diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 881d042..cc98f46 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
         "bath-es5": "^3.0.3",
-        "dereference-json-schema": "^0.2.1",
+        "dereference-json-schema": "^0.2.3",
         "openapi-types": "^12.1.3"
       },
       "devDependencies": {
@@ -2228,9 +2228,10 @@
       }
     },
     "node_modules/dereference-json-schema": {
-      "version": "0.2.1",
-      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/dereference-json-schema/-/dereference-json-schema-0.2.1.tgz",
-      "integrity": "sha512-uzJsrg225owJyRQ8FNTPHIuBOdSzIZlHhss9u6W8mp7jJldHqGuLv9cULagP/E26QVJDnjtG8U7Dw139mM1ydA=="
+      "version": "0.2.3",
+      "resolved": "https://registry.npmjs.org/dereference-json-schema/-/dereference-json-schema-0.2.3.tgz",
+      "integrity": "sha512-CBVoEuf2tKhqnUhoKjvX4wo5NVxDSHxInqwExQfUNEK67aX+LPC27Vg+6CApi+KRebABJZAWhHBVoNpKfhMssg==",
+      "license": "MIT"
     },
     "node_modules/detect-newline": {
       "version": "3.1.0",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 58c3818..bc82f5c 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@
   },
   "dependencies": {
     "bath-es5": "^3.0.3",
-    "dereference-json-schema": "^0.2.1",
+    "dereference-json-schema": "^0.2.3",
     "openapi-types": "^12.1.3"
   },
   "devDependencies": {
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@
     "build": "tsc",
     "watch-build": "tsc -w",
     "prepare": "npm run build",
-    "test": "NODE_ENV=test jest",
+    "test": "NODE_ENV=test NODE_OPTIONS=--expose-gc jest",
     "lint": "prettier --check src/**/*.ts __tests__/**/*.ts",
     "lint:fix": "prettier --write src/**/*.ts __tests__/**/*.ts"
   },
diff --git a/src/client.test.ts b/src/client.test.ts
index 20c27af..29b3f75 100644
--- a/src/client.test.ts
+++ b/src/client.test.ts
@@ -246,6 +246,23 @@ describe('OpenAPIClientAxios', () => {
       const api = new OpenAPIClientAxios({ definition: '/example-pet-api.openapi.json' });
       expect(api.initSync).toThrowError();
     });
+
+    test('does not retain the definition of a discarded client', async () => {
+      const gc = (global as { gc?: () => void }).gc;
+      expect(gc).toBeDefined();
+
+      const createDiscardedClient = () => {
+        const fresh = JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(definition));
+        new OpenAPIClientAxios({ definition: fresh }).initSync();
+        return new WeakRef(fresh);
+      };
+      const ref = createDiscardedClient();
+
+      await new Promise((resolve) => setImmediate(resolve));
+      gc!();
+
+      expect(ref.deref()).toBeUndefined();
+    });
   });
 
   describe('client', () => {