diff --git a/newsfragments/1770.bugfix.rst b/newsfragments/1770.bugfix.rst
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..4ef2303d9d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/newsfragments/1770.bugfix.rst
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+Trio now avoids creating cyclic garbage as often. This should have a
+minimal impact on most programs, but can slightly reduce how often the
+cycle collector GC runs on CPython, which can reduce latency spikes.
diff --git a/trio/_core/_multierror.py b/trio/_core/_multierror.py
index 9e0de7cf9f..13fc3f3d0f 100644
--- a/trio/_core/_multierror.py
+++ b/trio/_core/_multierror.py
@@ -114,6 +114,9 @@ def push_tb_down(tb, exc, preserved):
     preserved = set()
     new_root_exc = filter_tree(root_exc, preserved)
     push_tb_down(None, root_exc, preserved)
+    # Delete the local functions to avoid a reference cycle (see
+    # test_simple_cancel_scope_usage_doesnt_create_cyclic_garbage)
+    del filter_tree, push_tb_down
     return new_root_exc
 
 
@@ -132,6 +135,7 @@ def __enter__(self):
     def __exit__(self, etype, exc, tb):
         if exc is not None:
             filtered_exc = MultiError.filter(self._handler, exc)
+
             if filtered_exc is exc:
                 # Let the interpreter re-raise it
                 return False
diff --git a/trio/_core/_run.py b/trio/_core/_run.py
index 154b9bb590..e56977f386 100644
--- a/trio/_core/_run.py
+++ b/trio/_core/_run.py
@@ -937,7 +937,12 @@ def aborted(raise_cancel):
         popped = self._parent_task._child_nurseries.pop()
         assert popped is self
         if self._pending_excs:
-            return MultiError(self._pending_excs)
+            try:
+                return MultiError(self._pending_excs)
+            finally:
+                # avoid a garbage cycle
+                # (see test_nursery_cancel_doesnt_create_cyclic_garbage)
+                del self._pending_excs
 
     def start_soon(self, async_fn, *args, name=None):
         """Creates a child task, scheduling ``await async_fn(*args)``.
diff --git a/trio/_core/tests/test_run.py b/trio/_core/tests/test_run.py
index bc1f7867a0..4c4e12b5df 100644
--- a/trio/_core/tests/test_run.py
+++ b/trio/_core/tests/test_run.py
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 from contextlib import contextmanager, ExitStack
 from math import inf
 from textwrap import dedent
+import gc
 
 import attr
 import outcome
@@ -2195,3 +2196,56 @@ async def test_cancel_scope_deadline_duplicates():
             cscope.deadline = now + 9998
             cscope.deadline = now + 9999
         await sleep(0.01)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    sys.implementation.name != "cpython", reason="Only makes sense with refcounting GC"
+)
+async def test_simple_cancel_scope_usage_doesnt_create_cyclic_garbage():
+    # https://github.com/python-trio/trio/issues/1770
+    gc.collect()
+
+    async def do_a_cancel():
+        with _core.CancelScope() as cscope:
+            cscope.cancel()
+            await sleep_forever()
+
+    old_flags = gc.get_debug()
+    try:
+        gc.collect()
+        gc.set_debug(gc.DEBUG_SAVEALL)
+
+        await do_a_cancel()
+        await do_a_cancel()
+
+        async with _core.open_nursery() as nursery:
+            nursery.start_soon(do_a_cancel)
+
+        gc.collect()
+        assert not gc.garbage
+    finally:
+        gc.set_debug(old_flags)
+        gc.garbage.clear()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.skipif(
+    sys.implementation.name != "cpython", reason="Only makes sense with refcounting GC"
+)
+async def test_nursery_cancel_doesnt_create_cyclic_garbage():
+    # https://github.com/python-trio/trio/issues/1770#issuecomment-730229423
+    gc.collect()
+
+    old_flags = gc.get_debug()
+    try:
+        for i in range(3):
+            async with _core.open_nursery() as nursery:
+                gc.collect()
+                gc.set_debug(gc.DEBUG_LEAK)
+                nursery.cancel_scope.cancel()
+
+            gc.collect()
+            gc.set_debug(0)
+            assert not gc.garbage
+    finally:
+        gc.set_debug(old_flags)
+        gc.garbage.clear()