diff --git a/platform/node/src/node_map.cpp b/platform/node/src/node_map.cpp
index 5eefe402d..afd3ae84f 100644
--- a/platform/node/src/node_map.cpp
+++ b/platform/node/src/node_map.cpp
@@ -439,6 +439,7 @@ void NodeMap::release() {
     });
 
     map.reset(nullptr);
+    loop.reset();
 }
 
 NAN_METHOD(NodeMap::DumpDebugLogs) {
@@ -458,6 +459,7 @@ NodeMap::NodeMap(v8::Local<v8::Object> options) :
         Nan::HandleScope scope;
         return Nan::Has(options, Nan::New("ratio").ToLocalChecked()).FromJust() ? Nan::Get(options, Nan::New("ratio").ToLocalChecked()).ToLocalChecked()->NumberValue() : 1.0;
     }()),
+    loop(NodeRunLoop()),
     map(std::make_unique<mbgl::Map>(view, *this, mbgl::MapMode::Still)),
     async(new uv_async_t) {
 
@@ -484,7 +486,7 @@ std::unique_ptr<mbgl::FileRequest> NodeMap::request(const mbgl::Resource& resour
 
     // This function can be called from any thread. Make sure we're executing the
     // JS implementation in the node event loop.
-    req->workRequest = NodeRunLoop().invokeWithCallback([this] (mbgl::Resource res, Callback cb2) {
+    req->workRequest = loop->invokeWithCallback([this] (mbgl::Resource res, Callback cb2) {
         Nan::HandleScope scope;
 
         auto requestHandle = NodeRequest::Create(res, cb2)->ToObject();
diff --git a/platform/node/src/node_map.hpp b/platform/node/src/node_map.hpp
index fe36ae7ed..42b312510 100644
--- a/platform/node/src/node_map.hpp
+++ b/platform/node/src/node_map.hpp
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 #include <mbgl/map/map.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/storage/file_source.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/platform/default/headless_view.hpp>
+#include <mbgl/util/run_loop.hpp>
 
 #pragma GCC diagnostic push
 #pragma GCC diagnostic ignored "-Wunused-parameter"
@@ -45,6 +46,7 @@ public:
     std::unique_ptr<mbgl::FileRequest> request(const mbgl::Resource&, Callback);
 
     mbgl::HeadlessView view;
+    std::shared_ptr<mbgl::util::RunLoop> loop;
     std::unique_ptr<mbgl::Map> map;
 
     std::exception_ptr error;
diff --git a/platform/node/src/node_mapbox_gl_native.cpp b/platform/node/src/node_mapbox_gl_native.cpp
index e0b094d57..313f16f28 100644
--- a/platform/node/src/node_mapbox_gl_native.cpp
+++ b/platform/node/src/node_mapbox_gl_native.cpp
@@ -12,19 +12,21 @@
 
 namespace node_mbgl {
 
-mbgl::util::RunLoop& NodeRunLoop() {
-    static mbgl::util::RunLoop nodeRunLoop;
-    return nodeRunLoop;
+std::shared_ptr<mbgl::util::RunLoop> NodeRunLoop() {
+    static std::weak_ptr<mbgl::util::RunLoop> nodeRunLoop;
+
+    auto loop = nodeRunLoop.lock();
+    if (!loop) {
+        loop = std::make_shared<mbgl::util::RunLoop>();
+        nodeRunLoop = loop;
+    }
+
+    return std::move(loop);
 }
 
 }
 
 NAN_MODULE_INIT(RegisterModule) {
-    // This has the effect of:
-    //   a) Ensuring that the static local variable is initialized before any thread contention.
-    //   b) unreffing an async handle, which otherwise would keep the default loop running.
-    node_mbgl::NodeRunLoop().stop();
-
     node_mbgl::NodeMap::Init(target);
     node_mbgl::NodeRequest::Init(target);
 
diff --git a/platform/node/src/node_mapbox_gl_native.hpp b/platform/node/src/node_mapbox_gl_native.hpp
index b98b035fe..0dcf8dcd0 100644
--- a/platform/node/src/node_mapbox_gl_native.hpp
+++ b/platform/node/src/node_mapbox_gl_native.hpp
@@ -2,8 +2,10 @@
 
 #include <mbgl/util/run_loop.hpp>
 
+#include <memory>
+
 namespace node_mbgl {
 
-mbgl::util::RunLoop& NodeRunLoop();
+std::shared_ptr<mbgl::util::RunLoop> NodeRunLoop();
 
 }