diff --git a/pkg/noun/manage.c b/pkg/noun/manage.c
index b6ee6c1d2a..d880a42032 100644
--- a/pkg/noun/manage.c
+++ b/pkg/noun/manage.c
@@ -2154,6 +2154,15 @@ u3m_boot(c3_c* dir_c, size_t len_i)
   */
   u3m_pave(nuu_o);
 
+  /* GC immediately if requested
+  */
+  if ( (c3n == nuu_o) && (u3C.wag_w & u3o_check_corrupt) ) {
+    u3l_log("boot: gc requested");
+    u3m_grab(u3_none);
+    u3C.wag_w &= ~u3o_check_corrupt;
+    u3l_log("boot: gc complete");
+  }
+
   /* Initialize the jet system.
   */
   {
diff --git a/pkg/vere/main.c b/pkg/vere/main.c
index 599c8fc246..ec98561ea7 100644
--- a/pkg/vere/main.c
+++ b/pkg/vere/main.c
@@ -1901,6 +1901,7 @@ _cw_meld(c3_i argc, c3_c* argv[])
     { "no-demand", no_argument,       NULL, 6 },
     { "swap",      no_argument,       NULL, 7 },
     { "swap-to",   required_argument, NULL, 8 },
+    { "gc-early",  no_argument,       NULL, 9 },
     { NULL, 0, NULL, 0 }
   };
 
@@ -1931,6 +1932,11 @@ _cw_meld(c3_i argc, c3_c* argv[])
         break;
       }
 
+      case 9: {  //  gc-early
+        u3C.wag_w |= u3o_check_corrupt;
+        break;
+      }
+
       case '?': {
         fprintf(stderr, "invalid argument\r\n");
         exit(1);
@@ -2063,6 +2069,7 @@ _cw_pack(c3_i argc, c3_c* argv[])
     { "no-demand", no_argument,       NULL, 6 },
     { "swap",      no_argument,       NULL, 7 },
     { "swap-to",   required_argument, NULL, 8 },
+    { "gc-early",  no_argument,       NULL, 9 },
     { NULL, 0, NULL, 0 }
   };
 
@@ -2093,6 +2100,11 @@ _cw_pack(c3_i argc, c3_c* argv[])
         break;
       }
 
+      case 9: {  //  gc-early
+        u3C.wag_w |= u3o_check_corrupt;
+        break;
+      }
+
       case '?': {
         fprintf(stderr, "invalid argument\r\n");
         exit(1);