diff --git a/lib/rubygems/safe_marshal/visitors/to_ruby.rb b/lib/rubygems/safe_marshal/visitors/to_ruby.rb
index a1f94817760e..5a5e6f398389 100644
--- a/lib/rubygems/safe_marshal/visitors/to_ruby.rb
+++ b/lib/rubygems/safe_marshal/visitors/to_ruby.rb
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ def visit_Gem_SafeMarshal_Elements_Array(a)
         while idx < size
           push_stack idx
           array << visit(elements[idx])
+          elements[idx] = nil # release AST node for GC
           idx += 1
         end