diff --git a/src/igc.c b/src/igc.c
index f154a040a0e..be2b9fb719e 100644
--- a/src/igc.c
+++ b/src/igc.c
@@ -4820,6 +4820,16 @@ igc_busy_p (void)
   return mps_arena_busy (global_igc->arena);
 }
 
+static void *
+igc_thread_fun (void *addr)
+{
+  while (true)
+    {
+      usleep (5000);
+      igc_collect ();
+    }
+}
+
 /***********************************************************************
 				  Init
  ***********************************************************************/
@@ -4830,6 +4840,8 @@ init_igc (void)
   mps_lib_assert_fail_install (igc_assert_fail);
   global_igc = make_igc ();
   add_main_thread ();
+  pthread_t thr;
+  pthread_create (&thr, NULL, igc_thread_fun, global_igc);
   set_state (IGC_STATE_USABLE_PARKED);
 }