diff --git a/grpc.def b/grpc.def
index bd0bc85a7c3bcfa21d3013a0d7c347675c9df009..f81aa1b05a6e84ee70aece13dd979058c8128638 100644
--- a/grpc.def
+++ b/grpc.def
@@ -182,6 +182,7 @@ EXPORTS
     gpr_event_wait
     gpr_ref_init
     gpr_ref
+    gpr_ref_non_zero
     gpr_refn
     gpr_unref
     gpr_stats_init
diff --git a/include/grpc/impl/codegen/sync.h b/include/grpc/impl/codegen/sync.h
index d2f19d37d66ebcc1ac706b499d38c76c54700421..6fd7d64b299ba46ded0f0ca9d35a817a038050ff 100644
--- a/include/grpc/impl/codegen/sync.h
+++ b/include/grpc/impl/codegen/sync.h
@@ -182,6 +182,10 @@ GPRAPI void gpr_ref_init(gpr_refcount *r, int n);
 /* Increment the reference count *r.  Requires *r initialized. */
 GPRAPI void gpr_ref(gpr_refcount *r);
 
+/* Increment the reference count *r.  Requires *r initialized.
+   Crashes if refcount is zero */
+GPRAPI void gpr_ref_non_zero(gpr_refcount *r);
+
 /* Increment the reference count *r by n.  Requires *r initialized, n > 0. */
 GPRAPI void gpr_refn(gpr_refcount *r, int n);
 
diff --git a/src/core/iomgr/iomgr.c b/src/core/iomgr/iomgr.c
index 04580150f3a7117cf78c31fb873f5f5962cfa21f..9c89c2c08a459eb51df983210db8d489cbddb17e 100644
--- a/src/core/iomgr/iomgr.c
+++ b/src/core/iomgr/iomgr.c
@@ -41,9 +41,11 @@
 #include <grpc/support/string_util.h>
 #include <grpc/support/sync.h>
 #include <grpc/support/thd.h>
+#include <grpc/support/useful.h>
 
 #include "src/core/iomgr/iomgr_internal.h"
 #include "src/core/iomgr/timer.h"
+#include "src/core/support/env.h"
 #include "src/core/support/string.h"
 
 static gpr_mu g_mu;
@@ -116,6 +118,9 @@ void grpc_iomgr_shutdown(void) {
                     "memory leaks are likely",
                     count_objects());
             dump_objects("LEAKED");
+            if (grpc_iomgr_abort_on_leaks()) {
+              abort();
+            }
           }
           break;
         }
@@ -154,3 +159,14 @@ void grpc_iomgr_unregister_object(grpc_iomgr_object *obj) {
   gpr_mu_unlock(&g_mu);
   gpr_free(obj->name);
 }
+
+bool grpc_iomgr_abort_on_leaks(void) {
+  char *env = gpr_getenv("GRPC_ABORT_ON_LEAKS");
+  if (env == NULL) return false;
+  static const char *truthy[] = {"yes",  "Yes",  "YES", "true",
+                                 "True", "TRUE", "1"};
+  for (size_t i = 0; i < GPR_ARRAY_SIZE(truthy); i++) {
+    if (0 == strcmp(env, truthy[i])) return true;
+  }
+  return false;
+}
diff --git a/src/core/iomgr/iomgr_internal.h b/src/core/iomgr/iomgr_internal.h
index e372c18e8a070cbba634bcea67ea7d80110b461c..ac2c46ebe6230df3242f4a8a3cb04ba7b3cf7dbf 100644
--- a/src/core/iomgr/iomgr_internal.h
+++ b/src/core/iomgr/iomgr_internal.h
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 /*
  *
- * Copyright 2015, Google Inc.
+ * Copyright 2015-2016, Google Inc.
  * All rights reserved.
  *
  * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
@@ -34,6 +34,8 @@
 #ifndef GRPC_INTERNAL_CORE_IOMGR_IOMGR_INTERNAL_H
 #define GRPC_INTERNAL_CORE_IOMGR_IOMGR_INTERNAL_H
 
+#include <stdbool.h>
+
 #include "src/core/iomgr/iomgr.h"
 #include <grpc/support/sync.h>
 
@@ -55,4 +57,6 @@ void grpc_iomgr_platform_flush(void);
 /** tear down all platform specific global iomgr structures */
 void grpc_iomgr_platform_shutdown(void);
 
+bool grpc_iomgr_abort_on_leaks(void);
+
 #endif /* GRPC_INTERNAL_CORE_IOMGR_IOMGR_INTERNAL_H */
diff --git a/src/core/support/sync.c b/src/core/support/sync.c
index d368422d9eaf693da5f96494e3c134ffbc030a7e..69e3e39c5cef80d05ba9b2b6553c20bdfe75b271 100644
--- a/src/core/support/sync.c
+++ b/src/core/support/sync.c
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 /*
  *
- * Copyright 2015, Google Inc.
+ * Copyright 2015-2016, Google Inc.
  * All rights reserved.
  *
  * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
@@ -98,6 +98,11 @@ void gpr_ref_init(gpr_refcount *r, int n) { gpr_atm_rel_store(&r->count, n); }
 
 void gpr_ref(gpr_refcount *r) { gpr_atm_no_barrier_fetch_add(&r->count, 1); }
 
+void gpr_ref_non_zero(gpr_refcount *r) {
+  gpr_atm prior = gpr_atm_no_barrier_fetch_add(&r->count, 1);
+  GPR_ASSERT(prior > 0);
+}
+
 void gpr_refn(gpr_refcount *r, int n) {
   gpr_atm_no_barrier_fetch_add(&r->count, n);
 }
diff --git a/src/core/transport/chttp2/internal.h b/src/core/transport/chttp2/internal.h
index d76d31be23f2f4f31c8aec172b580a8a8741d8fe..891aad6ef28d2378c3e4922c73ae01c615aca550 100644
--- a/src/core/transport/chttp2/internal.h
+++ b/src/core/transport/chttp2/internal.h
@@ -417,7 +417,7 @@ typedef struct {
   /** HTTP2 stream id for this stream, or zero if one has not been assigned */
   uint32_t id;
   uint8_t fetching;
-  uint8_t sent_initial_metadata;
+  bool sent_initial_metadata;
   uint8_t sent_message;
   uint8_t sent_trailing_metadata;
   uint8_t read_closed;
@@ -509,7 +509,7 @@ void grpc_chttp2_publish_reads(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx,
                                grpc_chttp2_transport_global *global,
                                grpc_chttp2_transport_parsing *parsing);
 
