diff --git a/src/pkg/runtime/malloc.goc b/src/pkg/runtime/malloc.goc
index 9d559ce7545..beea042edc2 100644
--- a/src/pkg/runtime/malloc.goc
+++ b/src/pkg/runtime/malloc.goc
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@ package runtime
 #include "typekind.h"
 #include "race.h"
 
-MHeap *runtime·mheap;
+MHeap runtime·mheap;
 
 int32	runtime·checking;
 
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ runtime·mallocgc(uintptr size, uint32 flag, int32 dogc, int32 zeroed)
 		npages = size >> PageShift;
 		if((size & PageMask) != 0)
 			npages++;
-		s = runtime·MHeap_Alloc(runtime·mheap, npages, 0, 1, zeroed);
+		s = runtime·MHeap_Alloc(&runtime·mheap, npages, 0, 1, zeroed);
 		if(s == nil)
 			runtime·throw("out of memory");
 		size = npages<<PageShift;
@@ -95,9 +95,9 @@ runtime·mallocgc(uintptr size, uint32 flag, int32 dogc, int32 zeroed)
 
 	if (sizeof(void*) == 4 && c->local_total_alloc >= (1<<30)) {
 		// purge cache stats to prevent overflow
-		runtime·lock(runtime·mheap);
+		runtime·lock(&runtime·mheap);
 		runtime·purgecachedstats(c);
-		runtime·unlock(runtime·mheap);
+		runtime·unlock(&runtime·mheap);
 	}
 
 	if(!(flag & FlagNoGC))
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ runtime·free(void *v)
 		// they might coalesce v into other spans and change the bitmap further.
 		runtime·markfreed(v, size);
 		runtime·unmarkspan(v, 1<<PageShift);
-		runtime·MHeap_Free(runtime·mheap, s, 1);
+		runtime·MHeap_Free(&runtime·mheap, s, 1);
 	} else {
 		// Small object.
 		size = runtime·class_to_size[sizeclass];
@@ -211,12 +211,12 @@ runtime·mlookup(void *v, byte **base, uintptr *size, MSpan **sp)
 	m->mcache->local_nlookup++;
 	if (sizeof(void*) == 4 && m->mcache->local_nlookup >= (1<<30)) {
 		// purge cache stats to prevent overflow
-		runtime·lock(runtime·mheap);
+		runtime·lock(&runtime·mheap);
 		runtime·purgecachedstats(m->mcache);
-		runtime·unlock(runtime·mheap);
+		runtime·unlock(&runtime·mheap);
 	}
 
-	s = runtime·MHeap_LookupMaybe(runtime·mheap, v);
+	s = runtime·MHeap_LookupMaybe(&runtime·mheap, v);
 	if(sp)
 		*sp = s;
 	if(s == nil) {
@@ -260,11 +260,11 @@ runtime·allocmcache(void)
 	intgo rate;
 	MCache *c;
 
-	runtime·lock(runtime·mheap);
-	c = runtime·FixAlloc_Alloc(&runtime·mheap->cachealloc);
-	mstats.mcache_inuse = runtime·mheap->cachealloc.inuse;
-	mstats.mcache_sys = runtime·mheap->cachealloc.sys;
-	runtime·unlock(runtime·mheap);
+	runtime·lock(&runtime·mheap);
+	c = runtime·FixAlloc_Alloc(&runtime·mheap.cachealloc);
+	mstats.mcache_inuse = runtime·mheap.cachealloc.inuse;
+	mstats.mcache_sys = runtime·mheap.cachealloc.sys;
+	runtime·unlock(&runtime·mheap);
 	runtime·memclr((byte*)c, sizeof(*c));
 
 	// Set first allocation sample size.
@@ -281,10 +281,10 @@ void
 runtime·freemcache(MCache *c)
 {
 	runtime·MCache_ReleaseAll(c);
-	runtime·lock(runtime·mheap);
+	runtime·lock(&runtime·mheap);
 	runtime·purgecachedstats(c);
-	runtime·FixAlloc_Free(&runtime·mheap->cachealloc, c);
-	runtime·unlock(runtime·mheap);
+	runtime·FixAlloc_Free(&runtime·mheap.cachealloc, c);
+	runtime·unlock(&runtime·mheap);
 }
 
 void
@@ -339,9 +339,6 @@ runtime·mallocinit(void)
 	USED(bitmap_size);
 	USED(spans_size);
 
