diff --git a/packages/react-dom/src/__tests__/refs-test.js b/packages/react-dom/src/__tests__/refs-test.js
index d68c6f9334..9dcaed18c2 100644
--- a/packages/react-dom/src/__tests__/refs-test.js
+++ b/packages/react-dom/src/__tests__/refs-test.js
@@ -9,9 +9,9 @@
 
 'use strict';
 
-let React = require('react');
-let ReactDOMClient = require('react-dom/client');
-let act = require('internal-test-utils').act;
+const React = require('react');
+const ReactDOMClient = require('react-dom/client');
+const act = require('internal-test-utils').act;
 
 // This is testing if string refs are deleted from `instance.refs`
 // Once support for string refs is removed, this test can be removed.
@@ -19,13 +19,6 @@ let act = require('internal-test-utils').act;
 describe('reactiverefs', () => {
   let container;
 
-  beforeEach(() => {
-    jest.resetModules();
-    React = require('react');
-    ReactDOMClient = require('react-dom/client');
-    act = require('internal-test-utils').act;
-  });
-
   afterEach(() => {
     if (container) {
       document.body.removeChild(container);
@@ -199,11 +192,6 @@ describe('reactiverefs', () => {
 describe('ref swapping', () => {
   let RefHopsAround;
   beforeEach(() => {
-    jest.resetModules();
-    React = require('react');
-    ReactDOMClient = require('react-dom/client');
-    act = require('internal-test-utils').act;
-
     RefHopsAround = class extends React.Component {
       container = null;
       state = {count: 0};
@@ -804,3 +792,96 @@ describe('refs return clean up function', () => {
     expect(nullHandler).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(0);
   });
 });
+
+describe('useImerativeHandle refs', () => {
+  const ImperativeHandleComponent = React.forwardRef(({name}, ref) => {
+    React.useImperativeHandle(
+      ref,
+      () => ({
+        greet() {
+          return `Hello ${name}`;
+        },
+      }),
+      [name],
+    );
+    return null;
+  });
+
+  it('should work with object style refs', async () => {
+    const container = document.createElement('div');
+    const root = ReactDOMClient.createRoot(container);
+    const ref = React.createRef();
+
+    await act(async () => {
+      root.render(<ImperativeHandleComponent name="Alice" ref={ref} />);
+    });
+    expect(ref.current.greet()).toBe('Hello Alice');
+    await act(() => {
+      root.render(null);
+    });
+    expect(ref.current).toBe(null);
+  });
+
+  it('should work with callback style refs', async () => {
+    const container = document.createElement('div');
+    const root = ReactDOMClient.createRoot(container);
+    let current = null;
+
+    await act(async () => {
+      root.render(
+        <ImperativeHandleComponent
+          name="Alice"
+          ref={r => {
+            current = r;
+          }}
+        />,
+      );
+    });
+    expect(current.greet()).toBe('Hello Alice');
+    await act(() => {
+      root.render(null);
+    });
+    expect(current).toBe(null);
+  });
+
+  it('should work with callback style refs with cleanup function', async () => {
+    const container = document.createElement('div');
+    const root = ReactDOMClient.createRoot(container);
+
+    let cleanupCalls = 0;
+    let createCalls = 0;
+    let current = null;
+
+    const ref = r => {
+      current = r;
+      createCalls++;
+      return () => {
+        current = null;
+        cleanupCalls++;
+      };
+    };
+
+    await act(async () => {
+      root.render(<ImperativeHandleComponent name="Alice" ref={ref} />);
+    });
+    expect(current.greet()).toBe('Hello Alice');
+    expect(createCalls).toBe(1);
+    expect(cleanupCalls).toBe(0);
+
+    // update a dep should recreate the ref
+    await act(async () => {
+      root.render(<ImperativeHandleComponent name="Bob" ref={ref} />);
+    });
+    expect(current.greet()).toBe('Hello Bob');
+    expect(createCalls).toBe(2);
+    expect(cleanupCalls).toBe(1);
+
+    // unmounting should call cleanup
+    await act(() => {
+      root.render(null);
+    });
+    expect(current).toBe(null);
+    expect(createCalls).toBe(2);
+    expect(cleanupCalls).toBe(2);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/react-reconciler/src/ReactFiberHooks.js b/packages/react-reconciler/src/ReactFiberHooks.js
index 59e7ae780f..8a65e6170f 100644
--- a/packages/react-reconciler/src/ReactFiberHooks.js
+++ b/packages/react-reconciler/src/ReactFiberHooks.js
@@ -2564,9 +2564,14 @@ function imperativeHandleEffect<T>(
   if (typeof ref === 'function') {
     const refCallback = ref;
     const inst = create();
-    refCallback(inst);
+    const refCleanup = refCallback(inst);
     return () => {
-      refCallback(null);
+      if (typeof refCleanup === 'function') {
+        // $FlowFixMe[incompatible-use] we need to assume no parameters
+        refCleanup();
+      } else {
+        refCallback(null);
+      }
     };
   } else if (ref !== null && ref !== undefined) {
     const refObject = ref;