diff --git a/init.lua b/init.lua
index 84942da..7a64131 100644
--- a/init.lua
+++ b/init.lua
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 local mod_storage = minetest.get_mod_storage();
 
+-- The path to this mod, for including files
+local modpath = minetest.get_modpath("cartographer");
+
 -- The API object
 cartographer = {
     scan_queue = {},
@@ -46,11 +49,8 @@ function fromchunk(coord)
     return math.floor(coord * _cartographer.CHUNK_SIZE);
 end
 
--- The path to this mod, for including files
-local modpath = minetest.get_modpath("cartographer");
-
 -- Includes
-loadfile(modpath .. "/skin_api.lua") ();
+cartographer.skin = loadfile(modpath .. "/skin_api.lua") ();
 loadfile(modpath .. "/scanner.lua") (map_data);
 loadfile(modpath .. "/map_api.lua") ();
 loadfile(modpath .. "/items.lua") ();
diff --git a/skin_api.lua b/skin_api.lua
index a5dbb3a..f03f5b5 100644
--- a/skin_api.lua
+++ b/skin_api.lua
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 -- Table used for skinning cartographer's look and feel
-cartographer.skin = {
+return {
     -- The textures to use in maps for the sides of tiles
     cliff_textures = {
         "cartographer_simple_cliff",