diff --git a/sol/table.hpp b/sol/table.hpp
index 774700a1..dcc5a10b 100644
--- a/sol/table.hpp
+++ b/sol/table.hpp
@@ -82,13 +82,13 @@ public:
     }
 
     template<typename T>
-    proxy<table, T> operator[](T&& key) {
-        return proxy<table, T>(*this, std::forward<T>(key));
+    proxy<table&, T> operator[](T&& key) {
+        return proxy<table&, T>(*this, std::forward<T>(key));
     }
 
     template<typename T>
-    proxy<const table, T> operator[](T&& key) const {
-        return proxy<const table, T>(*this, std::forward<T>(key));
+    proxy<const table&, T> operator[](T&& key) const {
+        return proxy<const table&, T>(*this, std::forward<T>(key));
     }
 
     size_t size() const {