diff --git a/platform/node/src/node_map.cpp b/platform/node/src/node_map.cpp
index afd3ae84f..5eefe402d 100644
--- a/platform/node/src/node_map.cpp
+++ b/platform/node/src/node_map.cpp
@@ -439,7 +439,6 @@ void NodeMap::release() {
     });
 
     map.reset(nullptr);
-    loop.reset();
 }
 
 NAN_METHOD(NodeMap::DumpDebugLogs) {
@@ -459,7 +458,6 @@ 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) {
 
@@ -486,7 +484,7 @@ 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 = loop->invokeWithCallback([this] (mbgl::Resource res, Callback cb2) {
+    req->workRequest = NodeRunLoop().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 42b312510..fe36ae7ed 100644
--- a/platform/node/src/node_map.hpp
+++ b/platform/node/src/node_map.hpp
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 #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"
@@ -46,7 +45,6 @@ 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 313f16f28..e0b094d57 100644
--- a/platform/node/src/node_mapbox_gl_native.cpp
+++ b/platform/node/src/node_mapbox_gl_native.cpp
@@ -12,21 +12,19 @@
 
 namespace node_mbgl {
 
-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);
+mbgl::util::RunLoop& NodeRunLoop() {
+    static mbgl::util::RunLoop nodeRunLoop;
+    return nodeRunLoop;
 }
 
 }
 
 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 0dcf8dcd0..b98b035fe 100644
--- a/platform/node/src/node_mapbox_gl_native.hpp
+++ b/platform/node/src/node_mapbox_gl_native.hpp
@@ -2,10 +2,8 @@
 
 #include <mbgl/util/run_loop.hpp>
 
-#include <memory>
-
 namespace node_mbgl {
 
-std::shared_ptr<mbgl::util::RunLoop> NodeRunLoop();
+mbgl::util::RunLoop& NodeRunLoop();
 
 }