diff --git a/docs/changelog.txt b/docs/changelog.txt
index 24cfa47f03..bf01965a3c 100644
--- a/docs/changelog.txt
+++ b/docs/changelog.txt
@@ -64,8 +64,10 @@ Template for new versions:
 ## Documentation
 
 ## API
+- ``Filesystem::getBaseDir`` and ``Filesystem::getInstallDir`` added (and made available in Lua)
 
 ## Lua
+- inserting values into STL containers containing nonprimitive types is now supported
 
 ## Removed
 
diff --git a/library/include/DataIdentity.h b/library/include/DataIdentity.h
index 5aa256809a..e9fb5a9aa3 100644
--- a/library/include/DataIdentity.h
+++ b/library/include/DataIdentity.h
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ distribution.
 #include <filesystem>
 
 #include "DataDefs.h"
+#include "LuaWrapper.h"
 
 namespace std {
     class condition_variable;
@@ -113,6 +114,7 @@ namespace DFHack
     };
 
     class DFHACK_EXPORT container_identity : public constructed_identity {
+    protected:
         const type_identity *item;
         const enum_identity *ienum;
 
@@ -418,6 +420,25 @@ namespace df
             ct.insert(ct.begin()+idx, *(typename T::value_type*)item);
             return true;
         }
+        virtual bool lua_insert2(lua_State* state, int fname_idx, void* ptr, int idx, int val_index) const
+        {
+            using VT = typename T::value_type;
+            VT tmp{};
+            auto id = (type_identity*)lua_touserdata(state, DFHack::LuaWrapper::UPVAL_ITEM_ID);
+            auto pitem = DFHack::LuaWrapper::get_object_internal(state, id, val_index, false);
+            bool useTemporary = (!pitem && id->isPrimitive());
+
+            if (useTemporary)
+            {
+                pitem = &tmp;
+                id->lua_write(state, fname_idx, pitem, val_index);
+            }
+
+            if (id != item || !pitem)
+                DFHack::LuaWrapper::field_error(state, fname_idx, "incompatible object type", "insert");
+
+            return insert(ptr, idx, pitem);
+        }
 
     protected:
         virtual int item_count(void *ptr, CountMode) const { return (int)((T*)ptr)->size(); }
diff --git a/library/include/LuaWrapper.h b/library/include/LuaWrapper.h
index 6d77af87db..67301b52cc 100644
--- a/library/include/LuaWrapper.h
+++ b/library/include/LuaWrapper.h
@@ -29,8 +29,6 @@ distribution.
 #include <vector>
 #include <map>
 
-#include "DataDefs.h"
-
 #include <lua.h>
 #include <lauxlib.h>
 
@@ -41,6 +39,9 @@ distribution.
 
 namespace DFHack {
     struct FunctionReg;
+
+    class function_identity_base;
+
 namespace LuaWrapper {
     struct LuaToken;
 
diff --git a/plugins/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/CMakeLists.txt
index 3ef551a49e..1f721ec713 100644
--- a/plugins/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/plugins/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -32,11 +32,15 @@ set_source_files_properties( Brushes.h PROPERTIES HEADER_FILE_ONLY TRUE )
 # proto file must be in the proto/ folder
 # dfhack_plugin(rename rename.cpp LINK_LIBRARIES lua PROTOBUFS rename)
 
+# warning: for complicated reasons, if a plugin uses a vmethod interpose, it must
+# link to lua even if it doesn't otherwise use lua. we'll fix this someday, we promise.
+# we apologize for the inconvenience.
+
 option(BUILD_SUPPORTED "Build the supported plugins (reveal, probe, etc.)." ON)
 if(BUILD_SUPPORTED)
     dfhack_plugin(3dveins 3dveins.cpp)
     dfhack_plugin(army-controller-sanity army-controller-sanity.cpp)
-    dfhack_plugin(add-spatter add-spatter.cpp)
+    dfhack_plugin(add-spatter add-spatter.cpp LINK_LIBRARIES lua)
     dfhack_plugin(aquifer aquifer.cpp LINK_LIBRARIES lua)
     dfhack_plugin(autobutcher autobutcher.cpp LINK_LIBRARIES lua)
     dfhack_plugin(autochop autochop.cpp LINK_LIBRARIES lua)
diff --git a/plugins/devel/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/devel/CMakeLists.txt
index 210669a75d..c044fa1044 100644
--- a/plugins/devel/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/plugins/devel/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ dfhack_plugin(tilesieve tilesieve.cpp)
 # dfhack_plugin(zoom zoom.cpp)
 
 if(UNIX)
-    dfhack_plugin(ref-index ref-index.cpp)
+    dfhack_plugin(ref-index ref-index.cpp LINK_LIBRARIES lua)
 endif()
 
 add_subdirectory(check-structures-sanity)