diff --git a/src/runtime/malloc.go b/src/runtime/malloc.go
index 5f92e7480e..483ea0aee5 100644
--- a/src/runtime/malloc.go
+++ b/src/runtime/malloc.go
@@ -468,8 +468,7 @@ func mallocinit() {
 
 	// Initialize the heap.
 	mheap_.init()
-	_g_ := getg()
-	_g_.m.mcache = allocmcache()
+	mcache0 = allocmcache()
 
 	// Create initial arena growth hints.
 	if sys.PtrSize == 8 {
@@ -953,7 +952,19 @@ func mallocgc(size uintptr, typ *_type, needzero bool) unsafe.Pointer {
 
 	shouldhelpgc := false
 	dataSize := size
-	c := gomcache()
+	var c *mcache
+	if mp.p != 0 {
+		c = mp.p.ptr().mcache
+	} else {
+		// We will be called without a P while bootstrapping,
+		// in which case we use mcache0, which is set in mallocinit.
+		// mcache0 is cleared when bootstrapping is complete,
+		// by procresize.
+		c = mcache0
+		if c == nil {
+			throw("malloc called with no P")
+		}
+	}
 	var x unsafe.Pointer
 	noscan := typ == nil || typ.ptrdata == 0
 	if size <= maxSmallSize {
@@ -1193,7 +1204,7 @@ func reflect_unsafe_NewArray(typ *_type, n int) unsafe.Pointer {
 }
 
 func profilealloc(mp *m, x unsafe.Pointer, size uintptr) {
-	mp.mcache.next_sample = nextSample()
+	mp.p.ptr().mcache.next_sample = nextSample()
 	mProf_Malloc(x, size)
 }
 
diff --git a/src/runtime/mgcsweep.go b/src/runtime/mgcsweep.go
index b95c7f13a4..fd9bf8f864 100644
--- a/src/runtime/mgcsweep.go
+++ b/src/runtime/mgcsweep.go
@@ -226,7 +226,7 @@ func (s *mspan) sweep(preserve bool) bool {
 	size := s.elemsize
 	res := false
 
-	c := _g_.m.mcache
+	c := _g_.m.p.ptr().mcache
 	freeToHeap := false
 
 	// The allocBits indicate which unmarked objects don't need to be
diff --git a/src/runtime/mheap.go b/src/runtime/mheap.go
index 5427d8839d..86ecf3377d 100644
--- a/src/runtime/mheap.go
+++ b/src/runtime/mheap.go
@@ -1141,10 +1141,21 @@ func (h *mheap) allocSpan(npages uintptr, manual bool, spanclass spanClass, sysS
 		// which may only be done with the heap locked.
 
 		// Transfer stats from mcache to global.
-		memstats.heap_scan += uint64(gp.m.mcache.local_scan)
-		gp.m.mcache.local_scan = 0
-		memstats.tinyallocs += uint64(gp.m.mcache.local_tinyallocs)
-		gp.m.mcache.local_tinyallocs = 0
+		var c *mcache
+		if gp.m.p != 0 {
+			c = gp.m.p.ptr().mcache
+		} else {
+			// This case occurs while bootstrapping.
+			// See the similar code in mallocgc.
+			c = mcache0
+			if c == nil {
+				throw("mheap.allocSpan called with no P")
+			}
+		}
+		memstats.heap_scan += uint64(c.local_scan)
+		c.local_scan = 0
+		memstats.tinyallocs += uint64(c.local_tinyallocs)
+		c.local_tinyallocs = 0
 