-void grpc_chttp2_list_add_writable_stream(
+bool grpc_chttp2_list_add_writable_stream(
     grpc_chttp2_transport_global *transport_global,
     grpc_chttp2_stream_global *stream_global);
 /** Get a writable stream
@@ -519,14 +519,13 @@ int grpc_chttp2_list_pop_writable_stream(
     grpc_chttp2_transport_writing *transport_writing,
     grpc_chttp2_stream_global **stream_global,
     grpc_chttp2_stream_writing **stream_writing);
-void grpc_chttp2_list_remove_writable_stream(
+bool grpc_chttp2_list_remove_writable_stream(
     grpc_chttp2_transport_global *transport_global,
-    grpc_chttp2_stream_global *stream_global);
+    grpc_chttp2_stream_global *stream_global) GRPC_MUST_USE_RESULT;
 
-/* returns 1 if stream added, 0 if it was already present */
-int grpc_chttp2_list_add_writing_stream(
+void grpc_chttp2_list_add_writing_stream(
     grpc_chttp2_transport_writing *transport_writing,
-    grpc_chttp2_stream_writing *stream_writing) GRPC_MUST_USE_RESULT;
+    grpc_chttp2_stream_writing *stream_writing);
 int grpc_chttp2_list_have_writing_streams(
     grpc_chttp2_transport_writing *transport_writing);
 int grpc_chttp2_list_pop_writing_stream(
@@ -770,4 +769,9 @@ void grpc_chttp2_ack_ping(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx,
                           grpc_chttp2_transport_parsing *parsing,
                           const uint8_t *opaque_8bytes);
 
+/** add a ref to the stream and add it to the writable list;
+    ref will be dropped in writing.c */
+void grpc_chttp2_become_writable(grpc_chttp2_transport_global *transport_global,
+                                 grpc_chttp2_stream_global *stream_global);
+
 #endif
diff --git a/src/core/transport/chttp2/parsing.c b/src/core/transport/chttp2/parsing.c
index 8fdebd7f139857664cece6c5b27e12ca5cf57167..0516f39fa9ef83f84cf64a3e0e22c8cb839d7a14 100644
--- a/src/core/transport/chttp2/parsing.c
+++ b/src/core/transport/chttp2/parsing.c
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 /*
  *
- * Copyright 2015, Google Inc.
+ * Copyright 2015-2016, Google Inc.
  * All rights reserved.
  *
  * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
@@ -149,7 +149,7 @@ void grpc_chttp2_publish_reads(
   if (was_zero && !is_zero) {
     while (grpc_chttp2_list_pop_stalled_by_transport(transport_global,
                                                      &stream_global)) {
-      grpc_chttp2_list_add_writable_stream(transport_global, stream_global);
+      grpc_chttp2_become_writable(transport_global, stream_global);
     }
   }
 
@@ -178,7 +178,7 @@ void grpc_chttp2_publish_reads(
                                  outgoing_window);
     is_zero = stream_global->outgoing_window <= 0;
     if (was_zero && !is_zero) {
-      grpc_chttp2_list_add_writable_stream(transport_global, stream_global);
+      grpc_chttp2_become_writable(transport_global, stream_global);
     }
 
     stream_global->max_recv_bytes -= (uint32_t)GPR_MIN(
diff --git a/src/core/transport/chttp2/stream_lists.c b/src/core/transport/chttp2/stream_lists.c
index b284c7881838174ea878075cc4bc547a59e3cc94..60fe735cfce9aa7327c5b90267154321780056d2 100644
--- a/src/core/transport/chttp2/stream_lists.c
+++ b/src/core/transport/chttp2/stream_lists.c
@@ -100,11 +100,14 @@ static void stream_list_remove(grpc_chttp2_transport *t, grpc_chttp2_stream *s,
   }
 }
 
-static void stream_list_maybe_remove(grpc_chttp2_transport *t,
+static bool stream_list_maybe_remove(grpc_chttp2_transport *t,
                                      grpc_chttp2_stream *s,
                                      grpc_chttp2_stream_list_id id) {
   if (s->included[id]) {
     stream_list_remove(t, s, id);
+    return true;
+  } else {
+    return false;
   }
 }
 
@@ -125,23 +128,24 @@ static void stream_list_add_tail(grpc_chttp2_transport *t,
   s->included[id] = 1;
 }
 
-static int stream_list_add(grpc_chttp2_transport *t, grpc_chttp2_stream *s,
-                           grpc_chttp2_stream_list_id id) {
+static bool stream_list_add(grpc_chttp2_transport *t, grpc_chttp2_stream *s,
+                            grpc_chttp2_stream_list_id id) {
   if (s->included[id]) {
-    return 0;
+    return false;
   }
   stream_list_add_tail(t, s, id);
-  return 1;
+  return true;
 }
 
 /* wrappers for specializations */
 
-void grpc_chttp2_list_add_writable_stream(
+bool grpc_chttp2_list_add_writable_stream(
     grpc_chttp2_transport_global *transport_global,
     grpc_chttp2_stream_global *stream_global) {
   GPR_ASSERT(stream_global->id != 0);
-  stream_list_add(TRANSPORT_FROM_GLOBAL(transport_global),
-                  STREAM_FROM_GLOBAL(stream_global), GRPC_CHTTP2_LIST_WRITABLE);
+  return stream_list_add(TRANSPORT_FROM_GLOBAL(transport_global),
+                         STREAM_FROM_GLOBAL(stream_global),
+                         GRPC_CHTTP2_LIST_WRITABLE);
 }
 
 int grpc_chttp2_list_pop_writable_stream(
@@ -159,20 +163,20 @@ int grpc_chttp2_list_pop_writable_stream(
   return r;
 }
 
-void grpc_chttp2_list_remove_writable_stream(
+bool grpc_chttp2_list_remove_writable_stream(
     grpc_chttp2_transport_global *transport_global,
     grpc_chttp2_stream_global *stream_global) {
-  stream_list_maybe_remove(TRANSPORT_FROM_GLOBAL(transport_global),
-                           STREAM_FROM_GLOBAL(stream_global),
-                           GRPC_CHTTP2_LIST_WRITABLE);
+  return stream_list_maybe_remove(TRANSPORT_FROM_GLOBAL(transport_global),
+                                  STREAM_FROM_GLOBAL(stream_global),
+                                  GRPC_CHTTP2_LIST_WRITABLE);
 }
 
