diff --git a/src/lib.rs b/src/lib.rs
index 1a5ea36..b4597b5 100644
--- a/src/lib.rs
+++ b/src/lib.rs
@@ -121,6 +121,7 @@ pub use crate::types::{Integer, LightUserData, Number, RegistryKey};
 pub use crate::userdata::{
     AnyUserData, MetaMethod, UserData, UserDataFields, UserDataMetatable, UserDataMethods,
 };
+pub use crate::userdata_impl::UserDataRegistrar;
 pub use crate::value::{FromLua, FromLuaMulti, IntoLua, IntoLuaMulti, MultiValue, Nil, Value};
 
 #[cfg(not(feature = "luau"))]
diff --git a/src/lua.rs b/src/lua.rs
index 26bec0e..b26dfe0 100644
--- a/src/lua.rs
+++ b/src/lua.rs
@@ -1763,23 +1763,12 @@ impl Lua {
     /// Otherwise, the userdata object will have an empty metatable.
     ///
     /// All userdata instances of the same type `T` shares the same metatable.
+    #[inline]
     pub fn create_any_userdata<T>(&self, data: T) -> Result<AnyUserData>
     where
         T: MaybeSend + 'static,
     {
-        unsafe {
-            self.make_userdata_with_metatable(UserDataCell::new(data), || {
-                // Check if userdata/metatable is already registered
-                let type_id = TypeId::of::<T>();
-                if let Some(&table_id) = (*self.extra.get()).registered_userdata.get(&type_id) {
-                    return Ok(table_id as Integer);
-                }
-
-                // Create empty metatable
-                let registry = UserDataRegistrar::new();
-                self.register_userdata_metatable::<T>(registry)
-            })
-        }
+        unsafe { self.make_any_userdata(UserDataCell::new(data)) }
     }
 
     /// Registers a custom Rust type in Lua to use in userdata objects.
@@ -1891,12 +1880,10 @@ impl Lua {
     /// dropped. `Function` types will error when called, and `AnyUserData` will be typeless. It
     /// would be impossible to prevent handles to scoped values from escaping anyway, since you
     /// would always be able to smuggle them through Lua state.
-    pub fn scope<'lua, 'scope, R, F>(&'lua self, f: F) -> Result<R>
-    where
-        'lua: 'scope,
-        R: 'static,
-        F: FnOnce(&Scope<'lua, 'scope>) -> Result<R>,
-    {
+    pub fn scope<'lua, 'scope, R>(
+        &'lua self,
+        f: impl FnOnce(&Scope<'lua, 'scope>) -> Result<R>,
+    ) -> Result<R> {
         f(&Scope::new(self))
     }
 
@@ -2961,6 +2948,23 @@ impl Lua {
         })
     }
 
+    pub(crate) unsafe fn make_any_userdata<T>(&self, data: UserDataCell<T>) -> Result<AnyUserData>
+    where
+        T: 'static,
+    {
+        self.make_userdata_with_metatable(data, || {
+            // Check if userdata/metatable is already registered
+            let type_id = TypeId::of::<T>();
+            if let Some(&table_id) = (*self.extra.get()).registered_userdata.get(&type_id) {
+                return Ok(table_id as Integer);
+            }
+
+            // Create empty metatable
+            let registry = UserDataRegistrar::new();
+            self.register_userdata_metatable::<T>(registry)
+        })
+    }
+
     unsafe fn make_userdata_with_metatable<T>(
         &self,
         data: UserDataCell<T>,
diff --git a/src/prelude.rs b/src/prelude.rs
index 9111282..bf88bc8 100644
--- a/src/prelude.rs
+++ b/src/prelude.rs
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ pub use crate::{
     TableSequence as LuaTableSequence, Thread as LuaThread, ThreadStatus as LuaThreadStatus,
     UserData as LuaUserData, UserDataFields as LuaUserDataFields,
     UserDataMetatable as LuaUserDataMetatable, UserDataMethods as LuaUserDataMethods,
-    Value as LuaValue,
+    UserDataRegistrar as LuaUserDataRegistrar, Value as LuaValue,
 };
 