-	if((runtime·mheap = runtime·SysAlloc(sizeof(*runtime·mheap))) == nil)
-		runtime·throw("runtime: cannot allocate heap metadata");
-
 	runtime·InitSizes();
 
 	// limit = runtime·memlimit();
@@ -377,7 +374,7 @@ runtime·mallocinit(void)
 		// If this fails we fall back to the 32 bit memory mechanism
 		arena_size = MaxMem;
 		bitmap_size = arena_size / (sizeof(void*)*8/4);
-		spans_size = arena_size / PageSize * sizeof(runtime·mheap->map[0]);
+		spans_size = arena_size / PageSize * sizeof(runtime·mheap.map[0]);
 		p = runtime·SysReserve((void*)(0x00c0ULL<<32), bitmap_size + spans_size + arena_size);
 	}
 	if (p == nil) {
@@ -400,11 +397,11 @@ runtime·mallocinit(void)
 		// of address space, which is probably too much in a 32-bit world.
 		bitmap_size = MaxArena32 / (sizeof(void*)*8/4);
 		arena_size = 512<<20;
-		spans_size = MaxArena32 / PageSize * sizeof(runtime·mheap->map[0]);
+		spans_size = MaxArena32 / PageSize * sizeof(runtime·mheap.map[0]);
 		if(limit > 0 && arena_size+bitmap_size+spans_size > limit) {
 			bitmap_size = (limit / 9) & ~((1<<PageShift) - 1);
 			arena_size = bitmap_size * 8;
-			spans_size = arena_size / PageSize * sizeof(runtime·mheap->map[0]);
+			spans_size = arena_size / PageSize * sizeof(runtime·mheap.map[0]);
 		}
 
 		// SysReserve treats the address we ask for, end, as a hint,
@@ -427,14 +424,14 @@ runtime·mallocinit(void)
 	if((uintptr)p & (((uintptr)1<<PageShift)-1))
 		runtime·throw("runtime: SysReserve returned unaligned address");
 
-	runtime·mheap->map = (MSpan**)p;
-	runtime·mheap->bitmap = p + spans_size;
-	runtime·mheap->arena_start = p + spans_size + bitmap_size;
-	runtime·mheap->arena_used = runtime·mheap->arena_start;
-	runtime·mheap->arena_end = runtime·mheap->arena_start + arena_size;
+	runtime·mheap.map = (MSpan**)p;
+	runtime·mheap.bitmap = p + spans_size;
+	runtime·mheap.arena_start = p + spans_size + bitmap_size;
+	runtime·mheap.arena_used = runtime·mheap.arena_start;
+	runtime·mheap.arena_end = runtime·mheap.arena_start + arena_size;
 
 	// Initialize the rest of the allocator.	
-	runtime·MHeap_Init(runtime·mheap, runtime·SysAlloc);
+	runtime·MHeap_Init(&runtime·mheap, runtime·SysAlloc);
 	m->mcache = runtime·allocmcache();
 
 	// See if it works.
@@ -534,8 +531,8 @@ runtime·settype_flush(M *mp, bool sysalloc)
 		// (Manually inlined copy of runtime·MHeap_Lookup)
 		p = (uintptr)v>>PageShift;
 		if(sizeof(void*) == 8)
-			p -= (uintptr)runtime·mheap->arena_start >> PageShift;
-		s = runtime·mheap->map[p];
+			p -= (uintptr)runtime·mheap.arena_start >> PageShift;
+		s = runtime·mheap.map[p];
 
 		if(s->sizeclass == 0) {
 			s->types.compression = MTypes_Single;
@@ -652,7 +649,7 @@ runtime·settype(void *v, uintptr t)
 	}
 
 	if(DebugTypeAtBlockEnd) {
-		s = runtime·MHeap_Lookup(runtime·mheap, v);
+		s = runtime·MHeap_Lookup(&runtime·mheap, v);
 		*(uintptr*)((uintptr)v+s->elemsize-sizeof(uintptr)) = t;
 	}
 }
@@ -691,7 +688,7 @@ runtime·gettype(void *v)
 	uintptr t, ofs;
 	byte *data;
 
