diff --git a/compiler/common_compiler_test.cc b/compiler/common_compiler_test.cc
index b726649..bc8facd 100644
--- a/compiler/common_compiler_test.cc
+++ b/compiler/common_compiler_test.cc
@@ -174,13 +174,12 @@
 void CommonCompilerTest::CreateCompilerDriver(Compiler::Kind kind,
                                               InstructionSet isa,
                                               size_t number_of_threads) {
+  compiler_options_->boot_image_ = true;
   compiler_driver_.reset(new CompilerDriver(compiler_options_.get(),
                                             verification_results_.get(),
                                             kind,
                                             isa,
                                             instruction_set_features_.get(),
-                                            /* boot_image */ true,
-                                            /* app_image */ false,
                                             GetImageClasses(),
                                             GetCompiledClasses(),
                                             GetCompiledMethods(),
diff --git a/compiler/compiled_method.h b/compiler/compiled_method.h
index 1a87448..99b0ac1 100644
--- a/compiler/compiled_method.h
+++ b/compiler/compiled_method.h
@@ -177,6 +177,7 @@
     kTypeRelative,     // NOTE: Actual patching is instruction_set-dependent.
     kString,
     kStringRelative,   // NOTE: Actual patching is instruction_set-dependent.
+    kStringBssEntry,   // NOTE: Actual patching is instruction_set-dependent.
     kDexCacheArray,    // NOTE: Actual patching is instruction_set-dependent.
   };
 
@@ -244,10 +245,20 @@
     return patch;
   }
 
+  static LinkerPatch StringBssEntryPatch(size_t literal_offset,
+                                         const DexFile* target_dex_file,
+                                         uint32_t pc_insn_offset,
+                                         uint32_t target_string_idx) {
+    LinkerPatch patch(literal_offset, Type::kStringBssEntry, target_dex_file);
+    patch.string_idx_ = target_string_idx;
+    patch.pc_insn_offset_ = pc_insn_offset;
+    return patch;
+  }
+
   static LinkerPatch DexCacheArrayPatch(size_t literal_offset,
                                         const DexFile* target_dex_file,
                                         uint32_t pc_insn_offset,
-                                        size_t element_offset) {
+                                        uint32_t element_offset) {
     DCHECK(IsUint<32>(element_offset));
     LinkerPatch patch(literal_offset, Type::kDexCacheArray, target_dex_file);
     patch.pc_insn_offset_ = pc_insn_offset;
@@ -271,6 +282,7 @@
       case Type::kCallRelative:
       case Type::kTypeRelative:
       case Type::kStringRelative:
+      case Type::kStringBssEntry:
       case Type::kDexCacheArray:
         return true;
       default:
@@ -296,12 +308,16 @@
   }
 
   const DexFile* TargetStringDexFile() const {
-    DCHECK(patch_type_ == Type::kString || patch_type_ == Type::kStringRelative);
+    DCHECK(patch_type_ == Type::kString ||
+           patch_type_ == Type::kStringRelative ||
+           patch_type_ == Type::kStringBssEntry);
     return target_dex_file_;
   }
 
   uint32_t TargetStringIndex() const {
-    DCHECK(patch_type_ == Type::kString || patch_type_ == Type::kStringRelative);
+    DCHECK(patch_type_ == Type::kString ||
+           patch_type_ == Type::kStringRelative ||
+           patch_type_ == Type::kStringBssEntry);
     return string_idx_;
   }
 
