diff --git a/share/lua/intf/cli.lua b/share/lua/intf/cli.lua
index 69260253253acd255d7cd2049650ccc72f76ff2b..85fb6acab927f459adf7525be4ec7977e49ab3f3 100644
--- a/share/lua/intf/cli.lua
+++ b/share/lua/intf/cli.lua
@@ -212,10 +212,11 @@ function playlist_is_tree( client )
 end
 
 function playlist(name,client,arg)
+    local current = vlc.playlist.current()
     function playlist0(item,prefix)
         local prefix = prefix or ""
         if not item.flags.disabled then
-            local marker = ( item.id == vlc.playlist.current() ) and "*" or " "
+            local marker = ( item.id == current ) and "*" or " "
             local str = "|"..prefix..marker..tostring(item.id).." - "..
                             ( item.name or item.path )
             if item.duration > 0 then