diff --git a/luametalatex-meaning.lua b/luametalatex-meaning.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4176d6e
--- /dev/null
+++ b/luametalatex-meaning.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+-- Compatibility layer for \meaning
+-- This reverts a change rearding the \meaning of user macros:
+-- LuaMetaTeX does not prefix prefixes in the meaning with a backslash.
+
+-- Necessary especially for etoolbox's patching commands
+
+local primitive_meaning = {
+  token.primitive_tokens.expandafter,
+  token.primitive_tokens.relax,
+  token.primitive_tokens.meaning,
+}
+token.luacmd("meaning", function()
+  local peeked = token.peek_next()
+  token.put_next(primitive_meaning)
+  token.skip_next_expanded()
+  if peeked.parameters == 0 then
+    tex.sprint'->'
+  end
+  --[[
+  if peeked.frozen then
+    assert(token.scan_keyword'frozen' and token.scan_code(0x400))
+    tex.sprint(-2, '\\frozen ')
+  end
+  if peeked.protected then
+    assert(token.scan_keyword'protected' and token.scan_code(0x400))
+    tex.sprint(-2, '\\protected ')
+  end
+  ]]
+end, "force", "global")