 #[cfg(not(feature = "luau"))]
diff --git a/src/scope.rs b/src/scope.rs
index 22bebc7..4dce3ef 100644
--- a/src/scope.rs
+++ b/src/scope.rs
@@ -2,8 +2,7 @@ use std::any::Any;
 use std::cell::{Cell, RefCell};
 use std::marker::PhantomData;
 use std::mem;
-use std::os::raw::{c_int, c_void};
-use std::rc::Rc;
+use std::os::raw::c_int;
 
 #[cfg(feature = "serialize")]
 use serde::Serialize;
@@ -66,7 +65,7 @@ impl<'lua, 'scope> Scope<'lua, 'scope> {
     where
         A: FromLuaMulti<'callback>,
         R: IntoLuaMulti<'callback>,
-        F: 'scope + Fn(&'callback Lua, A) -> Result<R>,
+        F: Fn(&'callback Lua, A) -> Result<R> + 'scope,
     {
         // Safe, because 'scope must outlive 'callback (due to Self containing 'scope), however the
         // callback itself must be 'scope lifetime, so the function should not be able to capture
@@ -99,7 +98,7 @@ impl<'lua, 'scope> Scope<'lua, 'scope> {
     where
         A: FromLuaMulti<'callback>,
         R: IntoLuaMulti<'callback>,
-        F: 'scope + FnMut(&'callback Lua, A) -> Result<R>,
+        F: FnMut(&'callback Lua, A) -> Result<R> + 'scope,
     {
         let func = RefCell::new(func);
         self.create_function(move |lua, args| {
@@ -144,7 +143,7 @@ impl<'lua, 'scope> Scope<'lua, 'scope> {
         }
     }
 
-    /// Create a Lua userdata object from a custom userdata type.
+    /// Creates a Lua userdata object from a custom userdata type.
     ///
     /// This is a version of [`Lua::create_userdata`] that creates a userdata which expires on
     /// scope drop, and does not require that the userdata type be Send (but still requires that the
@@ -155,12 +154,18 @@ impl<'lua, 'scope> Scope<'lua, 'scope> {
     /// [`Lua::scope`]: crate::Lua::scope
     pub fn create_userdata<T>(&self, data: T) -> Result<AnyUserData<'lua>>
     where
-        T: 'static + UserData,
+        T: UserData + 'static,
     {
-        self.create_userdata_inner(UserDataCell::new(data))
+        // Safe even though T may not be Send, because the parent Lua cannot be sent to another
+        // thread while the Scope is alive (or the returned AnyUserData handle even).
+        unsafe {
+            let ud = self.lua.make_userdata(UserDataCell::new(data))?;
+            self.seal_userdata::<T>(&ud)?;
+            Ok(ud)
+        }
     }
 
-    /// Create a Lua userdata object from a custom serializable userdata type.
+    /// Creates a Lua userdata object from a custom serializable userdata type.
     ///
     /// This is a version of [`Lua::create_ser_userdata`] that creates a userdata which expires on
     /// scope drop, and does not require that the userdata type be Send (but still requires that the
@@ -175,60 +180,125 @@ impl<'lua, 'scope> Scope<'lua, 'scope> {
     #[cfg_attr(docsrs, doc(cfg(feature = "serialize")))]
     pub fn create_ser_userdata<T>(&self, data: T) -> Result<AnyUserData<'lua>>
     where
-        T: 'static + UserData + Serialize,
+        T: UserData + Serialize + 'static,
     {
-        self.create_userdata_inner(UserDataCell::new_ser(data))
-    }
-
-    fn create_userdata_inner<T>(&self, data: UserDataCell<T>) -> Result<AnyUserData<'lua>>
-    where
-        T: 'static + UserData,
-    {
-        // Safe even though T may not be Send, because the parent Lua cannot be sent to another
-        // thread while the Scope is alive (or the returned AnyUserData handle even).
         unsafe {
-            let ud = self.lua.make_userdata(data)?;
-
-            #[cfg(any(feature = "lua51", feature = "luajit"))]
-            let newtable = self.lua.create_table()?;
-            let destructor: DestructorCallback = Box::new(move |ud| {
-                let state = ud.lua.state();
-                let _sg = StackGuard::new(state);
-                assert_stack(state, 2);
-
-                // Check that userdata is not destructed (via `take()` call)
-                if ud.lua.push_userdata_ref(&ud).is_err() {
-                    return vec![];
-                }
-
-                // Clear associated user values
-                #[cfg(feature = "lua54")]
-                for i in 1..=USER_VALUE_MAXSLOT {
-                    ffi::lua_pushnil(state);
-                    ffi::lua_setiuservalue(state, -2, i as c_int);
-                }
-                #[cfg(any(feature = "lua53", feature = "lua52", feature = "luau"))]
-                {
-                    ffi::lua_pushnil(state);
-                    ffi::lua_setuservalue(state, -2);
-                }
-                #[cfg(any(feature = "lua51", feature = "luajit"))]
-                {
-                    ud.lua.push_ref(&newtable.0);
-                    ffi::lua_setuservalue(state, -2);
-                }
-
-                vec![Box::new(take_userdata::<UserDataCell<T>>(state))]
-            });
-            self.destructors
-                .borrow_mut()
-                .push((ud.0.clone(), destructor));
-
+            let ud = self.lua.make_userdata(UserDataCell::new_ser(data))?;
+            self.seal_userdata::<T>(&ud)?;
             Ok(ud)
         }
     }
 
