diff --git a/src/server.cpp b/src/server.cpp
index bbee218ac..6d297c937 100644
--- a/src/server.cpp
+++ b/src/server.cpp
@@ -2450,6 +2450,16 @@ int serverCron(struct aeEventLoop *eventLoop, long long id, void *clientData) {
             g_pserver->ilockRingHead = 0;
     });
 
+    run_with_period(10) {
+        // Server threads don't free the GC, but if we don't have a
+        //  a bgsave or some other async task then we'll hold onto the
+        //  data for too long
+        g_pserver->asyncworkqueue->AddWorkFunction([]{
+            auto epoch = g_pserver->garbageCollector.startEpoch();
+            g_pserver->garbageCollector.endEpoch(epoch);
+        });
+    }
+
     g_pserver->cronloops++;
     return 1000/g_pserver->hz;
 }