diff --git a/keybinding.c b/keybinding.c
index b2d415f7b..54795dad4 100644
--- a/keybinding.c
+++ b/keybinding.c
@@ -132,16 +132,7 @@ luaA_keybinding_remove(lua_State *L)
     return 0;
 }
 
-/** Handle keybinding garbage collection.
- */
-static int
-luaA_keybinding_gc(lua_State *L)
-{
-    keybinding_t **keybinding = luaA_checkudata(L, 1, "keybinding");
-    keybinding_unref(keybinding);
-    keybinding = NULL;
-    return 0;
-}
+DO_LUA_GC(keybinding_t, keybinding, "keybinding", keybinding_unref)
 
 /** Convert a keybinding to a printable string.
  * \return A string.
diff --git a/lua.h b/lua.h
index ace031f6e..9bab2117f 100644
--- a/lua.h
+++ b/lua.h
@@ -37,6 +37,16 @@ typedef enum
 /** Type for Lua function */
 typedef int luaA_function;
 
+#define DO_LUA_GC(type, prefix, lua_type, type_unref) \
+    static int \
+    luaA_##prefix##_gc(lua_State *L) \
+    { \
+        type **p = luaA_checkudata(L, 1, lua_type); \
+        type_unref(p); \
+        *p = NULL; \
+        return 0; \
+    }
+
 #define luaA_dostring(L, cmd) \
     do { \
         if(cmd) \
diff --git a/mouse.c b/mouse.c
index 546d64ff1..6afd1e5c6 100644
--- a/mouse.c
+++ b/mouse.c
@@ -1054,16 +1054,7 @@ luaA_mouse_new(lua_State *L)
     return luaA_mouse_userdata_new(button);
 }
 
-/** Handle mouse garbage collection.
- */
-static int
-luaA_mouse_gc(lua_State *L)
-{
-    button_t **b = luaA_checkudata(L, 1, "mouse");
-    button_unref(b);
-    *b = NULL;
-    return 0;
-}
+DO_LUA_GC(button_t, mouse, "mouse", button_unref)
 
 const struct luaL_reg awesome_mouse_methods[] =
 {
diff --git a/statusbar.c b/statusbar.c
index c81df3cb9..2fae5f233 100644
--- a/statusbar.c
+++ b/statusbar.c
@@ -570,16 +570,7 @@ luaA_statusbar_widget_get(lua_State *L)
     return 1;
 }
 
-/** Handle statusbar garbage collection.
- */
-static int
-luaA_statusbar_gc(lua_State *L)
-{
-    statusbar_t **sb = luaA_checkudata(L, 1, "statusbar");
-    statusbar_unref(sb);
-    *sb = NULL;
-    return 0;
-}
+DO_LUA_GC(statusbar_t, statusbar, "statusbar", statusbar_unref)
 
 const struct luaL_reg awesome_statusbar_methods[] =
 {
diff --git a/tag.c b/tag.c
index b5c7c1685..1ac15a626 100644
--- a/tag.c
+++ b/tag.c
@@ -535,17 +535,6 @@ luaA_tag_name_set(lua_State *L)
     return 0;
 }
 
-/** Handle tag garbage collection.
- */
-static int
-luaA_tag_gc(lua_State *L)
-{
-    tag_t **tag = luaA_checkudata(L, 1, "tag");
-    tag_unref(tag);
-    *tag = NULL;
-    return 0;
-}
-
 /** Get the layout of the tag.
  * \param L The Lua VM state.
  *
@@ -601,6 +590,8 @@ luaA_tag_userdata_new(tag_t *t)
     return luaA_settype(globalconf.L, "tag");
 }
 
+DO_LUA_GC(tag_t, tag, "tag", tag_unref)
+
 const struct luaL_reg awesome_tag_methods[] =
 {
     { "new", luaA_tag_new },
diff --git a/titlebar.c b/titlebar.c
index c5e23db1c..032caea24 100644
--- a/titlebar.c
+++ b/titlebar.c
@@ -564,22 +564,6 @@ luaA_titlebar_userdata_new(titlebar_t *t)
     return luaA_settype(globalconf.L, "titlebar");
 }
 
-/** Handle titlebar garbage collection.
- * \param L The Lua VM state.
- * \return The number of value pushed.
- *
- * \luastack
- * \lvalue A titlebar.
- */
-static int
-luaA_titlebar_gc(lua_State *L)
-{
-    titlebar_t **titlebar = luaA_checkudata(L, 1, "titlebar");
-    titlebar_unref(titlebar);
-    *titlebar = NULL;
-    return 0;
-}
-
 /** Convert a titlebar to a printable string.
  * \param L The Lua VM state.
  * \return The number of value pushed.
@@ -614,6 +598,8 @@ luaA_titlebar_eq(lua_State *L)
     return 1;
 }
 
+DO_LUA_GC(titlebar_t, titlebar, "titlebar", titlebar_unref)
+
 const struct luaL_reg awesome_titlebar_methods[] =
 {
     { "new", luaA_titlebar_new },
diff --git a/widget.c b/widget.c
index dd7895a46..4480b762c 100644
--- a/widget.c
+++ b/widget.c
@@ -442,21 +442,6 @@ luaA_widget_set(lua_State *L)
     return 0;
 }
 
-/** Handle widget garbage collection.
- * \param L The Lua VM state.
- *
- * \luastack
- * \lvalue A widget.
- */
-static int
-luaA_widget_gc(lua_State *L)
-{
-    widget_t **widget = luaA_checkudata(L, 1, "widget");
-    widget_unref(widget);
-    *widget = NULL;
-    return 0;
-}
-
 /** Convert a widget into a printable string.
  * \param L The Lua VM state.
  *
@@ -488,6 +473,8 @@ luaA_widget_eq(lua_State *L)
     return 1;
 }
 
+DO_LUA_GC(widget_t, widget, "widget", widget_unref)
+
 /** Set the widget name.
  * \param L The Lua VM state.
  *