-    /// Create a Lua userdata object from a custom userdata type.
+    /// Creates a Lua userdata object from a reference to custom userdata type.
+    ///
+    /// This is a version of [`Lua::create_userdata`] that creates a userdata which expires on
+    /// scope drop, and does not require that the userdata type be Send. This method takes non-'static
+    /// reference to the data. See [`Lua::scope`] for more details.
+    ///
+    /// Userdata created with this method will not be able to be mutated from Lua.
+    pub fn create_userdata_ref<T>(&self, data: &'scope T) -> Result<AnyUserData<'lua>>
+    where
+        T: UserData + 'static,
+    {
+        unsafe {
+            let ud = self.lua.make_userdata(UserDataCell::new_ref(data))?;
+            self.seal_userdata::<T>(&ud)?;
+            Ok(ud)
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Creates a Lua userdata object from a mutable reference to custom userdata type.
+    ///
+    /// This is a version of [`Lua::create_userdata`] that creates a userdata which expires on
+    /// scope drop, and does not require that the userdata type be Send. This method takes non-'static
+    /// mutable reference to the data. See [`Lua::scope`] for more details.
+    pub fn create_userdata_ref_mut<T>(&self, data: &'scope mut T) -> Result<AnyUserData<'lua>>
+    where
+        T: UserData + 'static,
+    {
+        unsafe {
+            let ud = self.lua.make_userdata(UserDataCell::new_ref_mut(data))?;
+            self.seal_userdata::<T>(&ud)?;
+            Ok(ud)
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Creates a Lua userdata object from a reference to custom Rust type.
+    ///
+    /// This is a version of [`Lua::create_any_userdata`] that creates a userdata which expires on
+    /// scope drop, and does not require that the Rust type be Send. This method takes non-'static
+    /// reference to the data. See [`Lua::scope`] for more details.
+    ///
+    /// Userdata created with this method will not be able to be mutated from Lua.
+    pub fn create_any_userdata_ref<T>(&self, data: &'scope T) -> Result<AnyUserData<'lua>>
+    where
+        T: 'static,
+    {
+        unsafe {
+            let ud = self.lua.make_any_userdata(UserDataCell::new_ref(data))?;
+            self.seal_userdata::<T>(&ud)?;
+            Ok(ud)
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Creates a Lua userdata object from a mutable reference to custom Rust type.
+    ///
+    /// This is a version of [`Lua::create_any_userdata`] that creates a userdata which expires on
+    /// scope drop, and does not require that the Rust type be Send. This method takes non-'static
+    /// mutable reference to the data. See [`Lua::scope`] for more details.
+    pub fn create_any_userdata_ref_mut<T>(&self, data: &'scope mut T) -> Result<AnyUserData<'lua>>
+    where
+        T: 'static,
+    {
+        let lua = self.lua;
+        unsafe {
+            let ud = lua.make_any_userdata(UserDataCell::new_ref_mut(data))?;
+            self.seal_userdata::<T>(&ud)?;
+            Ok(ud)
+        }
+    }
+
+    /// Shortens the lifetime of a userdata to the lifetime of the scope.
+    unsafe fn seal_userdata<T: 'static>(&self, ud: &AnyUserData<'lua>) -> Result<()> {
+        #[cfg(any(feature = "lua51", feature = "luajit"))]
+        let newtable = self.lua.create_table()?;
+        let destructor: DestructorCallback = Box::new(move |ud| {
+            let state = ud.lua.state();
+            let _sg = StackGuard::new(state);
+            assert_stack(state, 2);
+
+            // Check that userdata is not destructed (via `take()` call)
+            if ud.lua.push_userdata_ref(&ud).is_err() {
+                return vec![];
+            }
+
+            // Clear associated user values
+            #[cfg(feature = "lua54")]
+            for i in 1..=USER_VALUE_MAXSLOT {
+                ffi::lua_pushnil(state);
+                ffi::lua_setiuservalue(state, -2, i as c_int);
+            }
+            #[cfg(any(feature = "lua53", feature = "lua52", feature = "luau"))]
+            {
+                ffi::lua_pushnil(state);
+                ffi::lua_setuservalue(state, -2);
+            }
+            #[cfg(any(feature = "lua51", feature = "luajit"))]
+            {
+                ud.lua.push_ref(&newtable.0);
+                ffi::lua_setuservalue(state, -2);
+            }
+
+            vec![Box::new(take_userdata::<UserDataCell<T>>(state))]
+        });
+        self.destructors
+            .borrow_mut()
