diff --git a/fnlz_mlc.c b/fnlz_mlc.c
index f7fd0db7a..005c08b63 100644
--- a/fnlz_mlc.c
+++ b/fnlz_mlc.c
@@ -49,6 +49,10 @@ static GC_bool done_init = FALSE;
 
 GC_API void GC_CALL GC_init_finalized_malloc(void)
 {
+    if (!GC_get_all_interior_pointers())
+        ABORT("GC_set_all_interior_pointers(1) is required for finalized "
+              "object allocation.");
+
     DCL_LOCK_STATE;
 
     GC_init();  /* In case it's not already done.       */
diff --git a/include/gc_disclaim.h b/include/gc_disclaim.h
index 2e8013d29..c35a451b6 100644
--- a/include/gc_disclaim.h
+++ b/include/gc_disclaim.h
@@ -22,7 +22,8 @@
 
 /* Prepare the object kind used by GC_finalized_malloc.  Call it from   */
 /* your initialization code or, at least, at some point before using    */
-/* finalized allocations.  The function is thread-safe.                 */
+/* finalized allocations.  The function is thread-safe.  All interior   */
+/* pointers must be enabled (GC_set_all_interior_pointers(1)).          */
 GC_API void GC_CALL GC_init_finalized_malloc(void);
 
 /* Type of a disclaim call-back, always stored along with closure data  */
diff --git a/tests/disclaim_bench.c b/tests/disclaim_bench.c
index dfd71be3f..2dc3fb550 100644
--- a/tests/disclaim_bench.c
+++ b/tests/disclaim_bench.c
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
     int model, model_min, model_max;
     testobj_t *keep_arr;
 
+    GC_set_all_interior_pointers(1);
     GC_INIT();
     GC_init_finalized_malloc();
 
diff --git a/tests/disclaim_test.c b/tests/disclaim_test.c
index 8e71828c7..4eeeaa686 100644
--- a/tests/disclaim_test.c
+++ b/tests/disclaim_test.c
@@ -140,6 +140,7 @@ int main(void)
     int i;
 #endif
 
+    GC_set_all_interior_pointers(1);
     GC_INIT();
     GC_init_finalized_malloc();