diff --git a/crates/js/src/builtins/global.rs b/crates/js/src/builtins/global.rs
index 261bfa146..182f3aad5 100644
--- a/crates/js/src/builtins/global.rs
+++ b/crates/js/src/builtins/global.rs
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ fn trim_start(s: &[u16]) -> &[u16] {
 
 /// ToString of the first argument, as code units, with each one taking a unit of fuel. A
 /// concatenation is flattened into a new buffer, which is charged to the heap.
-fn units_of(interp: &mut Interp, args: &[Value]) -> JsResult<std::rc::Rc<[u16]>> {
+pub(super) fn units_of(interp: &mut Interp, args: &[Value]) -> JsResult<std::rc::Rc<[u16]>> {
     let s = interp.to_str(&arg(args, 0))?;
     for _ in 0..s.len() {
         interp.use_fuel()?;
diff --git a/crates/js/src/builtins/json.rs b/crates/js/src/builtins/json.rs
index b9f4a6c6f..8e27dec30 100644
--- a/crates/js/src/builtins/json.rs
+++ b/crates/js/src/builtins/json.rs
@@ -158,10 +158,7 @@ fn syntax(interp: &mut Interp, why: &str, at: usize) -> crate::interp::Abrupt {
 
 /// `JSON.parse` (section 15.12.2).
 fn parse(interp: &mut Interp, _: Value, args: &[Value], _: bool) -> JsResult<Value> {
-    let text = interp.to_str(&arg(args, 0))?.flat();
-    for _ in 0..text.len() {
-        interp.use_fuel()?;
-    }
+    let text = super::global::units_of(interp, args)?;
     let mark = interp.temp_roots.len();
     let r = parse_text(interp, &text).and_then(|v| {
         let reviver = arg(args, 1);
@@ -273,7 +270,7 @@ fn parse_text(interp: &mut Interp, text: &[u16]) -> JsResult<Value> {
                 Open::Array { obj, next } => {
                     let (obj, i) = (*obj, *next);
                     *next = next.saturating_add(1);
-                    interp.reserve_heap(ELEMENT_BYTES)?;
+                    interp.rooted(std::slice::from_ref(&v), |i| i.reserve_heap(ELEMENT_BYTES))?;
                     interp.define(obj, key_of(f64::from(i)), Prop::Data { value: v, flags: OPEN })?;
                     p.skip_space();
                     if p.eat(b',') {
@@ -288,7 +285,7 @@ fn parse_text(interp: &mut Interp, text: &[u16]) -> JsResult<Value> {
                 Open::Object { obj, name } => {
                     let obj = *obj;
                     let Some(k) = name.take() else { return Err(syntax(interp, "a member has no name", p.pos)) };
-                    interp.reserve_heap(ELEMENT_BYTES)?;
+                    interp.rooted(std::slice::from_ref(&v), |i| i.reserve_heap(ELEMENT_BYTES))?;
                     interp.define(obj, k, Prop::Data { value: v, flags: OPEN })?;
                     p.skip_space();
                     if p.eat(b',') {
diff --git a/crates/js/src/builtins_tests.rs b/crates/js/src/builtins_tests.rs
index 8d9ad318c..9fefc209b 100644
--- a/crates/js/src/builtins_tests.rs
+++ b/crates/js/src/builtins_tests.rs
@@ -659,6 +659,40 @@ fn json_stringify_unwraps_number_string_and_boolean_objects() {
     assert_eq!(string("Object.getPrototypeOf(Object('')).toString = function () { return 'q'; }; JSON.stringify(Object('abc'))"), "\"q\"");
 }
 
+#[test]
+fn json_parse_counts_a_string_while_it_reserves_the_property_for_it() {
+    // The limits around the parsed value's size include one where the reservation for the string's
+    // property is what starts a collection. The text is a concatenation, so the parse also flattens
+    // it. Whenever the parse fits, the heap total counts everything that is live.
+    let setup = |text: &str| format!("var s = new Array(4097).join('x'); var text = {text}; 0");
+    for text in ["'[\"' + s + '\"]'", "'{\"k\":\"' + s + '\"}'"] {
+        let setup = setup(text);
+        let parse = "var a = JSON.parse(text); 0";
+        let mut measure = small(Limits::default());
+        assert_eq!(measure.run(&setup), Ok(JsValue::Number(0.0)));
+        measure.interp().collect_garbage();
+        assert_eq!(measure.run(parse), Ok(JsValue::Number(0.0)));
+        let full = measure.interp().heap.bytes;
+        let (mut fits, mut over) = (0, 0);
+        for heap_bytes in (full - 8192..=full + 256).step_by(4) {
+            let mut realm = small(Limits { heap_bytes, ..Limits::default() });
+            assert_eq!(realm.run(&setup), Ok(JsValue::Number(0.0)));
+            realm.interp().collect_garbage();
+            match realm.run(parse) {
+                Ok(_) => {
+                    let counted = realm.interp().heap.bytes;
+                    let live = realm.collect_garbage();
+                    assert!(counted >= live, "{text}: {counted} bytes counted with {live} live under a limit of {heap_bytes}");
+                    fits += 1;
+                }
+                Err(RunError { kind: RunErrorKind::Limit(LimitKind::Heap), .. }) => over += 1,
+                Err(e) => panic!("{text}: {e:?}"),
+            }
+        }
+        assert!(fits > 0 && over > 0, "{text}: {fits} limits fit and {over} did not");
+    }
+}
+
 #[test]
 fn deep_json_nesting_needs_no_native_stack() {
     let handle = std::thread::Builder::new()