diff --git a/ChangeLog b/ChangeLog
index 94875914b..f5b0f2ae2 100644
--- a/ChangeLog
+++ b/ChangeLog
@@ -1,5 +1,8 @@
 2015-12-07  Peter Stephenson  <p.stephenson@samsung.com>
 
+	* 37337: Src/Zle/zle.h, Src/Zle/zle_main.c,
+	Src/Zle/zle_thingy.c: Delay freeing widget until not in use.
+
 	* 37335: Test/D04parameter.ztst, Test/V09datetime.ztst: fix
 	tests after 37314.
 
diff --git a/Src/Zle/zle.h b/Src/Zle/zle.h
index 2d672de3b..e9b14281d 100644
--- a/Src/Zle/zle.h
+++ b/Src/Zle/zle.h
@@ -213,6 +213,8 @@ struct widget {
 #define ZLE_KEEPSUFFIX	(1<<9)	/* DON'T remove added suffix */
 #define ZLE_NOTCOMMAND  (1<<10)	/* widget should not alter lastcmd */
 #define ZLE_ISCOMP      (1<<11)	/* usable for new style completion */
+#define WIDGET_INUSE    (1<<12) /* widget is in use */
+#define WIDGET_FREE     (1<<13) /* request to free when no longer in use */
 
 /* thingies */
 
diff --git a/Src/Zle/zle_main.c b/Src/Zle/zle_main.c
index 38427e8e3..1f0c07df4 100644
--- a/Src/Zle/zle_main.c
+++ b/Src/Zle/zle_main.c
@@ -1344,6 +1344,8 @@ execzlefunc(Thingy func, char **args, int set_bindk)
 	    eofsent = 1;
 	    ret = 1;
 	} else {
+	    int inuse = wflags & WIDGET_INUSE;
+	    w->flags |= WIDGET_INUSE;
 	    if(!(wflags & ZLE_KEEPSUFFIX))
 		removesuffix();
 	    if(!(wflags & ZLE_MENUCMP)) {
@@ -1367,6 +1369,12 @@ execzlefunc(Thingy func, char **args, int set_bindk)
 		ret = w->u.fn(args);
 		unqueue_signals();
 	    }
+	    if (!inuse) {
+		if (w->flags & WIDGET_FREE)
+		    freewidget(w);
+		else
+		    w->flags &= ~WIDGET_INUSE;
+	    }
 	    if (!(wflags & ZLE_NOTCOMMAND))
 		lastcmd = wflags;
 	}
@@ -1387,6 +1395,8 @@ execzlefunc(Thingy func, char **args, int set_bindk)
 	    int osc = sfcontext, osi = movefd(0);
 	    int oxt = isset(XTRACE);
 	    LinkList largs = NULL;
+	    int inuse = w->flags & WIDGET_INUSE;
+	    w->flags |= WIDGET_INUSE;
 
 	    if (*args) {
 		largs = newlinklist();
@@ -1402,8 +1412,15 @@ execzlefunc(Thingy func, char **args, int set_bindk)
 	    opts[XTRACE] = oxt;
 	    sfcontext = osc;
 	    endparamscope();
-	    lastcmd = w->flags;
-	    w->flags = 0;
+	    lastcmd = w->flags & ~(WIDGET_INUSE|WIDGET_FREE);
+	    if (inuse) {
+		w->flags &= WIDGET_INUSE|WIDGET_FREE;
+	    } else {
+		if (w->flags & WIDGET_FREE)
+		    freewidget(w);
+		else
+		    w->flags = 0;
+	    }
 	    r = 1;
 	    redup(osi, 0);
 	}
diff --git a/Src/Zle/zle_thingy.c b/Src/Zle/zle_thingy.c
index 271fd8efc..21495b6f2 100644
--- a/Src/Zle/zle_thingy.c
+++ b/Src/Zle/zle_thingy.c
@@ -253,9 +253,14 @@ unbindwidget(Thingy t, int override)
 /* Free a widget. */
 
 /**/
-static void
+void
 freewidget(Widget w)
 {
+    if (w->flags & WIDGET_INUSE) {
+	w->flags |= WIDGET_FREE;
+	return;
+    }
+
     if (w->flags & WIDGET_NCOMP) {
 	zsfree(w->u.comp.wid);
 	zsfree(w->u.comp.func);