+            .push((ud.0.clone(), destructor));
+
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    /// Creates a Lua userdata object from a custom userdata type.
     ///
     /// This is a version of [`Lua::create_userdata`] that creates a userdata which expires on
     /// scope drop, and does not require that the userdata type be Send or 'static. See
@@ -253,10 +323,8 @@ impl<'lua, 'scope> Scope<'lua, 'scope> {
     /// [`UserDataMethods`]: crate::UserDataMethods
     pub fn create_nonstatic_userdata<T>(&self, data: T) -> Result<AnyUserData<'lua>>
     where
-        T: 'scope + UserData,
+        T: UserData + 'scope,
     {
-        let data = Rc::new(RefCell::new(data));
-
         // 'callback outliving 'scope is a lie to make the types work out, required due to the
         // inability to work with the more correct callback type that is universally quantified over
         // 'lua. This is safe though, because `UserData::add_methods` does not get to pick the 'lua
@@ -264,8 +332,7 @@ impl<'lua, 'scope> Scope<'lua, 'scope> {
         // parameters.
         fn wrap_method<'scope, 'lua, 'callback: 'scope, T: 'scope>(
             scope: &Scope<'lua, 'scope>,
-            data: Rc<RefCell<T>>,
-            ud_ptr: *const c_void,
+            ud_ptr: *const UserDataCell<T>,
             method: NonStaticMethod<'callback, T>,
         ) -> Result<Function<'lua>> {
             // On methods that actually receive the userdata, we fake a type check on the passed in
@@ -275,7 +342,7 @@ impl<'lua, 'scope> Scope<'lua, 'scope> {
             // with a type mismatch, but here without this check would proceed as though you had
             // called the method on the original value (since we otherwise completely ignore the
             // first argument).
-            let check_ud_type = move |lua: &'callback Lua, value| {
+            let check_ud_type = move |lua: &Lua, value| -> Result<&UserDataCell<T>> {
                 if let Some(Value::UserData(ud)) = value {
                     let state = lua.state();
                     unsafe {
@@ -283,7 +350,7 @@ impl<'lua, 'scope> Scope<'lua, 'scope> {
                         check_stack(state, 2)?;
                         lua.push_userdata_ref(&ud.0)?;
                         if get_userdata(state, -1) as *const _ == ud_ptr {
-                            return Ok(());
+                            return Ok(&*ud_ptr);
                         }
                     }
                 };
@@ -293,8 +360,8 @@ impl<'lua, 'scope> Scope<'lua, 'scope> {
             match method {
                 NonStaticMethod::Method(method) => {
                     let f = Box::new(move |lua, mut args: MultiValue<'callback>| {
-                        check_ud_type(lua, args.pop_front())?;
-                        let data = data.try_borrow().map_err(|_| Error::UserDataBorrowError)?;
+                        let data = check_ud_type(lua, args.pop_front())?;
+                        let data = data.try_borrow()?;
                         method(lua, &*data, args)
                     });
                     unsafe { scope.create_callback(f) }
@@ -302,13 +369,11 @@ impl<'lua, 'scope> Scope<'lua, 'scope> {
                 NonStaticMethod::MethodMut(method) => {
                     let method = RefCell::new(method);
                     let f = Box::new(move |lua, mut args: MultiValue<'callback>| {
-                        check_ud_type(lua, args.pop_front())?;
+                        let data = check_ud_type(lua, args.pop_front())?;
                         let mut method = method
                             .try_borrow_mut()
                             .map_err(|_| Error::RecursiveMutCallback)?;
-                        let mut data = data
-                            .try_borrow_mut()
-                            .map_err(|_| Error::UserDataBorrowMutError)?;
+                        let mut data = data.try_borrow_mut()?;
                         (*method)(lua, &mut *data, args)
                     });
                     unsafe { scope.create_callback(f) }
@@ -342,8 +407,7 @@ impl<'lua, 'scope> Scope<'lua, 'scope> {
             #[cfg(not(feature = "luau"))]
             #[allow(clippy::let_and_return)]
             let ud_ptr = protect_lua!(state, 0, 1, |state| {
-                let ud =
-                    ffi::lua_newuserdata(state, mem::size_of::<UserDataCell<Rc<RefCell<T>>>>());
+                let ud = ffi::lua_newuserdata(state, mem::size_of::<UserDataCell<T>>());
 
