diff --git a/apps/openmw/CMakeLists.txt b/apps/openmw/CMakeLists.txt
index 9a5669c870..bfaeaf2cf3 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/apps/openmw/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ add_openmw_dir (mwlua
     context menuscripts globalscripts localscripts playerscripts luabindings objectbindings cellbindings coremwscriptbindings
     mwscriptbindings camerabindings vfsbindings uibindings soundbindings inputbindings nearbybindings dialoguebindings
     postprocessingbindings stats recordstore debugbindings corebindings worldbindings worker landbindings magicbindings factionbindings
-    classbindings itemdata inputprocessor animationbindings birthsignbindings racebindings markupbindings weatherbindings regionbindings
+    classbindings intern itemdata inputprocessor animationbindings birthsignbindings racebindings markupbindings weatherbindings regionbindings
     types/types types/door types/item types/actor types/container types/lockable types/weapon types/npc
     types/creature types/player types/activator types/book types/lockpick types/probe types/apparatus
     types/potion types/ingredient types/misc types/repair types/armor types/light types/static
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwlua/intern.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwlua/intern.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..164319ab54
--- /dev/null
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwlua/intern.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+#include "object.hpp"
+
+namespace MWLua
+{
+    namespace
+    {
+        template <typename T>
+        inline constexpr bool is_gameObject = std::is_same_v<LObject, T> || std::is_same_v<GObject, T>;
+        template <typename T>
+        inline constexpr bool is_cell = std::is_same_v<LCell, T> || std::is_same_v<GCell, T>;
+
+        constexpr std::string_view gameObjects = "LUA_GAMEOBJECTS_REGISTRY";
+        constexpr std::string_view cells = "LUA_CELLS_REGISTRY";
+
+        inline constexpr uint64_t toUInt64(const ObjectId& id)
+        {
+            if (id.hasContentFile())
+                return id.mIndex | (static_cast<uint64_t>(id.mContentFile) << 24);
+            else
+                return id.mIndex | (static_cast<uint64_t>(-id.mContentFile - 1) << 32);
+        }
+
+        inline sol::table getRegistry(std::string_view key, sol::state_view lua)
+        {
+            if (sol::object reg = lua.registry()[key]; reg.valid()) // LUA_REGISTRYINDEX
+                return reg.as<sol::table>();
+
+            sol::table t(lua, sol::create);
+            t[sol::metatable_key] = lua.create_table_with("__mode", "v"); // weak table
+
+            lua.registry()[key] = t;
+            return t;
+        }
+
+        template <typename userT, typename ArgT>
+        sol::object makeOrGetImpl(ArgT arg, sol::state_view lua)
+        {
+            static_assert(std::is_constructible_v<userT, ArgT>);
+
+            sol::table registry;
+            sol::object key;
+
+            if constexpr (is_gameObject<userT>)
+            {
+                registry = getRegistry(gameObjects, lua);
+                if constexpr (std::is_same_v<ArgT, MWWorld::Ptr>)
+                    key = sol::make_object(lua, toUInt64(getId(arg)));
+                else
+                    key = sol::make_object(lua, toUInt64(arg));
+            }
+            else if constexpr (is_cell<userT>)
+            {
+                registry = getRegistry(cells, lua);
+                key = sol::make_object(lua, sol::make_light(arg));
+            }
+            // else compile error
+
+            sol::object existing = registry[key];
+            if (existing.valid())
+                return existing;
+
+            sol::object obj = sol::make_object(lua, userT(arg));
+            registry[key] = obj; // stored in weak table so garbage collector should work on this
+            return obj;
+        }
+
+    } // namespace
+
+    template <typename userT, typename ArgT>
+    sol::object makeOrGet(ArgT arg, sol::state_view lua)
+    {
+        return makeOrGetImpl<userT>(arg, lua);
+    }
+
+    // Game Objects
+    template sol::object MWLua::makeOrGet<LObject, MWWorld::Ptr>(MWWorld::Ptr, sol::state_view);
+    template sol::object MWLua::makeOrGet<LObject, ObjectId>(ObjectId, sol::state_view);
+    template sol::object MWLua::makeOrGet<GObject, MWWorld::Ptr>(MWWorld::Ptr, sol::state_view);
+    template sol::object MWLua::makeOrGet<GObject, ObjectId>(ObjectId, sol::state_view);
+
+    // Cells
+    template sol::object MWLua::makeOrGet<LCell, MWWorld::CellStore*>(MWWorld::CellStore*, sol::state_view);
+    template sol::object MWLua::makeOrGet<GCell, MWWorld::CellStore*>(MWWorld::CellStore*, sol::state_view);
+}
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwlua/localscripts.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwlua/localscripts.cpp
index 99c994304b..522cd39212 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwlua/localscripts.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwlua/localscripts.cpp
@@ -58,7 +58,8 @@ namespace MWLua
             = lua.new_usertype<SelfObject>("SelfObject", sol::base_classes, sol::bases<LObject, Object>());
         selfAPI[sol::meta_function::to_string]
             = [](SelfObject& self) { return "openmw.self[" + self.toString() + "]"; };
-        selfAPI["object"] = sol::readonly_property([](SelfObject& self) -> LObject { return LObject(self); });
+        selfAPI["object"] = sol::readonly_property(
+            [lua](SelfObject& self) -> sol::object { return makeOrGet<LObject>(self.ptr(), lua); });
         selfAPI["controls"] = sol::readonly_property([](SelfObject& self) { return &self.mControls; });
         selfAPI["isActive"] = [](SelfObject& self) -> bool { return self.mIsActive; };
         selfAPI["enableAI"] = [](SelfObject& self, bool v) { self.mControls.mDisableAI = !v; };
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwlua/luamanagerimp.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwlua/luamanagerimp.cpp
index c0146234f5..3cdafe6445 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwlua/luamanagerimp.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwlua/luamanagerimp.cpp
@@ -791,9 +791,8 @@ namespace MWLua
         {
             sol::object selected = sol::nil;
             if (!selectedPtr.isEmpty())
-                mLua.protectedCall([&](LuaUtil::LuaView& view) {
-                    selected = sol::make_object(view.sol(), LObject(getId(selectedPtr)));
-                });
+                mLua.protectedCall(
+                    [&](LuaUtil::LuaView& view) { selected = makeOrGet<LObject>(selectedPtr, view.sol()); });
             if (playerScripts->consoleCommand(consoleMode, command, selected))
                 processed = true;
         }
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwlua/mwscriptbindings.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwlua/mwscriptbindings.cpp
index 179b35aa5c..81d7727bde 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwlua/mwscriptbindings.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwlua/mwscriptbindings.cpp
@@ -130,18 +130,18 @@ namespace MWLua
         mwscript["isRunning"] = sol::readonly_property([](const MWScriptRef& s) { return s.isRunning(); });
         mwscript["recordId"] = sol::readonly_property([](const MWScriptRef& s) { return s.mId.serializeText(); });
         mwscript["variables"] = sol::readonly_property([](const MWScriptRef& s) { return MWScriptVariables{ s }; });
-        mwscript["object"] = sol::readonly_property([](const MWScriptRef& s) -> sol::optional<GObject> {
+        mwscript["object"] = sol::readonly_property([lua](const MWScriptRef& s) -> sol::object {
             if (s.mObj)
-                return s.mObj;
+                return makeOrGet<GObject>(s.mObj->ptr(), lua);
             const MWScript::GlobalScriptDesc* script
                 = MWBase::Environment::get().getScriptManager()->getGlobalScripts().getScriptIfPresent(s.mId);
             if (!script)
                 throw std::runtime_error("Invalid MWScriptRef");
             const MWWorld::Ptr* ptr = script->getPtrIfPresent();
             if (ptr && !ptr->isEmpty())
-                return GObject(*ptr);
+                return makeOrGet<GObject>(*ptr, lua);
             else
-                return sol::nullopt;
+                return sol::nil;
         });
         mwscript["player"] = sol::readonly_property(
             [](const MWScriptRef&) { return GObject(MWBase::Environment::get().getWorld()->getPlayerPtr()); });
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwlua/object.hpp b/apps/openmw/mwlua/object.hpp
index 4a50dee8b6..171fa147cb 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwlua/object.hpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwlua/object.hpp
@@ -35,6 +35,9 @@ namespace MWLua
         }
     };
 
