diff --git a/src/main/java/codechicken/nei/api/NEIInfo.java b/src/main/java/codechicken/nei/api/NEIInfo.java
index a2549cd5..964b0ad4 100644
--- a/src/main/java/codechicken/nei/api/NEIInfo.java
+++ b/src/main/java/codechicken/nei/api/NEIInfo.java
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import java.util.LinkedList;
 import net.minecraft.world.World;
 
 import codechicken.nei.NEIClientConfig;
+import codechicken.nei.config.GuiOptionList;
 import codechicken.nei.config.OptionCycled;
 
 public class NEIInfo {
@@ -13,7 +14,8 @@ public class NEIInfo {
 
     public static void load(World world) {
         OptionCycled modeOption = (OptionCycled) NEIClientConfig.getOptionList().getOption("inventory.cheatmode");
-        modeOption.parent.synthesizeEnvironment(false);
+        // kept alive so the WeakReference in Option.slotRef isn't GC'd before copyGlobals/cycle use it
+        GuiOptionList env = modeOption.parent.synthesizeEnvironment(false);
         if (!modeOption.optionValid(modeOption.value())) {
             modeOption.copyGlobals();
             modeOption.cycle();
diff --git a/src/main/java/codechicken/nei/config/DataDumper.java b/src/main/java/codechicken/nei/config/DataDumper.java
index 918e06cc..ef3f139d 100644
--- a/src/main/java/codechicken/nei/config/DataDumper.java
+++ b/src/main/java/codechicken/nei/config/DataDumper.java
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ public abstract class DataDumper extends Option {
 
     public Rectangle4i dumpButtonSize() {
         int width = 80;
-        return new Rectangle4i(slot.slotWidth() - width, 0, width, 20);
+        return new Rectangle4i(getSlot().slotWidth() - width, 0, width, 20);
     }
 
     public Rectangle4i modeButtonSize() {
diff --git a/src/main/java/codechicken/nei/config/GuiHighlightTips.java b/src/main/java/codechicken/nei/config/GuiHighlightTips.java
index cd37cfe2..6500988a 100644
--- a/src/main/java/codechicken/nei/config/GuiHighlightTips.java
+++ b/src/main/java/codechicken/nei/config/GuiHighlightTips.java
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ public class GuiHighlightTips extends GuiScreenWidget {
     @Override
     public void keyTyped(char c, int keycode) {
         if (keycode == Keyboard.KEY_ESCAPE || keycode == Keyboard.KEY_BACK) {
-            Minecraft.getMinecraft().displayGuiScreen(opt.slot.getGui());
+            Minecraft.getMinecraft().displayGuiScreen(opt.getSlot().getGui());
             return;
         }
         super.keyTyped(c, keycode);
diff --git a/src/main/java/codechicken/nei/config/GuiItemIconDumper.java b/src/main/java/codechicken/nei/config/GuiItemIconDumper.java
index b3ad024a..adc06cfe 100644
--- a/src/main/java/codechicken/nei/config/GuiItemIconDumper.java
+++ b/src/main/java/codechicken/nei/config/GuiItemIconDumper.java
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ public class GuiItemIconDumper extends GuiScreen {
     }
 
     private void returnScreen(IChatComponent msg) {
-        Minecraft.getMinecraft().displayGuiScreen(opt.slot.getGui());
+        Minecraft.getMinecraft().displayGuiScreen(opt.getSlot().getGui());
         NEIClientUtils.printChatMessage(msg);
     }
 
diff --git a/src/main/java/codechicken/nei/config/GuiItemSorter.java b/src/main/java/codechicken/nei/config/GuiItemSorter.java
index d8f0e78e..e42af183 100644
--- a/src/main/java/codechicken/nei/config/GuiItemSorter.java
+++ b/src/main/java/codechicken/nei/config/GuiItemSorter.java
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ public class GuiItemSorter extends GuiOptionPane {
 
     @Override
     public GuiScreen getParentScreen() {
-        return opt.slot.getGui();
+        return opt.getSlot().getGui();
     }
 
     @Override
diff --git a/src/main/java/codechicken/nei/config/GuiPanelSettings.java b/src/main/java/codechicken/nei/config/GuiPanelSettings.java
index 4fd3d5c4..075f25d3 100644
--- a/src/main/java/codechicken/nei/config/GuiPanelSettings.java
+++ b/src/main/java/codechicken/nei/config/GuiPanelSettings.java
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ public class GuiPanelSettings extends GuiScreenWidget {
     public void keyTyped(char c, int keycode) {
 
         if (keycode == Keyboard.KEY_ESCAPE || keycode == Keyboard.KEY_BACK) {
-            Minecraft.getMinecraft().displayGuiScreen(opt.slot.getGui());
+            Minecraft.getMinecraft().displayGuiScreen(opt.getSlot().getGui());
             return;
         }
 
diff --git a/src/main/java/codechicken/nei/config/Option.java b/src/main/java/codechicken/nei/config/Option.java
index 89a7e337..5ac7ab82 100644
--- a/src/main/java/codechicken/nei/config/Option.java
+++ b/src/main/java/codechicken/nei/config/Option.java
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 package codechicken.nei.config;
 
+import java.lang.ref.WeakReference;
 import java.util.List;
 
 import net.minecraft.client.Minecraft;
@@ -17,7 +18,11 @@ public abstract class Option {
                 .playSound(PositionedSoundRecord.func_147674_a(new ResourceLocation("gui.button.press"), 1.0F));
     }
 
