diff --git a/src/async_wrap.cc b/src/async_wrap.cc
index d6511a1dd8b3c3..2dfcf96e5620ec 100644
--- a/src/async_wrap.cc
+++ b/src/async_wrap.cc
@@ -98,6 +98,12 @@ struct AsyncWrapObject : public AsyncWrap {
     return tmpl;
   }
 
+  bool IsNotIndicativeOfMemoryLeakAtExit() const override {
+    // We can't really know what the underlying operation does. One of the
+    // signs that it's time to remove this class. :)
+    return true;
+  }
+
   SET_NO_MEMORY_INFO()
   SET_MEMORY_INFO_NAME(AsyncWrapObject)
   SET_SELF_SIZE(AsyncWrapObject)
diff --git a/src/base_object-inl.h b/src/base_object-inl.h
index 555063f4e23e67..0b620ab864f67b 100644
--- a/src/base_object-inl.h
+++ b/src/base_object-inl.h
@@ -146,6 +146,13 @@ void BaseObject::ClearWeak() {
   persistent_handle_.ClearWeak();
 }
 
+bool BaseObject::IsWeakOrDetached() const {
+  if (persistent_handle_.IsWeak()) return true;
+
+  if (!has_pointer_data()) return false;
+  const PointerData* pd = const_cast<BaseObject*>(this)->pointer_data();
+  return pd->wants_weak_jsobj || pd->is_detached;
+}
 
 v8::Local<v8::FunctionTemplate>
 BaseObject::MakeLazilyInitializedJSTemplate(Environment* env) {
diff --git a/src/base_object.h b/src/base_object.h
index 105114caf4459a..9392e1baa14fe9 100644
--- a/src/base_object.h
+++ b/src/base_object.h
@@ -78,6 +78,11 @@ class BaseObject : public MemoryRetainer {
   // root and will not be touched by the garbage collector.
   inline void ClearWeak();
 
+  // Reports whether this BaseObject is using a weak reference or detached,
+  // i.e. whether is can be deleted by GC once no strong BaseObjectPtrs refer
+  // to it anymore.
+  inline bool IsWeakOrDetached() const;
+
   // Utility to create a FunctionTemplate with one internal field (used for
   // the `BaseObject*` pointer) and a constructor that initializes that field
   // to `nullptr`.
@@ -147,6 +152,10 @@ class BaseObject : public MemoryRetainer {
   virtual v8::Maybe<bool> FinalizeTransferRead(
       v8::Local<v8::Context> context, v8::ValueDeserializer* deserializer);
 
+  // Indicates whether this object is expected to use a strong reference during
+  // a clean process exit (due to an empty event loop).
+  virtual bool IsNotIndicativeOfMemoryLeakAtExit() const;
+
   virtual inline void OnGCCollect();
 
  private:
diff --git a/src/env.cc b/src/env.cc
index 7155ae67ac625b..dc67a0e5f98196 100644
--- a/src/env.cc
+++ b/src/env.cc
@@ -1043,6 +1043,36 @@ void Environment::RemoveUnmanagedFd(int fd) {
   }
 }
 
+void Environment::VerifyNoStrongBaseObjects() {
+  // When a process exits cleanly, i.e. because the event loop ends up without
+  // things to wait for, the Node.js objects that are left on the heap should
+  // be:
+  //
+  //   1. weak, i.e. ready for garbage collection once no longer referenced, or
+  //   2. detached, i.e. scheduled for destruction once no longer referenced, or
+  //   3. an unrefed libuv handle, i.e. does not keep the event loop alive, or
+  //   4. an inactive libuv handle (essentially the same here)
+  //
+  // There are a few exceptions to this rule, but generally, if there are
+  // C++-backed Node.js objects on the heap that do not fall into the above
+  // categories, we may be looking at a potential memory leak. Most likely,
+  // the cause is a missing MakeWeak() call on the corresponding object.
+  //
+  // In order to avoid this kind of problem, we check the list of BaseObjects
+  // for these criteria. Currently, we only do so when explicitly instructed to
+  // or when in debug mode (where --verify-base-objects is always-on).
+
+  if (!options()->verify_base_objects) return;
+
+  ForEachBaseObject([this](BaseObject* obj) {
+    if (obj->IsNotIndicativeOfMemoryLeakAtExit()) return;
+    fprintf(stderr, "Found bad BaseObject during clean exit: %s\n",
+            obj->MemoryInfoName().c_str());
+    fflush(stderr);
+    ABORT();
+  });
+}
+
 void Environment::BuildEmbedderGraph(Isolate* isolate,
                                      EmbedderGraph* graph,
                                      void* data) {
@@ -1135,4 +1165,8 @@ Local<FunctionTemplate> BaseObject::GetConstructorTemplate(Environment* env) {
   return tmpl;
 }
 
