diff --git a/kong/router/compat.lua b/kong/router/compat.lua
index 48ae00524086..dc0b5cdd08e9 100644
--- a/kong/router/compat.lua
+++ b/kong/router/compat.lua
@@ -537,9 +537,10 @@ end
 
 
 local function split_routes_and_services_by_path(routes_and_services)
-  local routes_and_services_split = tb_new(#routes_and_services, 0)
+  local count = #routes_and_services
+  local routes_and_services_split = tb_new(count, 0)
 
-  for i = 1, #routes_and_services do
+  for i = 1, count do
     split_route_by_path_into(routes_and_services[i], routes_and_services_split)
   end