diff --git a/docs/rh-log.txt b/docs/rh-log.txt
index 52cd6b4667..c7d4f7c3ee 100644
--- a/docs/rh-log.txt
+++ b/docs/rh-log.txt
@@ -1,4 +1,7 @@
 March 12, 2008
+- Fixed: DACSThinker::ActiveThinker was missing a read barrier.
+- Loading a save game now initiates a collection.
+- Added a finalization cost to the sweep stage.
 - Fixed: D_dehacked.cpp/PatchThing() allocated an actor on the stack.
 - Changed the sentinels in the thinker lists into a proper thinker. The old
   way wasn't playing well with the write barriers.
diff --git a/src/d_net.cpp b/src/d_net.cpp
index f17f7b460e..f58c6a2e90 100644
--- a/src/d_net.cpp
+++ b/src/d_net.cpp
@@ -1842,7 +1842,6 @@ void TryRunTics (void)
 			M_Ticker ();
 			I_GetTime (true);
 			G_Ticker ();
-			GC::CheckGC ();
 			gametic++;
 
 			NetUpdate ();	// check for new console commands
diff --git a/src/dobject.h b/src/dobject.h
index e2ad22aa00..b44e763a51 100644
--- a/src/dobject.h
+++ b/src/dobject.h
@@ -309,6 +309,12 @@ namespace GC
 			Step();
 	}
 
+	// Forces a collection to start now.
+	static inline void StartCollection()
+	{
+		Threshold = AllocBytes;
+	}
+
 	// Marks a white object gray. If the object wants to die, the pointer
 	// is NULLed instead.
 	void Mark(DObject **obj);
diff --git a/src/dobjgc.cpp b/src/dobjgc.cpp
index ec0ede4b28..2a009618b0 100644
--- a/src/dobjgc.cpp
+++ b/src/dobjgc.cpp
@@ -185,11 +185,11 @@ static size_t PropagateAll()
 //
 //==========================================================================
 
-static DObject **SweepList(DObject **p, size_t count)
+static DObject **SweepList(DObject **p, size_t count, size_t *finalize_count)
 {
-	static int scount;
 	DObject *curr;
 	int deadmask = OtherWhite();
+	size_t finalized = 0;
 
 	while ((curr = *p) != NULL && count-- > 0)
 	{
@@ -210,8 +210,13 @@ static DObject **SweepList(DObject **p, size_t count)
 			}
 			curr->ObjectFlags |= OF_Cleanup;
 			delete curr;
+			finalized++;
 		}
 	}
+	if (finalize_count != NULL)
+	{
+		*finalize_count = finalized;
+	}
 	return p;
 }
 
@@ -350,14 +355,15 @@ static size_t SingleStep()
 
 	case GCS_Sweep: {
 		size_t old = AllocBytes;
-		SweepPos = SweepList(SweepPos, GCSWEEPMAX);
+		size_t finalize_count;
+		SweepPos = SweepList(SweepPos, GCSWEEPMAX, &finalize_count);
 		if (*SweepPos == NULL)
 		{ // Nothing more to sweep?
 			State = GCS_Finalize;
 		}
 		assert(old >= AllocBytes);
 		Estimate -= old - AllocBytes;
-		return GCSWEEPMAX * GCSWEEPCOST;
+		return (GCSWEEPMAX - finalize_count) * GCSWEEPCOST + finalize_count * GCFINALIZECOST;
 	  }
 
 	case GCS_Finalize:
diff --git a/src/g_game.cpp b/src/g_game.cpp
index 53aa2906a8..085990ac92 100644
--- a/src/g_game.cpp
+++ b/src/g_game.cpp
@@ -1823,6 +1823,11 @@ void G_DoLoadGame ()
 
 	delete png;
 	fclose (stdfile);
+
+	// At this point, the GC threshold is likely a lot higher than the
+	// amount of memory in use, so bring it down now by starting a
+	// collection.
+	GC::StartCollection();
 }
 
 
diff --git a/src/p_acs.cpp b/src/p_acs.cpp
index 37b56d57ff..0fb109397a 100644
--- a/src/p_acs.cpp
+++ b/src/p_acs.cpp
@@ -1562,7 +1562,7 @@ IMPLEMENT_POINTY_CLASS (DACSThinker)
  DECLARE_POINTER(Scripts)
 END_POINTERS
 
-DACSThinker *DACSThinker::ActiveThinker = NULL;
+TObjPtr<DACSThinker> DACSThinker::ActiveThinker;
 
 DACSThinker::DACSThinker ()
 {
diff --git a/src/p_acs.h b/src/p_acs.h
index 9da001459c..a6168abc44 100644
--- a/src/p_acs.h
+++ b/src/p_acs.h
@@ -710,7 +710,7 @@ public:
 	void Tick ();
 
 	DLevelScript *RunningScripts[1000];	// Array of all synchronous scripts
-	static DACSThinker *ActiveThinker;
+	static TObjPtr<DACSThinker> ActiveThinker;
 
 	void DumpScriptStatus();
 	void StopScriptsFor (AActor *actor);