diff --git a/src/core/mainloop/mainloop.c b/src/core/mainloop/mainloop.c
index c9f2b0d896..b32532c762 100644
--- a/src/core/mainloop/mainloop.c
+++ b/src/core/mainloop/mainloop.c
@@ -1387,7 +1387,7 @@ CALLBACK(second_elapsed);
   PERIODIC_EVENT(name, PERIODIC_EVENT_ROLE_ ## r, f)
 #define FL(name) (PERIODIC_EVENT_FLAG_ ## name)
 
-STATIC periodic_event_item_t periodic_events[] = {
+STATIC periodic_event_item_t mainloop_periodic_events[] = {
 
   /* Everyone needs to run these. They need to have very long timeouts for
    * that to be safe. */
@@ -1485,24 +1485,7 @@ static periodic_event_item_t *prune_old_routers_event=NULL;
 void
 reset_all_main_loop_timers(void)
 {
-  int i;
-  for (i = 0; periodic_events[i].name; ++i) {
-    periodic_event_reschedule(&periodic_events[i]);
-  }
-}
-
-/** Return the member of periodic_events[] whose name is <b>name</b>.
- * Return NULL if no such event is found.
- */
-static periodic_event_item_t *
-find_periodic_event(const char *name)
-{
-  int i;
-  for (i = 0; periodic_events[i].name; ++i) {
-    if (strcmp(name, periodic_events[i].name) == 0)
-      return &periodic_events[i];
-  }
-  return NULL;
+  periodic_events_reset_all();
 }
 
 /** Return a bitmask of the roles this tor instance is configured for using
@@ -1565,8 +1548,8 @@ initialize_periodic_events_cb(evutil_socket_t fd, short events, void *data)
   rescan_periodic_events(get_options());
 }
 
-/** Set up all the members of periodic_events[], and configure them all to be
- * launched from a callback. */
+/** Set up all the members of mainloop_periodic_events[], and configure them
+ * all to be launched from a callback. */
 STATIC void
 initialize_periodic_events(void)
 {
@@ -1575,14 +1558,15 @@ initialize_periodic_events(void)
 
   periodic_events_initialized = 1;
 
-  /* Set up all periodic events. We'll launch them by roles. */
-  int i;
-  for (i = 0; periodic_events[i].name; ++i) {
-    periodic_event_setup(&periodic_events[i]);
+  for (int i = 0; mainloop_periodic_events[i].name; ++i) {
+    periodic_events_add(&mainloop_periodic_events[i]);
   }
 
+  /* Set up all periodic events. We'll launch them by roles. */
+  periodic_events_setup_all();
+
 #define NAMED_CALLBACK(name) \
-  STMT_BEGIN name ## _event = find_periodic_event( #name ); STMT_END
+  STMT_BEGIN name ## _event = periodic_events_find( #name ); STMT_END
 
   NAMED_CALLBACK(check_descriptor);
   NAMED_CALLBACK(prune_old_routers);
@@ -1602,10 +1586,7 @@ initialize_periodic_events(void)
 STATIC void
 teardown_periodic_events(void)
 {
-  int i;
-  for (i = 0; periodic_events[i].name; ++i) {
-    periodic_event_destroy(&periodic_events[i]);
-  }
+  periodic_events_destroy_all();
   periodic_events_initialized = 0;
 }
 
@@ -1647,33 +1628,7 @@ rescan_periodic_events(const or_options_t *options)
     return;
   }
 
-  int roles = get_my_roles(options);
-
-  for (int i = 0; periodic_events[i].name; ++i) {
-    periodic_event_item_t *item = &periodic_events[i];
-
-    int enable = !!(item->roles & roles);
-
-    /* Handle the event flags. */
-    if (net_is_disabled() &&
-        (item->flags & PERIODIC_EVENT_FLAG_NEED_NET)) {
-      enable = 0;
-    }
-
-    /* Enable the event if needed. It is safe to enable an event that was
-     * already enabled. Same goes for disabling it. */
-    if (enable) {
-      log_debug(LD_GENERAL, "Launching periodic event %s", item->name);
-      periodic_event_enable(item);
-    } else {
-      log_debug(LD_GENERAL, "Disabling periodic event %s", item->name);
-      if (item->flags & PERIODIC_EVENT_FLAG_RUN_ON_DISABLE) {
-        periodic_event_schedule_and_disable(item);
-      } else {
-        periodic_event_disable(item);
-      }
-    }
-  }
+  periodic_events_rescan_by_roles(get_my_roles(options), net_is_disabled());
 }
 
