diff --git a/CHANGES.md b/CHANGES.md
index dd1b8f9b8..a66fd2bdc 100644
--- a/CHANGES.md
+++ b/CHANGES.md
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ Features
 
 Bug Fixes
 ---------
-
+* [#1633](https://github.com/java-native-access/jna/issues/1633): Do not register class-cached `FFIType` native memory with the JNA Cleaner, so the cleaner thread can exit after Structure instances are collected - [@arimu1](https://github.com/arimu1).
 
 Release 5.19.1
 ==============
diff --git a/src/com/sun/jna/Structure.java b/src/com/sun/jna/Structure.java
index 6a7d0c4df..00fabe9cd 100644
--- a/src/com/sun/jna/Structure.java
+++ b/src/com/sun/jna/Structure.java
@@ -2131,6 +2131,34 @@ public FFIType(FFIType reference) {
 
         public FFIType() {}
 
+        /**
+         * Native {@code ffi_type} descriptors are cached for the lifetime of
+         * the corresponding {@link Class} (see {@link #typeInfoMap}).
+         * Registering that storage with {@link com.sun.jna.internal.Cleaner}
+         * would keep the cleaner thread alive until the Class is unloaded,
+         * which typically never happens.
+         */
+        static class TypeInfoMemory extends Memory {
+            TypeInfoMemory(long size) {
+                super();
+                this.size = size;
+                if (size <= 0) {
+                    throw new IllegalArgumentException("Allocation size must be greater than zero");
+                }
+                peer = malloc(size);
+                if (peer == 0) {
+                    throw new OutOfMemoryError("Cannot allocate " + size + " bytes");
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        @Override
+        protected Memory autoAllocate(int size) {
+            TypeInfoMemory memory = new TypeInfoMemory(size);
+            memory.clear();
+            return memory;
+        }
+
         public FFIType(Structure ref) {
             Pointer[] els;
             ref.ensureAllocated(true);
@@ -2203,7 +2231,7 @@ public FFIType(Object array, Class<?> type) {
         }
 
         private void init(Pointer[] els) {
-            elements = new Memory(Native.POINTER_SIZE * els.length);
+            elements = new TypeInfoMemory(Native.POINTER_SIZE * els.length);
             elements.write(0, els, 0, els.length);
             write();
         }
diff --git a/test/com/sun/jna/FFITypeTest.java b/test/com/sun/jna/FFITypeTest.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..651ab6237
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/com/sun/jna/FFITypeTest.java
@@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
+/* Copyright (c) 2026 arimu1, All Rights Reserved
+ *
+ * The contents of this file is dual-licensed under 2
+ * alternative Open Source/Free licenses: LGPL 2.1 or later and
+ * Apache License 2.0. (starting with JNA version 4.0.0).
+ *
+ * You can freely decide which license you want to apply to
+ * the project.
+ *
+ * You may obtain a copy of the LGPL License at:
+ *
+ * http://www.gnu.org/licenses/licenses.html
+ *
+ * A copy is also included in the downloadable source code package
+ * containing JNA, in file "LGPL2.1".
+ *
+ * You may obtain a copy of the Apache License at:
+ *
+ * http://www.apache.org/licenses/
+ *
+ * A copy is also included in the downloadable source code package
+ * containing JNA, in file "AL2.0".
+ */
+package com.sun.jna;
+
+import java.lang.reflect.Field;
+
+import com.sun.jna.Structure.FFIType;
+import com.sun.jna.Structure.FieldOrder;
+
+import junit.framework.TestCase;
+
+/**
+ * {@code FFIType} descriptors are cached by Class in {@code typeInfoMap}.
+ * That cache is intentional (native cif pointers must remain valid), but the
+ * backing native memory must not be registered with the JNA Cleaner, or the
+ * cleaner thread never exits for ordinary application classes. See
+ * https://github.com/java-native-access/jna/issues/1633
+ */
+public class FFITypeTest extends TestCase {
+
+    @FieldOrder({ "field" })
+    public static class NativeWrapper extends Structure {
+        public boolean field;
+    }
+
+    public void testStructureFfiTypeDoesNotRegisterCleaner() throws Exception {
+        NativeWrapper nw = new NativeWrapper();
+        FFIType ffi = Structure.getTypeInfo(nw);
+
+        Field cleanable = Memory.class.getDeclaredField("cleanable");
+        cleanable.setAccessible(true);
+
+        Pointer backing = ffi.getPointer();
+        assertTrue("FFIType should allocate Memory", backing instanceof Memory);
+        assertTrue("Class-cached FFIType should use TypeInfoMemory",
+            backing instanceof FFIType.TypeInfoMemory);
+        assertNull("Class-cached FFIType memory must not register with Cleaner",
+            cleanable.get(backing));
+
+        assertNotNull("FFIType.elements should be allocated", ffi.elements);
+        assertTrue("FFIType.elements should allocate Memory",
+            ffi.elements instanceof Memory);
+        assertTrue("Class-cached FFIType.elements should use TypeInfoMemory",
+            ffi.elements instanceof FFIType.TypeInfoMemory);
+        assertNull("Class-cached FFIType.elements must not register with Cleaner",
+            cleanable.get(ffi.elements));
+    }
+
+    public void testFfiTypeSizeMatchesStructure() {
+        NativeWrapper nw = new NativeWrapper();
+        Pointer p = Structure.getTypeInfo(nw).getPointer();
+        assertEquals("libffi should accept the cached FFIType",
+            nw.size(), Native.initialize_ffi_type(p.peer));
+    }
+
+    public void testStructureFfiTypeRemainsCachedAfterInstanceGc() {
+        NativeWrapper nw = new NativeWrapper();
+        Pointer typeInfo = Structure.getTypeInfo(nw).getPointer();
+        nw = null;
+        System.gc();
+        Memory.purge();
+
+        FFIType again = Structure.getTypeInfo(new NativeWrapper());
+        assertSame("typeInfoMap should keep the Class-cached FFIType",
+            typeInfo, again.getPointer());
+    }
+
+    public static void main(String[] args) {
+        junit.textui.TestRunner.run(FFITypeTest.class);
+    }
+}