diff --git a/pkgs/base/info.rkt b/pkgs/base/info.rkt
index 79d570eae9..84ea116d61 100644
--- a/pkgs/base/info.rkt
+++ b/pkgs/base/info.rkt
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
 
 (define collection 'multi)
 
-(define version "6.2.900.16")
+(define version "6.2.900.17")
 
 (define deps `("racket-lib"
                ["racket" #:version ,version]))
diff --git a/pkgs/racket-doc/scribblings/reference/memory.scrbl b/pkgs/racket-doc/scribblings/reference/memory.scrbl
index ccee0c33a4..d67ca8bcf9 100644
--- a/pkgs/racket-doc/scribblings/reference/memory.scrbl
+++ b/pkgs/racket-doc/scribblings/reference/memory.scrbl
@@ -287,24 +287,28 @@ collection mode, the text has the format
 ]}
 
 
-@defproc[(collect-garbage [minor? any/c #f]) void?]{
+@defproc[(collect-garbage [request (or/c 'major 'minor) 'major]) void?]{
 
 Forces an immediate @tech{garbage collection} (unless garbage
 collection is disabled by setting @envvar{PLTDISABLEGC}). Some
 effectively unreachable data may remain uncollected, because the
 collector cannot prove that it is unreachable.
 
-If @racket[minor?] is false, then a major collection is
-run. Otherwise, a minor collection is run or no collection is run. (No
+The @racket[collect-garbage] procedure provides some control over the
+timing of collections, but garbage will obviously be collected even if
+this procedure is never called (unless garbage collection is disabled).
+
+If @racket[request] is @racket['major], then a major collection is
+run. If @racket[request] is @racket['minor], then either a minor
+collection is run or no collection is run (and no
 collection occurs when @racket[(system-type 'gc)] returns
 @racket['cgc] or when a normally scheduled minor collection would
-cause a major collection.) Minor collections run by
+cause a major collection); minor collections triggered by
 @racket[collect-garbage] do not cause major collections to run any
 sooner than they would have otherwise.
 
-The @racket[collect-garbage] procedure provides some control over the
-timing of collections, but garbage will obviously be collected even if
-this procedure is never called (unless garbage collection is disabled).}
+@history[#:changed "6.2.900.17" @elem{Added the @racket[request] argument.}]}
+
 
 @defproc[(current-memory-use [cust custodian? #f]) exact-nonnegative-integer?]{
 
diff --git a/pkgs/racket-test-core/tests/racket/will.rktl b/pkgs/racket-test-core/tests/racket/will.rktl
index ecf0e333b0..a10573e4cc 100644
--- a/pkgs/racket-test-core/tests/racket/will.rktl
+++ b/pkgs/racket-test-core/tests/racket/will.rktl
@@ -3,6 +3,10 @@
 
 (Section 'wills)
 
+(collect-garbage 'major)
+(collect-garbage 'minor)
+(err/rt-test (collect-garbage 'other))
+
 (test #t exact-nonnegative-integer? (current-memory-use))
 (test #t exact-nonnegative-integer? (current-memory-use #f))
 (test #t exact-nonnegative-integer? (current-memory-use (current-custodian)))
diff --git a/racket/src/racket/src/schvers.h b/racket/src/racket/src/schvers.h
index f7913d2faa..5aec9b8b28 100644
--- a/racket/src/racket/src/schvers.h
+++ b/racket/src/racket/src/schvers.h
@@ -13,12 +13,12 @@
    consistently.)
 */
 
-#define MZSCHEME_VERSION "6.2.900.16"
+#define MZSCHEME_VERSION "6.2.900.17"
 
 #define MZSCHEME_VERSION_X 6
 #define MZSCHEME_VERSION_Y 2
 #define MZSCHEME_VERSION_Z 900
-#define MZSCHEME_VERSION_W 16
+#define MZSCHEME_VERSION_W 17
 
 #define MZSCHEME_VERSION_MAJOR ((MZSCHEME_VERSION_X * 100) + MZSCHEME_VERSION_Y)
 #define MZSCHEME_VERSION_MINOR ((MZSCHEME_VERSION_Z * 1000) + MZSCHEME_VERSION_W)
diff --git a/racket/src/racket/src/thread.c b/racket/src/racket/src/thread.c
index 7ef4c0db43..0ff1b3da06 100644
--- a/racket/src/racket/src/thread.c
+++ b/racket/src/racket/src/thread.c
@@ -243,6 +243,7 @@ THREAD_LOCAL_DECL(struct Scheme_GC_Pre_Post_Callback_Desc *gc_prepost_callback_d
 
 ROSYM static Scheme_Object *read_symbol, *write_symbol, *execute_symbol, *delete_symbol, *exists_symbol;
 ROSYM static Scheme_Object *client_symbol, *server_symbol;
+ROSYM static Scheme_Object *major_symbol, *minor_symbol;
 
 THREAD_LOCAL_DECL(static int do_atomic = 0);
 THREAD_LOCAL_DECL(static int missed_context_switch = 0);
@@ -520,7 +521,12 @@ void scheme_init_thread(Scheme_Env *env)
   exists_symbol = scheme_intern_symbol("exists");
   client_symbol = scheme_intern_symbol("client");
   server_symbol = scheme_intern_symbol("server");
-  
+
+  REGISTER_SO(major_symbol);
+  REGISTER_SO(minor_symbol);
+  major_symbol = scheme_intern_symbol("major");
+  minor_symbol = scheme_intern_symbol("minor");
+
   GLOBAL_PRIM_W_ARITY("dump-memory-stats"            , scheme_dump_gc_stats, 0, -1, env);
   GLOBAL_PRIM_W_ARITY("vector-set-performance-stats!", current_stats       , 1, 2, env);
 
@@ -713,10 +719,14 @@ void scheme_init_paramz(Scheme_Env *env)
 
 static Scheme_Object *collect_garbage(int argc, Scheme_Object *argv[])
 {
-  if (argc == 1 && !SCHEME_FALSEP(argv[0])) {
+  if (argc == 1 && SAME_OBJ(minor_symbol, argv[0])) {
     scheme_collect_garbage_minor();
-  } else {
+  } else if ((argc < 1) || SAME_OBJ(major_symbol, argv[0])) {
     scheme_collect_garbage();
+  } else {
+    scheme_wrong_contract("collect-garbage", 
+                          "(or/c 'major 'minor)", 
+                          0, argc, argv);
   }
 
   return scheme_void;