--- a/src/luan/modules/ThreadLuan.java	Sun Apr 04 15:09:51 2021 -0600
+++ b/src/luan/modules/ThreadLuan.java	Mon Apr 05 00:13:05 2021 -0600
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@
 		Number delay = Utils.removeNumber(options,"delay");
 		Number repeatingDelay = Utils.removeNumber(options,"repeating_delay");
 		Number repeatingRate = Utils.removeNumber(options,"repeating_rate");
+		Boolean dontGc = Utils.removeBoolean(options,"dont_gc");
 		String id = Utils.removeString(options,"id");
 		if( repeatingDelay!=null && repeatingRate!=null )
 			throw new LuanException("can't define both repeating_delay and repeating_rate");
@@ -108,12 +109,14 @@
 			scheduler.schedule(r,0L,TimeUnit.MILLISECONDS);
 			return;
 		}
-		Object c = new Object() {
-			protected void finalize() throws Throwable {
-				cancel(sf,"gc");
-			}
-		};
-		luan.registry().put(c,c);  // cancel on gc
+		if( !Boolean.TRUE.equals(dontGc) ) {
+			Object c = new Object() {
+				protected void finalize() throws Throwable {
+					cancel(sf,"gc");
+				}
+			};
+			luan.registry().put(c,c);  // cancel on gc
+		}
 		if( id != null )
 			scheduleds.put(id,sf);
 	}