                 // Set empty environment for Lua 5.1
                 #[cfg(any(feature = "lua51", feature = "luajit"))]
@@ -352,16 +416,12 @@ impl<'lua, 'scope> Scope<'lua, 'scope> {
                     ffi::lua_setuservalue(state, -2);
                 }
 
-                ud
+                ud as *const UserDataCell<T>
             })?;
             #[cfg(feature = "luau")]
             let ud_ptr = {
-                crate::util::push_userdata::<UserDataCell<Rc<RefCell<T>>>>(
-                    state,
-                    UserDataCell::new(data.clone()),
-                    true,
-                )?;
-                ffi::lua_touserdata(state, -1)
+                crate::util::push_userdata(state, UserDataCell::new(data), true)?;
+                ffi::lua_touserdata(state, -1) as *const UserDataCell<T>
             };
 
             // Prepare metatable, add meta methods first and then meta fields
@@ -369,8 +429,7 @@ impl<'lua, 'scope> Scope<'lua, 'scope> {
             push_table(state, 0, meta_methods_nrec as c_int, true)?;
 
             for (k, m) in ud_methods.meta_methods {
-                let data = data.clone();
-                lua.push_value(Value::Function(wrap_method(self, data, ud_ptr, m)?))?;
+                lua.push_value(Value::Function(wrap_method(self, ud_ptr, m)?))?;
                 rawset_field(state, -2, MetaMethod::validate(&k)?)?;
             }
             for (k, f) in ud_fields.meta_fields {
@@ -384,8 +443,7 @@ impl<'lua, 'scope> Scope<'lua, 'scope> {
             if field_getters_nrec > 0 {
                 push_table(state, 0, field_getters_nrec as c_int, true)?;
                 for (k, m) in ud_fields.field_getters {
-                    let data = data.clone();
-                    lua.push_value(Value::Function(wrap_method(self, data, ud_ptr, m)?))?;
+                    lua.push_value(Value::Function(wrap_method(self, ud_ptr, m)?))?;
                     rawset_field(state, -2, &k)?;
                 }
                 field_getters_index = Some(ffi::lua_absindex(state, -1));
@@ -396,8 +454,7 @@ impl<'lua, 'scope> Scope<'lua, 'scope> {
             if field_setters_nrec > 0 {
                 push_table(state, 0, field_setters_nrec as c_int, true)?;
                 for (k, m) in ud_fields.field_setters {
-                    let data = data.clone();
-                    lua.push_value(Value::Function(wrap_method(self, data, ud_ptr, m)?))?;
+                    lua.push_value(Value::Function(wrap_method(self, ud_ptr, m)?))?;
                     rawset_field(state, -2, &k)?;
                 }
                 field_setters_index = Some(ffi::lua_absindex(state, -1));
@@ -409,14 +466,13 @@ impl<'lua, 'scope> Scope<'lua, 'scope> {
                 // Create table used for methods lookup
                 push_table(state, 0, methods_nrec as c_int, true)?;
                 for (k, m) in ud_methods.methods {
-                    let data = data.clone();
-                    lua.push_value(Value::Function(wrap_method(self, data, ud_ptr, m)?))?;
+                    lua.push_value(Value::Function(wrap_method(self, ud_ptr, m)?))?;
                     rawset_field(state, -2, &k)?;
                 }
                 methods_index = Some(ffi::lua_absindex(state, -1));
             }
 
