diff --git a/llimits.h b/llimits.h
index a76c13ed..d0394831 100644
--- a/llimits.h
+++ b/llimits.h
@@ -326,7 +326,8 @@ typedef l_uint32 Instruction;
 
 /* exponentiation */
 #if !defined(luai_numpow)
-#define luai_numpow(L,a,b)      ((void)L, l_mathop(pow)(a,b))
+#define luai_numpow(L,a,b)  \
+  ((void)L, (b == 2) ? (a)*(a) : l_mathop(pow)(a,b))
 #endif
 
 /* the others are quite standard operations */