diff --git a/degesch.c b/degesch.c
index 1f8a675..80e3d2c 100644
--- a/degesch.c
+++ b/degesch.c
@@ -7667,6 +7667,8 @@ lua_timer_hook_dispatch (void *user_data)
 	{
 		struct error *e = NULL;
 		(void) lua_plugin_process_error (plugin, lua_tostring (L, -1), &e);
+		lua_pop (L, 1);
+
 		log_global_error (plugin->ctx, "Lua: plugin \"#s\": #s: #s",
 			plugin->super.name, "timer hook", e->message);
 		error_free (e);