diff --git a/kong/tools/request_aware_table.lua b/kong/tools/request_aware_table.lua
index bb13f17d2359..104723010ad5 100644
--- a/kong/tools/request_aware_table.lua
+++ b/kong/tools/request_aware_table.lua
@@ -22,24 +22,26 @@ local NGX_VAR_PHASES = {
   log           = true,
   balancer      = true,
 }
+local ALLOWED_REQUEST_ID_K = "__allowed_request_id"
+
 
 -- Check if access is allowed for table, based on the request ID
 local function enforce_sequential_access(table)
   if not NGX_VAR_PHASES[get_phase()] then
-    -- not in a request context: allow access and reset allowed request ID
-    rawset(table, "__allowed_request_id", nil)
+    -- allow access and reset allowed request ID
+    rawset(table, ALLOWED_REQUEST_ID_K, nil)
     return
   end
 
   local curr_request_id = var.request_id
-  local allowed_request_id = rawget(table, "__allowed_request_id")
+  local allowed_request_id = rawget(table, ALLOWED_REQUEST_ID_K)
   if not allowed_request_id then
     -- first access. Set allowed request ID and allow access
-    rawset(table, "__allowed_request_id", curr_request_id)
+    rawset(table, ALLOWED_REQUEST_ID_K, curr_request_id)
     return
   end
 
-  if curr_request_id ~= table.__allowed_request_id then
+  if curr_request_id ~= table[ALLOWED_REQUEST_ID_K] then
     error("race condition detected; access to table forbidden", 2)
   end
 end
@@ -52,7 +54,7 @@ local function clear_table(self)
   end
 
   table_clear(self.__data)
-  rawset(self, "__allowed_request_id", nil)
+  rawset(self, ALLOWED_REQUEST_ID_K, nil)
 end
 
 
diff --git a/spec/02-integration/05-proxy/33-request-aware-table_spec.lua b/spec/02-integration/05-proxy/33-request-aware-table_spec.lua
index fbe25539355c..604fae57fb65 100644
--- a/spec/02-integration/05-proxy/33-request-aware-table_spec.lua
+++ b/spec/02-integration/05-proxy/33-request-aware-table_spec.lua
@@ -7,11 +7,22 @@ local LOG_LEVELS = {
 }
 
 
-local function new_table()
+local function trigger_plugin_new_table()
   local client = helpers.proxy_client()
   local res = client:get("/", {
     query = {
       new_tab = true,
+    }
+  })
+  assert.response(res).has.status(200)
+  assert.logfile().has.no.line("[error]", true)
+  client:close()
+end
+
+local function trigger_plugin_clear_table()
+  local client = helpers.proxy_client()
+  local res = client:get("/", {
+    query = {
       clear = true,
     }
   })
@@ -63,7 +74,7 @@ for _, log_level in ipairs(LOG_LEVELS) do
 
       before_each(function()
         helpers.clean_logfile()
-        new_table()
+        trigger_plugin_new_table()
         client = helpers.proxy_client()
       end)
 
@@ -95,21 +106,14 @@ for _, log_level in ipairs(LOG_LEVELS) do
 
       it("allows access when table is cleared between requests", function()
         -- access from request 1 (clear)
-        local r = client:get("/", {
-          query = {
-            clear = true,
-          }
-        })
+        local r = client:get("/")
         assert.response(r).has.status(200)
+        trigger_plugin_clear_table()
 
         -- access from request 2 (clear)
-        r = client:get("/", {
-          query = {
-            clear = true,
-          }
-        })
+        r = client:get("/")
         assert.response(r).has.status(200)
-        assert.logfile().has.no.line("[error]", true)
+        trigger_plugin_clear_table()
 
         -- access from request 3
         r = client:get("/")
@@ -118,4 +122,4 @@ for _, log_level in ipairs(LOG_LEVELS) do
       end)
     end)
   end
-end
\ No newline at end of file
+end
diff --git a/spec/fixtures/custom_plugins/kong/plugins/request-aware-table/handler.lua b/spec/fixtures/custom_plugins/kong/plugins/request-aware-table/handler.lua
index 25966373fc70..a3c640cfeca8 100644
--- a/spec/fixtures/custom_plugins/kong/plugins/request-aware-table/handler.lua
+++ b/spec/fixtures/custom_plugins/kong/plugins/request-aware-table/handler.lua
@@ -22,16 +22,18 @@ function _M:access(conf)
   if query.new_tab == "true" then
     -- new table
     tab = RAT.new()
+    ngx.exit(200)
   end
 
-  -- access multiple times during same request
-  access_table()
-  access_table()
-  access_table()
-
   if query.clear == "true" then
     -- clear table
     tab:clear()
+    ngx.exit(200)
+  end
+
+  -- access multiple times during same request
+  for _ = 1, 3 do
+    access_table()
   end
 end