diff --git a/libguile/gc.c b/libguile/gc.c
index 93d98d4fc..15c4e151c 100644
--- a/libguile/gc.c
+++ b/libguile/gc.c
@@ -625,6 +625,7 @@ void
 scm_storage_prehistory ()
 {
   GC_all_interior_pointers = 0;
+  GC_free_space_divisor = scm_getenv_int ("GC_FREE_SPACE_DIVISOR", 3);
 
   GC_INIT ();