--- a/core/src/luan/LuanBit.java	Mon May 04 11:21:46 2015 -0600
+++ b/core/src/luan/LuanBit.java	Mon May 04 11:34:38 2015 -0600
@@ -42,9 +42,8 @@
 	}
 
 	public String checkString(Object obj) throws LuanException {
-		String s = Luan.asString(obj);
-		if( s != null )
-			return s;
+		if( obj instanceof String )
+			return (String)obj;
 		if( el instanceof LuanSource.Element ) {
 			LuanSource.Element se = (LuanSource.Element)el;
 			throw exception( "attempt to use '"+se.text()+"' (a " + Luan.type(obj) + " value) as a string" );