diff --git a/include/gc.h b/include/gc.h
index 835d573..b951b44 100644
--- a/include/gc.h
+++ b/include/gc.h
@@ -23,11 +23,32 @@ typedef struct libab_gc_list_s libab_gc_list;
 typedef void (*libab_visitor_function_ptr)(struct libab_ref_count_s* , void*);
 typedef void (*libab_visit_function_ptr)(void*, libab_visitor_function_ptr, void*);
 
+/**
+ * Initializes a garbage collection tracking list.
+ * @param list the list to initialize.
+ */
 void libab_gc_list_init(libab_gc_list* list);
-void libab_gc_visit(struct libab_ref_s*, libab_visitor_function_ptr visitor, void*);
+/**
+ * Visits the children of the current node, applying the given function to them.
+ * @param ref the reference whose children to visit.
+ * @param visitor the function to call for each child.
+ * @param data the data to pass to the visitor.
+ */
+void libab_gc_visit_chilren(struct libab_ref_s* ref, libab_visitor_function_ptr visitor, void* data);
+/**
+ * Adds the given reference to the given garbage collection list,
+ * and specifies a function used to reach its children.
+ * @param ref the reference whose children to visit.
+ * @param visit_children the function used to reach the chilren of this reference.
+ * @param list the list to which to add the reference.
+ */
 void libab_gc_add(struct libab_ref_s* ref,
                       libab_visit_function_ptr visit_children,
                       libab_gc_list* list);
+/**
+ * Performs garbage collection on a given list of container objects/
+ * @param list the list to run collection on.
+ */
 void libab_gc_run(libab_gc_list* list);
 
 #endif
diff --git a/src/gc.c b/src/gc.c
index f2c171d..98ce12e 100644
--- a/src/gc.c
+++ b/src/gc.c
@@ -6,11 +6,11 @@ void libab_gc_list_init(libab_gc_list* list) {
     list->head = list->tail = NULL;
 }
 
-void _gc_count_visit(libab_ref_count* ref, libab_visitor_function_ptr func, void* data) {
+void _gc_count_visit_children(libab_ref_count* ref, libab_visitor_function_ptr func, void* data) {
     if(ref->strong && ref->visit_children) ref->visit_children(ref->data, func, data);
 }
-void libab_gc_visit(libab_ref* ref, libab_visitor_function_ptr func, void* data) {
-    _gc_count_visit(ref->count, func, data);
+void libab_gc_visit_children(libab_ref* ref, libab_visitor_function_ptr func, void* data) {
+    _gc_count_visit_children(ref->count, func, data);
 }
 
 void _libab_gc_list_append(libab_gc_list* list,
@@ -35,14 +35,14 @@ void libab_gc_add(libab_ref* ref,
 }
 
 void _gc_decrement(libab_ref_count* count, void* data) {
-    count->gc--;
+    if(count->visit_children) count->gc--;
 }
 void _gc_save(libab_ref_count* count, void* data) {
     libab_gc_list* list = data;
-    if(count->gc != -1) {
+    if(count->visit_children && count->gc != -1) {
         count->gc = -1;
         _libab_gc_list_append(list, count);
-        _gc_count_visit(count, _gc_save, data);
+        _gc_count_visit_children(count, _gc_save, data);
     }
 }
 
@@ -58,12 +58,12 @@ void libab_gc_run(libab_gc_list* list) {
 
     head = list->head;
     while(head) {
-        _gc_count_visit(head, _gc_decrement, NULL);
+        _gc_count_visit_children(head, _gc_decrement, NULL);
     }
 
     head = list->head;
     while(head) {
-        _gc_count_visit(head, _gc_save, &safe);
+        _gc_count_visit_children(head, _gc_save, &safe);
     }
 
     head = list->head;
diff --git a/src/refcount.c b/src/refcount.c
index b02003b..0efb90c 100644
--- a/src/refcount.c
+++ b/src/refcount.c
@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ libab_result libab_ref_new(libab_ref* ref, void* data,
         ref->count->data = data;
         ref->count->strong = ref->count->weak = 1;
         ref->count->free_func = free_func;
+        ref->count->visit_children = NULL;
         ref->count->prev = NULL;
         ref->count->next = NULL;
     } else {