-	s = runtime·MHeap_LookupMaybe(runtime·mheap, v);
+	s = runtime·MHeap_LookupMaybe(&runtime·mheap, v);
 	if(s != nil) {
 		t = 0;
 		switch(s->types.compression) {
diff --git a/src/pkg/runtime/malloc.h b/src/pkg/runtime/malloc.h
index 2131a7e51c1..c668183c96e 100644
--- a/src/pkg/runtime/malloc.h
+++ b/src/pkg/runtime/malloc.h
@@ -433,7 +433,7 @@ struct MHeap
 	FixAlloc spanalloc;	// allocator for Span*
 	FixAlloc cachealloc;	// allocator for MCache*
 };
-extern MHeap *runtime·mheap;
+extern MHeap runtime·mheap;
 
 void	runtime·MHeap_Init(MHeap *h, void *(*allocator)(uintptr));
 MSpan*	runtime·MHeap_Alloc(MHeap *h, uintptr npage, int32 sizeclass, int32 acct, int32 zeroed);
diff --git a/src/pkg/runtime/mcache.c b/src/pkg/runtime/mcache.c
index 219eb8d4d67..1e11927df75 100644
--- a/src/pkg/runtime/mcache.c
+++ b/src/pkg/runtime/mcache.c
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ runtime·MCache_Refill(MCache *c, int32 sizeclass)
 	l = &c->list[sizeclass];
 	if(l->list)
 		runtime·throw("MCache_Refill: the list is not empty");
-	l->nlist = runtime·MCentral_AllocList(&runtime·mheap->central[sizeclass], &l->list);
+	l->nlist = runtime·MCentral_AllocList(&runtime·mheap.central[sizeclass], &l->list);
 	if(l->list == nil)
 		runtime·throw("out of memory");
 }
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ ReleaseN(MCacheList *l, int32 n, int32 sizeclass)
 	l->nlist -= n;
 
 	// Return them to central free list.
-	runtime·MCentral_FreeList(&runtime·mheap->central[sizeclass], first);
+	runtime·MCentral_FreeList(&runtime·mheap.central[sizeclass], first);
 }
 
 void
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ runtime·MCache_ReleaseAll(MCache *c)
 	for(i=0; i<NumSizeClasses; i++) {
 		l = &c->list[i];
 		if(l->list) {
-			runtime·MCentral_FreeList(&runtime·mheap->central[i], l->list);
+			runtime·MCentral_FreeList(&runtime·mheap.central[i], l->list);
 			l->list = nil;
 			l->nlist = 0;
 		}
diff --git a/src/pkg/runtime/mcentral.c b/src/pkg/runtime/mcentral.c
index d7a8724badb..cfff24a6da6 100644
--- a/src/pkg/runtime/mcentral.c
+++ b/src/pkg/runtime/mcentral.c
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ MCentral_Free(MCentral *c, void *v)
 	int32 size;
 
 	// Find span for v.
-	s = runtime·MHeap_Lookup(runtime·mheap, v);
+	s = runtime·MHeap_Lookup(&runtime·mheap, v);
 	if(s == nil || s->ref == 0)
 		runtime·throw("invalid free");
 
@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ MCentral_Free(MCentral *c, void *v)
 		s->freelist = nil;
 		c->nfree -= (s->npages << PageShift) / size;
 		runtime·unlock(c);
-		runtime·MHeap_Free(runtime·mheap, s, 0);
+		runtime·MHeap_Free(&runtime·mheap, s, 0);
 		runtime·lock(c);
 	}
 }
@@ -145,7 +145,7 @@ runtime·MCentral_FreeSpan(MCentral *c, MSpan *s, int32 n, MLink *start, MLink *
 		c->nfree -= (s->npages << PageShift) / size;
 		runtime·unlock(c);
 		runtime·unmarkspan((byte*)(s->start<<PageShift), s->npages<<PageShift);
-		runtime·MHeap_Free(runtime·mheap, s, 0);
+		runtime·MHeap_Free(&runtime·mheap, s, 0);
 	} else {
 		runtime·unlock(c);
 	}
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ MCentral_Grow(MCentral *c)
 
 	runtime·unlock(c);
 	runtime·MGetSizeClassInfo(c->sizeclass, &size, &npages, &n);
-	s = runtime·MHeap_Alloc(runtime·mheap, npages, c->sizeclass, 0, 1);
+	s = runtime·MHeap_Alloc(&runtime·mheap, npages, c->sizeclass, 0, 1);
 	if(s == nil) {
 		// TODO(rsc): Log out of memory
 		runtime·lock(c);
diff --git a/src/pkg/runtime/mgc0.c b/src/pkg/runtime/mgc0.c
index c4bcd18cf05..9ea45d48c66 100644
--- a/src/pkg/runtime/mgc0.c
+++ b/src/pkg/runtime/mgc0.c
@@ -204,7 +204,7 @@ markonly(void *obj)
 	PageID k;
 
