diff --git a/nix-repl.cc b/nix-repl.cc
index 343d3f9f3..8cfbfeff9 100644
--- a/nix-repl.cc
+++ b/nix-repl.cc
@@ -594,6 +594,7 @@ int main(int argc, char * * argv)
 {
     return handleExceptions(argv[0], [&]() {
         initNix();
+        initGC();
 
         Strings files, searchPath;