diff --git a/src/userdata.rs b/src/userdata.rs
index af5b304..4be27d2 100644
--- a/src/userdata.rs
+++ b/src/userdata.rs
@@ -840,39 +840,21 @@ impl<'lua> AnyUserData<'lua> {
         self.inspect(|cell| cell.try_borrow_mut())
     }
 
-    /// Takes out the value of `UserData` and sets the special "destructed" metatable that prevents
-    /// any further operations with this userdata.
+    /// Takes the value out of this userdata.
+    /// Sets the special "destructed" metatable that prevents any further operations with this userdata.
     ///
-    /// All associated user values will be also cleared.
+    /// Keeps associated user values unchanged (they will be collected by Lua's GC).
     pub fn take<T: 'static + UserData>(&self) -> Result<T> {
         let lua = self.0.lua;
         unsafe {
             let _sg = StackGuard::new(lua.state);
-            check_stack(lua.state, 3)?;
+            check_stack(lua.state, 2)?;
 
             let type_id = lua.push_userdata_ref(&self.0)?;
             match type_id {
                 Some(type_id) if type_id == TypeId::of::<T>() => {
                     // Try to borrow userdata exclusively
                     let _ = (*get_userdata::<UserDataCell<T>>(lua.state, -1)).try_borrow_mut()?;
-
-                    // Clear associated user values
-                    #[cfg(feature = "lua54")]
-                    for i in 1..=USER_VALUE_MAXSLOT {
-                        ffi::lua_pushnil(lua.state);
-                        ffi::lua_setiuservalue(lua.state, -2, i as c_int);
-                    }
-                    #[cfg(any(feature = "lua53", feature = "lua52", feature = "luau"))]
-                    {
-                        ffi::lua_pushnil(lua.state);
-                        ffi::lua_setuservalue(lua.state, -2);
-                    }
-                    #[cfg(any(feature = "lua51", feature = "luajit"))]
-                    protect_lua!(lua.state, 1, 1, fn(state) {
-                        ffi::lua_newtable(state);
-                        ffi::lua_setuservalue(state, -2);
-                    })?;
-
                     Ok(take_userdata::<UserDataCell<T>>(lua.state).into_inner())
                 }
                 _ => Err(Error::UserDataTypeMismatch),
@@ -1083,6 +1065,7 @@ impl<'lua> AnyUserData<'lua> {
     /// For `T: UserData + 'static` returned metatable is shared among all instances of type `T`.
     ///
     /// [`UserDataMetatable`]: crate::UserDataMetatable
+    #[inline]
     pub fn get_metatable(&self) -> Result<UserDataMetatable<'lua>> {
         self.get_raw_metatable().map(UserDataMetatable)
     }
diff --git a/tests/userdata.rs b/tests/userdata.rs
index 91996b7..28f15af 100644
--- a/tests/userdata.rs
+++ b/tests/userdata.rs
@@ -305,21 +305,19 @@ fn test_userdata_take() -> Result<()> {
     fn check_userdata_take(lua: &Lua, userdata: AnyUserData, rc: Arc<i64>) -> Result<()> {
         lua.globals().set("userdata", userdata.clone())?;
         assert_eq!(Arc::strong_count(&rc), 3);
-        let userdata_copy = userdata.clone();
         {
             let _value = userdata.borrow::<MyUserdata>()?;
             // We should not be able to take userdata if it's borrowed
-            match userdata_copy.take::<MyUserdata>() {
+            match userdata.take::<MyUserdata>() {
                 Err(Error::UserDataBorrowMutError) => {}
                 r => panic!("expected `UserDataBorrowMutError` error, got {:?}", r),
             }
         }
 
-        let value = userdata_copy.take::<MyUserdata>()?;
+        let value = userdata.take::<MyUserdata>()?;
         assert_eq!(*value.0, 18);
         drop(value);
-        lua.gc_collect()?;
-        assert_eq!(Arc::strong_count(&rc), 1);
+        assert_eq!(Arc::strong_count(&rc), 2);
 
         match userdata.borrow::<MyUserdata>() {
             Err(Error::UserDataDestructed) => {}
@@ -332,6 +330,13 @@ fn test_userdata_take() -> Result<()> {
             },
             r => panic!("improper return for destructed userdata: {:?}", r),
         }
+
+        drop(userdata);
+        lua.globals().raw_remove("userdata")?;
+        lua.gc_collect()?;
+        lua.gc_collect()?;
+        assert_eq!(Arc::strong_count(&rc), 1);
+
         Ok(())
     }