-int grpc_chttp2_list_add_writing_stream(
+void grpc_chttp2_list_add_writing_stream(
     grpc_chttp2_transport_writing *transport_writing,
     grpc_chttp2_stream_writing *stream_writing) {
-  return stream_list_add(TRANSPORT_FROM_WRITING(transport_writing),
-                         STREAM_FROM_WRITING(stream_writing),
-                         GRPC_CHTTP2_LIST_WRITING);
+  GPR_ASSERT(stream_list_add(TRANSPORT_FROM_WRITING(transport_writing),
+                             STREAM_FROM_WRITING(stream_writing),
+                             GRPC_CHTTP2_LIST_WRITING));
 }
 
 int grpc_chttp2_list_have_writing_streams(
@@ -332,7 +336,7 @@ void grpc_chttp2_list_flush_writing_stalled_by_transport(
   while (stream_list_pop(transport, &stream,
                          GRPC_CHTTP2_LIST_WRITING_STALLED_BY_TRANSPORT)) {
     if (is_window_available) {
-      grpc_chttp2_list_add_writable_stream(&transport->global, &stream->global);
+      grpc_chttp2_become_writable(&transport->global, &stream->global);
     } else {
       grpc_chttp2_list_add_stalled_by_transport(transport_writing,
                                                 &stream->writing);
diff --git a/src/core/transport/chttp2/writing.c b/src/core/transport/chttp2/writing.c
index 356fd8174a76942b20e65409b63d049a0bcdacac..107725cbc797555d8e8d46d05f808faa84a1cc34 100644
--- a/src/core/transport/chttp2/writing.c
+++ b/src/core/transport/chttp2/writing.c
@@ -83,7 +83,8 @@ int grpc_chttp2_unlocking_check_writes(
      (according to available window sizes) and add to the output buffer */
   while (grpc_chttp2_list_pop_writable_stream(
       transport_global, transport_writing, &stream_global, &stream_writing)) {
-    uint8_t sent_initial_metadata;
+    bool sent_initial_metadata = stream_writing->sent_initial_metadata;
+    bool become_writable = false;
 
     stream_writing->id = stream_global->id;
     stream_writing->read_closed = stream_global->read_closed;
@@ -92,16 +93,12 @@ int grpc_chttp2_unlocking_check_writes(
                                  outgoing_window, stream_global,
                                  outgoing_window);
 
-    sent_initial_metadata = stream_writing->sent_initial_metadata;
     if (!sent_initial_metadata && stream_global->send_initial_metadata) {
       stream_writing->send_initial_metadata =
           stream_global->send_initial_metadata;
       stream_global->send_initial_metadata = NULL;
-      if (grpc_chttp2_list_add_writing_stream(transport_writing,
-                                              stream_writing)) {
-        GRPC_CHTTP2_STREAM_REF(stream_global, "chttp2_writing");
-      }
-      sent_initial_metadata = 1;
+      become_writable = true;
+      sent_initial_metadata = true;
     }
     if (sent_initial_metadata) {
       if (stream_global->send_message != NULL) {
@@ -128,10 +125,7 @@ int grpc_chttp2_unlocking_check_writes(
            stream_writing->flow_controlled_buffer.length > 0) &&
           stream_writing->outgoing_window > 0) {
         if (transport_writing->outgoing_window > 0) {
-          if (grpc_chttp2_list_add_writing_stream(transport_writing,
-                                                  stream_writing)) {
-            GRPC_CHTTP2_STREAM_REF(stream_global, "chttp2_writing");
-          }
+          become_writable = true;
         } else {
           grpc_chttp2_list_add_stalled_by_transport(transport_writing,
                                                     stream_writing);
@@ -141,10 +135,7 @@ int grpc_chttp2_unlocking_check_writes(
         stream_writing->send_trailing_metadata =
             stream_global->send_trailing_metadata;
         stream_global->send_trailing_metadata = NULL;
-        if (grpc_chttp2_list_add_writing_stream(transport_writing,
-                                                stream_writing)) {
-          GRPC_CHTTP2_STREAM_REF(stream_global, "chttp2_writing");
-        }
+        become_writable = true;
       }
     }
 
@@ -153,10 +144,13 @@ int grpc_chttp2_unlocking_check_writes(
       GRPC_CHTTP2_FLOW_MOVE_STREAM("write", transport_global, stream_writing,
                                    announce_window, stream_global,
                                    unannounced_incoming_window_for_writing);
-      if (grpc_chttp2_list_add_writing_stream(transport_writing,
-                                              stream_writing)) {
-        GRPC_CHTTP2_STREAM_REF(stream_global, "chttp2_writing");
-      }
+      become_writable = true;
+    }
+
+    if (become_writable) {
+      grpc_chttp2_list_add_writing_stream(transport_writing, stream_writing);
+    } else {
+      GRPC_CHTTP2_STREAM_UNREF(exec_ctx, stream_global, "chttp2_writing");
     }
   }
 
@@ -310,10 +304,7 @@ static void finalize_outbuf(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx,
          (stream_writing->send_message && !stream_writing->fetching)) &&
         stream_writing->outgoing_window > 0) {
       if (transport_writing->outgoing_window > 0) {
-        if (grpc_chttp2_list_add_writing_stream(transport_writing,
-                                                stream_writing)) {
-          /* do nothing - already reffed */
-        }
+        grpc_chttp2_list_add_writing_stream(transport_writing, stream_writing);
       } else {
         grpc_chttp2_list_add_writing_stalled_by_transport(transport_writing,
                                                           stream_writing);
diff --git a/src/core/transport/chttp2_transport.c b/src/core/transport/chttp2_transport.c
index b9f511e9460fc1d1fc9c7c32d39a340ee58961f2..a1ca78d4c4f50da8a3f95849c913de89ebe33629 100644
--- a/src/core/transport/chttp2_transport.c
+++ b/src/core/transport/chttp2_transport.c
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ static void incoming_byte_stream_update_flow_control(
 static void fail_pending_writes(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx,
                                 grpc_chttp2_stream_global *stream_global);
 
-/*
+/*******************************************************************************
  * CONSTRUCTION/DESTRUCTION/REFCOUNTING
  */
 
@@ -521,7 +521,6 @@ static void destroy_stream(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, grpc_transport *gt,
                                            s->global.id) == NULL);
   }
 
