diff --git a/lib/wibox/init.lua b/lib/wibox/init.lua
index a078534e9..f186a61bb 100644
--- a/lib/wibox/init.lua
+++ b/lib/wibox/init.lua
@@ -158,11 +158,8 @@ local function new(args)
     local ret = object()
     local w = capi.drawin(args)
 
-    -- lua 5.1 and luajit have issues with self referencing loops
-    local avoid_leak = setmetatable({ret},{__mode="v"})
-
     function w.get_wibox()
-        return avoid_leak[1]
+        return ret
     end
 
     ret.drawin = w