-    public OptionScrollSlot slot;
+    private WeakReference<OptionScrollSlot> slotRef;
+
+    public OptionScrollSlot getSlot() {
+        return slotRef != null ? slotRef.get() : null;
+    }
 
     public String namespace = null;
     public final String name;
@@ -134,7 +139,7 @@ public abstract class Option {
      * @return true if the gui is in world config mode
      */
     public boolean worldConfig() {
-        return slot.getGui().worldConfig();
+        return getSlot().getGui().worldConfig();
     }
 
     /**
@@ -189,7 +194,7 @@ public abstract class Option {
     }
 
     public void onAdded(OptionScrollSlot slot) {
-        this.slot = slot;
+        this.slotRef = new WeakReference<>(slot);
     }
 
     public void onAdded(OptionList list) {
diff --git a/src/main/java/codechicken/nei/config/OptionButton.java b/src/main/java/codechicken/nei/config/OptionButton.java
index 40c60ca6..9a83d531 100644
--- a/src/main/java/codechicken/nei/config/OptionButton.java
+++ b/src/main/java/codechicken/nei/config/OptionButton.java
@@ -57,10 +57,10 @@ public abstract class OptionButton extends Option {
     }
 
     public Rectangle buttonSize() {
-        if (getPrefix() == null) return new Rectangle(0, 0, slot.slotWidth(), 20);
+        if (getPrefix() == null) return new Rectangle(0, 0, getSlot().slotWidth(), 20);
 
         int width = Math.max(60, getStringWidth(getButtonText()) + 8);
-        return new Rectangle(slot.slotWidth() - width, 0, width, 20);
+        return new Rectangle(getSlot().slotWidth() - width, 0, width, 20);
     }
 
     public String getPrefix() {
diff --git a/src/main/java/codechicken/nei/config/OptionKeyBind.java b/src/main/java/codechicken/nei/config/OptionKeyBind.java
index 3602beb7..9ed27dad 100644
--- a/src/main/java/codechicken/nei/config/OptionKeyBind.java
+++ b/src/main/java/codechicken/nei/config/OptionKeyBind.java
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ public class OptionKeyBind extends OptionButton {
             return false;
         }
 
-        for (Option o : slot.options) {
+        for (Option o : getSlot().options) {
             if (o instanceof OptionKeyBind && o != this && ((OptionKeyBind) o).getValue() == keyboard) {
                 return true;
             }
diff --git a/src/main/java/codechicken/nei/config/OptionList.java b/src/main/java/codechicken/nei/config/OptionList.java
index 468db24e..4e5bc19a 100644
--- a/src/main/java/codechicken/nei/config/OptionList.java
+++ b/src/main/java/codechicken/nei/config/OptionList.java
@@ -131,13 +131,15 @@ public class OptionList extends OptionButton {
     /**
      * Adds this option to a temporary slot and gui for internal setting manipulation.
      */
-    public void synthesizeEnvironment(boolean world) {
-        getGui(null, this, world).addWidgets();
+    public GuiOptionList synthesizeEnvironment(boolean world) {
+        GuiOptionList gui = getGui(null, this, world);
+        gui.addWidgets();
+        return gui;
     }
 
     @Override
     public boolean onClick(int button) {
-        openGui(slot.getGui(), slot.getGui().worldConfig());
+        openGui(getSlot().getGui(), getSlot().getGui().worldConfig());
         return true;
     }
 
diff --git a/src/main/java/codechicken/nei/config/OptionStringSet.java b/src/main/java/codechicken/nei/config/OptionStringSet.java
index 9afa3196..43b8031a 100644
--- a/src/main/java/codechicken/nei/config/OptionStringSet.java
+++ b/src/main/java/codechicken/nei/config/OptionStringSet.java
@@ -131,6 +131,6 @@ public abstract class OptionStringSet extends Option {
     }
 
     public int buttonX() {
-        return slot.slotWidth() - (24 * options.size() - 4);
+        return getSlot().slotWidth() - (24 * options.size() - 4);
     }
 }
diff --git a/src/main/java/codechicken/nei/config/OptionTextField.java b/src/main/java/codechicken/nei/config/OptionTextField.java
index f249847b..67c7ee30 100644
--- a/src/main/java/codechicken/nei/config/OptionTextField.java
+++ b/src/main/java/codechicken/nei/config/OptionTextField.java
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ public class OptionTextField extends Option {
     }
 
     protected int getMaxInputWidth() {
-        return slot.slotWidth();
+        return getSlot().slotWidth();
     }
 
     public boolean isEnabled() {
@@ -64,9 +64,10 @@ public class OptionTextField extends Option {
     public void draw(int mousex, int mousey, float frame) {
         GuiDraw.drawString(getPrefix(), 10, 6, -1);
 
-        textField.w = Math
-                .max(60, Math.min(getMaxInputWidth(), slot.slotWidth() - GuiDraw.getStringWidth(getPrefix())) - 16);
-        textField.x = slot.slotWidth() - textField.w;
+        textField.w = Math.max(
+                60,
+                Math.min(getMaxInputWidth(), getSlot().slotWidth() - GuiDraw.getStringWidth(getPrefix())) - 16);
+        textField.x = getSlot().slotWidth() - textField.w;
         textField.draw(mousex, mousey);
     }
 
diff --git a/src/main/java/codechicken/nei/config/preset/GuiPresetList.java b/src/main/java/codechicken/nei/config/preset/GuiPresetList.java
index 2c7544a6..cbd42bb0 100644
--- a/src/main/java/codechicken/nei/config/preset/GuiPresetList.java
+++ b/src/main/java/codechicken/nei/config/preset/GuiPresetList.java
@@ -253,7 +253,7 @@ public class GuiPresetList extends GuiOptionPane {
 
     @Override
     public GuiScreen getParentScreen() {
-        return opt.slot.getGui();
+        return opt.getSlot().getGui();
     }
 
     @Override