@@ -318,6 +334,7 @@
   uint32_t PcInsnOffset() const {
     DCHECK(patch_type_ == Type::kTypeRelative ||
            patch_type_ == Type::kStringRelative ||
+           patch_type_ == Type::kStringBssEntry ||
            patch_type_ == Type::kDexCacheArray);
     return pc_insn_offset_;
   }
diff --git a/compiler/driver/compiled_method_storage_test.cc b/compiler/driver/compiled_method_storage_test.cc
index 5063d71..b72d0ac 100644
--- a/compiler/driver/compiled_method_storage_test.cc
+++ b/compiler/driver/compiled_method_storage_test.cc
@@ -32,8 +32,6 @@
                         Compiler::kOptimizing,
                         /* instruction_set_ */ kNone,
                         /* instruction_set_features */ nullptr,
-                        /* boot_image */ false,
-                        /* app_image */ false,
                         /* image_classes */ nullptr,
                         /* compiled_classes */ nullptr,
                         /* compiled_methods */ nullptr,
diff --git a/compiler/driver/compiler_driver.cc b/compiler/driver/compiler_driver.cc
index 2ad30ee..6cca397 100644
--- a/compiler/driver/compiler_driver.cc
+++ b/compiler/driver/compiler_driver.cc
@@ -264,8 +264,6 @@
     Compiler::Kind compiler_kind,
     InstructionSet instruction_set,
     const InstructionSetFeatures* instruction_set_features,
-    bool boot_image,
-    bool app_image,
     std::unordered_set<std::string>* image_classes,
     std::unordered_set<std::string>* compiled_classes,
     std::unordered_set<std::string>* compiled_methods,
@@ -286,8 +284,6 @@
       compiled_methods_lock_("compiled method lock"),
       compiled_methods_(MethodTable::key_compare()),
       non_relative_linker_patch_count_(0u),
-      boot_image_(boot_image),
-      app_image_(app_image),
       image_classes_(image_classes),
       classes_to_compile_(compiled_classes),
       methods_to_compile_(compiled_methods),
@@ -313,7 +309,7 @@
   if (compiler_options->VerifyOnlyProfile()) {
     CHECK(profile_compilation_info_ != nullptr) << "Requires profile";
   }
-  if (boot_image_) {
+  if (GetCompilerOptions().IsBootImage()) {
     CHECK(image_classes_.get() != nullptr) << "Expected image classes for boot image";
   }
 }
@@ -405,7 +401,7 @@
   // 3) Attempt to verify all classes
   // 4) Attempt to initialize image classes, and trivially initialized classes
   PreCompile(class_loader, dex_files, timings);
-  if (IsBootImage()) {
+  if (GetCompilerOptions().IsBootImage()) {
     // We don't need to setup the intrinsics for non boot image compilation, as
     // those compilations will pick up a boot image that have the ArtMethod already
     // set with the intrinsics flag.
@@ -899,7 +895,7 @@
     return;
   }
 
-  if (GetCompilerOptions().IsForceDeterminism() && IsBootImage()) {
+  if (GetCompilerOptions().IsForceDeterminism() && GetCompilerOptions().IsBootImage()) {
     // Resolve strings from const-string. Do this now to have a deterministic image.
     ResolveConstStrings(this, dex_files, timings);
     VLOG(compiler) << "Resolve const-strings: " << GetMemoryUsageString(false);
@@ -927,7 +923,7 @@
   }
   // No set of image classes, assume we include all the classes.
   // NOTE: Currently only reachable from InitImageMethodVisitor for the app image case.
-  return !IsBootImage();
+  return !GetCompilerOptions().IsBootImage();
 }
 
 bool CompilerDriver::IsClassToCompile(const char* descriptor) const {
@@ -1051,7 +1047,7 @@
 // Make a list of descriptors for classes to include in the image
 void CompilerDriver::LoadImageClasses(TimingLogger* timings) {
   CHECK(timings != nullptr);
-  if (!IsBootImage()) {
+  if (!GetCompilerOptions().IsBootImage()) {
     return;
   }
 
@@ -1279,7 +1275,7 @@
 };
 
 void CompilerDriver::UpdateImageClasses(TimingLogger* timings) {
-  if (IsBootImage()) {
+  if (GetCompilerOptions().IsBootImage()) {
     TimingLogger::ScopedTiming t("UpdateImageClasses", timings);
 
     Runtime* runtime = Runtime::Current();
@@ -1306,7 +1302,7 @@
     // Having the klass reference here implies that the klass is already loaded.
     return true;
   }
-  if (!IsBootImage()) {
+  if (!GetCompilerOptions().IsBootImage()) {
     // Assume loaded only if klass is in the boot image. App classes cannot be assumed
     // loaded because we don't even know what class loader will be used to load them.
     bool class_in_image = runtime->GetHeap()->FindSpaceFromObject(klass, false)->IsImageSpace();
@@ -1496,7 +1492,7 @@
 
   if (!use_dex_cache && force_relocations) {
     bool is_in_image;
-    if (IsBootImage()) {
+    if (GetCompilerOptions().IsBootImage()) {
       is_in_image = IsImageClass(method->GetDeclaringClassDescriptor());
     } else {
       is_in_image = instruction_set_ != kX86 && instruction_set_ != kX86_64 &&
@@ -1895,7 +1891,7 @@
 