 	// Words outside the arena cannot be pointers.
-	if(obj < runtime·mheap->arena_start || obj >= runtime·mheap->arena_used)
+	if(obj < runtime·mheap.arena_start || obj >= runtime·mheap.arena_used)
 		return false;
 
 	// obj may be a pointer to a live object.
@@ -214,8 +214,8 @@ markonly(void *obj)
 	obj = (void*)((uintptr)obj & ~((uintptr)PtrSize-1));
 
 	// Find bits for this word.
-	off = (uintptr*)obj - (uintptr*)runtime·mheap->arena_start;
-	bitp = (uintptr*)runtime·mheap->arena_start - off/wordsPerBitmapWord - 1;
+	off = (uintptr*)obj - (uintptr*)runtime·mheap.arena_start;
+	bitp = (uintptr*)runtime·mheap.arena_start - off/wordsPerBitmapWord - 1;
 	shift = off % wordsPerBitmapWord;
 	xbits = *bitp;
 	bits = xbits >> shift;
@@ -229,8 +229,8 @@ markonly(void *obj)
 	k = (uintptr)obj>>PageShift;
 	x = k;
 	if(sizeof(void*) == 8)
-		x -= (uintptr)runtime·mheap->arena_start>>PageShift;
-	s = runtime·mheap->map[x];
+		x -= (uintptr)runtime·mheap.arena_start>>PageShift;
+	s = runtime·mheap.map[x];
 	if(s == nil || k < s->start || k - s->start >= s->npages || s->state != MSpanInUse)
 		return false;
 	p = (byte*)((uintptr)s->start<<PageShift);
@@ -245,8 +245,8 @@ markonly(void *obj)
 	}
 
 	// Now that we know the object header, reload bits.
-	off = (uintptr*)obj - (uintptr*)runtime·mheap->arena_start;
-	bitp = (uintptr*)runtime·mheap->arena_start - off/wordsPerBitmapWord - 1;
+	off = (uintptr*)obj - (uintptr*)runtime·mheap.arena_start;
+	bitp = (uintptr*)runtime·mheap.arena_start - off/wordsPerBitmapWord - 1;
 	shift = off % wordsPerBitmapWord;
 	xbits = *bitp;
 	bits = xbits >> shift;
@@ -328,7 +328,7 @@ flushptrbuf(PtrTarget *ptrbuf, PtrTarget **ptrbufpos, Obj **_wp, Workbuf **_wbuf
 	Workbuf *wbuf;
 	PtrTarget *ptrbuf_end;
 
-	arena_start = runtime·mheap->arena_start;
+	arena_start = runtime·mheap.arena_start;
 
 	wp = *_wp;
 	wbuf = *_wbuf;
@@ -367,7 +367,7 @@ flushptrbuf(PtrTarget *ptrbuf, PtrTarget **ptrbufpos, Obj **_wp, Workbuf **_wbuf
 
 			// obj belongs to interval [mheap.arena_start, mheap.arena_used).
 			if(Debug > 1) {
-				if(obj < runtime·mheap->arena_start || obj >= runtime·mheap->arena_used)
+				if(obj < runtime·mheap.arena_start || obj >= runtime·mheap.arena_used)
 					runtime·throw("object is outside of mheap");
 			}
 
@@ -410,7 +410,7 @@ flushptrbuf(PtrTarget *ptrbuf, PtrTarget **ptrbufpos, Obj **_wp, Workbuf **_wbuf
 			x = k;
 			if(sizeof(void*) == 8)
 				x -= (uintptr)arena_start>>PageShift;
-			s = runtime·mheap->map[x];
+			s = runtime·mheap.map[x];
 			if(s == nil || k < s->start || k - s->start >= s->npages || s->state != MSpanInUse)
 				continue;
 			p = (byte*)((uintptr)s->start<<PageShift);
@@ -458,7 +458,7 @@ flushptrbuf(PtrTarget *ptrbuf, PtrTarget **ptrbufpos, Obj **_wp, Workbuf **_wbuf
 			x = (uintptr)obj >> PageShift;
 			if(sizeof(void*) == 8)
 				x -= (uintptr)arena_start>>PageShift;
-			s = runtime·mheap->map[x];
+			s = runtime·mheap.map[x];
 
