diff --git a/src/policy/space.rs b/src/policy/space.rs
index 654bcb22a6..2e881b58b6 100644
--- a/src/policy/space.rs
+++ b/src/policy/space.rs
@@ -108,17 +108,22 @@ pub trait Space<VM: VMBinding>: 'static + SFT + Sync + Downcast {
         );
 
         // Should we poll to attempt to GC?
-        // - If tls is collector, we cannot attempt a GC.
-        // - If gc is disabled, we cannot attempt a GC.
-        // - If overcommit is allowed, we don't attempt a GC.
+        // - If tls is collector, we shall not poll.
+        // - If gc is disabled, we shall not poll.
+        // - If the on_fail option does not allow polling, we shall not poll.
         let should_poll = VM::VMActivePlan::is_mutator(tls)
             && VM::VMCollection::is_collection_enabled()
-            && !alloc_options.on_fail.allow_overcommit();
-        // Is a GC allowed here? If we should poll but are not allowed to poll, we will panic.
-        // initialize_collection() has to be called so we know GC is initialized.
-        let allow_gc = should_poll
+            && alloc_options.on_fail.allow_polling();
+
+        // Can we continue to allocate even if GC is triggered?
+        let allow_overcommit = alloc_options.on_fail.allow_overcommit();
+
+        // Can we block for GC if polling triggers GC?
+        // - If the MMTk instance is not initialized, there is no GC workers, and we cannot block for GC.
+        // - If the on_fail option does not allow blocking, we do not block for GC, either.
+        let allow_blocking_for_gc = should_poll
             && self.common().global_state.is_initialized()
-            && alloc_options.on_fail.allow_gc();
+            && alloc_options.on_fail.allow_blocking_for_gc();
 
         trace!("Reserving pages");
         let pr = self.get_page_resource();
@@ -126,18 +131,26 @@ pub trait Space<VM: VMBinding>: 'static + SFT + Sync + Downcast {
         trace!("Pages reserved");
         trace!("Polling ..");
 
-        if should_poll && self.get_gc_trigger().poll(false, Some(self.as_space())) {
+        // Whether we should try to allocate.  We should try to allocate if
+        // -   we shouldn't poll, or
+        // -   we polled, but GC was not triggered, or
+        // -   GC is triggered, but we allow over-committing.
+        let should_try_to_allocate = !should_poll
+            || !self.get_gc_trigger().poll(false, Some(self.as_space()))
+            || allow_overcommit;
+
+        if !should_try_to_allocate {
             // Clear the request
             pr.clear_request(pages_reserved);
 
             // If we do not want GC on fail, just return zero.
-            if !alloc_options.on_fail.allow_gc() {
+            if !allow_blocking_for_gc {
                 return Address::ZERO;
             }
 
             // Otherwise do GC here
             debug!("Collection required");
-            assert!(allow_gc, "GC is not allowed here: collection is not initialized (did you call initialize_collection()?).");
+            assert!(allow_blocking_for_gc, "GC is not allowed here: collection is not initialized (did you call initialize_collection()?).");
 
             // Inform GC trigger about the pending allocation.
             let meta_pages_reserved = self.estimate_side_meta_pages(pages_reserved);
@@ -257,13 +270,13 @@ pub trait Space<VM: VMBinding>: 'static + SFT + Sync + Downcast {
                     pr.clear_request(pages_reserved);
 
                     // If we do not want GC on fail, just return zero.
-                    if !alloc_options.on_fail.allow_gc() {
+                    if !allow_blocking_for_gc {
                         return Address::ZERO;
                     }
 
                     // We thought we had memory to allocate, but somehow failed the allocation. Will force a GC.
                     assert!(
-                        allow_gc,
+                        allow_blocking_for_gc,
                         "Physical allocation failed when GC is not allowed!"
                     );
 
diff --git a/src/util/alloc/allocator.rs b/src/util/alloc/allocator.rs
index 4e53ab953d..290579c6d2 100644
--- a/src/util/alloc/allocator.rs
+++ b/src/util/alloc/allocator.rs
@@ -32,25 +32,34 @@ pub enum AllocationError {
 #[repr(u8)]
 #[derive(Copy, Clone, Default, PartialEq, bytemuck::NoUninit, Debug)]
 pub enum OnAllocationFail {
-    /// Request the GC. This is the default behavior.
+    /// Request the GC and block until GC finishes. This is the default behavior.
     #[default]
     RequestGC,
-    /// Instead of requesting GC, the allocation request returns with a failure value.
+    /// Request the GC.  But instead of blocking for GC, the allocation request returns with a
+    /// failure value.
     ReturnFailure,
-    /// Instead of requesting GC, the allocation request simply overcommits the memory,
-    /// and return a valid result at its best efforts.
+    /// Instead of requesting GC, the allocation request simply overcommits the memory, and return a
+    /// valid result at its best efforts.  GC worker threads will not be notified about the
+    /// allocation failure.
     OverCommit,
+    /// Request the GC.  But instead of blocking for GC, the allocating thread continues to
+    /// allocate, overcommitting the memory.  GC will be scheduled asynchronously by the GC worker
+    /// threads, and the current mutator may stop at a safepoint as soon as possible.
+    RequestAndOverCommit,
 }
 
 impl OnAllocationFail {
     pub(crate) fn allow_oom_call(&self) -> bool {
         *self == Self::RequestGC
     }
-    pub(crate) fn allow_gc(&self) -> bool {
-        *self == Self::RequestGC
+    pub(crate) fn allow_polling(&self) -> bool {
+        *self != Self::OverCommit
     }
     pub(crate) fn allow_overcommit(&self) -> bool {
-        *self == Self::OverCommit
+        *self == Self::OverCommit || *self == Self::RequestAndOverCommit
+    }
+    pub(crate) fn allow_blocking_for_gc(&self) -> bool {
+        *self == Self::RequestGC
     }
 }