diff --git a/src/lib_base.c b/src/lib_base.c
index 162bbbb2..98ed3d60 100644
--- a/src/lib_base.c
+++ b/src/lib_base.c
@@ -504,7 +504,8 @@ LJLIB_CF(print)
     lua_gettable(L, LUA_GLOBALSINDEX);
     tv = L->top-1;
   }
-  shortcut = (tvisfunc(tv) && funcV(tv)->c.ffid == FF_tostring);
+  shortcut = (tvisfunc(tv) && funcV(tv)->c.ffid == FF_tostring)
+              && !gcrefu(basemt_it(G(L), LJ_TNUMX));
   for (i = 0; i < nargs; i++) {
     const char *str;
     size_t size;