diff --git a/lib/awful/menu.lua.in b/lib/awful/menu.lua.in
index 08179b878..927d140b3 100644
--- a/lib/awful/menu.lua.in
+++ b/lib/awful/menu.lua.in
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ end
 
 local function item_position(_menu, child)
     local in_dir, other, a, b = 0, 0, "height", "width"
-    local dir = _menu.layout.get_dir and _menu.layout:get_dir() or "y"
+    local dir = _menu.layout.dir or "y"
     if dir == "x" then  a, b = b, a  end
 
     local in_dir, other = 0, _menu[b]
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ end
 
 local function set_size(_menu)
     local in_dir, other, a, b = 0, 0, "height", "width"
-    local dir = _menu.layout.get_dir and _menu.layout:get_dir() or "y"
+    local dir = _menu.layout.dir or "y"
     if dir == "x" then  a, b = b, a  end
     for _, item in ipairs(_menu.items) do
         other = math.max(other, item[b])