diff --git a/src/generics/lib.generics.ts b/src/generics/lib.generics.ts
index f59534c..b3b9b59 100644
--- a/src/generics/lib.generics.ts
+++ b/src/generics/lib.generics.ts
@@ -1504,18 +1504,24 @@ namespace __Iterator
     }
 }
 
+// gc only: the collector clears the link. Under any other model the compiler rejects the
+// GC_* call below.
 class WeakRef<T extends object> {
-    private _target: Opaque | null;
+    // The target's address complemented, as gc.h's GC_HIDE_POINTER does: a plain pointer here is
+    // one the collector finds when it scans this object, and it then keeps the target alive, so
+    // the link was never cleared. The collector sets this to 0 when the target goes.
+    private _hidden: index;
 
     constructor(target: T) {
-        this._target = <Opaque>target;
-        GC_general_register_disappearing_link(Ref(this._target), <Opaque>target);
+        this._hidden = ~(<index><Opaque>target);
+        GC_general_register_disappearing_link(<Reference<Opaque>>Ref(this._hidden), <Opaque>target);
     }
 
     deref(): T | undefined {
-        if (this._target != null) {
-            return <T>this._target;
+        const hidden = this._hidden;
+        if (hidden == 0) {
+            return undefined;
         }
-        return undefined;
+        return <T><Opaque>(~hidden);
     }
 }
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/tests/weakref_basic.ts b/tests/weakref_basic.ts
index b550640..f2d5dd8 100644
--- a/tests/weakref_basic.ts
+++ b/tests/weakref_basic.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+// gc only: WeakRef is built on the collector's weak links, and this calls GC_gcollect() itself.
+// Under any other model the compiler rejects both.
 class Foo {
     constructor(public value: int) {
     }
@@ -9,17 +11,29 @@ function makeAndDrop(): WeakRef<Foo> {
     return ref;
 }
 
+// in a function of its own, so no pointer to the object stays in main's frame for the
+// collector's conservative stack scan to find
+function aliveValue(ref: WeakRef<Foo>): int {
+    const target = ref.deref();
+    return target != undefined ? target.value : -1;
+}
+
 function main() {
     const ref = makeAndDrop();
 
-    // object should still be alive here since no GC ran yet in a way that could collect it
-    const before = ref.deref();
-    console.log(before != undefined);
+    // nothing has collected yet
+    assert(aliveValue(ref) == 42, "deref before a collection gives the object");
+
+    // one that is still held
+    const kept = new Foo(7);
+    const keptRef = new WeakRef<Foo>(kept);
 
     GC_gcollect();
     GC_gcollect();
 
-    const after = ref.deref();
-    console.log(after == undefined);
+    assert(ref.deref() == undefined, "deref after the last reference went and a collection ran");
+    assert(aliveValue(keptRef) == 7, "a held object survives the collection");
+    assert(kept.value == 7);
+
     console.log("ALL DONE");
 }