diff --git a/src/Configuration.lua b/src/Configuration.lua
index 01908d760..142c0d827 100644
--- a/src/Configuration.lua
+++ b/src/Configuration.lua
@@ -375,6 +375,9 @@ end
 -- @param self A Configuration object
 -- @return the configuration report in json as a single string.
 function M.report_json(self)
+   require("declare")
+   declare("loadstring")
+   loadstring    = (_VERSION == "Lua 5.1") and loadstring or load
    local json    = require("json")
    local tbl     = self.tbl
    local configT = {}
diff --git a/src/chkJson b/src/chkJson
index db0b7310c..f6ef94dbf 100644
--- a/src/chkJson
+++ b/src/chkJson
@@ -48,6 +48,9 @@ package.cpath = LuaCommandName_dir .. "../lib/?.so;"..
 
 require("strict")
 require("serializeTbl")
+require("declare")
+declare("loadstring")
+loadstring = (_VERSION == "Lua 5.1") and loadstring or load
 local Dbg  = require("Dbg")
 local json = require("json")
 
diff --git a/src/spider.in.lua b/src/spider.in.lua
index 5d7c64578..2ddea3f90 100644
--- a/src/spider.in.lua
+++ b/src/spider.in.lua
@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@ require("modfuncs")
 require("cmdfuncs")
 require("deepcopy")
 require("parseVersion")
+require("declare")
 MainControl         = require("MainControl")
 Cache               = require("Cache")
 MRC                 = require("MRC")
@@ -342,6 +343,8 @@ end
 
 local function l_rptReverseMapTJson(mpathMapT, spiderT, timestampFn, dbT, providedByT)
    dbg.start{ "l_rptReverseMapTJson(mpathMapT, spiderT, timestampFn, dbT, providedByT)"}
+   declare("loadstring")
+   loadstring        = (_VERSION == "Lua 5.1") and loadstring or load
    local json        = require("json")
    local reverseMapT = l_buildReverseMapT(dbT)
    local libA        = l_buildLibMapA(reverseMapT)
@@ -354,6 +357,8 @@ end
 
 local function l_rptXALTRmapTJson(mpathMapT, spiderT, timestampFn, dbT, providedByT)
    dbg.start{ "l_rptXALTRmapTJson(mpathMapT, spiderT, timestampFn, dbT, providedByT)"}
+   declare("loadstring")
+   loadstring        = (_VERSION == "Lua 5.1") and loadstring or load
    local json        = require("json")
    local reverseMapT = l_buildReverseMapT(dbT)
    local libA        = l_buildLibMapA(reverseMapT)
@@ -366,6 +371,8 @@ end
 
 local function l_rptSoftwarePageJson(mpathMapT, spiderT, timestampFn, dbT, providedByT)
    dbg.start{ "l_rptSoftwarePageJson(mpathMapT, spiderT, timestampFn, dbT, providedByT)"}
+   declare("loadstring")
+   loadstring = (_VERSION == "Lua 5.1") and loadstring or load
    local json = require("json")
    local spA  = softwarePage(dbT)
    print(json.encode(spA))
@@ -399,6 +406,8 @@ end
 
 local function l_rptDbTJson(mpathMapT, spiderT, timestampFn, dbT, providedByT)
    dbg.start{ "l_rptDbTJson(mpathMapT, spiderT, timestampFn, dbT, providedByT)"}
+   declare("loadstring")
+   loadstring = (_VERSION == "Lua 5.1") and loadstring or load
    local json = require("json")
    print(json.encode(dbT))
    dbg.fini("l_rptDbTJson")