2 files changed, 35 insertions, 10 deletions
diff --git a/lib/system/gc_common.nim b/lib/system/gc_common.nim
index 269514ceb..6ab6bd920 100644
--- a/lib/system/gc_common.nim
+++ b/lib/system/gc_common.nim
@@ -128,13 +128,7 @@ iterator items(stack: ptr GcStack): ptr GcStack =
     yield s
     s = s.next
 
-# There will be problems with GC in foreign threads if `threads` option is off or TLS emulation is enabled
-const allowForeignThreadGc = compileOption("threads") and not compileOption("tlsEmulation")
-
-when allowForeignThreadGc:
-  var
-    localGcInitialized {.rtlThreadVar.}: bool
-
+when declared(threadType):
   proc setupForeignThreadGc*() {.gcsafe.} =
     ## Call this if you registered a callback that will be run from a thread not
     ## under your control. This has a cheap thread-local guard, so the GC for
@@ -143,16 +137,33 @@ when allowForeignThreadGc:
     ##
     ## This function is available only when ``--threads:on`` and ``--tlsEmulation:off``
     ## switches are used
-    if not localGcInitialized:
-      localGcInitialized = true
+    if threadType == ThreadType.None:
       initAllocator()
       var stackTop {.volatile.}: pointer
       setStackBottom(addr(stackTop))
       initGC()
+      threadType = ThreadType.ForeignThread
+
+  proc tearDownForeignThreadGc*() {.gcsafe.} =
+    ## Call this to tear down the GC, previously initialized by ``setupForeignThreadGc``.
+    ## If GC has not been previously initialized, or has already been torn down, the
+    ## call does nothing.
+    ##
+    ## This function is available only when ``--threads:on`` and ``--tlsEmulation:off``
+    ## switches are used
+    if threadType != ThreadType.ForeignThread:
+      return
+    when declared(deallocOsPages): deallocOsPages()
+    threadType = ThreadType.None
+    when declared(gch): zeroMem(addr gch, sizeof(gch))
+
 else:
   template setupForeignThreadGc*() =
     {.error: "setupForeignThreadGc is available only when ``--threads:on`` and ``--tlsEmulation:off`` are used".}
 
+  template tearDownForeignThreadGc*() =
+    {.error: "tearDownForeignThreadGc is available only when ``--threads:on`` and ``--tlsEmulation:off`` are used".}
+
 # ----------------- stack management --------------------------------------
 #  inspired from Smart Eiffel
 
diff --git a/lib/system/threads.nim b/lib/system/threads.nim
index e8b34bf2e..6e58638e9 100644
--- a/lib/system/threads.nim
+++ b/lib/system/threads.nim
@@ -285,7 +285,19 @@ when useStackMaskHack:
 when not defined(useNimRtl):
   when not useStackMaskHack:
     #when not defined(createNimRtl): initStackBottom()
-    when declared(initGC): initGC()
+    when declared(initGC):
+      initGC()
+      when not emulatedThreadVars:
+        type ThreadType {.pure.} = enum
+          None = 0,
+          NimThread = 1,
+          ForeignThread = 2
+        var
+          threadType {.rtlThreadVar.}: ThreadType
+
+        threadType = ThreadType.NimThread
+
+
 
   when emulatedThreadVars:
     if nimThreadVarsSize() > sizeof(ThreadLocalStorage):
@@ -442,6 +454,8 @@ proc threadProcWrapStackFrame[TArg](thrd: ptr Thread[TArg]) =
       # init the GC for refc/markandsweep
       setStackBottom(addr(p))
       initGC()
+      when declared(threadType):
+        threadType = ThreadType.NimThread
     when declared(registerThread):
       thrd.stackBottom = addr(thrd)
       registerThread(thrd)