 /* We just got new options globally set, see if we need to enabled or disable
diff --git a/src/core/mainloop/mainloop.h b/src/core/mainloop/mainloop.h
index 6ed93fa900..850918c35e 100644
--- a/src/core/mainloop/mainloop.h
+++ b/src/core/mainloop/mainloop.h
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ extern smartlist_t *connection_array;
 
 /* We need the periodic_event_item_t definition. */
 #include "core/mainloop/periodic.h"
-extern periodic_event_item_t periodic_events[];
+extern periodic_event_item_t mainloop_periodic_events[];
 #endif
 #endif /* defined(MAIN_PRIVATE) */
 
diff --git a/src/core/mainloop/periodic.c b/src/core/mainloop/periodic.c
index c0363b15ea..706dbc1b5e 100644
--- a/src/core/mainloop/periodic.c
+++ b/src/core/mainloop/periodic.c
@@ -6,9 +6,17 @@
  *
  * \brief Generic backend for handling periodic events.
  *
- * The events in this module are used by main.c to track items that need
+ * The events in this module are used to track items that need
  * to fire once every N seconds, possibly picking a new interval each time
- * that they fire.  See periodic_events[] in main.c for examples.
+ * that they fire.  See periodic_events[] in mainloop.c for examples.
+ *
+ * This module manages a global list of periodic_event_item_t objects,
+ * each corresponding to a single event.  To register an event, pass it to
+ * periodic_events_add() when initializing your subsystem.
+ *
+ * We expect that periodic_event_item_t objects will be statically allocated;
+ * we set them up and tear them down here, but we don't take ownership of
+ * them.
  */
 
 #include "core/or/or.h"
@@ -24,6 +32,11 @@
  */
 static const int MAX_INTERVAL = 10 * 365 * 86400;
 
+/**
+ *
+ **/
+static smartlist_t *the_periodic_events = NULL;
+
 /** Set the event <b>event</b> to run in <b>next_interval</b> seconds from
  * now. */
 static void
@@ -184,3 +197,123 @@ periodic_event_schedule_and_disable(periodic_event_item_t *event)
 
