diff --git a/src/testsuite/start-server.sh b/src/testsuite/start-server.sh
index 0fd61ea9..3d19ffb5 100755
--- a/src/testsuite/start-server.sh
+++ b/src/testsuite/start-server.sh
@@ -35,6 +35,10 @@ fi
 # generate MOTD for test-server
 echo "This is an ngIRCd Test Server" > ngircd-test${id}.motd
 
+# glibc memory checking, see malloc(3)
+MALLOC_CHECK_=3
+export MALLOC_CHECK_
+
 # starting up test-server ...
 ./T-ngircd${id} -n -f ${srcdir}/ngircd-test${id}.conf $* \
  >ngircd-test${id}.log 2>&1 &