diff --git a/src/shell-global.c b/src/shell-global.c
index 336639dff..46a1b72d9 100644
--- a/src/shell-global.c
+++ b/src/shell-global.c
@@ -1401,6 +1401,10 @@ run_leisure_functions (gpointer data)
   if (global->work_count > 0)
     return FALSE;
 
+  /* This will help avoid both heap fragmentation, 
+     and the GC kicking in when we don't want it to. */
+  gjs_context_maybe_gc (global->js_context);
+
   /* No leisure closures, so we are done */
   if (global->leisure_closures == NULL)
     return FALSE;