   mainloop_event_activate(event->ev);
 }
+
+/**
+ * Add <b>item</b> to the list of periodic events.
+ *
+ * Note that <b>item</b> should be statically allocated: we do not
+ * take ownership of it.
+ **/
+void
+periodic_events_add(periodic_event_item_t *item)
+{
+  if (!the_periodic_events)
+    the_periodic_events = smartlist_new();
+
+  if (BUG(smartlist_contains(the_periodic_events, item)))
+    return;
+
+  smartlist_add(the_periodic_events, item);
+}
+
+/** Set up all not-previously setup periodic events. */
+void
+periodic_events_setup_all(void)
+{
+  if (! the_periodic_events)
+    return;
+
+  SMARTLIST_FOREACH_BEGIN(the_periodic_events, periodic_event_item_t *, item) {
+    if (item->ev)
+      continue;
+    periodic_event_setup(item);
+  } SMARTLIST_FOREACH_END(item);
+}
+
+/** Reset all the registered periodic events so we'll do all our actions again
+ * as if we just started up.
+ *
+ * Useful if our clock just moved back a long time from the future,
+ * so we don't wait until that future arrives again before acting.
+ */
+void
+periodic_events_reset_all(void)
+{
+  if (! the_periodic_events)
+    return;
+
+  SMARTLIST_FOREACH_BEGIN(the_periodic_events, periodic_event_item_t *, item) {
+    periodic_event_reschedule(item);
+  } SMARTLIST_FOREACH_END(item);
+}
+
+/**
+ * Return the registered periodic event whose name is <b>name</b>.
+ * Return NULL if no such event is found.
+ */
+periodic_event_item_t *
+periodic_events_find(const char *name)
+{
+  if (! the_periodic_events)
+    return NULL;
+
+  SMARTLIST_FOREACH_BEGIN(the_periodic_events, periodic_event_item_t *, item) {
+    if (strcmp(name, item->name) == 0)
+      return item;
+  } SMARTLIST_FOREACH_END(item);
+  return NULL;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Start or stop registered periodic events, depending on our current set of
+ * roles.
+ *
+ * Invoked when our list of roles, or the net_disabled flag has changed.
+ **/
+void
+periodic_events_rescan_by_roles(int roles, bool net_disabled)
+{
+  if (! the_periodic_events)
+    return;
+
+  SMARTLIST_FOREACH_BEGIN(the_periodic_events, periodic_event_item_t *, item) {
+    int enable = !!(item->roles & roles);
+
+    /* Handle the event flags. */
+    if (net_disabled &&
+        (item->flags & PERIODIC_EVENT_FLAG_NEED_NET)) {
+      enable = 0;
+    }
+
+    /* Enable the event if needed. It is safe to enable an event that was
+     * already enabled. Same goes for disabling it. */
+    if (enable) {
+      log_debug(LD_GENERAL, "Launching periodic event %s", item->name);
+      periodic_event_enable(item);
+    } else {
+      log_debug(LD_GENERAL, "Disabling periodic event %s", item->name);
+      if (item->flags & PERIODIC_EVENT_FLAG_RUN_ON_DISABLE) {
+        periodic_event_schedule_and_disable(item);
+      } else {
+        periodic_event_disable(item);
+      }
+    }
+  } SMARTLIST_FOREACH_END(item);
+}
+
+/** Invoked at shutdown: free resources used in this module.
+ *
+ * Does not free the periodic_event_item_t object themselves, because we do
+ * not own them. */
+void
+periodic_events_destroy_all(void)
+{
+  if (! the_periodic_events)
+    return;
+
+  SMARTLIST_FOREACH_BEGIN(the_periodic_events, periodic_event_item_t *, item) {
+    periodic_event_destroy(item);
+  } SMARTLIST_FOREACH_END(item);
+
+  smartlist_free(the_periodic_events);
+}
diff --git a/src/core/mainloop/periodic.h b/src/core/mainloop/periodic.h
index 344fc9ad25..a021a141db 100644
--- a/src/core/mainloop/periodic.h
+++ b/src/core/mainloop/periodic.h
@@ -90,4 +90,11 @@ void periodic_event_enable(periodic_event_item_t *event);
 void periodic_event_disable(periodic_event_item_t *event);
 void periodic_event_schedule_and_disable(periodic_event_item_t *event);
 
+void periodic_events_add(periodic_event_item_t *item);
+void periodic_events_setup_all(void);
+void periodic_events_reset_all(void);
+periodic_event_item_t *periodic_events_find(const char *name);
+void periodic_events_rescan_by_roles(int roles, bool net_disabled);
+void periodic_events_destroy_all(void);
+
 #endif /* !defined(TOR_PERIODIC_H) */
diff --git a/src/test/test_periodic_event.c b/src/test/test_periodic_event.c
index ebac20838f..645274d371 100644
--- a/src/test/test_periodic_event.c
+++ b/src/test/test_periodic_event.c
@@ -55,8 +55,8 @@ test_pe_initialize(void *arg)
   rescan_periodic_events(get_options());
 
   /* Validate that all events have been set up. */
-  for (int i = 0; periodic_events[i].name; ++i) {
-    periodic_event_item_t *item = &periodic_events[i];
+  for (int i = 0; mainloop_periodic_events[i].name; ++i) {
+    periodic_event_item_t *item = &mainloop_periodic_events[i];
     tt_assert(item->ev);
     tt_assert(item->fn);
     tt_u64_op(item->last_action_time, OP_EQ, 0);
@@ -89,8 +89,8 @@ test_pe_launch(void *arg)
   /* Hack: We'll set a dumb fn() of each events so they don't get called when
    * dispatching them. We just want to test the state of the callbacks, not
    * the whole code path. */
-  for (int i = 0; periodic_events[i].name; ++i) {
-    periodic_event_item_t *item = &periodic_events[i];
+  for (int i = 0; mainloop_periodic_events[i].name; ++i) {
+    periodic_event_item_t *item = &mainloop_periodic_events[i];
     item->fn = dumb_event_fn;
   }
 