+bool BaseObject::IsNotIndicativeOfMemoryLeakAtExit() const {
+  return IsWeakOrDetached();
+}
+
 }  // namespace node
diff --git a/src/env.h b/src/env.h
index 9c435f12db0e2d..512dc878049e9a 100644
--- a/src/env.h
+++ b/src/env.h
@@ -833,6 +833,7 @@ class Environment : public MemoryRetainer {
   void MemoryInfo(MemoryTracker* tracker) const override;
 
   void CreateProperties();
+  void VerifyNoStrongBaseObjects();
   // Should be called before InitializeInspector()
   void InitializeDiagnostics();
 #if HAVE_INSPECTOR
diff --git a/src/handle_wrap.cc b/src/handle_wrap.cc
index 4e039d5dbf2d37..447c0842b90d99 100644
--- a/src/handle_wrap.cc
+++ b/src/handle_wrap.cc
@@ -88,6 +88,13 @@ void HandleWrap::OnGCCollect() {
 }
 
 
+bool HandleWrap::IsNotIndicativeOfMemoryLeakAtExit() const {
+  return IsWeakOrDetached() ||
+         !HandleWrap::HasRef(this) ||
+         !uv_is_active(GetHandle());
+}
+
+
 void HandleWrap::MarkAsInitialized() {
   env()->handle_wrap_queue()->PushBack(this);
   state_ = kInitialized;
diff --git a/src/handle_wrap.h b/src/handle_wrap.h
index a555da9479de93..560b2e718176fa 100644
--- a/src/handle_wrap.h
+++ b/src/handle_wrap.h
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ class HandleWrap : public AsyncWrap {
              AsyncWrap::ProviderType provider);
   virtual void OnClose() {}
   void OnGCCollect() final;
+  bool IsNotIndicativeOfMemoryLeakAtExit() const override;
 
   void MarkAsInitialized();
   void MarkAsUninitialized();
diff --git a/src/inspector_js_api.cc b/src/inspector_js_api.cc
index 8616575e066121..f1eb5fe7fd7448 100644
--- a/src/inspector_js_api.cc
+++ b/src/inspector_js_api.cc
@@ -155,6 +155,10 @@ class JSBindingsConnection : public AsyncWrap {
   SET_MEMORY_INFO_NAME(JSBindingsConnection)
   SET_SELF_SIZE(JSBindingsConnection)
 
+  bool IsNotIndicativeOfMemoryLeakAtExit() const override {
+    return true;  // Binding connections emit events on their own.
+  }
+
  private:
   std::unique_ptr<InspectorSession> session_;
   Global<Function> callback_;
diff --git a/src/module_wrap.h b/src/module_wrap.h
index 3d8bb57750397f..dc7726f11d94fd 100644
--- a/src/module_wrap.h
+++ b/src/module_wrap.h
@@ -60,6 +60,12 @@ class ModuleWrap : public BaseObject {
   SET_MEMORY_INFO_NAME(ModuleWrap)
   SET_SELF_SIZE(ModuleWrap)
 
+  bool IsNotIndicativeOfMemoryLeakAtExit() const override {
+    // XXX: The garbage collection rules for ModuleWrap are *super* unclear.
+    // Do these objects ever get GC'd? Are we just okay with leaking them?
+    return true;
+  }
+
  private:
   ModuleWrap(Environment* env,
              v8::Local<v8::Object> object,
diff --git a/src/node_contextify.h b/src/node_contextify.h
index 1236613c73eeb8..357029d8e18312 100644
--- a/src/node_contextify.h
+++ b/src/node_contextify.h
@@ -174,6 +174,8 @@ class CompiledFnEntry final : public BaseObject {
                   v8::Local<v8::ScriptOrModule> script);
   ~CompiledFnEntry();
 
+  bool IsNotIndicativeOfMemoryLeakAtExit() const override { return true; }
+
  private:
   uint32_t id_;
   v8::Global<v8::ScriptOrModule> script_;
diff --git a/src/node_http_parser.cc b/src/node_http_parser.cc
index ed92cc459a5a66..cb44320c380e02 100644
--- a/src/node_http_parser.cc
+++ b/src/node_http_parser.cc
@@ -880,6 +880,15 @@ class Parser : public AsyncWrap, public StreamListener {
     return HPE_PAUSED;
   }
 
+
+  bool IsNotIndicativeOfMemoryLeakAtExit() const override {
+    // HTTP parsers are able to emit events without any GC root referring
+    // to them, because they receive events directly from the underlying
+    // libuv resource.
+    return true;
+  }
+
+
   llhttp_t parser_;
   StringPtr fields_[kMaxHeaderFieldsCount];  // header fields
   StringPtr values_[kMaxHeaderFieldsCount];  // header values
diff --git a/src/node_main_instance.cc b/src/node_main_instance.cc
index f638e26dba5a04..0678d1a748edf6 100644
--- a/src/node_main_instance.cc
+++ b/src/node_main_instance.cc
@@ -147,6 +147,7 @@ int NodeMainInstance::Run() {
     }
 
     env->set_trace_sync_io(false);
+    if (!env->is_stopping()) env->VerifyNoStrongBaseObjects();
     exit_code = EmitExit(env.get());
   }
 
diff --git a/src/node_options.cc b/src/node_options.cc
index 0ed8dac7217753..e57e6d46c78552 100644
--- a/src/node_options.cc
+++ b/src/node_options.cc
@@ -483,6 +483,10 @@ EnvironmentOptionsParser::EnvironmentOptionsParser() {
             "exit code 1 unless 'unhandledRejection' hook is set).",
             &EnvironmentOptions::unhandled_rejections,
             kAllowedInEnvironment);
+  AddOption("--verify-base-objects",
+            "", /* undocumented, only for debugging */
+            &EnvironmentOptions::verify_base_objects,
+            kAllowedInEnvironment);
 
