diff --git a/src/operators/arrange/agent.rs b/src/operators/arrange/agent.rs
index 4a9e8f242..7ed16d445 100644
--- a/src/operators/arrange/agent.rs
+++ b/src/operators/arrange/agent.rs
@@ -160,6 +160,17 @@ where
     pub fn operator(&self) -> &OperatorInfo {
         &self.operator
     }
+
+    /// Downgrade the trace handle.
+    ///
+    /// The weak trace agent can be upgraded to inspect the trace if there are other agents still holding
+    /// on to the trace. The weak handle does not prevent logical and physical compaction, and cannot
+    /// be upgraded to a [`TraceAgent`].
+    pub fn downgrade(&self) -> TraceAgentWeak<Tr> {
+        TraceAgentWeak {
+            trace: Rc::downgrade(&self.trace),
+        }
+    }
 }
 
 impl<Tr> TraceAgent<Tr>
@@ -593,3 +604,54 @@ where
         self.trace.borrow_mut().adjust_physical_compaction(self.physical_compaction.borrow(), empty_frontier.borrow());
     }
 }
+
+/// A weak handle to a trace.
+pub struct TraceAgentWeak<Tr>
+where
+    Tr: TraceReader,
+    Tr::Time: Lattice+Ord+Clone+'static,
+{
+    /// The weak trace handle
+    trace: Weak<RefCell<TraceBox<Tr>>>,
+}
+
+/// A strong handle to a trace, but without preventing compaction.
+pub struct TraceAgentGuard<Tr>
+    where
+        Tr: TraceReader,
+        Tr::Time: Lattice+Ord+Clone+'static,
+{
+    trace: Rc<RefCell<TraceBox<Tr>>>,
+}
+
+impl<Tr> TraceAgentWeak<Tr>
+    where
+        Tr: TraceReader,
+        Tr::Time: Timestamp+Lattice,
+{
+    /// Upgrade the weak handle to gain access to the trace.
+    ///
+    /// Returns a value when the trace still exists, and `None` otherwise.
+    #[inline]
+    pub fn upgrade(&self) -> Option<TraceAgentGuard<Tr>> {
+        if let Some(trace) = self.trace.upgrade() {
+            Some(TraceAgentGuard {
+                trace,
+            })
+        } else {
+            None
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+impl<Tr> TraceAgentGuard<Tr>
+    where
+        Tr: TraceReader,
+        Tr::Time: Timestamp+Lattice,
+{
+    /// Access the underlying trace, only grant access to immutable functions.
+    #[inline]
+    pub fn as_deref(&self) -> impl std::ops::Deref<Target=Tr> + '_ {
+        std::cell::Ref::map(self.trace.borrow(), |trace_box| &trace_box.trace)
+    }
+}