diff --git a/Cython/Compiler/ModuleNode.py b/Cython/Compiler/ModuleNode.py
index c949bab91fa..ee02b274c03 100644
--- a/Cython/Compiler/ModuleNode.py
+++ b/Cython/Compiler/ModuleNode.py
@@ -3566,6 +3566,8 @@ def generate_pymoduledef_struct(self, env, code):
         else:
             cleanup_func = 'NULL'
 
+        freethreading_compatible = env.directives['freethreading_compatible']
+
         code.putln("")
         code.putln("#if CYTHON_PEP489_MULTI_PHASE_INIT")
         exec_func_cname = self.module_init_func_cname()
@@ -3576,6 +3578,12 @@ def generate_pymoduledef_struct(self, env, code):
         code.putln("static PyModuleDef_Slot %s[] = {" % Naming.pymoduledef_slots_cname)
         code.putln("{Py_mod_create, (void*)%s}," % Naming.pymodule_create_func_cname)
         code.putln("{Py_mod_exec, (void*)%s}," % exec_func_cname)
+        code.putln("#if CYTHON_COMPILING_IN_CPYTHON_FREETHREADING")
+        if freethreading_compatible:
+            code.putln("{Py_mod_gil, Py_MOD_GIL_NOT_USED},")
+        else:
+            code.putln("{Py_mod_gil, Py_MOD_GIL_USED},")
+        code.putln("#endif")
         code.putln("{0, NULL}")
         code.putln("};")
         if not env.module_name.isascii():
@@ -3630,6 +3638,8 @@ def generate_module_creation_code(self, env, code):
         else:
             doc = "0"
 
+        freethreading_compatible = env.directives['freethreading_compatible']
+
         code.putln("#if CYTHON_PEP489_MULTI_PHASE_INIT")
         code.putln("%s = %s;" % (
             env.module_cname,
@@ -3664,6 +3674,12 @@ def generate_module_creation_code(self, env, code):
                 env.module_cname,
                 Naming.pymoduledef_cname))
         code.putln(code.error_goto_if_null(env.module_cname, self.pos))
+        code.putln("#endif")  # CYTHON_USE_MODULE_STATE
+        code.putln("#if CYTHON_COMPILING_IN_CPYTHON_FREETHREADING")
+        if freethreading_compatible:
+            code.putln("PyUnstable_Module_SetGIL(%s, Py_MOD_GIL_NOT_USED);" % env.module_cname)
+        else:
+            code.putln("PyUnstable_Module_SetGIL(%s, Py_MOD_GIL_USED);" % env.module_cname)
         code.putln("#endif")
         code.putln("#endif")  # CYTHON_PEP489_MULTI_PHASE_INIT
         code.putln("CYTHON_UNUSED_VAR(%s);" % module_temp)  # only used in limited API
diff --git a/Cython/Compiler/Options.py b/Cython/Compiler/Options.py
index 465191e0ac5..b15c32d2137 100644
--- a/Cython/Compiler/Options.py
+++ b/Cython/Compiler/Options.py
@@ -181,6 +181,7 @@ def copy_inherited_directives(outer_directives, **new_directives):
     'boundscheck' : True,
     'nonecheck' : False,
     'initializedcheck' : True,
+    'freethreading_compatible': False,
     'embedsignature': False,
     'embedsignature.format': 'c',
     'auto_cpdef': False,
@@ -350,6 +351,7 @@ class DEFER_ANALYSIS_OF_ARGUMENTS:
     'dataclasses.dataclass': DEFER_ANALYSIS_OF_ARGUMENTS,
     'dataclasses.field': DEFER_ANALYSIS_OF_ARGUMENTS,
     'embedsignature.format': one_of('c', 'clinic', 'python'),
+    'freethreading_compatible': bool,
 }
 
 for key, val in _directive_defaults.items():
diff --git a/tests/run/freethreading_compatible.srctree b/tests/run/freethreading_compatible.srctree
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..eaab17024ab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/run/freethreading_compatible.srctree
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+PYTHON setup.py build_ext --inplace
+PYTHON -c "import default; default.test()"
+PYTHON -c "import compatible; compatible.test()"
+PYTHON -c "import incompatible; incompatible.test()"
+
+######## setup.py ########
+
+from Cython.Build.Dependencies import cythonize
+from distutils.core import setup
+
+ext_modules = []
+
+# Test language_level specified in the cythonize() call
+ext_modules += cythonize("default.py")
+ext_modules += cythonize("compatible.py")
+ext_modules += cythonize("incompatible.py")
+
+setup(ext_modules=ext_modules)
+
+######## default.py ########
+
+def test():
+    import sys
+    assert sys._is_gil_enabled()
+
+######## compatible.py ########
+
+# cython: freethreading_compatible=True
+
+def test():
+    import sys
+    assert not sys._is_gil_enabled()
+
+######## incompatible.py ########
+
+# cython: freethreading_compatible=False
+
+def test():
+    import sys
+    assert sys._is_gil_enabled()