-  grpc_chttp2_list_remove_writable_stream(&t->global, &s->global);
   grpc_chttp2_list_remove_unannounced_incoming_window_available(&t->global,
                                                                 &s->global);
   grpc_chttp2_list_remove_stalled_by_transport(&t->global, &s->global);
@@ -583,7 +582,7 @@ grpc_chttp2_stream_parsing *grpc_chttp2_parsing_accept_stream(
   return &accepting->parsing;
 }
 
-/*
+/*******************************************************************************
  * LOCK MANAGEMENT
  */
 
@@ -611,10 +610,18 @@ static void unlock(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, grpc_chttp2_transport *t) {
   GPR_TIMER_END("unlock", 0);
 }
 
-/*
+/*******************************************************************************
  * OUTPUT PROCESSING
  */
 
+void grpc_chttp2_become_writable(grpc_chttp2_transport_global *transport_global,
+                                 grpc_chttp2_stream_global *stream_global) {
+  if (!TRANSPORT_FROM_GLOBAL(transport_global)->closed &&
+      grpc_chttp2_list_add_writable_stream(transport_global, stream_global)) {
+    GRPC_CHTTP2_STREAM_REF(stream_global, "chttp2_writing");
+  }
+}
+
 static void push_setting(grpc_chttp2_transport *t, grpc_chttp2_setting_id id,
                          uint32_t value) {
   const grpc_chttp2_setting_parameters *sp =
@@ -732,7 +739,7 @@ static void maybe_start_some_streams(
         stream_global->id, STREAM_FROM_GLOBAL(stream_global));
     stream_global->in_stream_map = 1;
     transport_global->concurrent_stream_count++;
-    grpc_chttp2_list_add_writable_stream(transport_global, stream_global);
+    grpc_chttp2_become_writable(transport_global, stream_global);
   }
   /* cancel out streams that will never be started */
   while (transport_global->next_stream_id >= MAX_CLIENT_STREAM_ID &&
@@ -821,7 +828,7 @@ static void perform_stream_op_locked(
         maybe_start_some_streams(exec_ctx, transport_global);
       } else {
         GPR_ASSERT(stream_global->id != 0);
-        grpc_chttp2_list_add_writable_stream(transport_global, stream_global);
+        grpc_chttp2_become_writable(transport_global, stream_global);
       }
     } else {
       grpc_chttp2_complete_closure_step(
@@ -838,7 +845,7 @@ static void perform_stream_op_locked(
           exec_ctx, &stream_global->send_message_finished, 0);
     } else if (stream_global->id != 0) {
       stream_global->send_message = op->send_message;
-      grpc_chttp2_list_add_writable_stream(transport_global, stream_global);
+      grpc_chttp2_become_writable(transport_global, stream_global);
     }
   }
 
@@ -858,7 +865,7 @@ static void perform_stream_op_locked(
     } else if (stream_global->id != 0) {
       /* TODO(ctiller): check if there's flow control for any outstanding
          bytes before going writable */
-      grpc_chttp2_list_add_writable_stream(transport_global, stream_global);
+      grpc_chttp2_become_writable(transport_global, stream_global);
     }
   }
 
@@ -999,7 +1006,7 @@ static void perform_transport_op(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, grpc_transport *gt,
   }
 }
 
-/*
+/*******************************************************************************
  * INPUT PROCESSING
  */
 
@@ -1064,7 +1071,6 @@ static void remove_stream(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, grpc_chttp2_transport *t,
   if (!s) {
     s = grpc_chttp2_stream_map_delete(&t->new_stream_map, id);
   }
-  grpc_chttp2_list_remove_writable_stream(&t->global, &s->global);
   GPR_ASSERT(s);
   s->global.in_stream_map = 0;
   if (t->parsing.incoming_stream == &s->parsing) {
@@ -1080,6 +1086,9 @@ static void remove_stream(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, grpc_chttp2_transport *t,
   if (grpc_chttp2_unregister_stream(t, s) && t->global.sent_goaway) {
     close_transport_locked(exec_ctx, t);
   }
+  if (grpc_chttp2_list_remove_writable_stream(&t->global, &s->global)) {
+    GRPC_CHTTP2_STREAM_UNREF(exec_ctx, &s->global, "chttp2_writing");
+  }
 
   new_stream_count = grpc_chttp2_stream_map_size(&t->parsing_stream_map) +
                      grpc_chttp2_stream_map_size(&t->new_stream_map);
@@ -1331,7 +1340,7 @@ static void update_global_window(void *args, uint32_t id, void *stream) {
   is_zero = stream_global->outgoing_window <= 0;
 
   if (was_zero && !is_zero) {
-    grpc_chttp2_list_add_writable_stream(transport_global, stream_global);
+    grpc_chttp2_become_writable(transport_global, stream_global);
   }
 }
 
@@ -1426,7 +1435,7 @@ static void recv_data(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, void *tp, bool success) {
   GPR_TIMER_END("recv_data", 0);
 }
 
-/*
+/*******************************************************************************
  * CALLBACK LOOP
  */
 
@@ -1440,7 +1449,7 @@ static void connectivity_state_set(
                               state, reason);
 }
 
-/*
+/*******************************************************************************
  * POLLSET STUFF
  */
 
@@ -1468,7 +1477,7 @@ static void set_pollset(grpc_exec_ctx *exec_ctx, grpc_transport *gt,
   unlock(exec_ctx, t);
 }
 
-/*
+/*******************************************************************************
  * BYTE STREAM
  */
 
@@ -1508,7 +1517,7 @@ static void incoming_byte_stream_update_flow_control(
                                    add_max_recv_bytes);
     grpc_chttp2_list_add_unannounced_incoming_window_available(transport_global,
                                                                stream_global);
-    grpc_chttp2_list_add_writable_stream(transport_global, stream_global);
+    grpc_chttp2_become_writable(transport_global, stream_global);
   }
 }
 
@@ -1623,7 +1632,7 @@ grpc_chttp2_incoming_byte_stream *grpc_chttp2_incoming_byte_stream_create(
   return incoming_byte_stream;
 }
 
-/*
+/*******************************************************************************
  * TRACING
  */
 
@@ -1709,7 +1718,7 @@ void grpc_chttp2_flowctl_trace(const char *file, int line, const char *phase,
   gpr_free(prefix);
 }
 
