diff --git a/Source/ASNodeController+Beta.h b/Source/ASNodeController+Beta.h
index d443c45b3..7c75c5eec 100644
--- a/Source/ASNodeController+Beta.h
+++ b/Source/ASNodeController+Beta.h
@@ -18,10 +18,18 @@
 #import <AsyncDisplayKit/ASDisplayNode.h>
 #import <AsyncDisplayKit/ASDisplayNode+Subclasses.h> // for ASInterfaceState protocol
 
+// Until an ASNodeController can be provided in place of an ASCellNode, some apps may prefer to have
+// nodes keep their controllers alive (and a weak reference from controller to node)
+#define INVERT_NODE_CONTROLLER_OWNERSHIP 0
+
 /* ASNodeController is currently beta and open to change in the future */
 @interface ASNodeController<__covariant DisplayNodeType : ASDisplayNode *> : NSObject <ASInterfaceStateDelegate>
 
+#if INVERT_NODE_CONTROLLER_OWNERSHIP
+@property (nonatomic, weak) DisplayNodeType node;
+#else
 @property (nonatomic, strong) DisplayNodeType node;
+#endif
 
 - (void)loadNode;
 
diff --git a/Source/ASNodeController+Beta.m b/Source/ASNodeController+Beta.m
index d79d71758..02efdc225 100644
--- a/Source/ASNodeController+Beta.m
+++ b/Source/ASNodeController+Beta.m
@@ -16,9 +16,30 @@
 //
 
 #import "ASNodeController+Beta.h"
-
 #import "ASDisplayNode+FrameworkPrivate.h"
 
+#if INVERT_NODE_CONTROLLER_OWNERSHIP
+
+@interface ASDisplayNode (ASNodeController)
+@property (nonatomic, strong) ASNodeController *asdkNodeController;
+@end
+
+@implementation ASDisplayNode (ASNodeController)
+
+- (ASNodeController *)asdkNodeController
+{
+  return objc_getAssociatedObject(self, @selector(asdkNodeController));
+}
+
+- (void)setAsdkNodeController:(ASNodeController *)asdkNodeController
+{
+  objc_setAssociatedObject(self, @selector(asdkNodeController), asdkNodeController, OBJC_ASSOCIATION_RETAIN_NONATOMIC);
+}
+
+@end
+
+#endif
+
 @implementation ASNodeController
 
 @synthesize node = _node;
@@ -49,6 +70,9 @@ -(void)setNode:(ASDisplayNode *)node
 {
   _node = node;
   _node.interfaceStateDelegate = self;
+#if INVERT_NODE_CONTROLLER_OWNERSHIP
+  _node.asdkNodeController = self;
+#endif
 }
 
 // subclass overrides