diff --git a/py/gc.c b/py/gc.c
index ce2fa3a..fca5050 100644
--- a/py/gc.c
+++ b/py/gc.c
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <string.h>
 #include <stdbool.h>
+#include <stdint.h>
 
 #include "mpconfig.h"
 #include "misc.h"
@@ -68,7 +69,8 @@
 STATIC int gc_stack_overflow;
 STATIC mp_uint_t gc_stack[STACK_SIZE];
 STATIC mp_uint_t *gc_sp;
-STATIC mp_uint_t gc_lock_depth;
+STATIC uint16_t gc_lock_depth;
+uint16_t gc_auto_collect_enabled;
 STATIC mp_uint_t gc_last_free_atb_index;
 
 // ATB = allocation table byte
@@ -163,6 +165,9 @@
     // unlock the GC
     gc_lock_depth = 0;
 
+    // allow auto collection
+    gc_auto_collect_enabled = 1;
+
     DEBUG_printf("GC layout:\n");
     DEBUG_printf("  alloc table at %p, length " UINT_FMT " bytes, " UINT_FMT " blocks\n", gc_alloc_table_start, gc_alloc_table_byte_len, gc_alloc_table_byte_len * BLOCKS_PER_ATB);
 #if MICROPY_ENABLE_FINALISER
@@ -375,7 +380,7 @@
     mp_uint_t end_block;
     mp_uint_t start_block;
     mp_uint_t n_free = 0;
-    int collected = 0;
+    int collected = !gc_auto_collect_enabled;
     for (;;) {
 
         // look for a run of n_blocks available blocks
diff --git a/py/gc.h b/py/gc.h
index dc276dd..69fe837 100644
--- a/py/gc.h
+++ b/py/gc.h
@@ -32,6 +32,11 @@
 void gc_unlock(void);
 bool gc_is_locked(void);
 
+// This variable controls auto garbage collection.  If set to 0 then the
+// GC won't automatically run when gc_alloc can't find enough blocks.  But
+// you can still allocate/free memory and also explicitly call gc_collect.
+extern uint16_t gc_auto_collect_enabled;
+
 // A given port must implement gc_collect by using the other collect functions.
 void gc_collect(void);
 void gc_collect_start(void);
diff --git a/py/malloc.c b/py/malloc.c
index 1ee588f..451e480 100644
--- a/py/malloc.c
+++ b/py/malloc.c
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 #include <stdio.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 #include <string.h>
+#include <stdint.h>
 
 #include "mpconfig.h"
 #include "misc.h"
diff --git a/py/modgc.c b/py/modgc.c
index 8c5a705..a27ef7e 100644
--- a/py/modgc.c
+++ b/py/modgc.c
@@ -24,15 +24,13 @@
  * THE SOFTWARE.
  */
 
+#include <stdint.h>
+
 #include "mpconfig.h"
 #include "misc.h"
 #include "qstr.h"
 #include "obj.h"
-#include "builtin.h"
 #include "runtime.h"
-#include "objlist.h"
-#include "objtuple.h"
-#include "objstr.h"
 #include "gc.h"
 
 #if MICROPY_PY_GC && MICROPY_ENABLE_GC
@@ -56,7 +54,7 @@
 /// \function disable()
 /// Disable the garbage collector.
 STATIC mp_obj_t gc_disable(void) {
-    gc_lock();
+    gc_auto_collect_enabled = 0;
     return mp_const_none;
 }
 MP_DEFINE_CONST_FUN_OBJ_0(gc_disable_obj, gc_disable);
@@ -64,11 +62,16 @@
 /// \function enable()
 /// Enable the garbage collector.
 STATIC mp_obj_t gc_enable(void) {
-    gc_unlock();
+    gc_auto_collect_enabled = 1;
     return mp_const_none;
 }
 MP_DEFINE_CONST_FUN_OBJ_0(gc_enable_obj, gc_enable);
 
+STATIC mp_obj_t gc_isenabled(void) {
+    return MP_BOOL(gc_auto_collect_enabled);
+}
+MP_DEFINE_CONST_FUN_OBJ_0(gc_isenabled_obj, gc_isenabled);
+
 /// \function mem_free()
 /// Return the number of bytes of available heap RAM.
 STATIC mp_obj_t gc_mem_free(void) {
@@ -92,6 +95,7 @@
     { MP_OBJ_NEW_QSTR(MP_QSTR_collect), (mp_obj_t)&gc_collect_obj },
     { MP_OBJ_NEW_QSTR(MP_QSTR_disable), (mp_obj_t)&gc_disable_obj },
     { MP_OBJ_NEW_QSTR(MP_QSTR_enable), (mp_obj_t)&gc_enable_obj },
+    { MP_OBJ_NEW_QSTR(MP_QSTR_isenabled), (mp_obj_t)&gc_isenabled_obj },
     { MP_OBJ_NEW_QSTR(MP_QSTR_mem_free), (mp_obj_t)&gc_mem_free_obj },
     { MP_OBJ_NEW_QSTR(MP_QSTR_mem_alloc), (mp_obj_t)&gc_mem_alloc_obj },
 };
diff --git a/py/objexcept.c b/py/objexcept.c
index 9b39788..4b8d6ea 100644
--- a/py/objexcept.c
+++ b/py/objexcept.c
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 #include <stdarg.h>
 #include <assert.h>
 #include <stdio.h>
+#include <stdint.h>
 
 #include "mpconfig.h"
 #include "nlr.h"
diff --git a/py/qstr.c b/py/qstr.c
index c2cfda8..e08de2e 100644
--- a/py/qstr.c
+++ b/py/qstr.c
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 
 #include <assert.h>
 #include <string.h>
+#include <stdint.h>
 
 #include "mpconfig.h"
 #include "misc.h"
diff --git a/py/qstrdefs.h b/py/qstrdefs.h
index 74a29d2..ecb1b96 100644
--- a/py/qstrdefs.h
+++ b/py/qstrdefs.h
@@ -470,6 +470,7 @@
 Q(collect)
 Q(disable)
 Q(enable)
+Q(isenabled)
 Q(mem_free)
 Q(mem_alloc)
 #endif