diff --git a/pkg/refs/refcounter.go b/pkg/refs/refcounter.go
index 1bbcae045..e906e838f 100644
--- a/pkg/refs/refcounter.go
+++ b/pkg/refs/refcounter.go
@@ -238,6 +238,9 @@ const (
 	// LeaksLogTraces indicates that a trace collected during allocation
 	// should be logged when leaks are found.
 	LeaksLogTraces
+
+	// LeaksPanic indidcates that a panic should be issued when leaks are found.
+	LeaksPanic
 )
 
 // Set implements flag.Value.
@@ -249,6 +252,8 @@ func (l *LeakMode) Set(v string) error {
 		*l = LeaksLogWarning
 	case "log-traces":
 		*l = LeaksLogTraces
+	case "panic":
+		*l = LeaksPanic
 	default:
 		return fmt.Errorf("invalid ref leak mode %q", v)
 	}
@@ -271,8 +276,11 @@ func (l LeakMode) String() string {
 		return "log-names"
 	case LeaksLogTraces:
 		return "log-traces"
+	case LeaksPanic:
+		return "panic"
+	default:
+		panic(fmt.Sprintf("invalid ref leak mode %d", l))
 	}
-	panic(fmt.Sprintf("invalid ref leak mode %d", l))
 }
 
 // leakMode stores the current mode for the reference leak checker.
diff --git a/pkg/refsvfs2/refs_map.go b/pkg/refsvfs2/refs_map.go
index fb8984dd6..a1146a344 100644
--- a/pkg/refsvfs2/refs_map.go
+++ b/pkg/refsvfs2/refs_map.go
@@ -53,6 +53,12 @@ func leakCheckEnabled() bool {
 	return refs_vfs1.GetLeakMode() != refs_vfs1.NoLeakChecking
 }
 
+// leakCheckPanicEnabled returns whether DoLeakCheck() should panic when leaks
+// are detected.
+func leakCheckPanicEnabled() bool {
+	return refs_vfs1.GetLeakMode() == refs_vfs1.LeaksPanic
+}
+
 // Register adds obj to the live object map.
 func Register(obj CheckedObject) {
 	if leakCheckEnabled() {
@@ -131,6 +137,9 @@ func DoLeakCheck() {
 				for obj := range liveObjects {
 					msg += obj.LeakMessage() + "\n"
 				}
+				if leakCheckPanicEnabled() {
+					panic(msg)
+				}
 				log.Warningf(msg)
 			}
 		})