diff --git a/libraries/AP_Scripting/AP_Scripting.h b/libraries/AP_Scripting/AP_Scripting.h
index 0aee427f8dcb1f..4f25e0235bdb50 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_Scripting/AP_Scripting.h
+++ b/libraries/AP_Scripting/AP_Scripting.h
@@ -151,6 +151,7 @@ class AP_Scripting
         LOG_RUNTIME = 1U << 3,
         DISABLE_PRE_ARM = 1U << 4,
         SAVE_CHECKSUM = 1U << 5,
+        DISABLE_HEAP_EXPANSION = 1U << 6,
     };
 
 private:
diff --git a/libraries/AP_Scripting/lua_scripts.cpp b/libraries/AP_Scripting/lua_scripts.cpp
index c78c0327f324b5..f7f7c8cd7d71c3 100644
--- a/libraries/AP_Scripting/lua_scripts.cpp
+++ b/libraries/AP_Scripting/lua_scripts.cpp
@@ -45,7 +45,8 @@ lua_scripts::lua_scripts(const AP_Int32 &vm_steps, const AP_Int32 &heap_size, AP
       _debug_options(debug_options),
      terminal(_terminal)
 {
-    _heap.create(heap_size, 4);
+    const bool allow_heap_expansion = !option_is_set(AP_Scripting::DebugOption::DISABLE_HEAP_EXPANSION);
+    _heap.create(heap_size, 10, allow_heap_expansion, 20*1024);
 }
 
 lua_scripts::~lua_scripts() {