diff --git a/crates/lb/tests/task.lua b/crates/lb/tests/task.lua
index c8693ae..aa33507 100644
--- a/crates/lb/tests/task.lua
+++ b/crates/lb/tests/task.lua
@@ -3,60 +3,46 @@ if not ok then return end
 
 describe("spawn", function()
   test("callback receives args", function()
-    task
-      :spawn(function(...)
-        assert(select("#", ...) == 0)
-      end)
-      :await()
+    spawn(function(...)
+      assert(select("#", ...) == 0)
+    end):await()
 
-    task
-      :spawn(function(...)
-        assert(select("#", ...) == 1)
-        assert((...) == nil)
-      end, nil)
-      :await()
+    spawn(function(...)
+      assert(select("#", ...) == 1)
+      assert((...) == nil)
+    end, nil):await()
 
-    task
-      :spawn(function(...)
-        assert(select("#", ...) == 4)
-        local args = table.pack(...)
-        assert(args[1] == 1 and args[2] == 2 and args[3] == nil and args[4] == 3)
-      end, 1, 2, nil, 3)
-      :await()
+    spawn(function(...)
+      assert(select("#", ...) == 4)
+      local args = table.pack(...)
+      assert(args[1] == 1 and args[2] == 2 and args[3] == nil and args[4] == 3)
+    end, 1, 2, nil, 3):await()
   end)
 
   test("await returns callback results", function()
-    local res = table.pack(task
-      :spawn(function()
-        -- no returns
-      end)
-      :await())
+    local res = table.pack(spawn(function()
+      -- no returns
+    end):await())
     assert(res.n == 0)
 
-    local res = table.pack(task
-      :spawn(function()
-        return nil
-      end)
-      :await())
+    local res = table.pack(spawn(function()
+      return nil
+    end):await())
     assert(res.n == 1 and res[1] == nil)
 
-    local res = table.pack(task
-      :spawn(function()
-        return 1, 2, nil, 3
-      end)
-      :await())
+    local res = table.pack(spawn(function()
+      return 1, 2, nil, 3
+    end):await())
     assert(res.n == 4 and res[1] == 1 and res[2] == 2 and res[3] == nil and res[4] == 3)
   end)
 
   test("callback args and results", function()
-    local res = table.pack(task
-      :spawn(function(...)
-        assert(select("#", ...) == 5)
-        local args = table.pack(...)
-        assert(args[1] == 5 and args[2] == 4 and args[3] == nil and args[4] == 3, args[5] == nil)
-        return 1, 3, nil
-      end, 5, 4, nil, 3, nil)
-      :await())
+    local res = table.pack(spawn(function(...)
+      assert(select("#", ...) == 5)
+      local args = table.pack(...)
+      assert(args[1] == 5 and args[2] == 4 and args[3] == nil and args[4] == 3, args[5] == nil)
+      return 1, 3, nil
+    end, 5, 4, nil, 3, nil):await())
     assert(res.n == 3 and res[1] == 1 and res[2] == 3 and res[3] == nil)
   end)
 end)
@@ -68,7 +54,30 @@ describe("sleep", function()
       value = "value"
     end)
     assert(value == nil)
-    sleep(100) -- implicit await: if it's synchronous, value wouldn't change
+    task:sleep(100) -- implicit await: if it's synchronous, value wouldn't change
     assert(value == "value")
   end)
 end)
+
+describe("task", function()
+  test("properly unrefs arg and ret table", function()
+    local registry = debug.getregistry()
+    local ref, t
+    local cb = function()
+      return "my ret"
+    end
+    do
+      local task = spawn(cb, "my arg")
+      ref = task.__ref
+      t = registry[ref]
+      assert(type(t) == "table")
+      assert(t[1] == cb)
+      assert(t[2] == "my arg")
+      task:await()
+      assert(registry[task.__ref] == t)
+      assert(t[1] == "my ret")
+    end
+    collectgarbage()
+    assert(registry[ref] ~= t) -- if task unref'ed it, it should be either nil or the next freelist number
+  end)
+end)