diff --git a/modpol_minetest/chatcommands/chatcommands.lua b/modpol_minetest/chatcommands/chatcommands.lua
index b8e801f..e9e633f 100644
--- a/modpol_minetest/chatcommands/chatcommands.lua
+++ b/modpol_minetest/chatcommands/chatcommands.lua
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 
 local chat_table                -- MT chat command definitions table
 local regchat                   -- Chat-command registration function
-local command_list              -- user-facing list of commands
+local command_list = {}         -- user-facing list of commands
 
 regchat = minetest.register_chatcommand