diff --git a/data/pandoc.lua b/data/pandoc.lua
index 85a4639ce..3be3b507a 100644
--- a/data/pandoc.lua
+++ b/data/pandoc.lua
@@ -202,7 +202,10 @@ end
 --- Meta map
 -- @function MetaMap
 -- @tparam table key_value_map a string-indexed map of meta values
-M.MetaValue:create_constructor("MetaMap", function (mm) return mm end)
+M.MetaMap = M.MetaValue:create_constructor(
+  "MetaMap",
+  function (mm) return mm end
+)
 
 --- Creates string to be used in meta data.
 -- Does nothing, lua strings are meta strings.