_meta(pos):get_string("adjlist")
+		local adjlist = minetest.deserialize(adjlist_string) or default_adjlist -- backward compat: if not found, use old behavior: all directions
+
 		can_go = pipeworks.notvel(adjlist, vel)
 	end
 	-- can_go() is expected to return an array-like table of candidate offsets.