diff --git a/kong/dns/utils.lua b/kong/dns/utils.lua
index a197761af541..7560f3d69cc9 100644
--- a/kong/dns/utils.lua
+++ b/kong/dns/utils.lua
@@ -150,6 +150,7 @@ local function parse_resolv_conf(path, enable_ipv6)
 
   -- nameservers
   if resolv.nameserver then
+    local n = 0
     local nameservers = {}
 
     for _, address in ipairs(resolv.nameserver) do
@@ -157,7 +158,8 @@ local function parse_resolv_conf(path, enable_ipv6)
       if t == "ipv4" or
         (t == "ipv6" and not ip:find([[%]], nil, true) and enable_ipv6)
       then
-        table_insert(nameservers, port and { ip, port } or ip)
+        n = n + 1
+        nameservers[n] = port and { ip, port } or ip
       end
     end