 		// Do some additional accounting if it's a large allocation.
 		if spanclass.sizeclass() == 0 {
@@ -1342,12 +1353,12 @@ func (h *mheap) grow(npage uintptr) bool {
 // Free the span back into the heap.
 func (h *mheap) freeSpan(s *mspan) {
 	systemstack(func() {
-		mp := getg().m
+		c := getg().m.p.ptr().mcache
 		lock(&h.lock)
-		memstats.heap_scan += uint64(mp.mcache.local_scan)
-		mp.mcache.local_scan = 0
-		memstats.tinyallocs += uint64(mp.mcache.local_tinyallocs)
-		mp.mcache.local_tinyallocs = 0
+		memstats.heap_scan += uint64(c.local_scan)
+		c.local_scan = 0
+		memstats.tinyallocs += uint64(c.local_tinyallocs)
+		c.local_tinyallocs = 0
 		if msanenabled {
 			// Tell msan that this entire span is no longer in use.
 			base := unsafe.Pointer(s.base())
diff --git a/src/runtime/proc.go b/src/runtime/proc.go
index 2a91e82185..2174564637 100644
--- a/src/runtime/proc.go
+++ b/src/runtime/proc.go
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@ var modinfo string
 var (
 	m0           m
 	g0           g
+	mcache0      *mcache
 	raceprocctx0 uintptr
 )
 
@@ -2957,7 +2958,6 @@ func reentersyscall(pc, sp uintptr) {
 
 	_g_.m.syscalltick = _g_.m.p.ptr().syscalltick
 	_g_.sysblocktraced = true
-	_g_.m.mcache = nil
 	pp := _g_.m.p.ptr()
 	pp.m = 0
 	_g_.m.oldp.set(pp)
@@ -3083,9 +3083,6 @@ func exitsyscall() {
 	oldp := _g_.m.oldp.ptr()
 	_g_.m.oldp = 0
 	if exitsyscallfast(oldp) {
-		if _g_.m.mcache == nil {
-			throw("lost mcache")
-		}
 		if trace.enabled {
 			if oldp != _g_.m.p.ptr() || _g_.m.syscalltick != _g_.m.p.ptr().syscalltick {
 				systemstack(traceGoStart)
@@ -3136,10 +3133,6 @@ func exitsyscall() {
 	// Call the scheduler.
 	mcall(exitsyscall0)
 
-	if _g_.m.mcache == nil {
-		throw("lost mcache")
-	}
-
 	// Scheduler returned, so we're allowed to run now.
 	// Delete the syscallsp information that we left for
 	// the garbage collector during the system call.
@@ -4033,10 +4026,12 @@ func (pp *p) init(id int32) {
 	pp.wbBuf.reset()
 	if pp.mcache == nil {
 		if id == 0 {
-			if getg().m.mcache == nil {
+			if mcache0 == nil {
 				throw("missing mcache?")
 			}
-			pp.mcache = getg().m.mcache // bootstrap
+			// Use the bootstrap mcache0. Only one P will get
+			// mcache0: the one with ID 0.
+			pp.mcache = mcache0
 		} else {
 			pp.mcache = allocmcache()
 		}
@@ -4216,7 +4211,6 @@ func procresize(nprocs int32) *p {
 			_g_.m.p.ptr().m = 0
 		}
 		_g_.m.p = 0
-		_g_.m.mcache = nil
 		p := allp[0]
 		p.m = 0
 		p.status = _Pidle
@@ -4226,6 +4220,9 @@ func procresize(nprocs int32) *p {
 		}
 	}
 
+	// g.m.p is now set, so we no longer need mcache0 for bootstrapping.
+	mcache0 = nil
+
 	// release resources from unused P's
 	for i := nprocs; i < old; i++ {
 		p := allp[i]
@@ -4291,7 +4288,7 @@ func acquirep(_p_ *p) {
 func wirep(_p_ *p) {
 	_g_ := getg()
 
-	if _g_.m.p != 0 || _g_.m.mcache != nil {
+	if _g_.m.p != 0 {
 		throw("wirep: already in go")
 	}
 	if _p_.m != 0 || _p_.status != _Pidle {
@@ -4302,7 +4299,6 @@ func wirep(_p_ *p) {
 		print("wirep: p->m=", _p_.m, "(", id, ") p->status=", _p_.status, "\n")
 		throw("wirep: invalid p state")
 	}
-	_g_.m.mcache = _p_.mcache
 	_g_.m.p.set(_p_)
 	_p_.m.set(_g_.m)
 	_p_.status = _Prunning
@@ -4312,19 +4308,18 @@ func wirep(_p_ *p) {
 func releasep() *p {
 	_g_ := getg()
 
