diff --git a/library/LuaTools.cpp b/library/LuaTools.cpp
index ed0b0699d..a1bf855d6 100644
--- a/library/LuaTools.cpp
+++ b/library/LuaTools.cpp
@@ -121,10 +121,10 @@ void DFHack::Lua::Push(lua_State *state, const df::coord2d &pos)
     lua_setfield(state, -2, "y");
 }
 
-void DFHack::Lua::GetVector(lua_State *state, std::vector<std::string> &pvec)
+void DFHack::Lua::GetVector(lua_State *state, std::vector<std::string> &pvec, int idx)
 {
     lua_pushnil(state);   // first key
-    while (lua_next(state, 1) != 0)
+    while (lua_next(state, idx) != 0)
     {
         pvec.push_back(lua_tostring(state, -1));
         lua_pop(state, 1);  // remove value, leave key
diff --git a/library/include/LuaTools.h b/library/include/LuaTools.h
index 86d3d0c7e..689d82260 100644
--- a/library/include/LuaTools.h
+++ b/library/include/LuaTools.h
@@ -359,7 +359,7 @@ namespace DFHack {namespace Lua {
         }
     }
 
-    DFHACK_EXPORT void GetVector(lua_State *state, std::vector<std::string> &pvec);
+    DFHACK_EXPORT void GetVector(lua_State *state, std::vector<std::string> &pvec, int idx = 1);
 
     DFHACK_EXPORT int PushPosXYZ(lua_State *state, const df::coord &pos);
     DFHACK_EXPORT int PushPosXY(lua_State *state, const df::coord2d &pos);