-            init_userdata_metatable::<UserDataCell<Rc<RefCell<T>>>>(
+            init_userdata_metatable::<UserDataCell<T>>(
                 state,
                 metatable_index,
                 field_getters_index,
@@ -478,8 +534,8 @@ impl<'lua, 'scope> Scope<'lua, 'scope> {
                     mem::transmute(f)
                 }
 
-                let ud = Box::new(seal(take_userdata::<UserDataCell<Rc<RefCell<T>>>>(state)));
-                vec![ud]
+                let ud = take_userdata::<UserDataCell<T>>(state);
+                vec![Box::new(seal(ud))]
             });
             self.destructors
                 .borrow_mut()
diff --git a/src/userdata.rs b/src/userdata.rs
index ca28b53..bcc735a 100644
--- a/src/userdata.rs
+++ b/src/userdata.rs
@@ -578,12 +578,22 @@ pub trait UserData: Sized {
 }
 
 // Wraps UserData in a way to always implement `serde::Serialize` trait.
-pub(crate) struct UserDataCell<T>(RefCell<UserDataWrapped<T>>);
+pub(crate) struct UserDataCell<T>(RefCell<UserDataVariant<T>>);
 
 impl<T> UserDataCell<T> {
     #[inline]
     pub(crate) fn new(data: T) -> Self {
-        UserDataCell(RefCell::new(UserDataWrapped::new(data)))
+        UserDataCell(RefCell::new(UserDataVariant::new(data)))
+    }
+
+    #[inline]
+    pub(crate) fn new_ref(data: &T) -> Self {
+        UserDataCell(RefCell::new(UserDataVariant::new_ref(data)))
+    }
+
+    #[inline]
+    pub(crate) fn new_ref_mut(data: &mut T) -> Self {
+        UserDataCell(RefCell::new(UserDataVariant::new_ref_mut(data)))
     }
 
     #[cfg(feature = "serialize")]
@@ -592,7 +602,7 @@ impl<T> UserDataCell<T> {
     where
         T: Serialize + 'static,
     {
-        UserDataCell(RefCell::new(UserDataWrapped::new_ser(data)))
+        UserDataCell(RefCell::new(UserDataVariant::new_ser(data)))
     }
 
     // Immutably borrows the wrapped value.
@@ -609,27 +619,42 @@ impl<T> UserDataCell<T> {
     pub(crate) fn try_borrow_mut(&self) -> Result<RefMut<T>> {
         self.0
             .try_borrow_mut()
-            .map(|r| RefMut::map(r, |r| r.deref_mut()))
             .map_err(|_| Error::UserDataBorrowMutError)
+            .and_then(|r| {
+                RefMut::filter_map(r, |r| r.try_deref_mut().ok())
+                    .map_err(|_| Error::UserDataBorrowMutError)
+            })
     }
 
     // Consumes this `UserDataCell`, returning the wrapped value.
     #[inline]
-    unsafe fn into_inner(self) -> T {
+    fn into_inner(self) -> Result<T> {
         self.0.into_inner().into_inner()
     }
 }
 