+    template <typename userT, typename ArgT>
+    sol::object makeOrGet(ArgT arg, sol::state_view lua);
+
     // Used only in local scripts
     struct LCell
     {
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwlua/objectbindings.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwlua/objectbindings.cpp
index 2a0aa87d15..14170270d5 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwlua/objectbindings.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwlua/objectbindings.cpp
@@ -170,11 +170,11 @@ namespace MWLua
             listT[sol::meta_function::to_string]
                 = [](const ListT& list) { return "{" + std::to_string(list.mIds->size()) + " objects}"; };
             listT[sol::meta_function::length] = [](const ListT& list) { return list.mIds->size(); };
-            listT[sol::meta_function::index] = [](const ListT& list, size_t index) -> sol::optional<ObjectT> {
+            listT[sol::meta_function::index] = [lua](const ListT& list, size_t index) -> sol::object {
                 if (index > 0 && index <= list.mIds->size())
-                    return ObjectT((*list.mIds)[LuaUtil::fromLuaIndex(index)]);
+                    return makeOrGet<ObjectT>((*list.mIds)[LuaUtil::fromLuaIndex(index)], lua);
                 else
-                    return sol::nullopt;
+                    return sol::nil;
             };
             listT[sol::meta_function::pairs] = lua["ipairsForArray"].template get<sol::function>();
             listT[sol::meta_function::ipairs] = lua["ipairsForArray"].template get<sol::function>();
@@ -278,6 +278,7 @@ namespace MWLua
         template <class ObjectT>
         void addBasicBindings(sol::usertype<ObjectT>& objectT, const Context& context)
         {
+            sol::state_view lua = context.sol();
             objectT["id"] = sol::readonly_property([](const ObjectT& o) -> std::string { return o.id().toString(); });
             objectT["contentFile"] = sol::readonly_property([](const ObjectT& o) -> sol::optional<std::string> {
                 int contentFileIndex = o.id().mContentFile;
@@ -296,13 +297,13 @@ namespace MWLua
                 else
                     return ESM::RefId::stringRefId(globalVariable).serializeText();
             });
-            objectT["cell"] = sol::readonly_property([](const ObjectT& o) -> sol::optional<Cell<ObjectT>> {
+            objectT["cell"] = sol::readonly_property([lua](const ObjectT& o) -> sol::object {
                 const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr = o.ptr();
                 MWWorld::WorldModel* wm = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorldModel();
                 if (ptr.isInCell() && ptr.getCell() != &wm->getDraftCell())
-                    return Cell<ObjectT>{ ptr.getCell() };
+                    return makeOrGet<Cell<ObjectT>>(ptr.getCell(), lua);
                 else
-                    return sol::nullopt;
+                    return sol::nil;
             });
             objectT["parentContainer"] = sol::readonly_property([](const ObjectT& o) -> sol::optional<ObjectT> {
                 const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr = o.ptr();
@@ -555,6 +556,7 @@ namespace MWLua
         void addInventoryBindings(sol::usertype<ObjectT>& objectT, const std::string& prefix, const Context& context)
         {
             using InventoryT = Inventory<ObjectT>;
+            sol::state_view lua = context.sol();
             sol::usertype<InventoryT> inventoryT = context.sol().new_usertype<InventoryT>(prefix + "Inventory");
 
