diff --git a/vm_eval.c b/vm_eval.c
index 09c86dc2d6..1176c494e1 100644
--- a/vm_eval.c
+++ b/vm_eval.c
@@ -2009,8 +2009,7 @@ rb_catch_obj(VALUE t, VALUE (*func)(), VALUE data)
 static void
 local_var_list_init(struct local_var_list *vars)
 {
-    vars->tbl = rb_hash_new();
-    RHASH(vars->tbl)->ntbl = st_init_numtable(); /* compare_by_identity */
+    vars->tbl = rb_hash_new_compare_by_id();
     RBASIC_CLEAR_CLASS(vars->tbl);
 }