diff --git a/rts/idris_gc.c b/rts/idris_gc.c
index 878a3ec0f..272f47517 100644
--- a/rts/idris_gc.c
+++ b/rts/idris_gc.c
@@ -24,6 +24,9 @@ VAL copy(VM* vm, VAL x) {
     case STRING:
         cl = MKSTRc(vm, x->info.str);
         break;
+    case STROFFSET:
+        cl = MKSTROFFc(vm, x->info.str_offset);
+        break;
     case BIGINT:
         cl = MKBIGMc(vm, x->info.ptr);
         break;
@@ -60,7 +63,7 @@ void cheney(VM *vm) {
     while(scan < vm->heap.next) {
        size_t inc = *((size_t*)scan);
        VAL heap_item = (VAL)(scan+sizeof(size_t));
-       // If it's a CON, copy its arguments
+       // If it's a CON or STROFFSET, copy its arguments
        switch(GETTY(heap_item)) {
        case CON:
            ar = ARITY(heap_item);
@@ -71,6 +74,10 @@ void cheney(VM *vm) {
                heap_item->info.c.args[i] = newptr;
            }
            break;
+       case STROFFSET:
+           heap_item->info.str_offset->str 
+               = copy(vm, heap_item->info.str_offset->str);
+           break;
        default: // Nothing to copy
            break;
        }
diff --git a/rts/idris_rts.c b/rts/idris_rts.c
index 7737fdc20..6eace92ea 100644
--- a/rts/idris_rts.c
+++ b/rts/idris_rts.c
@@ -84,6 +84,10 @@ void idris_doneAlloc(VM* vm) {
     }
 }
 
+int space(VM* vm, size_t size) {
+    return (vm->heap.next + size + sizeof(size_t) < vm->heap.end);
+}
+
 void* allocate(VM* vm, size_t size, int outerlock) {
 //    return malloc(size);
     int lock = vm->processes > 0 && !outerlock;
@@ -161,6 +165,12 @@ VAL MKSTR(VM* vm, const char* str) {
     return cl;
 }
 
+char* GETSTROFF(VAL stroff) {
+    // Assume STROFF
+    StrOffset* root = stroff->info.str_offset;
+    return (root->str->info.str + root->offset);
+}
+
 VAL MKPTR(VM* vm, void* ptr) {
     Closure* cl = allocate(vm, sizeof(Closure), 0);
     SETTY(cl, PTR);
@@ -397,8 +407,41 @@ VAL idris_strHead(VM* vm, VAL str) {
     return MKINT((i_int)(GETSTR(str)[0]));
 }
 
+VAL MKSTROFFc(VM* vm, StrOffset* off) {
+    Closure* cl = allocate(vm, sizeof(Closure) + sizeof(StrOffset), 1);
+    SETTY(cl, STROFFSET);
+    cl->info.str_offset = (StrOffset*)((char*)cl + sizeof(Closure));
+
+    cl->info.str_offset->str = off->str;
+    cl->info.str_offset->offset = off->offset;
+
+    return cl;
+}
+
 VAL idris_strTail(VM* vm, VAL str) {
-    return MKSTR(vm, GETSTR(str)+1);
+    // If there's no room, just copy the string, or we'll have a problem after
+    // gc moves str
+    if (space(vm, sizeof(Closure) + sizeof(StrOffset))) {
+        Closure* cl = allocate(vm, sizeof(Closure) + sizeof(StrOffset), 0);
+        SETTY(cl, STROFFSET);
+        cl->info.str_offset = (StrOffset*)((char*)cl + sizeof(Closure));
+
+        int offset = 0;
+        VAL root = str;
+
+        while(root!=NULL && !ISSTR(root)) { // find the root, carry on.
+                              // In theory, at most one step here!
+            offset += root->info.str_offset->offset;
+            root = root->info.str_offset->str;
+        }
+
+        cl->info.str_offset->str = root;
+        cl->info.str_offset->offset = offset+1;
+
+        return cl;
+    } else {
+        return MKSTR(vm, GETSTR(str)+1);
+    }
 }
 
 VAL idris_strCons(VM* vm, VAL x, VAL xs) {
diff --git a/rts/idris_rts.h b/rts/idris_rts.h
index bac9d3a8c..cf637bcff 100644
--- a/rts/idris_rts.h
+++ b/rts/idris_rts.h
@@ -15,7 +15,8 @@
 // Closures
 
 typedef enum {
-    CON, INT, BIGINT, FLOAT, STRING, BITS8, BITS16, BITS32, BITS64, UNIT, PTR, FWD
+    CON, INT, BIGINT, FLOAT, STRING, STROFFSET,
+    BITS8, BITS16, BITS32, BITS64, UNIT, PTR, FWD
 } ClosureType;
 
 typedef struct Closure *VAL;
@@ -25,6 +26,11 @@ typedef struct {
     VAL args[];
 } con;
 
+typedef struct {
+    VAL str;
+    int offset;
+} StrOffset;
+
 typedef struct Closure {
 // Use top 16 bits of ty for saying which heap value is in
 // Bottom 16 bits for closure type
@@ -34,6 +40,7 @@ typedef struct Closure {
         int i;
         double f;
         char* str;
+        StrOffset* str_offset;
         void* ptr;
         uint8_t bits8;
         uint16_t bits16;
@@ -92,7 +99,7 @@ typedef void(*func)(VM*, VAL*);
 
 // Retrieving values
 
-#define GETSTR(x) (((VAL)(x))->info.str) 
+#define GETSTR(x) (ISSTR(x) ? (((VAL)(x))->info.str) : GETSTROFF(x))
 #define GETPTR(x) (((VAL)(x))->info.ptr) 
 #define GETFLOAT(x) (((VAL)(x))->info.f)
 
@@ -119,6 +126,7 @@ typedef intptr_t i_int;
 #define MKINT(x) ((void*)((x)<<1)+1)
 #define GETINT(x) ((i_int)(x)>>1)
 #define ISINT(x) ((((i_int)x)&1) == 1)
+#define ISSTR(x) (((VAL)(x))->ty == STRING)
 
 #define INTOP(op,x,y) MKINT((i_int)((((i_int)x)>>1) op (((i_int)y)>>1)))
 #define UINTOP(op,x,y) MKINT((i_int)((((uintptr_t)x)>>1) op (((uintptr_t)y)>>1)))
@@ -151,9 +159,12 @@ VAL MKB64(VM* vm, uint64_t b);
 
 // following versions don't take a lock when allocating
 VAL MKFLOATc(VM* vm, double val);
+VAL MKSTROFFc(VM* vm, StrOffset* off);
 VAL MKSTRc(VM* vm, char* str);
 VAL MKPTRc(VM* vm, void* ptr);
 
+char* GETSTROFF(VAL stroff);
+
 // #define SETTAG(x, a) (x)->info.c.tag = (a)
 #define SETARG(x, i, a) ((x)->info.c.args)[i] = ((VAL)(a))
 #define GETARG(x, i) ((x)->info.c.args)[i]