-/*
+/*******************************************************************************
  * INTEGRATION GLUE
  */
 
diff --git a/src/core/transport/metadata.c b/src/core/transport/metadata.c
index 14912af7df1cafddded3581dac73f1ba57d74ed0..807ae071a309627b16f73ccee0b48c893b6896bb 100644
--- a/src/core/transport/metadata.c
+++ b/src/core/transport/metadata.c
@@ -43,11 +43,13 @@
 #include <grpc/support/log.h>
 #include <grpc/support/string_util.h>
 #include <grpc/support/time.h>
+
 #include "src/core/profiling/timers.h"
 #include "src/core/support/murmur_hash.h"
 #include "src/core/support/string.h"
 #include "src/core/transport/chttp2/bin_encoder.h"
 #include "src/core/transport/static_metadata.h"
+#include "src/core/iomgr/iomgr_internal.h"
 
 /* There are two kinds of mdelem and mdstr instances.
  * Static instances are declared in static_metadata.{h,c} and
@@ -227,6 +229,9 @@ void grpc_mdctx_global_shutdown(void) {
     if (shard->count != 0) {
       gpr_log(GPR_DEBUG, "WARNING: %d metadata elements were leaked",
               shard->count);
+      if (grpc_iomgr_abort_on_leaks()) {
+        abort();
+      }
     }
     gpr_free(shard->elems);
   }
@@ -237,6 +242,9 @@ void grpc_mdctx_global_shutdown(void) {
     if (shard->count != 0) {
       gpr_log(GPR_DEBUG, "WARNING: %d metadata strings were leaked",
               shard->count);
+      if (grpc_iomgr_abort_on_leaks()) {
+        abort();
+      }
     }
     gpr_free(shard->strs);
   }
diff --git a/src/core/transport/transport.c b/src/core/transport/transport.c
index 6e154b629ab872ab57a4561d822094cf8baa2982..3b555fa9338c3eb9c7f453f14efe45fe6212db5d 100644
--- a/src/core/transport/transport.c
+++ b/src/core/transport/transport.c
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ void grpc_stream_ref(grpc_stream_refcount *refcount, const char *reason) {
 #else
 void grpc_stream_ref(grpc_stream_refcount *refcount) {
 #endif
-  gpr_ref(&refcount->refs);
+  gpr_ref_non_zero(&refcount->refs);
 }
 
 #ifdef GRPC_STREAM_REFCOUNT_DEBUG
diff --git a/src/python/grpcio/README.rst b/src/python/grpcio/README.rst
index d491311886bf341d332f860e26450d1325e5ee98..3dfae50b4bc030b12bc401c75f52caabe3f6b2b4 100644
--- a/src/python/grpcio/README.rst
+++ b/src/python/grpcio/README.rst
@@ -42,3 +42,17 @@ package named :code:`python-dev`).
 
 Note that :code:`$REPO_ROOT` can be assigned to whatever directory name floats
 your fancy.
+
+Troubleshooting
+~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
+
+Help, I ...
+
+* **... see a** :code:`pkg_resources.VersionConflict` **when I try to install
+  grpc!**
+
+  This is likely because :code:`pip` doesn't own the offending dependency,
+  which in turn is likely because your operating system's package manager owns
+  it. You'll need to force the installation of the dependency:
+
+  :code:`pip install --ignore-installed $OFFENDING_DEPENDENCY`
diff --git a/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_cython/_cygrpc/completion_queue.pxd.pxi b/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_cython/_cygrpc/completion_queue.pxd.pxi
index 757f1245e85a18cc8f77e44579af35faf8acf740..305475c006074fc73bd83f829ce98fed8b72e593 100644
--- a/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_cython/_cygrpc/completion_queue.pxd.pxi
+++ b/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_cython/_cygrpc/completion_queue.pxd.pxi
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# Copyright 2015, Google Inc.
+# Copyright 2015-2016, Google Inc.
 # All rights reserved.
 #
 # Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
@@ -31,8 +31,9 @@
 cdef class CompletionQueue:
 
   cdef grpc_completion_queue *c_completion_queue
-  cdef object poll_condition
-  cdef bint is_polling
+  cdef object pluck_condition
+  cdef int num_plucking
+  cdef int num_polling
   cdef bint is_shutting_down
   cdef bint is_shutdown
 
diff --git a/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_cython/_cygrpc/completion_queue.pyx.pxi b/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_cython/_cygrpc/completion_queue.pyx.pxi
index b299dfee22fff3dd2cf470acabd6d74840fe51c4..c139147114bc8f20177451d537de6e1d79a7fd08 100644
--- a/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_cython/_cygrpc/completion_queue.pyx.pxi
+++ b/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_cython/_cygrpc/completion_queue.pyx.pxi
@@ -39,8 +39,9 @@ cdef class CompletionQueue:
     self.c_completion_queue = grpc_completion_queue_create(NULL)
     self.is_shutting_down = False
     self.is_shutdown = False
-    self.poll_condition = threading.Condition()
-    self.is_polling = False
+    self.pluck_condition = threading.Condition()
+    self.num_plucking = 0
+    self.num_polling = 0
 
   cdef _interpret_event(self, grpc_event event):
     cdef OperationTag tag = None
@@ -87,19 +88,15 @@ cdef class CompletionQueue:
       c_deadline = deadline.c_time
     cdef grpc_event event
 
-    # Poll within a critical section
-    # TODO(atash) consider making queue polling contention a hard error to
-    # enable easier bug discovery
-    with self.poll_condition:
-      while self.is_polling:
-        self.poll_condition.wait(float(deadline) - time.time())
-      self.is_polling = True
+    # Poll within a critical section to detect contention
+    with self.pluck_condition:
+      assert self.num_plucking == 0, 'cannot simultaneously pluck and poll'
+      self.num_polling += 1
     with nogil:
       event = grpc_completion_queue_next(
           self.c_completion_queue, c_deadline, NULL)
-    with self.poll_condition:
-      self.is_polling = False
-      self.poll_condition.notify()
+    with self.pluck_condition:
+      self.num_polling -= 1
     return self._interpret_event(event)
 
   def pluck(self, OperationTag tag, Timespec deadline=None):
@@ -111,19 +108,18 @@ cdef class CompletionQueue:
       c_deadline = deadline.c_time
     cdef grpc_event event
 
