diff --git a/crates/runtime/src/table.rs b/crates/runtime/src/table.rs
index 63b4e440d7c..65ad0b1ace9 100644
--- a/crates/runtime/src/table.rs
+++ b/crates/runtime/src/table.rs
@@ -280,7 +280,9 @@ impl Table {
         };
 
         for (item, slot) in items.zip(elements) {
-            *slot = item as usize;
+            unsafe {
+                *slot = TableElement::FuncRef(item).into_table_value();
+            }
         }
         Ok(())
     }
diff --git a/tests/all/table.rs b/tests/all/table.rs
index 2dc29516838..8bc62f4f1a1 100644
--- a/tests/all/table.rs
+++ b/tests/all/table.rs
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+use anyhow::Result;
 use wasmtime::*;
 
 #[test]
@@ -50,3 +51,27 @@ fn copy_wrong() {
         "tables do not have the same element type"
     );
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn null_elem_segment_works_with_imported_table() -> Result<()> {
+    let mut store = Store::<()>::default();
+    let ty = TableType::new(ValType::FuncRef, 1, None);
+    let table = Table::new(&mut store, ty, Val::FuncRef(None))?;
+    let module = Module::new(
+        store.engine(),
+        r#"
+(module
+  (import "" "" (table (;0;) 1 funcref))
+  (func
+    i32.const 0
+    table.get 0
+    drop
+  )
+  (start 0)
+  (elem (;0;) (i32.const 0) funcref (ref.null func))
+)
+"#,
+    )?;
+    Instance::new(&mut store, &module, &[table.into()])?;
+    Ok(())
+}