   AddOption("--check",
             "syntax check script without executing",
diff --git a/src/node_options.h b/src/node_options.h
index c9624c04a6eff1..58a21e0d4f9bd6 100644
--- a/src/node_options.h
+++ b/src/node_options.h
@@ -151,6 +151,12 @@ class EnvironmentOptions : public Options {
   bool trace_warnings = false;
   std::string unhandled_rejections;
   std::string userland_loader;
+  bool verify_base_objects =
+#ifdef DEBUG
+      true;
+#else
+      false;
+#endif  // DEBUG
 
   bool syntax_check_only = false;
   bool has_eval_string = false;
diff --git a/src/node_worker.cc b/src/node_worker.cc
index dd132a87cfcbaa..e2f70f6b357766 100644
--- a/src/node_worker.cc
+++ b/src/node_worker.cc
@@ -366,8 +366,10 @@ void Worker::Run() {
     {
       int exit_code;
       bool stopped = is_stopped();
-      if (!stopped)
+      if (!stopped) {
+        env_->VerifyNoStrongBaseObjects();
         exit_code = EmitExit(env_.get());
+      }
       Mutex::ScopedLock lock(mutex_);
       if (exit_code_ == 0 && !stopped)
         exit_code_ = exit_code;
@@ -718,6 +720,12 @@ void Worker::MemoryInfo(MemoryTracker* tracker) const {
   tracker->TrackField("parent_port", parent_port_);
 }
 
+bool Worker::IsNotIndicativeOfMemoryLeakAtExit() const {
+  // Worker objects always stay alive as long as the child thread, regardless
+  // of whether they are being referenced in the parent thread.
+  return true;
+}
+
 class WorkerHeapSnapshotTaker : public AsyncWrap {
  public:
   WorkerHeapSnapshotTaker(Environment* env, Local<Object> obj)
diff --git a/src/node_worker.h b/src/node_worker.h
index a59bdc3f5bae17..2c65f0e1a83bbe 100644
--- a/src/node_worker.h
+++ b/src/node_worker.h
@@ -50,6 +50,7 @@ class Worker : public AsyncWrap {
   void MemoryInfo(MemoryTracker* tracker) const override;
   SET_MEMORY_INFO_NAME(Worker)
   SET_SELF_SIZE(Worker)
+  bool IsNotIndicativeOfMemoryLeakAtExit() const override;
 
   bool is_stopped() const;
 
diff --git a/src/stream_base.h b/src/stream_base.h
index e106b004753836..a5680ba8860d49 100644
--- a/src/stream_base.h
+++ b/src/stream_base.h
@@ -423,6 +423,10 @@ class SimpleShutdownWrap : public ShutdownWrap, public OtherBase {
   SET_NO_MEMORY_INFO()
   SET_MEMORY_INFO_NAME(SimpleShutdownWrap)
   SET_SELF_SIZE(SimpleShutdownWrap)
+
+  bool IsNotIndicativeOfMemoryLeakAtExit() const override {
+    return OtherBase::IsNotIndicativeOfMemoryLeakAtExit();
+  }
 };
 
 template <typename OtherBase>
@@ -436,6 +440,10 @@ class SimpleWriteWrap : public WriteWrap, public OtherBase {
   SET_NO_MEMORY_INFO()
   SET_MEMORY_INFO_NAME(SimpleWriteWrap)
   SET_SELF_SIZE(SimpleWriteWrap)
+
+  bool IsNotIndicativeOfMemoryLeakAtExit() const override {
+    return OtherBase::IsNotIndicativeOfMemoryLeakAtExit();
+  }
 };
 
 }  // namespace node
diff --git a/test/parallel/test-process-env-allowed-flags-are-documented.js b/test/parallel/test-process-env-allowed-flags-are-documented.js
index 0e0af9471ce84e..6f4537bd3e88fa 100644
--- a/test/parallel/test-process-env-allowed-flags-are-documented.js
+++ b/test/parallel/test-process-env-allowed-flags-are-documented.js
@@ -88,6 +88,7 @@ assert(undocumented.delete('--experimental-report'));
 assert(undocumented.delete('--experimental-worker'));
 assert(undocumented.delete('--no-node-snapshot'));
 assert(undocumented.delete('--loader'));
+assert(undocumented.delete('--verify-base-objects'));
 
 assert.strictEqual(undocumented.size, 0,
                    'The following options are not documented as allowed in ' +