diff --git a/src/lua/utils.c b/src/lua/utils.c
index ccaa94e2c837f..73797986129a2 100644
--- a/src/lua/utils.c
+++ b/src/lua/utils.c
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@
 #include <fiber.h>
 #include "tt_uuid.h"
 #include "core/datetime.h"
+#include "core/say.h"
 
 int luaL_nil_ref = LUA_REFNIL;
 
@@ -285,6 +286,19 @@ luaL_setcdatagc(struct lua_State *L, int idx)
 	lua_pop(L, 1);
 }
 
+int
+luaT_setfuncs(struct lua_State *L, const struct luaL_Reg *funcs)
+{
+	assert(lua_gettop(L) >= 1);
+	assert(lua_istable(L, -1));
+
+	for (const struct luaL_Reg *f = funcs; f->name != NULL; ++f) {
+		lua_pushcclosure(L, f->func, 0);
+		lua_setfield(L, -2, f->name);
+	}
+
+	return 0;
+}
 
 /**
  * A helper to register a single type metatable.
@@ -303,7 +317,7 @@ luaL_register_type(struct lua_State *L, const char *type_name,
 	lua_setfield(L, -2, "__index");
 	lua_pushstring(L, type_name);
 	lua_setfield(L, -2, "__metatable");
-	luaL_register(L, NULL, methods);
+	luaT_setfuncs(L, methods);
 	lua_pop(L, 1);
 }
 
@@ -328,7 +342,43 @@ luaL_register_module(struct lua_State *L, const char *modname,
 			luaL_error(L, "Failed to register library");
 	}
 	lua_remove(L, -2);  /* remove _LOADED table */
-	luaL_register(L, NULL, methods);
+	luaT_setfuncs(L, methods);
+}
+
+int
+luaT_newmodule(struct lua_State *L, const char *modname,
+	       const struct luaL_Reg *funcs)
+{
+	say_debug("%s(%s)", __func__, modname);
+	assert(modname != NULL && funcs != NULL);
+
+	/* Get package.loaded. */
+	lua_getfield(L, LUA_REGISTRYINDEX, "_LOADED");
+
+	/* Verify that the module is not already registered. */
+	lua_getfield(L, -1, modname);
+	assert(lua_isnil(L, -1));
+	lua_pop(L, 1);
+
+	/* Create a module table. */
+	lua_newtable(L);
+
+	/* Fill the module table with functions. */
+	luaT_setfuncs(L, funcs);
+
+	/* Copy the module table. */
+	lua_pushvalue(L, -1);
+
+	/* package.loaded[modname] = <module table> */
+	lua_setfield(L, -3, modname);
+
+	/* Stack: package.loaded, module table. */
+
+	/* Drop package.loaded. Stack: module table. */
+	lua_remove(L, -2);
+
+	say_debug("%s(%s): success", __func__, modname);
+	return 1;
 }
 
 /*
diff --git a/src/lua/utils.h b/src/lua/utils.h
index ce90b977561a0..f6ac95bd07330 100644
--- a/src/lua/utils.h
+++ b/src/lua/utils.h
@@ -249,6 +249,14 @@ luaL_maplen(struct lua_State *L, int idx)
 
 extern int luaL_nil_ref;
 
+/**
+ * Fill a table on top of the Lua stack with functions.
+ *
+ * Leave the table on top of the stack.
+ */
+int
+luaT_setfuncs(struct lua_State *L, const struct luaL_Reg *funcs);
+
 void
 luaL_register_type(struct lua_State *L, const char *type_name,
 		   const struct luaL_Reg *methods);
@@ -258,6 +266,31 @@ void
 luaL_register_module(struct lua_State *L, const char *modname,
 		     const struct luaL_Reg *methods);
 
+/**
+ * Create a table with functions and register it as a built-in
+ * tarantool module.
+ *
+ * Leave the table on top of the stack.
+ *
+ * Pseudocode:
+ *
+ *  | local function newmodule(modname, funcs)
+ *  |     assert(modname ~= nil and funcs ~= nil)
+ *  |     assert(package.loaded[modname] == nil)
+ *  |     local mod = {}
+ *  |     setfuncs(mod, funcs)
+ *  |     package.loaded[modname] = mod
+ *  |     return mod
+ *  | end
+ *
+ * Unlike luaL_register() it is very straightforward: no recursive
+ * search, no _G pollution, no branching around using a stack
+ * top/find a table/create a new table.
+ */
+int
+luaT_newmodule(struct lua_State *L, const char *modname,
+	       const struct luaL_Reg *funcs);
+
 /** \cond public */
 
 /**