             inventoryT[sol::meta_function::to_string]
@@ -651,7 +653,7 @@ namespace MWLua
                 MWWorld::ContainerStore& store = ptr.getClass().getContainerStore(ptr);
                 return store.isResolved();
             };
-            inventoryT["find"] = [](const InventoryT& inventory, std::string_view recordId) -> sol::optional<ObjectT> {
+            inventoryT["find"] = [lua](const InventoryT& inventory, std::string_view recordId) -> sol::object {
                 const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr = inventory.mObj.ptr();
                 MWWorld::ContainerStore& store = ptr.getClass().getContainerStore(ptr);
                 auto itemId = ESM::RefId::deserializeText(recordId);
@@ -660,10 +662,10 @@ namespace MWLua
                     if (item.getCellRef().getRefId() == itemId)
                     {
                         MWBase::Environment::get().getWorldModel()->registerPtr(item);
-                        return ObjectT(getId(item));
+                        return makeOrGet<ObjectT>(getId(item), lua);
                     }
                 }
-                return sol::nullopt;
+                return sol::nil;
             };
             inventoryT["findAll"] = [](const InventoryT& inventory, std::string_view recordId) {
                 const MWWorld::Ptr& ptr = inventory.mObj.ptr();
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwlua/types/door.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwlua/types/door.cpp
index 61dcc66a45..9d2602143a 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwlua/types/door.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwlua/types/door.cpp
@@ -96,9 +96,9 @@ namespace MWLua
                 return sol::nil;
             MWWorld::CellStore& cell = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorldModel()->getCell(cellRef.getDestCell());
             if (dynamic_cast<const GObject*>(&o))
-                return sol::make_object(thisState, GCell{ &cell });
+                return makeOrGet<GCell>(&cell, thisState);
             else
-                return sol::make_object(thisState, LCell{ &cell });
+                return makeOrGet<LCell>(&cell, thisState);
         };
 
         addRecordFunctionBinding<ESM::Door>(door, context);
@@ -132,9 +132,9 @@ namespace MWLua
                 return sol::nil;
             MWWorld::CellStore& cell = MWBase::Environment::get().getWorldModel()->getCell(cellRef.getDestCell());
             if (dynamic_cast<const GObject*>(&o))
-                return sol::make_object(lua, GCell{ &cell });
+                return makeOrGet<GCell>(&cell, lua);
             else
-                return sol::make_object(lua, LCell{ &cell });
+                return makeOrGet<LCell>(&cell, lua);
         };
 