 			PREFETCH(obj);
 
@@ -566,7 +566,7 @@ checkptr(void *obj, uintptr objti)
 	if(!Debug)
 		runtime·throw("checkptr is debug only");
 
-	if(obj < runtime·mheap->arena_start || obj >= runtime·mheap->arena_used)
+	if(obj < runtime·mheap.arena_start || obj >= runtime·mheap.arena_used)
 		return;
 	type = runtime·gettype(obj);
 	t = (Type*)(type & ~(uintptr)(PtrSize-1));
@@ -574,8 +574,8 @@ checkptr(void *obj, uintptr objti)
 		return;
 	x = (uintptr)obj >> PageShift;
 	if(sizeof(void*) == 8)
-		x -= (uintptr)(runtime·mheap->arena_start)>>PageShift;
-	s = runtime·mheap->map[x];
+		x -= (uintptr)(runtime·mheap.arena_start)>>PageShift;
+	s = runtime·mheap.map[x];
 	objstart = (byte*)((uintptr)s->start<<PageShift);
 	if(s->sizeclass != 0) {
 		i = ((byte*)obj - objstart)/s->elemsize;
@@ -645,8 +645,8 @@ scanblock(Workbuf *wbuf, Obj *wp, uintptr nobj, bool keepworking)
 		runtime·throw("scanblock: size of Workbuf is suboptimal");
 
 	// Memory arena parameters.
-	arena_start = runtime·mheap->arena_start;
-	arena_used = runtime·mheap->arena_used;
+	arena_start = runtime·mheap.arena_start;
+	arena_used = runtime·mheap.arena_used;
 
 	stack_ptr = stack+nelem(stack)-1;
 	
@@ -1157,14 +1157,14 @@ debug_scanblock(byte *b, uintptr n)
 		obj = (byte*)vp[i];
 
 		// Words outside the arena cannot be pointers.
-		if((byte*)obj < runtime·mheap->arena_start || (byte*)obj >= runtime·mheap->arena_used)
+		if((byte*)obj < runtime·mheap.arena_start || (byte*)obj >= runtime·mheap.arena_used)
 			continue;
 
 		// Round down to word boundary.
 		obj = (void*)((uintptr)obj & ~((uintptr)PtrSize-1));
 
 		// Consult span table to find beginning.
-		s = runtime·MHeap_LookupMaybe(runtime·mheap, obj);
+		s = runtime·MHeap_LookupMaybe(&runtime·mheap, obj);
 		if(s == nil)
 			continue;
 
@@ -1180,8 +1180,8 @@ debug_scanblock(byte *b, uintptr n)
 		}
 
 		// Now that we know the object header, reload bits.
-		off = (uintptr*)obj - (uintptr*)runtime·mheap->arena_start;
-		bitp = (uintptr*)runtime·mheap->arena_start - off/wordsPerBitmapWord - 1;
+		off = (uintptr*)obj - (uintptr*)runtime·mheap.arena_start;
+		bitp = (uintptr*)runtime·mheap.arena_start - off/wordsPerBitmapWord - 1;
 		shift = off % wordsPerBitmapWord;
 		xbits = *bitp;
 		bits = xbits >> shift;
@@ -1521,8 +1521,8 @@ addroots(void)
 	addroot((Obj){bss, ebss - bss, (uintptr)gcbss});
 
 	// MSpan.types
-	allspans = runtime·mheap->allspans;
-	for(spanidx=0; spanidx<runtime·mheap->nspan; spanidx++) {
+	allspans = runtime·mheap.allspans;
+	for(spanidx=0; spanidx<runtime·mheap.nspan; spanidx++) {
 		s = allspans[spanidx];
 		if(s->state == MSpanInUse) {
 			// The garbage collector ignores type pointers stored in MSpan.types:
@@ -1624,10 +1624,10 @@ sweepspan(ParFor *desc, uint32 idx)
 	MSpan *s;
 
