diff --git a/beholder.lua b/beholder.lua
index dc655b3..7693f98 100644
--- a/beholder.lua
+++ b/beholder.lua
@@ -18,7 +18,8 @@ local Node = {
 }
 
 function Node:new()
-  return setmetatable( { callbacks = {}, children = {} }, { __index = Node } )
+  local node = { callbacks = {}, children = setmetatable({}, {__mode="k"}) }
+  return setmetatable( node, { __index = Node } )
 end
 
 function Node:findById(id)
diff --git a/spec/unit.lua b/spec/unit.lua
index 31a4e26..9178df9 100644
--- a/spec/unit.lua
+++ b/spec/unit.lua
@@ -45,6 +45,17 @@ describe("Unit", function()
     it("throws an error if called without at least one parameter", function()
       assert_error(function() beholder:observe() end)
     end)
+
+    it("does not store hard references to variables", function()
+      local counter = 0
+      local x = {}
+      beholder:observe(x, function() counter = counter + 1 end)
+      beholder:triggerAll()
+      x = nil
+      collectgarbage("collect")
+      beholder:triggerAll()
+      assert_equal(1, counter)
+    end)
   end)
 
   describe(":stopObserving", function()