         addRecordFunctionBinding<ESM4::Door>(door, context, "ESM4Door");
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwlua/userdataserializer.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwlua/userdataserializer.cpp
index 478f725d7c..b2a7349d35 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwlua/userdataserializer.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwlua/userdataserializer.cpp
@@ -77,9 +77,9 @@ namespace MWLua
                 ObjectId id = loadRefNum(binaryData);
                 adjustRefNum(id);
                 if (mLocalSerializer)
-                    sol::stack::push<LObject>(lua, LObject(id));
+                    sol::stack::push(lua, makeOrGet<LObject>(id, lua));
                 else
-                    sol::stack::push<GObject>(lua, GObject(id));
+                    sol::stack::push(lua, makeOrGet<GObject>(id, lua));
                 return true;
             }
             if (typeName == sObjListTypeName)
diff --git a/apps/openmw/mwlua/worldbindings.cpp b/apps/openmw/mwlua/worldbindings.cpp
index d80631c273..62a3fbad8e 100644
--- a/apps/openmw/mwlua/worldbindings.cpp
+++ b/apps/openmw/mwlua/worldbindings.cpp
@@ -81,14 +81,16 @@ namespace MWLua
 
     static void addCellGetters(sol::table& api, const Context& context)
     {
-        api["getCellByName"] = [](std::string_view name) {
-            return GCell{ &MWBase::Environment::get().getWorldModel()->getCell(name, /*forceLoad=*/false) };
+        sol::state_view lua = context.sol();
+        api["getCellByName"] = [lua](std::string_view name) {
+            return makeOrGet<GCell>(
+                &MWBase::Environment::get().getWorldModel()->getCell(name, /*forceLoad=*/false), lua);
         };
-        api["getCellById"] = [](std::string_view stringId) {
-            return GCell{ &MWBase::Environment::get().getWorldModel()->getCell(
-                ESM::RefId::deserializeText(stringId), /*forceLoad=*/false) };
+        api["getCellById"] = [lua](std::string_view stringId) {
+            ESM::RefId id = ESM::RefId::deserializeText(stringId);
+            return makeOrGet<GCell>(&MWBase::Environment::get().getWorldModel()->getCell(id, /*forceLoad=*/false), lua);
         };
-        api["getExteriorCell"] = [](int x, int y, sol::object cellOrName) {
+        api["getExteriorCell"] = [lua](int x, int y, sol::object cellOrName) {
             ESM::RefId worldspace;
             if (cellOrName.is<GCell>())
                 worldspace = cellOrName.as<GCell>().mStore->getCell()->getWorldSpace();
@@ -100,8 +102,9 @@ namespace MWLua
                                  ->getWorldSpace();
             else
                 worldspace = ESM::Cell::sDefaultWorldspaceId;
-            return GCell{ &MWBase::Environment::get().getWorldModel()->getExterior(
-                ESM::ExteriorCellLocation(x, y, worldspace), /*forceLoad=*/false) };
+            auto location = ESM::ExteriorCellLocation(x, y, worldspace);
+            return makeOrGet<GCell>(
+                &MWBase::Environment::get().getWorldModel()->getExterior(location, /*forceLoad=*/false), lua);
         };
 
         const MWWorld::Store<ESM::Cell>* cells3Store = &MWBase::Environment::get().getESMStore()->get<ESM::Cell>();
@@ -111,22 +114,22 @@ namespace MWLua
         cells[sol::meta_function::length]
             = [cells3Store, cells4Store](const CellsStore&) { return cells3Store->getSize() + cells4Store->getSize(); };
         cells[sol::meta_function::index]
-            = [cells3Store, cells4Store](const CellsStore&, size_t index) -> sol::optional<GCell> {
+            = [cells3Store, cells4Store, lua](const CellsStore&, size_t index) -> sol::object {
             if (index > cells3Store->getSize() + cells3Store->getSize() || index == 0)
-                return sol::nullopt;
+                return sol::nil;
 
             index--; // Translate from Lua's 1-based indexing.
             if (index < cells3Store->getSize())
             {
                 const ESM::Cell* cellRecord = cells3Store->at(index);
-                return GCell{ &MWBase::Environment::get().getWorldModel()->getCell(
-                    cellRecord->mId, /*forceLoad=*/false) };
+                return makeOrGet<GCell>(
+                    &MWBase::Environment::get().getWorldModel()->getCell(cellRecord->mId, /*forceLoad=*/false), lua);
             }
             else
             {
                 const ESM4::Cell* cellRecord = cells4Store->at(index - cells3Store->getSize());
-                return GCell{ &MWBase::Environment::get().getWorldModel()->getCell(
-                    cellRecord->mId, /*forceLoad=*/false) };
+                return makeOrGet<GCell>(
+                    &MWBase::Environment::get().getWorldModel()->getCell(cellRecord->mId, /*forceLoad=*/false), lua);
             }
         };
         cells[sol::meta_function::pairs] = view["ipairsForArray"].template get<sol::function>();