diff --git a/run.in b/run.in
index ebdec65a4..5bc9459df 100755
--- a/run.in
+++ b/run.in
@@ -96,6 +96,13 @@ else
 fi
 export PERL5LIB
 
+# Enable Perl valgrinding.
+# XXX Unclear if this actually makes any difference.  It seems you
+# have to recompile the Perl interpreter with debugging enabled.
+export PERL_DEBUG=1
+export PERL_VALGRIND=1
+export PERL_DESTRUCT_LEVEL=2
+
 # For Python.
 export PYTHON=@PYTHON@
 if [ -z "$PYTHONPATH" ]; then
diff --git a/valgrind-suppressions b/valgrind-suppressions
index 6665ac543..079129292 100644
--- a/valgrind-suppressions
+++ b/valgrind-suppressions
@@ -277,3 +277,47 @@
    ...
    fun:file_apprentice
 }
+
+# Perl
+# note: Perl leaks memory by design, this just suppresses them.
+{
+   perl_leak_1
+   Memcheck:Leak
+   ...
+   fun:Perl_safesysmalloc
+}
+
+{
+   perl_leak_2
+   Memcheck:Leak
+   ...
+   fun:Perl_safesysrealloc
+}
+
+{
+   perl_leak_3
+   Memcheck:Leak
+   ...
+   fun:Perl_safesyscalloc
+}
+
+{
+   perl_leak_4
+   Memcheck:Leak
+   ...
+   fun:Perl_yyparse
+}
+
+{
+   perl_leak_5
+   Memcheck:Leak
+   ...
+   fun:Perl_re_compile
+}
+
+{
+   perl_leak_6
+   Memcheck:Leak
+   fun:malloc
+   fun:Perl_refcounted_he_new_pvn
+}