-pub(crate) enum UserDataWrapped<T> {
+pub(crate) enum UserDataVariant<T> {
     Default(Box<T>),
+    Ref(*const T),
+    RefMut(*mut T),
     #[cfg(feature = "serialize")]
     Serializable(Box<dyn erased_serde::Serialize>),
 }
 
-impl<T> UserDataWrapped<T> {
+impl<T> UserDataVariant<T> {
     #[inline]
     fn new(data: T) -> Self {
-        UserDataWrapped::Default(Box::new(data))
+        UserDataVariant::Default(Box::new(data))
+    }
+
+    #[inline]
+    fn new_ref(data: &T) -> Self {
+        UserDataVariant::Ref(data)
+    }
+
+    #[inline]
+    fn new_ref_mut(data: &mut T) -> Self {
+        UserDataVariant::RefMut(data)
     }
 
     #[cfg(feature = "serialize")]
@@ -638,26 +663,42 @@ impl<T> UserDataWrapped<T> {
     where
         T: Serialize + 'static,
     {
-        UserDataWrapped::Serializable(Box::new(data))
+        UserDataVariant::Serializable(Box::new(data))
     }
 
     #[inline]
-    unsafe fn into_inner(self) -> T {
+    fn try_deref_mut(&mut self) -> Result<&mut T> {
         match self {
-            Self::Default(data) => *data,
+            Self::Default(data) => Ok(data.deref_mut()),
+            Self::Ref(_) => Err(Error::UserDataBorrowMutError),
+            Self::RefMut(data) => unsafe { Ok(&mut **data) },
             #[cfg(feature = "serialize")]
-            Self::Serializable(data) => *Box::from_raw(Box::into_raw(data) as *mut T),
+            Self::Serializable(data) => unsafe { Ok(&mut *(data.as_mut() as *mut _ as *mut T)) },
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[inline]
+    fn into_inner(self) -> Result<T> {
+        match self {
+            Self::Default(data) => Ok(*data),
+            Self::Ref(_) | Self::RefMut(_) => Err(Error::UserDataTypeMismatch),
+            #[cfg(feature = "serialize")]
+            Self::Serializable(data) => unsafe {
+                Ok(*Box::from_raw(Box::into_raw(data) as *mut T))
+            },
         }
     }
 }
 
-impl<T> Deref for UserDataWrapped<T> {
+impl<T> Deref for UserDataVariant<T> {
     type Target = T;
 
     #[inline]
     fn deref(&self) -> &Self::Target {
         match self {
             Self::Default(data) => data,
+            Self::Ref(data) => unsafe { &**data },
+            Self::RefMut(data) => unsafe { &**data },
             #[cfg(feature = "serialize")]
             Self::Serializable(data) => unsafe {
                 &*(data.as_ref() as *const _ as *const Self::Target)
@@ -666,19 +707,6 @@ impl<T> Deref for UserDataWrapped<T> {
     }
 }
 
-impl<T> DerefMut for UserDataWrapped<T> {
-    #[inline]
-    fn deref_mut(&mut self) -> &mut Self::Target {
-        match self {
-            Self::Default(data) => data,
-            #[cfg(feature = "serialize")]
-            Self::Serializable(data) => unsafe {
-                &mut *(data.as_mut() as *mut _ as *mut Self::Target)
-            },
-        }
-    }
-}
-
 #[cfg(feature = "serialize")]
 struct UserDataSerializeError;
 
@@ -771,7 +799,7 @@ impl<'lua> AnyUserData<'lua> {
                 Some(type_id) if type_id == TypeId::of::<T>() => {
                     // Try to borrow userdata exclusively
                     let _ = (*get_userdata::<UserDataCell<T>>(state, -1)).try_borrow_mut()?;
-                    Ok(take_userdata::<UserDataCell<T>>(state).into_inner())
+                    take_userdata::<UserDataCell<T>>(state).into_inner()
                 }
                 _ => Err(Error::UserDataTypeMismatch),
             }
@@ -1043,8 +1071,8 @@ impl<'lua> AnyUserData<'lua> {
 
