diff --git a/test/hotspot/jtreg/vmTestbase/nsk/share/runner/ThreadsRunner.java b/test/hotspot/jtreg/vmTestbase/nsk/share/runner/ThreadsRunner.java
index 0401fea13fc..39e7e2c2237 100644
--- a/test/hotspot/jtreg/vmTestbase/nsk/share/runner/ThreadsRunner.java
+++ b/test/hotspot/jtreg/vmTestbase/nsk/share/runner/ThreadsRunner.java
@@ -310,6 +310,10 @@ public class ThreadsRunner implements MultiRunner, LogAware, RunParamsAware {
             log.info("Unexpected exception during the run.");
             log.info(t);
             successful = false;
+        } finally {
+            // Finished testing; release memory to avoid OOM.
+            runnables.clear();
+            threads.clear();
         }
     }