diff --git a/src/common/objects/dobject.cpp b/src/common/objects/dobject.cpp
index 9f4a164e44..8516229dee 100644
--- a/src/common/objects/dobject.cpp
+++ b/src/common/objects/dobject.cpp
@@ -229,6 +229,7 @@ DObject::DObject ()
 	ObjNext = GC::Root;
 	GCNext = nullptr;
 	GC::Root = this;
+	GC::AllocCount++;
 }
 
 DObject::DObject (PClass *inClass)
@@ -238,6 +239,7 @@ DObject::DObject (PClass *inClass)
 	ObjNext = GC::Root;
 	GCNext = nullptr;
 	GC::Root = this;
+	GC::AllocCount++;
 }
 
 //==========================================================================
@@ -275,6 +277,7 @@ DObject::~DObject ()
 
 void DObject::Release()
 {
+	if (GC::AllocCount > 0) GC::AllocCount--;
 	DObject **probe;
 
 	// Unlink this object from the GC list.
diff --git a/src/common/objects/dobjgc.cpp b/src/common/objects/dobjgc.cpp
index 9afa0b0af0..58b27c4b76 100644
--- a/src/common/objects/dobjgc.cpp
+++ b/src/common/objects/dobjgc.cpp
@@ -108,6 +108,7 @@ namespace GC
 size_t AllocBytes;
 size_t Threshold;
 size_t Estimate;
+size_t AllocCount;
 DObject *Gray;
 DObject *Root;
 DObject *SoftRoots;
diff --git a/src/common/objects/dobjgc.h b/src/common/objects/dobjgc.h
index e3f8b85b14..d01e52cf63 100644
--- a/src/common/objects/dobjgc.h
+++ b/src/common/objects/dobjgc.h
@@ -43,6 +43,9 @@ namespace GC
 	// Number of bytes currently allocated through M_Malloc/M_Realloc.
 	extern size_t AllocBytes;
 
+	// Number of allocated objects since last CheckGC call.
+	extern size_t AllocCount;
+
 	// Amount of memory to allocate before triggering a collection.
 	extern size_t Threshold;
 
@@ -105,10 +108,15 @@ namespace GC
 	}
 
 	// Check if it's time to collect, and do a collection step if it is.
-	static inline void CheckGC()
+	static inline bool CheckGC()
 	{
+		AllocCount = 0;
 		if (AllocBytes >= Threshold)
+		{
 			Step();
+			return true;
+		}
+		return false;
 	}
 
 	// Forces a collection to start now.
diff --git a/src/g_game.cpp b/src/g_game.cpp
index fdbc18aa80..f394d1a855 100644
--- a/src/g_game.cpp
+++ b/src/g_game.cpp
@@ -1316,6 +1316,15 @@ void G_Ticker ()
 	default:
 		break;
 	}
+	// Do some more aggressive GC maintenance when the game ticker is inactive. 
+	if ((gamestate != GS_LEVEL && gamestate != GS_TITLELEVEL) || paused || P_CheckTickerPaused())
+	{
+		size_t ac = std::max<size_t>(10, GC::AllocCount);
+		for (size_t i = 0; i < ac; i++)
+		{
+			if (!GC::CheckGC()) break;
+		}
+	}
 
 	// [MK] Additional ticker for UI events right after all others
 	primaryLevel->localEventManager->PostUiTick();