diff --git a/src/if_lua.c b/src/if_lua.c
index 2d02f7c..c5fc683 100644
--- a/src/if_lua.c
+++ b/src/if_lua.c
@@ -913,19 +913,32 @@
     if (l->lv_lock)
 	luaL_error(L, "list is locked");
     li = list_find(l, n);
-    if (li == NULL) return 0;
-    if (lua_isnil(L, 3)) // remove?
+    if (li == NULL)
     {
-	vimlist_remove(l, li, li);
-	listitem_free(l, li);
+        if (!lua_isnil(L, 3))
+        {
+	   typval_T v;
+	   luaV_checktypval(L, 3, &v, "inserting list item");
+	   if (list_insert_tv(l, &v, li) == FAIL)
+	        luaL_error(L, "failed to add item to list");
+	   clear_tv(&v);
+        }
     }
     else
     {
-	typval_T v;
-	luaV_checktypval(L, 3, &v, "setting list item");
-	clear_tv(&li->li_tv);
-	copy_tv(&v, &li->li_tv);
-	clear_tv(&v);
+        if (lua_isnil(L, 3)) // remove?
+        {
+	    vimlist_remove(l, li, li);
+	    listitem_free(l, li);
+        }
+        else
+        {
+	    typval_T v;
+	    luaV_checktypval(L, 3, &v, "setting list item");
+	    clear_tv(&li->li_tv);
+	    copy_tv(&v, &li->li_tv);
+	    clear_tv(&v);
+        }
     }
     return 0;
 }