             let ud = &*get_userdata::<UserDataCell<()>>(state, -1);
             match &*ud.0.try_borrow().map_err(|_| Error::UserDataBorrowError)? {
-                UserDataWrapped::Default(_) => Result::Ok(false),
-                UserDataWrapped::Serializable(_) => Result::Ok(true),
+                UserDataVariant::Serializable(_) => Result::Ok(true),
+                _ => Result::Ok(false),
             }
         };
         is_serializable().unwrap_or(false)
@@ -1184,8 +1212,8 @@ impl<'lua> Serialize for AnyUserData<'lua> {
                 .map_err(|_| ser::Error::custom(Error::UserDataBorrowError))?
         };
         match &*data {
-            UserDataWrapped::Default(_) => UserDataSerializeError.serialize(serializer),
-            UserDataWrapped::Serializable(ser) => ser.serialize(serializer),
+            UserDataVariant::Serializable(ser) => ser.serialize(serializer),
+            _ => UserDataSerializeError.serialize(serializer),
         }
     }
 }
diff --git a/tests/scope.rs b/tests/scope.rs
index 9640383..4fde34a 100644
--- a/tests/scope.rs
+++ b/tests/scope.rs
@@ -356,3 +356,107 @@ fn test_scope_nonstatic_userdata_drop() -> Result<()> {
 
     Ok(())
 }
+
+#[test]
+fn test_scope_userdata_ref() -> Result<()> {
+    let lua = Lua::new();
+
+    struct MyUserData(Cell<i64>);
+
+    impl UserData for MyUserData {
+        fn add_methods<'lua, M: UserDataMethods<'lua, Self>>(methods: &mut M) {
+            methods.add_method("inc", |_, data, ()| {
+                data.0.set(data.0.get() + 1);
+                Ok(())
+            });
+
+            methods.add_method("dec", |_, data, ()| {
+                data.0.set(data.0.get() - 1);
+                Ok(())
+            });
+        }
+    }
+
+    let data = MyUserData(Cell::new(1));
+    lua.scope(|scope| {
+        let ud = scope.create_userdata_ref(&data)?;
+        modify_userdata(&lua, ud)
+    })?;
+    assert_eq!(data.0.get(), 2);
+
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn test_scope_userdata_ref_mut() -> Result<()> {
+    let lua = Lua::new();
+
+    struct MyUserData(i64);
+
+    impl UserData for MyUserData {
+        fn add_methods<'lua, M: UserDataMethods<'lua, Self>>(methods: &mut M) {
+            methods.add_method_mut("inc", |_, data, ()| {
+                data.0 += 1;
+                Ok(())
+            });
+
+            methods.add_method_mut("dec", |_, data, ()| {
+                data.0 -= 1;
+                Ok(())
+            });
+        }
+    }
+
+    let mut data = MyUserData(1);
+    lua.scope(|scope| {
+        let ud = scope.create_userdata_ref_mut(&mut data)?;
+        modify_userdata(&lua, ud)
+    })?;
+    assert_eq!(data.0, 2);
+
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+#[test]
+fn test_scope_any_userdata_ref() -> Result<()> {
+    let lua = Lua::new();
+
+    lua.register_userdata_type::<Cell<i64>>(|reg| {
+        reg.add_method("inc", |_, data, ()| {
+            data.set(data.get() + 1);
+            Ok(())
+        });
+
+        reg.add_method("dec", |_, data, ()| {
+            data.set(data.get() - 1);
+            Ok(())
+        });
+    })?;
+
+    let data = Cell::new(1i64);
+    lua.scope(|scope| {
+        let ud = scope.create_any_userdata_ref(&data)?;
+        modify_userdata(&lua, ud)
+    })?;
+    assert_eq!(data.get(), 2);
+
+    Ok(())
+}
+
+fn modify_userdata(lua: &Lua, ud: AnyUserData) -> Result<()> {
+    let f: Function = lua
+        .load(
+            r#"
+    function(u)
+        u:inc()
+        u:dec()
+        u:inc()
+    end
+"#,
+        )
+        .eval()?;
+
+    f.call(ud)?;
+
+    Ok(())
+}