diff --git a/src/event_log.zig b/src/event_log.zig
index eac0bdc..2d0f605 100644
--- a/src/event_log.zig
+++ b/src/event_log.zig
@@ -835,6 +835,8 @@ pub const DiskPersist = struct {
         if (self.max_dir_bytes > 0) {
             try self.gcBySize();
         }
+
+        self.markDbSuccess();
     }
 
     /// delete oldest event files until total directory size is under max_dir_bytes
diff --git a/src/main.zig b/src/main.zig
index d963868..aaddac6 100644
--- a/src/main.zig
+++ b/src/main.zig
@@ -297,7 +297,6 @@ pub fn main() !void {
         log.err("failed to start GC thread: {s}", .{@errorName(err)});
         return err;
     };
-    gc_thread.detach();
 
     // wire HTTP fallback into broadcaster (all API endpoints served on WS port)
     var http_context = api.HttpContext{
@@ -366,7 +365,9 @@ pub fn main() !void {
     ws_listener.deinit(io);
     server_future.cancel(io);
 
-    // GC thread is detached and checks shutdown_flag — no cancel needed
+    // join GC thread — it checks shutdown_flag and will exit its sleep loop.
+    // must complete before dp.deinit() runs (dp is stack-owned).
+    gc_thread.join();
 
     // cancel broadcaster fiber (shutdown flag already set, it will drain remaining)
     broadcast_future.cancel(io);