diff --git a/pyqtgraph/tests/test_ref_cycles.py b/pyqtgraph/tests/test_ref_cycles.py
index ac65eaf9..87e0d71d 100644
--- a/pyqtgraph/tests/test_ref_cycles.py
+++ b/pyqtgraph/tests/test_ref_cycles.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ Test for unwanted reference cycles
 """
 import pyqtgraph as pg
 import numpy as np
-import gc
+import gc, weakref
 app = pg.mkQApp()
 
 def processEvents():
@@ -15,31 +15,46 @@ def processEvents():
         # manually.
         app.sendPostedEvents(None, pg.QtCore.QEvent.DeferredDelete)
 
-def test_PlotItem():
-    for i in range(10):
-        plt = pg.PlotItem()
-        plt.plot(np.random.normal(size=10000))
-    processEvents()
+#def test_PlotItem():
+    #for i in range(10):
+        #plt = pg.PlotItem()
+        #plt.plot(np.random.normal(size=10000))
+    #processEvents()
     
-    ot = pg.debug.ObjTracker()
+    #ot = pg.debug.ObjTracker()
     
-    plots = []
-    for i in range(10):
-        plt = pg.PlotItem()
-        plt.plot(np.random.normal(size=10000))
-        plots.append(plt)
-    processEvents()
+    #plots = []
+    #for i in range(10):
+        #plt = pg.PlotItem()
+        #plt.plot(np.random.normal(size=10000))
+        #plots.append(plt)
+    #processEvents()
 
-    ot.diff()
+    #ot.diff()
     
-    del plots
-    processEvents()
+    #del plots
+    #processEvents()
     
-    ot.diff()
+    #ot.diff()
     
     
-    return ot
+    #return ot
 
+def test_PlotWidget():
+    def mkref(*args, **kwds):
+        iv = pg.PlotWidget(*args, **kwds)
+        return weakref.ref(iv)
+    
+    for i in range(100):
+        assert mkref()() is None
+    
+def test_ImageView():
+    def mkref(*args, **kwds):
+        iv = pg.ImageView(*args, **kwds)
+        return weakref.ref(iv)
+    
+    for i in range(100):
+        assert mkref()() is None
     
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     ot = test_PlotItem()
diff --git a/pyqtgraph/tests/test_stability.py b/pyqtgraph/tests/test_stability.py
index 3838af7d..709080ac 100644
--- a/pyqtgraph/tests/test_stability.py
+++ b/pyqtgraph/tests/test_stability.py
@@ -6,34 +6,146 @@ the tear them down repeatedly.
 
 The purpose of this is to attempt to generate segmentation faults.
 """
+from PyQt4.QtTest import QTest
 import pyqtgraph as pg
-import random
+from random import seed, randint
+import sys, gc, weakref
 
-random.seed(12345)
+app = pg.mkQApp()
 
-widgetTypes = [pg.PlotWidget, pg.ImageView, pg.GraphicsView, pg.QtGui.QWidget,
-               pg.QtGui.QTreeWidget, pg.QtGui.QPushButton]
+seed(12345)
 
-itemTypes = [pg.PlotCurveItem, pg.ImageItem, pg.PlotDataItem, pg.ViewBox,
-             pg.QtGui.QGraphicsRectItem]
+widgetTypes = [
+    pg.PlotWidget, 
+    pg.ImageView, 
+    pg.GraphicsView, 
+    pg.QtGui.QWidget,
+    pg.QtGui.QTreeWidget, 
+    pg.QtGui.QPushButton,
+    ]
+
+itemTypes = [
+    pg.PlotCurveItem, 
+    pg.ImageItem, 
+    pg.PlotDataItem, 
+    pg.ViewBox,
+    pg.QtGui.QGraphicsRectItem
+    ]
+
+widgets = []
+items = []
+allWidgets = weakref.WeakSet()
+
+def test_stability():
+    global allWidgets
+    try:
+        gc.disable()
+        actions = [
+                createWidget, 
+                #setParent, 
+                forgetWidget, 
+                showWidget, 
+                processEvents, 
+                #raiseException,
+                #addReference,
+                ]
+
+        thread = WorkThread()
+        #thread.start()
+
+        while True:
+            try:
+                action = randItem(actions)
+                action()
+                print('[%d widgets alive]' % len(allWidgets))
+            except KeyboardInterrupt:
+                thread.kill()
+                break
+            except:
+                sys.excepthook(*sys.exc_info())
+    finally:
+        gc.enable()
+
+
+
+class WorkThread(pg.QtCore.QThread):
+    '''Intended to give the gc an opportunity to run from a non-gui thread.'''
+    def run(self):
+        i = 0
+        while True:
+            i += 1
+            if (i % 1000000) == 0:
+                print('--worker--')
+            
+
+def randItem(items):
+    return items[randint(0, len(items)-1)]
+
+def p(msg):
+    print(msg)
+    sys.stdout.flush()
+
+def createWidget():
+    p('create widget')
+    global widgets, allWidgets
+    widget = randItem(widgetTypes)()
+    widgets.append(widget)
+    allWidgets.add(widget)
+    p("    %s" % widget)
+    return widget
+
+def setParent():
+    p('set parent')
+    global widgets
+    if len(widgets) < 2:
+        return
+    child = parent = None
+    while child is parent:
+        child = randItem(widgets)
+        parent = randItem(widgets)
+    p("    %s parent of %s" % (parent, child))
+    child.setParent(parent)
+
+def forgetWidget():
+    p('forget widget')
+    global widgets
+    if len(widgets) < 1:
+        return
+    widget = randItem(widgets)
+    p('    %s' % widget)
+    widgets.remove(widget)
+
+def showWidget():
+    p('show widget')
+    global widgets
+    if len(widgets) < 1:
+        return
+    widget = randItem(widgets)
+    p('    %s' % widget)
+    widget.show()
+
+def processEvents():
+    p('process events')
+    QTest.qWait(25)
+
+class TestException(Exception):
+    pass
+
+def raiseException():
+    p('raise exception')
+    raise TestException("A test exception")
+
+def addReference():
+    p('add reference')
+    global widgets
+    if len(widgets) < 1:
+        return
+    obj1 = randItem(widgets)
+    obj2 = randItem(widgets)
+    p('    %s -> %s' % (obj1, obj2))    
+    obj1._testref = obj2
+    
 
-while True:
-    action = random.randint(0,5)
-    if action == 0:
-        # create a widget
-        pass
-    elif action == 1:
-        # set parent (widget or None), possibly create a reference in either direction
-        pass
-    elif action == 2:
-        # 
-        pass
-    elif action == 3:
-        pass
         
-
-
-
-
-
-
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    test_stability()
\ No newline at end of file