diff --git a/nodes/hoppers.lua b/nodes/hoppers.lua
index d1e6456..a5e53ae 100644
--- a/nodes/hoppers.lua
+++ b/nodes/hoppers.lua
@@ -18,33 +18,39 @@ local function get_hopper_formspec(pos)
 	return formspec
 end
 
+-- unfortunately param2 overrides are needed for side hoppers even in the non-single-craftable-item case
+-- because they are literally *side* hoppers - their spouts point to the side rather than to the front, so
+-- the default item_place_node orientation code will not orient them pointing toward the selected surface.
 local hopper_on_place = function(itemstack, placer, pointed_thing, node_name)
-	local pos  = pointed_thing.under
-	local pos2 = pointed_thing.above
-	local x = pos.x - pos2.x
-	local z = pos.z - pos2.z
-
 	local returned_stack, success
-	-- unfortunately param2 overrides are needed for side hoppers even in the non-single-craftable-item case
-	-- because they are literally *side* hoppers - their spouts point to the side rather than to the front, so
-	-- the default item_place_node orientation code will not orient them pointing toward the selected surface.
-	if x == -1 and (hopper.config.single_craftable_item or node_name == "hopper:hopper_side") then
-		returned_stack, success = minetest.item_place_node(ItemStack("hopper:hopper_side"), placer, pointed_thing, 0)
-	elseif x == 1 and (hopper.config.single_craftable_item or node_name == "hopper:hopper_side") then
-		returned_stack, success = minetest.item_place_node(ItemStack("hopper:hopper_side"), placer, pointed_thing, 2)
-	elseif z == -1 and (hopper.config.single_craftable_item or node_name == "hopper:hopper_side")  then
-		returned_stack, success = minetest.item_place_node(ItemStack("hopper:hopper_side"), placer, pointed_thing, 3)
-	elseif z == 1 and (hopper.config.single_craftable_item or node_name == "hopper:hopper_side") then
-		returned_stack, success = minetest.item_place_node(ItemStack("hopper:hopper_side"), placer, pointed_thing, 1)
+
+	if not (hopper.config.single_craftable_item or node_name == "hopper:hopper_side") then
+		returned_stack, success = minetest.item_place_node(itemstack, placer, pointed_thing)
+		return returned_stack
+	end
+
+	local pointed_pos  = pointed_thing.under
+	local hopper_pos   = pointed_thing.above
+
+	local param2_by_offset = {
+		[vector.new(-1, 0, 0):to_string()] = 0,
+		[vector.new( 0, 0, 1):to_string()] = 1,
+		[vector.new( 1, 0, 0):to_string()] = 2,
+		[vector.new( 0, 0,-1):to_string()] = 3,
+	}
+	local param2 = param2_by_offset[(pointed_pos - hopper_pos):to_string()]
+
+	if param2 then
+		returned_stack, success = minetest.item_place_node(ItemStack("hopper:hopper_side"), placer, pointed_thing, param2)
 	else
 		if hopper.config.single_craftable_item then
 			node_name = "hopper:hopper" -- For cases where single_craftable_item was set on an existing world and there are still side hoppers in player inventories
 		end
 		returned_stack, success = minetest.item_place_node(ItemStack(node_name), placer, pointed_thing)
 	end
-	
+
 	if success then
-		local meta = minetest.get_meta(pos2)
+		local meta = minetest.get_meta(hopper_pos)
 		meta:set_string("placer", placer:get_player_name())
 		if not minetest.settings:get_bool("creative_mode") then
 			itemstack:take_item()