@@ -116,8 +116,8 @@ test_pe_launch(void *arg)
 
   int mask = PERIODIC_EVENT_ROLE_CLIENT|PERIODIC_EVENT_ROLE_ALL|
     PERIODIC_EVENT_ROLE_NET_PARTICIPANT;
-  for (int i = 0; periodic_events[i].name; ++i) {
-    periodic_event_item_t *item = &periodic_events[i];
+  for (int i = 0; mainloop_periodic_events[i].name; ++i) {
+    periodic_event_item_t *item = &mainloop_periodic_events[i];
     int should_be_enabled = !!(item->roles & mask);
     tt_int_op(periodic_event_is_enabled(item), OP_EQ, should_be_enabled);
     // enabled or not, the event has not yet been run.
@@ -134,8 +134,8 @@ test_pe_launch(void *arg)
              PERIODIC_EVENT_ROLE_RELAY|PERIODIC_EVENT_ROLE_DIRSERVER|
              PERIODIC_EVENT_ROLE_ALL|PERIODIC_EVENT_ROLE_NET_PARTICIPANT);
 
-  for (int i = 0; periodic_events[i].name; ++i) {
-    periodic_event_item_t *item = &periodic_events[i];
+  for (int i = 0; mainloop_periodic_events[i].name; ++i) {
+    periodic_event_item_t *item = &mainloop_periodic_events[i];
     /* Only Client role should be disabled. */
     if (item->roles == PERIODIC_EVENT_ROLE_CLIENT) {
       tt_int_op(periodic_event_is_enabled(item), OP_EQ, 0);
@@ -156,8 +156,8 @@ test_pe_launch(void *arg)
   set_network_participation(false);
   periodic_events_on_new_options(options);
 
-  for (int i = 0; periodic_events[i].name; ++i) {
-    periodic_event_item_t *item = &periodic_events[i];
+  for (int i = 0; mainloop_periodic_events[i].name; ++i) {
+    periodic_event_item_t *item = &mainloop_periodic_events[i];
     int should_be_enabled = (item->roles & PERIODIC_EVENT_ROLE_ALL) &&
       !(item->flags & PERIODIC_EVENT_FLAG_NEED_NET);
     tt_int_op(periodic_event_is_enabled(item), OP_EQ, should_be_enabled);
@@ -177,8 +177,8 @@ test_pe_launch(void *arg)
    * trigger a rescan of the event disabling the HS service event. */
   to_remove = &service;
 
-  for (int i = 0; periodic_events[i].name; ++i) {
-    periodic_event_item_t *item = &periodic_events[i];
+  for (int i = 0; mainloop_periodic_events[i].name; ++i) {
+    periodic_event_item_t *item = &mainloop_periodic_events[i];
     tt_int_op(periodic_event_is_enabled(item), OP_EQ,
               (item->roles != PERIODIC_EVENT_ROLE_CONTROLEV));
   }
@@ -304,8 +304,8 @@ test_pe_hs_service(void *arg)
   /* Hack: We'll set a dumb fn() of each events so they don't get called when
    * dispatching them. We just want to test the state of the callbacks, not
    * the whole code path. */
-  for (int i = 0; periodic_events[i].name; ++i) {
-    periodic_event_item_t *item = &periodic_events[i];
+  for (int i = 0; mainloop_periodic_events[i].name; ++i) {
+    periodic_event_item_t *item = &mainloop_periodic_events[i];
     item->fn = dumb_event_fn;
   }
 
@@ -318,8 +318,8 @@ test_pe_hs_service(void *arg)
    * trigger a rescan of the event disabling the HS service event. */
   to_remove = &service;
 
-  for (int i = 0; periodic_events[i].name; ++i) {
-    periodic_event_item_t *item = &periodic_events[i];
+  for (int i = 0; mainloop_periodic_events[i].name; ++i) {
+    periodic_event_item_t *item = &mainloop_periodic_events[i];
     if (item->roles & PERIODIC_EVENT_ROLE_HS_SERVICE) {
       tt_int_op(periodic_event_is_enabled(item), OP_EQ, 1);
     }
@@ -329,8 +329,8 @@ test_pe_hs_service(void *arg)
   /* Remove the service from the global map, it should trigger a rescan and
    * disable the HS service events. */
   remove_service(get_hs_service_map(), &service);
-  for (int i = 0; periodic_events[i].name; ++i) {
-    periodic_event_item_t *item = &periodic_events[i];
+  for (int i = 0; mainloop_periodic_events[i].name; ++i) {
+    periodic_event_item_t *item = &mainloop_periodic_events[i];
     if (item->roles & PERIODIC_EVENT_ROLE_HS_SERVICE) {
       tt_int_op(periodic_event_is_enabled(item), OP_EQ, 0);
     }