1 files changed, 10 insertions, 3 deletions
diff --git a/tex/context/base/mkiv/buff-ini.lua b/tex/context/base/mkiv/buff-ini.lua
index 632565fc7..ecb5d9dd0 100644
--- a/tex/context/base/mkiv/buff-ini.lua
+++ b/tex/context/base/mkiv/buff-ini.lua
@@ -167,7 +167,8 @@ local function collectcontent(name,separator) -- no print
     elseif nnames == 1 then
         return getcontent(names[1])
     else
-        local t, n = { }, 0
+        local t = { }
+        local n = 0
         for i=1,nnames do
             local c = getcontent(names[i])
             if c ~= "" then
@@ -350,11 +351,17 @@ buffers.undent = undent
 --     commands.doifelse(more)
 -- end
 
+local split = table.setmetatableindex(function(t,k)
+    local v = totable(k)
+    t[k] = v
+    return v
+end)
+
 function tokens.pickup(start,stop)
-    local stoplist     = totable(stop)
+    local stoplist     = split[stop] -- totable(stop)
     local stoplength   = #stoplist
     local stoplast     = stoplist[stoplength]
-    local startlist    = totable(start)
+    local startlist    = split[start] -- totable(start)
     local startlength  = #startlist
     local startlast    = startlist[startlength]
     local list         = { }