 	USED(&desc);
-	s = runtime·mheap->allspans[idx];
+	s = runtime·mheap.allspans[idx];
 	if(s->state != MSpanInUse)
 		return;
-	arena_start = runtime·mheap->arena_start;
+	arena_start = runtime·mheap.arena_start;
 	p = (byte*)(s->start << PageShift);
 	cl = s->sizeclass;
 	size = s->elemsize;
@@ -1691,7 +1691,7 @@ sweepspan(ParFor *desc, uint32 idx)
 			// Free large span.
 			runtime·unmarkspan(p, 1<<PageShift);
 			*(uintptr*)p = (uintptr)0xdeaddeaddeaddeadll;	// needs zeroing
-			runtime·MHeap_Free(runtime·mheap, s, 1);
+			runtime·MHeap_Free(&runtime·mheap, s, 1);
 			c->local_alloc -= size;
 			c->local_nfree++;
 		} else {
@@ -1719,7 +1719,7 @@ sweepspan(ParFor *desc, uint32 idx)
 		c->local_nfree += nfree;
 		c->local_cachealloc -= nfree * size;
 		c->local_objects -= nfree;
-		runtime·MCentral_FreeSpan(&runtime·mheap->central[cl], s, nfree, head.next, end);
+		runtime·MCentral_FreeSpan(&runtime·mheap.central[cl], s, nfree, head.next, end);
 	}
 }
 
@@ -1733,10 +1733,10 @@ dumpspan(uint32 idx)
 	MSpan *s;
 	bool allocated, special;
 
-	s = runtime·mheap->allspans[idx];
+	s = runtime·mheap.allspans[idx];
 	if(s->state != MSpanInUse)
 		return;
-	arena_start = runtime·mheap->arena_start;
+	arena_start = runtime·mheap.arena_start;
 	p = (byte*)(s->start << PageShift);
 	sizeclass = s->sizeclass;
 	size = s->elemsize;
@@ -1794,7 +1794,7 @@ runtime·memorydump(void)
 {
 	uint32 spanidx;
 
-	for(spanidx=0; spanidx<runtime·mheap->nspan; spanidx++) {
+	for(spanidx=0; spanidx<runtime·mheap.nspan; spanidx++) {
 		dumpspan(spanidx);
 	}
 }
@@ -1995,7 +1995,7 @@ gc(struct gc_args *args)
 	work.nproc = runtime·gcprocs();
 	addroots();
 	runtime·parforsetup(work.markfor, work.nproc, work.nroot, nil, false, markroot);
-	runtime·parforsetup(work.sweepfor, work.nproc, runtime·mheap->nspan, nil, true, sweepspan);
+	runtime·parforsetup(work.sweepfor, work.nproc, runtime·mheap.nspan, nil, true, sweepspan);
 	if(work.nproc > 1) {
 		runtime·noteclear(&work.alldone);
 		runtime·helpgc(work.nproc);
@@ -2121,7 +2121,7 @@ runtime∕debug·readGCStats(Slice *pauses)
 
 	// Pass back: pauses, last gc (absolute time), number of gc, total pause ns.
 	p = (uint64*)pauses->array;
-	runtime·lock(runtime·mheap);
+	runtime·lock(&runtime·mheap);
 	n = mstats.numgc;
 	if(n > nelem(mstats.pause_ns))
 		n = nelem(mstats.pause_ns);
@@ -2136,21 +2136,21 @@ runtime∕debug·readGCStats(Slice *pauses)
 	p[n] = mstats.last_gc;
 	p[n+1] = mstats.numgc;
 	p[n+2] = mstats.pause_total_ns;	
-	runtime·unlock(runtime·mheap);
+	runtime·unlock(&runtime·mheap);
 	pauses->len = n+3;
 }
 
 void
 runtime∕debug·setGCPercent(intgo in, intgo out)
 {
-	runtime·lock(runtime·mheap);
+	runtime·lock(&runtime·mheap);
 	if(gcpercent == GcpercentUnknown)
 		gcpercent = readgogc();
 	out = gcpercent;
 	if(in < 0)
 		in = -1;
 	gcpercent = in;
-	runtime·unlock(runtime·mheap);
+	runtime·unlock(&runtime·mheap);
 	FLUSH(&out);
 }
 
@@ -2218,11 +2218,11 @@ runtime·markallocated(void *v, uintptr n, bool noptr)
 	if(0)
 		runtime·printf("markallocated %p+%p\n", v, n);
 
-	if((byte*)v+n > (byte*)runtime·mheap->arena_used || (byte*)v < runtime·mheap->arena_start)
+	if((byte*)v+n > (byte*)runtime·mheap.arena_used || (byte*)v < runtime·mheap.arena_start)
 		runtime·throw("markallocated: bad pointer");
 
