diff --git a/eval.c b/eval.c
index 721420ba..302e5c94 100644
--- a/eval.c
+++ b/eval.c
@@ -1009,10 +1009,19 @@ sexp sexp_exception_type_op (sexp ctx, sexp self, sexp_sint_t n, sexp exn) {
 
 sexp sexp_open_input_file_op (sexp ctx, sexp self, sexp_sint_t n, sexp path) {
   FILE *in;
+  int count = 0;
   sexp_assert_type(ctx, sexp_stringp, SEXP_STRING, path);
+ loop:
   in = fopen(sexp_string_data(path), "r");
-  if (! in)
+  if (!in) {
+#if SEXP_USE_GC_FILE_DESCRIPTORS
+    if (errno == EMFILE && !count++) {
+      sexp_gc(ctx, NULL);
+      goto loop;
+    }
+#endif
     return sexp_user_exception(ctx, self, "couldn't open input file", path);
+  }
 #if SEXP_USE_GREEN_THREADS
   fcntl(fileno(in), F_SETFL, O_NONBLOCK);
 #endif
@@ -1021,10 +1030,19 @@ sexp sexp_open_input_file_op (sexp ctx, sexp self, sexp_sint_t n, sexp path) {
 
 sexp sexp_open_output_file_op (sexp ctx, sexp self, sexp_sint_t n, sexp path) {
   FILE *out;
+  int count = 0;
   sexp_assert_type(ctx, sexp_stringp, SEXP_STRING, path);
+ loop:
   out = fopen(sexp_string_data(path), "w");
-  if (! out)
+  if (!out) {
+#if SEXP_USE_GC_FILE_DESCRIPTORS
+    if (errno == EMFILE && !count++) {
+      sexp_gc(ctx, NULL);
+      goto loop;
+    }
+#endif
     return sexp_user_exception(ctx, self, "couldn't open output file", path);
+  }
   return sexp_make_output_port(ctx, out, path);
 }
 
diff --git a/include/chibi/features.h b/include/chibi/features.h
index d60a172c..1e0cf0f4 100644
--- a/include/chibi/features.h
+++ b/include/chibi/features.h
@@ -506,6 +506,10 @@
 #define SEXP_USE_AUTOCLOSE_PORTS ! SEXP_USE_NO_FEATURES
 #endif
 
+#ifndef SEXP_USE_GC_FILE_DESCRIPTORS
+#define SEXP_USE_GC_FILE_DESCRIPTORS (SEXP_USE_AUTOCLOSE_PORTS &&!SEXP_USE_BOEHM)
+#endif
+
 #ifndef SEXP_USE_2010_EPOCH
 #define SEXP_USE_2010_EPOCH ! SEXP_USE_NO_FEATURES
 #endif