diff --git a/CHANGES/7482.bugfix b/CHANGES/7482.bugfix
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..8c9decd66fe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/CHANGES/7482.bugfix
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+Added periodic ``gc.collect()`` and ``malloc_trim(0)`` calls in API workers to prevent
+unbounded RSS growth caused by glibc heap fragmentation.
diff --git a/docs/admin/reference/settings.md b/docs/admin/reference/settings.md
index f6b2b9afd4b..fa00c989e54 100644
--- a/docs/admin/reference/settings.md
+++ b/docs/admin/reference/settings.md
@@ -250,6 +250,14 @@ The number of seconds before a content app should be considered lost.
 
 Defaults to `30` seconds.
 
+### MEMORY\_TRIM\_INTERVAL
+
+Number of API worker requests between periodic `gc.collect()` + `malloc_trim(0)` calls.
+This compacts the glibc heap to prevent unbounded RSS growth from memory fragmentation.
+Set to `0` to disable.
+
+Defaults to `1024`.
+
 ### CONTENT\_ORIGIN
 
 A string containing the `protocol`, `fqdn`, and optionally `port` where the content app is reachable by users.
diff --git a/pulpcore/app/entrypoint.py b/pulpcore/app/entrypoint.py
index fed1d70e2a7..75a0d9c7915 100644
--- a/pulpcore/app/entrypoint.py
+++ b/pulpcore/app/entrypoint.py
@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 from contextvars import ContextVar
 from logging import getLogger
+import ctypes
+import ctypes.util
+import gc
 import os
+import platform
 import sys
 import threading
 import time
@@ -18,16 +22,42 @@
 
 logger = getLogger(__name__)
 
+_malloc_trim = None
+if platform.system() == "Linux":
+    try:
+        _libc = ctypes.CDLL(ctypes.util.find_library("c"))
+        _malloc_trim = _libc.malloc_trim
+        _malloc_trim.argtypes = [ctypes.c_int]
+        _malloc_trim.restype = ctypes.c_int
+    except (OSError, AttributeError):
+        pass
+
 
 name_template_var = ContextVar("name_template_var", default=None)
 using_pulp_api_worker = ContextVar("using_pulp_api_worker", default=False)
 
 
 class PulpApiWorker(SyncWorker):
+    _request_counter = 0
+    _memory_trim_interval = 0
+
     def __init__(self, *args, **kwargs):
         super().__init__(*args, **kwargs)
         self.heartbeat_thread = None
 
+    def handle_request(self, listener, req, client, addr):
+        super().handle_request(listener, req, client, addr)
+        self._trim_memory_if_needed()
+
+    def _trim_memory_if_needed(self):
+        if not _malloc_trim or self._memory_trim_interval <= 0:
+            return
+        self._request_counter += 1
+        if self._request_counter >= self._memory_trim_interval:
+            self._request_counter = 0
+            gc.collect()
+            _malloc_trim(0)
+
     def _heartbeat_loop(self):
         """Run heartbeat in a loop. Exit process if heartbeat fails."""
         try:
@@ -105,6 +135,13 @@ def init_process(self):
         )
         self.heartbeat_thread.start()
 
+        self._memory_trim_interval = settings.MEMORY_TRIM_INTERVAL
+        if _malloc_trim and self._memory_trim_interval > 0:
+            logger.info(
+                "Memory trim enabled: gc.collect + malloc_trim(0) every %d requests",
+                self._memory_trim_interval,
+            )
+
         super().init_process()
 
     def run(self):
diff --git a/pulpcore/app/settings.py b/pulpcore/app/settings.py
index 71fccf16dcb..b880ffda09b 100644
--- a/pulpcore/app/settings.py
+++ b/pulpcore/app/settings.py
@@ -292,6 +292,7 @@
 API_APP_TTL = 120  # The heartbeat is called from gunicorn notify (defaulting to 45 sec).
 CONTENT_APP_TTL = 30
 WORKER_TTL = 30
+MEMORY_TRIM_INTERVAL = 1024
 
 # Seconds for a task to finish on semi graceful worker shutdown (approx)
 # On SIGHUP, SIGTERM the currently running task will be awaited forever.