-	off = (uintptr*)v - (uintptr*)runtime·mheap->arena_start;  // word offset
-	b = (uintptr*)runtime·mheap->arena_start - off/wordsPerBitmapWord - 1;
+	off = (uintptr*)v - (uintptr*)runtime·mheap.arena_start;  // word offset
+	b = (uintptr*)runtime·mheap.arena_start - off/wordsPerBitmapWord - 1;
 	shift = off % wordsPerBitmapWord;
 
 	for(;;) {
@@ -2250,11 +2250,11 @@ runtime·markfreed(void *v, uintptr n)
 	if(0)
 		runtime·printf("markallocated %p+%p\n", v, n);
 
-	if((byte*)v+n > (byte*)runtime·mheap->arena_used || (byte*)v < runtime·mheap->arena_start)
+	if((byte*)v+n > (byte*)runtime·mheap.arena_used || (byte*)v < runtime·mheap.arena_start)
 		runtime·throw("markallocated: bad pointer");
 
-	off = (uintptr*)v - (uintptr*)runtime·mheap->arena_start;  // word offset
-	b = (uintptr*)runtime·mheap->arena_start - off/wordsPerBitmapWord - 1;
+	off = (uintptr*)v - (uintptr*)runtime·mheap.arena_start;  // word offset
+	b = (uintptr*)runtime·mheap.arena_start - off/wordsPerBitmapWord - 1;
 	shift = off % wordsPerBitmapWord;
 
 	for(;;) {
@@ -2280,11 +2280,11 @@ runtime·checkfreed(void *v, uintptr n)
 	if(!runtime·checking)
 		return;
 
-	if((byte*)v+n > (byte*)runtime·mheap->arena_used || (byte*)v < runtime·mheap->arena_start)
+	if((byte*)v+n > (byte*)runtime·mheap.arena_used || (byte*)v < runtime·mheap.arena_start)
 		return;	// not allocated, so okay
 
-	off = (uintptr*)v - (uintptr*)runtime·mheap->arena_start;  // word offset
-	b = (uintptr*)runtime·mheap->arena_start - off/wordsPerBitmapWord - 1;
+	off = (uintptr*)v - (uintptr*)runtime·mheap.arena_start;  // word offset
+	b = (uintptr*)runtime·mheap.arena_start - off/wordsPerBitmapWord - 1;
 	shift = off % wordsPerBitmapWord;
 
 	bits = *b>>shift;
@@ -2303,7 +2303,7 @@ runtime·markspan(void *v, uintptr size, uintptr n, bool leftover)
 	uintptr *b, off, shift;
 	byte *p;
 
-	if((byte*)v+size*n > (byte*)runtime·mheap->arena_used || (byte*)v < runtime·mheap->arena_start)
+	if((byte*)v+size*n > (byte*)runtime·mheap.arena_used || (byte*)v < runtime·mheap.arena_start)
 		runtime·throw("markspan: bad pointer");
 
 	p = v;
@@ -2314,8 +2314,8 @@ runtime·markspan(void *v, uintptr size, uintptr n, bool leftover)
 		// the entire span, and each bitmap word has bits for only
 		// one span, so no other goroutines are changing these
 		// bitmap words.
-		off = (uintptr*)p - (uintptr*)runtime·mheap->arena_start;  // word offset
-		b = (uintptr*)runtime·mheap->arena_start - off/wordsPerBitmapWord - 1;
+		off = (uintptr*)p - (uintptr*)runtime·mheap.arena_start;  // word offset
+		b = (uintptr*)runtime·mheap.arena_start - off/wordsPerBitmapWord - 1;
 		shift = off % wordsPerBitmapWord;
 		*b = (*b & ~(bitMask<<shift)) | (bitBlockBoundary<<shift);
 	}
@@ -2327,14 +2327,14 @@ runtime·unmarkspan(void *v, uintptr n)
 {
 	uintptr *p, *b, off;
 
-	if((byte*)v+n > (byte*)runtime·mheap->arena_used || (byte*)v < runtime·mheap->arena_start)
+	if((byte*)v+n > (byte*)runtime·mheap.arena_used || (byte*)v < runtime·mheap.arena_start)
 		runtime·throw("markspan: bad pointer");
 
 	p = v;
-	off = p - (uintptr*)runtime·mheap->arena_start;  // word offset
+	off = p - (uintptr*)runtime·mheap.arena_start;  // word offset
 	if(off % wordsPerBitmapWord != 0)
 		runtime·throw("markspan: unaligned pointer");
-	b = (uintptr*)runtime·mheap->arena_start - off/wordsPerBitmapWord - 1;
+	b = (uintptr*)runtime·mheap.arena_start - off/wordsPerBitmapWord - 1;
 	n /= PtrSize;
 	if(n%wordsPerBitmapWord != 0)
 		runtime·throw("unmarkspan: unaligned length");
@@ -2355,8 +2355,8 @@ runtime·blockspecial(void *v)
 	if(DebugMark)
 		return true;
 
