diff --git a/README b/README
index 6cae001..3a92628 100644
--- a/README
+++ b/README
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ your memory.
 
 Then add the following to the top of your rc.lua:
 
-  local vicious = require("vicious")
+  vicious = require("vicious")
 
 Once you create a widget (a textbox, graph or a progressbar) call
 vicious.register() to register it with Vicious:
diff --git a/contrib/README b/contrib/README
index 0c1e55b..4be896b 100644
--- a/contrib/README
+++ b/contrib/README
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ To use contrib widgets uncomment the line that loads them in
 init.lua. Or you can load them in your rc.lua after you require
 Vicious:
 
-  local vicious = require("vicious")
+  vicious = require("vicious")
   vicious.contrib = require("vicious.contrib")