diff --git a/src/lj_gc.c b/src/lj_gc.c
index 572e4710..ddbaa645 100644
--- a/src/lj_gc.c
+++ b/src/lj_gc.c
@@ -684,12 +684,14 @@ int LJ_FASTCALL lj_gc_step(lua_State *L)
   } while ((int32_t)lim > 0);
   if (g->gc.debt < GCSTEPSIZE) {
     g->gc.threshold = g->gc.total + GCSTEPSIZE;
+    g->vmstate = ostate;
+    return 1;
   } else {
     g->gc.debt -= GCSTEPSIZE;
     g->gc.threshold = g->gc.total;
+    g->vmstate = ostate;
+    return 0;
   }
-  g->vmstate = ostate;
-  return 0;
 }
 
 /* Ditto, but fix the stack top first. */
diff --git a/src/lj_trace.c b/src/lj_trace.c
index 2b8d931f..466d9cd2 100644
--- a/src/lj_trace.c
+++ b/src/lj_trace.c
@@ -781,7 +781,7 @@ int LJ_FASTCALL lj_trace_exit(jit_State *J, void *exptr)
     /* Just exit to interpreter. */
   } else if (G(L)->gc.state == GCSatomic || G(L)->gc.state == GCSfinalize) {
     if (!(G(L)->hookmask & HOOK_GC))
-      lj_gc_step(L);  /* Exited because of GC: drive GC forward. */
+      lj_gc_check(L);  /* Exited because of GC: drive GC forward. */
   } else {
     trace_hotside(J, pc);
   }