diff --git a/src/runtime/mheap.go b/src/runtime/mheap.go
index 0c3d6e669e..4b9734da5f 100644
--- a/src/runtime/mheap.go
+++ b/src/runtime/mheap.go
@@ -2057,6 +2057,11 @@ func addCleanup(p unsafe.Pointer, f *funcval) uint64 {
 		// special isn't part of the GC'd heap.
 		scanblock(uintptr(unsafe.Pointer(&s.fn)), goarch.PtrSize, &oneptrmask[0], gcw, nil)
 	}
+	// Keep f alive. There's a window in this function where it's
+	// only reachable via the special while the special hasn't been
+	// added to the specials list yet. This is similar to a bug
+	// discovered for weak handles, see #70455.
+	KeepAlive(f)
 	return id
 }