diff --git a/src/compiler/nir/nir.c b/src/compiler/nir/nir.c
index d49f4f2c2ed..f4684377582 100644
--- a/src/compiler/nir/nir.c
+++ b/src/compiler/nir/nir.c
@@ -271,7 +271,7 @@ nir_shader_add_variable(nir_shader *shader, nir_variable *var)
 nir_variable *
 nir_variable_create_zeroed(nir_shader *nir)
 {
-   return rzalloc(nir, nir_variable);
+   return gc_zalloc_size(nir->gctx, sizeof(nir_variable), 8);
 }
 
 void
diff --git a/src/compiler/nir/nir_sweep.c b/src/compiler/nir/nir_sweep.c
index c64bde183f2..d4a22c276f4 100644
--- a/src/compiler/nir/nir_sweep.c
+++ b/src/compiler/nir/nir_sweep.c
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ sweep_constant(nir_shader *nir, nir_constant *c)
 static void
 sweep_variable(nir_shader *nir, nir_variable *var)
 {
-   ralloc_steal(nir, var);
+   gc_mark_live(nir->gctx, var);
    nir_variable_steal_name(nir, var, var);
    ralloc_steal(nir, var->max_ifc_array_access);
    ralloc_steal(nir, var->state_slots);