diff --git a/init.lua b/init.lua
index c740988..a1abfe3 100644
--- a/init.lua
+++ b/init.lua
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ local insertion_pattern = "("..INS_CHAR.."?)"..INS_CHAR.."(%(?)(%d+)(%)?)"
 local function make_getter(msgstrs)
 	return function(s, ...)
 		local str
-		if strs then
+		if rawget(_G, "strs") then
 			str = msgstrs[s]
 		end
 		if not str or str == "" then