-	off = (uintptr*)v - (uintptr*)runtime·mheap->arena_start;
-	b = (uintptr*)runtime·mheap->arena_start - off/wordsPerBitmapWord - 1;
+	off = (uintptr*)v - (uintptr*)runtime·mheap.arena_start;
+	b = (uintptr*)runtime·mheap.arena_start - off/wordsPerBitmapWord - 1;
 	shift = off % wordsPerBitmapWord;
 
 	return (*b & (bitSpecial<<shift)) != 0;
@@ -2370,8 +2370,8 @@ runtime·setblockspecial(void *v, bool s)
 	if(DebugMark)
 		return;
 
-	off = (uintptr*)v - (uintptr*)runtime·mheap->arena_start;
-	b = (uintptr*)runtime·mheap->arena_start - off/wordsPerBitmapWord - 1;
+	off = (uintptr*)v - (uintptr*)runtime·mheap.arena_start;
+	b = (uintptr*)runtime·mheap.arena_start - off/wordsPerBitmapWord - 1;
 	shift = off % wordsPerBitmapWord;
 
 	for(;;) {
diff --git a/src/pkg/runtime/mheap.c b/src/pkg/runtime/mheap.c
index 7b1315dbce6..c5f9abde7f4 100644
--- a/src/pkg/runtime/mheap.c
+++ b/src/pkg/runtime/mheap.c
@@ -424,7 +424,7 @@ scavenge(uint64 now, uint64 limit)
 	uintptr sumreleased;
 	MHeap *h;
 	
-	h = runtime·mheap;
+	h = &runtime·mheap;
 	sumreleased = 0;
 	for(i=0; i < nelem(h->free); i++)
 		sumreleased += scavengelist(&h->free[i], now, limit);
@@ -467,7 +467,7 @@ runtime·MHeap_Scavenger(void)
 	if(env != nil)
 		trace = runtime·atoi(env) > 0;
 
-	h = runtime·mheap;
+	h = &runtime·mheap;
 	for(k=0;; k++) {
 		runtime·noteclear(&note);
 		runtime·entersyscallblock();
@@ -509,9 +509,9 @@ void
 runtime∕debug·freeOSMemory(void)
 {
 	runtime·gc(1);
-	runtime·lock(runtime·mheap);
+	runtime·lock(&runtime·mheap);
 	scavenge(~(uintptr)0, 0);
-	runtime·unlock(runtime·mheap);
+	runtime·unlock(&runtime·mheap);
 }
 
 // Initialize a new span with the given start and npages.
diff --git a/src/pkg/runtime/panic.c b/src/pkg/runtime/panic.c
index d0cf3ad6f9e..ecce93ff163 100644
--- a/src/pkg/runtime/panic.c
+++ b/src/pkg/runtime/panic.c
@@ -384,7 +384,7 @@ nomatch:
 void
 runtime·startpanic(void)
 {
-	if(runtime·mheap == 0 || runtime·mheap->cachealloc.size == 0) { // very early
+	if(runtime·mheap.cachealloc.size == 0) { // very early
 		runtime·printf("runtime: panic before malloc heap initialized\n");
 		m->mallocing = 1; // tell rest of panic not to try to malloc
 	} else if(m->mcache == nil) // can happen if called from signal handler or throw
diff --git a/src/pkg/runtime/race.c b/src/pkg/runtime/race.c
index ce1ce8c46d2..ce2a8567811 100644
--- a/src/pkg/runtime/race.c
+++ b/src/pkg/runtime/race.c
@@ -351,7 +351,7 @@ onstack(uintptr argp)
 	// the layout is in ../../cmd/ld/data.c
 	if((byte*)argp >= noptrdata && (byte*)argp < enoptrbss)
 		return false;
-	if((byte*)argp >= runtime·mheap->arena_start && (byte*)argp < runtime·mheap->arena_used)
+	if((byte*)argp >= runtime·mheap.arena_start && (byte*)argp < runtime·mheap.arena_used)
 		return false;
 	return true;
 }