diff --git a/api.lua b/api.lua
index cc95948..35384d0 100644
--- a/api.lua
+++ b/api.lua
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 -- signs_lib api, backported from street_signs
 
-local S = minetest.get_translator(minetest.get_current_modname())
+local S = signs_lib.S
 
 local function get_sign_formspec() end
 
diff --git a/init.lua b/init.lua
index 7021cf4..7ee6c59 100644
--- a/init.lua
+++ b/init.lua
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ signs_lib = {}
 
 signs_lib.path = minetest.get_modpath(minetest.get_current_modname())
 
-local S = minetest.get_translator(minetest.get_current_modname())
+signs_lib.S = minetest.get_translator(minetest.get_current_modname())
 
 dofile(signs_lib.path.."/encoding.lua")
 dofile(signs_lib.path.."/api.lua")