-    # Poll within a critical section
-    # TODO(atash) consider making queue polling contention a hard error to
-    # enable easier bug discovery
-    with self.poll_condition:
-      while self.is_polling:
-        self.poll_condition.wait(float(deadline) - time.time())
-      self.is_polling = True
+    # Pluck within a critical section to detect contention
+    with self.pluck_condition:
+      assert self.num_polling == 0, 'cannot simultaneously pluck and poll'
+      assert self.num_plucking < GRPC_MAX_COMPLETION_QUEUE_PLUCKERS, (
+          'cannot pluck more than {} times simultaneously'.format(
+              GRPC_MAX_COMPLETION_QUEUE_PLUCKERS))
+      self.num_plucking += 1
     with nogil:
       event = grpc_completion_queue_pluck(
           self.c_completion_queue, <cpython.PyObject *>tag, c_deadline, NULL)
-    with self.poll_condition:
-      self.is_polling = False
-      self.poll_condition.notify()
+    with self.pluck_condition:
+      self.num_plucking -= 1
     return self._interpret_event(event)
 
   def shutdown(self):
diff --git a/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_cython/_cygrpc/grpc.pxi b/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_cython/_cygrpc/grpc.pxi
index 800d0ea2f6fbba3805f367bb3a449fed4c17e99b..dbf0045710e439bbe52b5d49000a8b1a81bb9be9 100644
--- a/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_cython/_cygrpc/grpc.pxi
+++ b/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_cython/_cygrpc/grpc.pxi
@@ -138,6 +138,8 @@ cdef extern from "grpc/_cython/loader.h":
   const int GRPC_WRITE_NO_COMPRESS
   const int GRPC_WRITE_USED_MASK
 
+  const int GRPC_MAX_COMPLETION_QUEUE_PLUCKERS
+
   ctypedef struct grpc_completion_queue:
     # We don't care about the internals (and in fact don't know them)
     pass
diff --git a/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_cython/imports.generated.c b/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_cython/imports.generated.c
index 4b1860ce8c9ef6ebe0d14534b0fa6ad7fcb53d3b..8bd6ae6372b02ff16257cc556123be1f322926ca 100644
--- a/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_cython/imports.generated.c
+++ b/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_cython/imports.generated.c
@@ -220,6 +220,7 @@ gpr_event_get_type gpr_event_get_import;
 gpr_event_wait_type gpr_event_wait_import;
 gpr_ref_init_type gpr_ref_init_import;
 gpr_ref_type gpr_ref_import;
+gpr_ref_non_zero_type gpr_ref_non_zero_import;
 gpr_refn_type gpr_refn_import;
 gpr_unref_type gpr_unref_import;
 gpr_stats_init_type gpr_stats_init_import;
@@ -485,6 +486,7 @@ void pygrpc_load_imports(HMODULE library) {
   gpr_event_wait_import = (gpr_event_wait_type) GetProcAddress(library, "gpr_event_wait");
   gpr_ref_init_import = (gpr_ref_init_type) GetProcAddress(library, "gpr_ref_init");
   gpr_ref_import = (gpr_ref_type) GetProcAddress(library, "gpr_ref");
+  gpr_ref_non_zero_import = (gpr_ref_non_zero_type) GetProcAddress(library, "gpr_ref_non_zero");
   gpr_refn_import = (gpr_refn_type) GetProcAddress(library, "gpr_refn");
   gpr_unref_import = (gpr_unref_type) GetProcAddress(library, "gpr_unref");
   gpr_stats_init_import = (gpr_stats_init_type) GetProcAddress(library, "gpr_stats_init");
diff --git a/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_cython/imports.generated.h b/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_cython/imports.generated.h
index a395dce7d6a4c3801ef7c5f1863befc50a376fc6..b70dcccd17a9f7a923bcf57a22e41301ff342469 100644
--- a/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_cython/imports.generated.h
+++ b/src/python/grpcio/grpc/_cython/imports.generated.h
@@ -610,6 +610,9 @@ extern gpr_ref_init_type gpr_ref_init_import;
 typedef void(*gpr_ref_type)(gpr_refcount *r);
 extern gpr_ref_type gpr_ref_import;
 #define gpr_ref gpr_ref_import
+typedef void(*gpr_ref_non_zero_type)(gpr_refcount *r);
+extern gpr_ref_non_zero_type gpr_ref_non_zero_import;
+#define gpr_ref_non_zero gpr_ref_non_zero_import
 typedef void(*gpr_refn_type)(gpr_refcount *r, int n);
 extern gpr_refn_type gpr_refn_import;
 #define gpr_refn gpr_refn_import
diff --git a/src/python/grpcio/tests/_runner.py b/src/python/grpcio/tests/_runner.py
index 4f1ddb57fcfa0956c418314a075ff66c793ea9da..38a5432e791790db21eb4cff98a4c8d17b51a0e2 100644
--- a/src/python/grpcio/tests/_runner.py
+++ b/src/python/grpcio/tests/_runner.py
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-# Copyright 2015, Google Inc.
+# Copyright 2015-2016, Google Inc.
 # All rights reserved.
 #
 # Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
@@ -143,10 +143,17 @@ class Runner(object):
 
