diff --git a/core/wasm_shims/tooldata/tooldata_probe_main.cc b/core/wasm_shims/tooldata/tooldata_probe_main.cc
index 33b630c..81600c7 100644
--- a/core/wasm_shims/tooldata/tooldata_probe_main.cc
+++ b/core/wasm_shims/tooldata/tooldata_probe_main.cc
@@ -224,6 +224,12 @@ int main() {
     }
     alignas(EMC_TOOL_STAT) unsigned char toolstat_storage[sizeof(EMC_TOOL_STAT)] = {};
     auto *toolstat = reinterpret_cast<EMC_TOOL_STAT *>(toolstat_storage);
+    // LinuxCNC src/emc/tooldata/tooldata_nml.cc accepts a non-null table
+    // pointer before NML-backed tooldata operations can use it.
+    CANON_TOOL_TABLE nml_tool_table[CANON_POCKETS_MAX] = {};
+    if (tool_nml_register(nml_tool_table) != 0) {
+        return 77;
+    }
     if (tool_mmap_creator(toolstat, 1) != 0) {
         return 15;
     }