diff --git a/mesecons_luacontroller/init.lua b/mesecons_luacontroller/init.lua
index 72bee24..0ee2def 100644
--- a/mesecons_luacontroller/init.lua
+++ b/mesecons_luacontroller/init.lua
@@ -238,6 +238,16 @@ local function safe_string_find(...)
 	return string.find(...)
 end
 
+-- do not allow pattern matching in string.split (see string.find for details)
+local function safe_string_split(...)
+	if select(5, ...) then
+		debug.sethook() -- Clear hook
+		error("string.split: 'sep_is_pattern' (fifth parameter) may not be used in a Luacontroller")
+	end
+
+	return string.split(...)
+end
+
 local function remove_functions(x)
 	local tp = type(x)
 	if tp == "function" then
@@ -507,6 +517,7 @@ local function create_environment(pos, mem, event, itbl, send_warning)
 			reverse = string.reverse,
 			sub = string.sub,
 			find = safe_string_find,
+			split = safe_string_split,
 		},
 		math = {
 			abs = math.abs,