   def run(self, suite):
     """See setuptools' test_runner setup argument for information."""
+    # only run test cases with id starting with given prefix
+    testcase_filter = os.getenv('GPRC_PYTHON_TESTRUNNER_FILTER')
+    filtered_cases = []
+    for case in _loader.iterate_suite_cases(suite):
+      if not testcase_filter or case.id().startswith(testcase_filter):
+        filtered_cases.append(case)
+
     # Ensure that every test case has no collision with any other test case in
     # the augmented results.
     augmented_cases = [AugmentedCase(case, uuid.uuid4())
-                       for case in _loader.iterate_suite_cases(suite)]
+                       for case in filtered_cases]
     case_id_by_case = dict((augmented_case.case, augmented_case.id)
                            for augmented_case in augmented_cases)
     result_out = StringIO.StringIO()
diff --git a/src/python/grpcio/tests/tests.json b/src/python/grpcio/tests/tests.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..388d040d5caa67c97da8352c2d1a4539b689c00a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/python/grpcio/tests/tests.json
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+[
+  "_base_interface_test.AsyncEasyTest", 
+  "_base_interface_test.AsyncPeasyTest", 
+  "_base_interface_test.SyncEasyTest", 
+  "_base_interface_test.SyncPeasyTest", 
+  "_beta_features_test.BetaFeaturesTest", 
+  "_beta_features_test.ContextManagementAndLifecycleTest", 
+  "_channel_test.ChannelTest", 
+  "_connectivity_channel_test.ChannelConnectivityTest", 
+  "_core_over_links_base_interface_test.AsyncEasyTest", 
+  "_core_over_links_base_interface_test.AsyncPeasyTest", 
+  "_core_over_links_base_interface_test.SyncEasyTest", 
+  "_core_over_links_base_interface_test.SyncPeasyTest", 
+  "_crust_over_core_face_interface_test.DynamicInvokerBlockingInvocationInlineServiceTest", 
+  "_crust_over_core_face_interface_test.DynamicInvokerEventInvocationSynchronousEventServiceTest", 
+  "_crust_over_core_face_interface_test.DynamicInvokerFutureInvocationAsynchronousEventServiceTest", 
+  "_crust_over_core_face_interface_test.GenericInvokerBlockingInvocationInlineServiceTest", 
+  "_crust_over_core_face_interface_test.GenericInvokerEventInvocationSynchronousEventServiceTest", 
+  "_crust_over_core_face_interface_test.GenericInvokerFutureInvocationAsynchronousEventServiceTest", 
+  "_crust_over_core_face_interface_test.MultiCallableInvokerBlockingInvocationInlineServiceTest", 
+  "_crust_over_core_face_interface_test.MultiCallableInvokerEventInvocationSynchronousEventServiceTest", 
+  "_crust_over_core_face_interface_test.MultiCallableInvokerFutureInvocationAsynchronousEventServiceTest", 
+  "_crust_over_core_over_links_face_interface_test.DynamicInvokerBlockingInvocationInlineServiceTest", 
+  "_crust_over_core_over_links_face_interface_test.DynamicInvokerEventInvocationSynchronousEventServiceTest", 
+  "_crust_over_core_over_links_face_interface_test.DynamicInvokerFutureInvocationAsynchronousEventServiceTest", 
+  "_crust_over_core_over_links_face_interface_test.GenericInvokerBlockingInvocationInlineServiceTest", 
+  "_crust_over_core_over_links_face_interface_test.GenericInvokerEventInvocationSynchronousEventServiceTest", 
+  "_crust_over_core_over_links_face_interface_test.GenericInvokerFutureInvocationAsynchronousEventServiceTest", 
+  "_crust_over_core_over_links_face_interface_test.MultiCallableInvokerBlockingInvocationInlineServiceTest", 
+  "_crust_over_core_over_links_face_interface_test.MultiCallableInvokerEventInvocationSynchronousEventServiceTest", 
+  "_crust_over_core_over_links_face_interface_test.MultiCallableInvokerFutureInvocationAsynchronousEventServiceTest", 
+  "_face_interface_test.DynamicInvokerBlockingInvocationInlineServiceTest", 
+  "_face_interface_test.DynamicInvokerEventInvocationSynchronousEventServiceTest", 
+  "_face_interface_test.DynamicInvokerFutureInvocationAsynchronousEventServiceTest", 
+  "_face_interface_test.GenericInvokerBlockingInvocationInlineServiceTest", 
+  "_face_interface_test.GenericInvokerEventInvocationSynchronousEventServiceTest", 
+  "_face_interface_test.GenericInvokerFutureInvocationAsynchronousEventServiceTest", 
+  "_face_interface_test.MultiCallableInvokerBlockingInvocationInlineServiceTest", 
+  "_face_interface_test.MultiCallableInvokerEventInvocationSynchronousEventServiceTest", 
+  "_face_interface_test.MultiCallableInvokerFutureInvocationAsynchronousEventServiceTest", 
+  "_implementations_test.ChannelCredentialsTest", 
+  "_insecure_interop_test.InsecureInteropTest", 
+  "_intermediary_low_test.CancellationTest", 
+  "_intermediary_low_test.EchoTest", 
+  "_intermediary_low_test.ExpirationTest", 
+  "_intermediary_low_test.LonelyClientTest", 
+  "_later_test.LaterTest", 
+  "_logging_pool_test.LoggingPoolTest", 
+  "_lonely_invocation_link_test.LonelyInvocationLinkTest", 
+  "_low_test.HangingServerShutdown", 
+  "_low_test.InsecureServerInsecureClient", 
+  "_not_found_test.NotFoundTest", 
+  "_sanity_test.Sanity", 
+  "_secure_interop_test.SecureInteropTest", 
+  "_transmission_test.RoundTripTest", 
+  "_transmission_test.TransmissionTest", 
+  "_utilities_test.ChannelConnectivityTest", 
+  "beta_python_plugin_test.PythonPluginTest", 
+  "cygrpc_test.InsecureServerInsecureClient", 
+  "cygrpc_test.SecureServerSecureClient", 
+  "cygrpc_test.TypeSmokeTest"
+]
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/python/grpcio/tests/unit/_sanity/__init__.py b/src/python/grpcio/tests/unit/_sanity/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..2f88fa04122d292e57bd1fa0da8d2a65dad35f61
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/python/grpcio/tests/unit/_sanity/__init__.py
@@ -0,0 +1,30 @@
+# Copyright 2016, Google Inc.
+# All rights reserved.
+#
+# Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+# modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are
+# met:
+#
+#     * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+# notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+#     * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above
+# copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer
+# in the documentation and/or other materials provided with the
+# distribution.
+#     * Neither the name of Google Inc. nor the names of its
+# contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from
+# this software without specific prior written permission.
+#
+# THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
+# "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+# LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR
+# A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT
+# OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
+# SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+# LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
+# DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY
+# THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
+# (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
+# OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+
+
diff --git a/src/python/grpcio/tests/unit/_sanity/_sanity_test.py b/src/python/grpcio/tests/unit/_sanity/_sanity_test.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000000000000000000000000000000..0a5a715c0e1c66bfcff7a05cbcb9238941e2e4aa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/python/grpcio/tests/unit/_sanity/_sanity_test.py
@@ -0,0 +1,53 @@
+# Copyright 2016, Google Inc.
+# All rights reserved.
+#
+# Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+# modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are
+# met:
+#
+#     * Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright
+# notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+#     * Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above
+# copyright notice, this list of conditions and the following disclaimer
+# in the documentation and/or other materials provided with the
+# distribution.
+#     * Neither the name of Google Inc. nor the names of its
+# contributors may be used to endorse or promote products derived from
+# this software without specific prior written permission.
+#
+# THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS
+# "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+# LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR
+# A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT
+# OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL,
+# SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT
+# LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE,
+# DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY
+# THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT
+# (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE) ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE
+# OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+
+import json
+import unittest
+
+import tests
+
+
+class Sanity(unittest.TestCase):
+
+  def testTestsJsonUpToDate(self):
+    """Autodiscovers all test suites and checks that tests.json is up to date"""
+    loader = tests.Loader()
+    loader.loadTestsFromNames(['tests'])
+    test_suite_names = [
+        test_case_class.id().rsplit('.', 1)[0]
+        for test_case_class in tests._loader.iterate_suite_cases(loader.suite)]
+    test_suite_names = sorted(set(test_suite_names))
+
+    with open('src/python/grpcio/tests/tests.json') as tests_json_file:
+      tests_json = json.load(tests_json_file)
+    self.assertListEqual(test_suite_names, tests_json)
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+  unittest.main(verbosity=2)
diff --git a/src/ruby/ext/grpc/rb_grpc_imports.generated.c b/src/ruby/ext/grpc/rb_grpc_imports.generated.c
index 1af34d97fbcd8239edbe26e595cef8d92ba59bfd..56db4ec686b5fb8ccecdcebf61bdd0bcfbf01b9c 100644
--- a/src/ruby/ext/grpc/rb_grpc_imports.generated.c
+++ b/src/ruby/ext/grpc/rb_grpc_imports.generated.c
@@ -220,6 +220,7 @@ gpr_event_get_type gpr_event_get_import;
 gpr_event_wait_type gpr_event_wait_import;
 gpr_ref_init_type gpr_ref_init_import;
 gpr_ref_type gpr_ref_import;
+gpr_ref_non_zero_type gpr_ref_non_zero_import;
 gpr_refn_type gpr_refn_import;
 gpr_unref_type gpr_unref_import;
 gpr_stats_init_type gpr_stats_init_import;
@@ -481,6 +482,7 @@ void grpc_rb_load_imports(HMODULE library) {
   gpr_event_wait_import = (gpr_event_wait_type) GetProcAddress(library, "gpr_event_wait");
   gpr_ref_init_import = (gpr_ref_init_type) GetProcAddress(library, "gpr_ref_init");
   gpr_ref_import = (gpr_ref_type) GetProcAddress(library, "gpr_ref");
+  gpr_ref_non_zero_import = (gpr_ref_non_zero_type) GetProcAddress(library, "gpr_ref_non_zero");
   gpr_refn_import = (gpr_refn_type) GetProcAddress(library, "gpr_refn");
   gpr_unref_import = (gpr_unref_type) GetProcAddress(library, "gpr_unref");
   gpr_stats_init_import = (gpr_stats_init_type) GetProcAddress(library, "gpr_stats_init");
diff --git a/src/ruby/ext/grpc/rb_grpc_imports.generated.h b/src/ruby/ext/grpc/rb_grpc_imports.generated.h
index 38aabfaca8f20d7c83a51d2f4b8314639e085a79..b972f60fc3584dbed102d5b306f451b9ac14634a 100644
--- a/src/ruby/ext/grpc/rb_grpc_imports.generated.h
+++ b/src/ruby/ext/grpc/rb_grpc_imports.generated.h
@@ -610,6 +610,9 @@ extern gpr_ref_init_type gpr_ref_init_import;
 typedef void(*gpr_ref_type)(gpr_refcount *r);
 extern gpr_ref_type gpr_ref_import;
 #define gpr_ref gpr_ref_import
+typedef void(*gpr_ref_non_zero_type)(gpr_refcount *r);
+extern gpr_ref_non_zero_type gpr_ref_non_zero_import;
+#define gpr_ref_non_zero gpr_ref_non_zero_import
 typedef void(*gpr_refn_type)(gpr_refcount *r, int n);
 extern gpr_refn_type gpr_refn_import;
 #define gpr_refn gpr_refn_import
diff --git a/tools/run_tests/build_python.sh b/tools/run_tests/build_python.sh
index e0fcbb602d4bc276e3b7ccb6caa7ed1101634c73..365abb4d8638a5b845a260d574ab5c3c23340d7c 100755
--- a/tools/run_tests/build_python.sh
+++ b/tools/run_tests/build_python.sh
@@ -45,3 +45,5 @@ export GRPC_PYTHON_ENABLE_CYTHON_TRACING=1
 tox --notest
 
