diff --git a/src/runtime/threadpool/builder.rs b/src/runtime/threadpool/builder.rs
index 293eb29..5a5fb7f 100644
--- a/src/runtime/threadpool/builder.rs
+++ b/src/runtime/threadpool/builder.rs
@@ -163,7 +163,22 @@ impl Builder {
         let compat_reactor = compat_bg.reactor().clone();
         let compat_sender: Arc<RwLock<Option<super::CompatSpawner<tokio_02::runtime::Handle>>>> =
             Arc::new(RwLock::new(None));
-        let compat_sender2 = compat_sender.clone();
+
+        // We need a weak ref here so that when we pass this into the
+        // `on_thread_start` closure it's stored as a _weak_ ref and not
+        // a strong one. This is important because tokio 0.2's runtime
+        // should shut down when the compat Runtime has been dropped. There
+        // can be a race condition where we hold onto an extra Arc, which holds
+        // a runtime handle beyond the drop. This causes the tokio 0.2 runtime to
+        // not shut down and leak fds.
+        //
+        // Tokio 0.2's threaded_scheduler will spawn threads that each contain an arced
+        // ref to the `on_thread_start` fn. If the runtime shuts down but there is still
+        // access to a runtime handle, the mio driver will not shutdown. To avoid this we
+        // only want the `on_thread_start` to hold a weak ref and attempt to upgrade, since
+        // the runtime will still be acitve the upgrade should work. Otherwise, somehow
+        // tokio started a new thread after its runtime has been dropped.
+        let compat_sender2 = Arc::downgrade(&compat_sender);
         let mut lock = compat_sender.write().unwrap();
 
         let runtime = self
@@ -172,8 +187,15 @@ impl Builder {
             .enable_all()
             .on_thread_start(move || {
                 // We need the threadpool's sender to set up the default tokio
-                // 0.1 executor.
-                let lock = compat_sender2.read().unwrap();
+                // 0.1 executor. We also need to upgrade the weak pointer. If the
+                // pointer is no longer valid, then the runtime has shut down and the
+                // handle is no longer available.
+                //
+                // This upgrade will only fail if the compat runtime has been dropped.
+                let sender = compat_sender2
+                    .upgrade()
+                    .expect("Runtime dropped but thread started; this is a bug!");
+                let lock = sender.read().unwrap();
                 let compat_sender = lock
                     .as_ref()
                     .expect("compat executor needs to be set before the pool is run!")
@@ -193,6 +215,7 @@ impl Builder {
             inner: Some(Inner { runtime, compat_bg }),
             idle_rx,
             idle,
+            compat_sender,
         };
 
         Ok(runtime)
diff --git a/src/runtime/threadpool/mod.rs b/src/runtime/threadpool/mod.rs
index 0997c0b..c92223f 100644
--- a/src/runtime/threadpool/mod.rs
+++ b/src/runtime/threadpool/mod.rs
@@ -13,7 +13,12 @@ use super::{
 
 use futures_01::future::Future as Future01;
 use futures_util::{compat::Future01CompatExt, future::FutureExt};
-use std::{fmt, future::Future, io};
+use std::{
+    fmt,
+    future::Future,
+    io,
+    sync::{Arc, RwLock},
+};
 use tokio_02::{
     runtime::{self, Handle},
     task::JoinHandle,
@@ -43,6 +48,10 @@ pub struct Runtime {
     /// Idleness tracking.
     idle: idle::Idle,
     idle_rx: idle::Rx,
+
+    // This should store the only long-living strong ref to the handle,
+    // and once the Runtime is dropped, it should also be deallocated.
+    compat_sender: Arc<RwLock<Option<CompatSpawner<tokio_02::runtime::Handle>>>>,
 }
 
 /// A future that resolves when the Tokio `Runtime` is shut down.