diff --git a/src/shell-global.c b/src/shell-global.c
index 71600ad62..25aa06dda 100644
--- a/src/shell-global.c
+++ b/src/shell-global.c
@@ -812,7 +812,22 @@ shell_global_reexec_self (ShellGlobal *global)
   g_ptr_array_free (arr, TRUE);
 }
 
-void 
+/**
+ * shell_global_gc:
+ * @global: A #ShellGlobal
+ *
+ * Start a garbage collection process.  For more information, see
+ * https://developer.mozilla.org/En/JS_GC
+ */
+void
+shell_global_gc (ShellGlobal *global)
+{
+  JSContext *context = gjs_context_get_context (global->js_context);
+
+  JS_GC (context);
+}
+
+void
 shell_global_grab_dbus_service (ShellGlobal *global)
 {
   GError *error = NULL;
diff --git a/src/shell-global.h b/src/shell-global.h
index e59de7092..cbef2dba9 100644
--- a/src/shell-global.h
+++ b/src/shell-global.h
@@ -74,6 +74,8 @@ gboolean shell_global_display_is_grabbed (ShellGlobal *global);
 
 void shell_global_reexec_self (ShellGlobal *global);
 
+void shell_global_gc (ShellGlobal *global);
+
 void shell_global_format_time_relative_pretty (ShellGlobal *global, guint delta, char **text, guint *update_time);
 
 ClutterActor *shell_global_create_root_pixmap_actor (ShellGlobal *global);