 $ROOT/.tox/py27/bin/python $ROOT/setup.py build
+$ROOT/.tox/py27/bin/python $ROOT/setup.py build_py
+$ROOT/.tox/py27/bin/python $ROOT/setup.py gather --test
diff --git a/tools/run_tests/run_python.sh b/tools/run_tests/run_python.sh
index ffe9c12af1a2beefc6cf9773cd9f46412059fcba..beb747a6169aca6a64380a29cf4e695ea070e474 100755
--- a/tools/run_tests/run_python.sh
+++ b/tools/run_tests/run_python.sh
@@ -42,7 +42,12 @@ export LDFLAGS="-L$ROOT/libs/$CONFIG"
 export GRPC_PYTHON_BUILD_WITH_CYTHON=1
 export GRPC_PYTHON_ENABLE_CYTHON_TRACING=1
 
-tox
+if [ "$CONFIG" = "gcov" ]
+then
+  tox
+else
+  $ROOT/.tox/py27/bin/python $ROOT/setup.py test
+fi
 
 mkdir -p $ROOT/reports
 rm -rf $ROOT/reports/python-coverage
diff --git a/tools/run_tests/run_tests.py b/tools/run_tests/run_tests.py
index 08a5ff0e8fafbc0757c5bd9eee1081c23b4355ba..c55d1fbe6334823788df6d7703b3fb466881526e 100755
--- a/tools/run_tests/run_tests.py
+++ b/tools/run_tests/run_tests.py
@@ -353,15 +353,27 @@ class PythonLanguage(object):
     _check_compiler(self.args.compiler, ['default'])
 
   def test_specs(self):
+    # load list of known test suites
+    with open('src/python/grpcio/tests/tests.json') as tests_json_file:
+      tests_json = json.load(tests_json_file)
     environment = dict(_FORCE_ENVIRON_FOR_WRAPPERS)
     environment['PYVER'] = '2.7'
-    return [self.config.job_spec(
-        ['tools/run_tests/run_python.sh'],
-        None,
-        environ=environment,
-        shortname='py.test',
-        timeout_seconds=15*60
-    )]
+    if self.config.build_config != 'gcov':
+      return [self.config.job_spec(
+          ['tools/run_tests/run_python.sh'],
+          None,
+          environ=dict(environment.items() +
+                       [('GPRC_PYTHON_TESTRUNNER_FILTER', suite_name)]),
+          shortname='py.test.%s' % suite_name,
+          timeout_seconds=5*60)
+          for suite_name in tests_json]
+    else:
+      return [self.config.job_spec(['tools/run_tests/run_python.sh'],
+                                   None,
+                                   environ=environment,
+                                   shortname='py.test.coverage',
+                                   timeout_seconds=15*60)]
+
 
   def pre_build_steps(self):
     return []