diff --git a/runtime/lib.go b/runtime/lib.go
index f1cba5f0..d2967532 100644
--- a/runtime/lib.go
+++ b/runtime/lib.go
@@ -83,8 +83,10 @@ func SetIndex(t *Thread, coll Value, idx Value, val Value) error {
 			if isTable {
 				// No need to call SetTableCheck
 				t.SetTable(tbl, idx, val)
+				return nil
 			}
-			return nil
+			return fmt.Errorf(
+				"attempt to index %s value without __newindex", coll.TypeName())
 		}
 		if _, ok := metaNewIndex.TryTable(); ok {
 			coll = metaNewIndex
diff --git a/runtime/lib_test.go b/runtime/lib_test.go
index 9674bb48..5ebacf32 100644
--- a/runtime/lib_test.go
+++ b/runtime/lib_test.go
@@ -75,3 +75,18 @@ func TestRuntime_CompileAndLoadLuaChunkOrExp(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+// TestSetIndexNoNewIndex tests setting new indices of values without
+// a __newindex metamethod.
+func TestSetIndexNoNewIndex(t *testing.T) {
+	r := New(os.Stdout)
+	intValue := IntValue(42)
+	meta := NewTable()
+	udValue := UserDataValue(NewUserData([]int{}, meta))
+	if err := SetIndex(r.MainThread(), intValue, intValue, intValue); err == nil {
+		t.Error("expected error indexing int value")
+	}
+	if err := SetIndex(r.MainThread(), udValue, intValue, intValue); err == nil {
+		t.Error("expected error indexing userdata value")
+	}
+}