-	if _g_.m.p == 0 || _g_.m.mcache == nil {
+	if _g_.m.p == 0 {
 		throw("releasep: invalid arg")
 	}
 	_p_ := _g_.m.p.ptr()
-	if _p_.m.ptr() != _g_.m || _p_.mcache != _g_.m.mcache || _p_.status != _Prunning {
-		print("releasep: m=", _g_.m, " m->p=", _g_.m.p.ptr(), " p->m=", hex(_p_.m), " m->mcache=", _g_.m.mcache, " p->mcache=", _p_.mcache, " p->status=", _p_.status, "\n")
+	if _p_.m.ptr() != _g_.m || _p_.status != _Prunning {
+		print("releasep: m=", _g_.m, " m->p=", _g_.m.p.ptr(), " p->m=", hex(_p_.m), " p->status=", _p_.status, "\n")
 		throw("releasep: invalid p state")
 	}
 	if trace.enabled {
 		traceProcStop(_g_.m.p.ptr())
 	}
 	_g_.m.p = 0
-	_g_.m.mcache = nil
 	_p_.m = 0
 	_p_.status = _Pidle
 	return _p_
diff --git a/src/runtime/runtime1.go b/src/runtime/runtime1.go
index 88a99fc08b..c65a534ef6 100644
--- a/src/runtime/runtime1.go
+++ b/src/runtime/runtime1.go
@@ -459,11 +459,6 @@ func releasem(mp *m) {
 	}
 }
 
-//go:nosplit
-func gomcache() *mcache {
-	return getg().m.mcache
-}
-
 //go:linkname reflect_typelinks reflect.typelinks
 func reflect_typelinks() ([]unsafe.Pointer, [][]int32) {
 	modules := activeModules()
diff --git a/src/runtime/runtime2.go b/src/runtime/runtime2.go
index 99eb19eb0c..9e3ccb2e40 100644
--- a/src/runtime/runtime2.go
+++ b/src/runtime/runtime2.go
@@ -510,7 +510,6 @@ type m struct {
 	park          note
 	alllink       *m // on allm
 	schedlink     muintptr
-	mcache        *mcache
 	lockedg       guintptr
 	createstack   [32]uintptr // stack that created this thread.
 	lockedExt     uint32      // tracking for external LockOSThread
diff --git a/src/runtime/stack.go b/src/runtime/stack.go
index ebbe3e013d..e72a75cdef 100644
--- a/src/runtime/stack.go
+++ b/src/runtime/stack.go
@@ -357,16 +357,16 @@ func stackalloc(n uint32) stack {
 			n2 >>= 1
 		}
 		var x gclinkptr
-		c := thisg.m.mcache
-		if stackNoCache != 0 || c == nil || thisg.m.preemptoff != "" {
-			// c == nil can happen in the guts of exitsyscall or
-			// procresize. Just get a stack from the global pool.
+		if stackNoCache != 0 || thisg.m.p == 0 || thisg.m.preemptoff != "" {
+			// thisg.m.p == 0 can happen in the guts of exitsyscall
+			// or procresize. Just get a stack from the global pool.
 			// Also don't touch stackcache during gc
 			// as it's flushed concurrently.
 			lock(&stackpool[order].item.mu)
 			x = stackpoolalloc(order)
 			unlock(&stackpool[order].item.mu)
 		} else {
+			c := thisg.m.p.ptr().mcache
 			x = c.stackcache[order].list
 			if x.ptr() == nil {
 				stackcacherefill(c, order)
@@ -452,12 +452,12 @@ func stackfree(stk stack) {
 			n2 >>= 1
 		}
 		x := gclinkptr(v)
-		c := gp.m.mcache
-		if stackNoCache != 0 || c == nil || gp.m.preemptoff != "" {
+		if stackNoCache != 0 || gp.m.p == 0 || gp.m.preemptoff != "" {
 			lock(&stackpool[order].item.mu)
 			stackpoolfree(x, order)
 			unlock(&stackpool[order].item.mu)
 		} else {
+			c := gp.m.p.ptr().mcache
 			if c.stackcache[order].size >= _StackCacheSize {
 				stackcacherelease(c, order)
 			}