   ParallelCompilationManager context(class_linker, class_loader, this, &dex_file, dex_files,
                                      thread_pool);
-  if (IsBootImage()) {
+  if (GetCompilerOptions().IsBootImage()) {
     // For images we resolve all types, such as array, whereas for applications just those with
     // classdefs are resolved by ResolveClassFieldsAndMethods.
     TimingLogger::ScopedTiming t("Resolve Types", timings);
@@ -2005,7 +2001,7 @@
       // It is *very* problematic if there are verification errors in the boot classpath. For example,
       // we rely on things working OK without verification when the decryption dialog is brought up.
       // So abort in a debug build if we find this violated.
-      DCHECK(!manager_->GetCompiler()->IsBootImage() || klass->IsVerified())
+      DCHECK(!manager_->GetCompiler()->GetCompilerOptions().IsBootImage() || klass->IsVerified())
           << "Boot classpath class " << PrettyClass(klass.Get()) << " failed to fully verify.";
     }
     soa.Self()->AssertNoPendingException();
@@ -2136,7 +2132,8 @@
           if (!klass->IsInitialized()) {
             // We need to initialize static fields, we only do this for image classes that aren't
             // marked with the $NoPreloadHolder (which implies this should not be initialized early).
-            bool can_init_static_fields = manager_->GetCompiler()->IsBootImage() &&
+            bool can_init_static_fields =
+                manager_->GetCompiler()->GetCompilerOptions().IsBootImage() &&
                 manager_->GetCompiler()->IsImageClass(descriptor) &&
                 !StringPiece(descriptor).ends_with("$NoPreloadHolder;");
             if (can_init_static_fields) {
@@ -2208,7 +2205,7 @@
   ClassLinker* class_linker = Runtime::Current()->GetClassLinker();
   ParallelCompilationManager context(class_linker, jni_class_loader, this, &dex_file, dex_files,
                                      init_thread_pool);
-  if (IsBootImage()) {
+  if (GetCompilerOptions().IsBootImage()) {
     // TODO: remove this when transactional mode supports multithreading.
     init_thread_count = 1U;
   }
@@ -2262,7 +2259,7 @@
     CHECK(dex_file != nullptr);
     InitializeClasses(class_loader, *dex_file, dex_files, timings);
   }
-  if (boot_image_ || app_image_) {
+  if (GetCompilerOptions().IsBootImage() || GetCompilerOptions().IsAppImage()) {
     // Make sure that we call EnsureIntiailized on all the array classes to call
     // SetVerificationAttempted so that the access flags are set. If we do not do this they get
     // changed at runtime resulting in more dirty image pages.
@@ -2272,7 +2269,7 @@
     InitializeArrayClassesAndCreateConflictTablesVisitor visitor;
     Runtime::Current()->GetClassLinker()->VisitClassesWithoutClassesLock(&visitor);
   }
-  if (IsBootImage()) {
+  if (GetCompilerOptions().IsBootImage()) {
     // Prune garbage objects created during aborted transactions.
     Runtime::Current()->GetHeap()->CollectGarbage(true);
   }
diff --git a/compiler/driver/compiler_driver.h b/compiler/driver/compiler_driver.h
index fc63df1..9a4dd85 100644
--- a/compiler/driver/compiler_driver.h
+++ b/compiler/driver/compiler_driver.h
@@ -90,8 +90,6 @@
                  Compiler::Kind compiler_kind,
                  InstructionSet instruction_set,
                  const InstructionSetFeatures* instruction_set_features,
-                 bool boot_image,
-                 bool app_image,
                  std::unordered_set<std::string>* image_classes,
                  std::unordered_set<std::string>* compiled_classes,
                  std::unordered_set<std::string>* compiled_methods,
@@ -147,11 +145,6 @@
     return compiler_.get();
   }
 
-  // Are we compiling and creating an image file?
-  bool IsBootImage() const {
-    return boot_image_;
-  }
-
   const std::unordered_set<std::string>* GetImageClasses() const {
     return image_classes_.get();
   }
@@ -527,9 +520,6 @@
   // in the .oat_patches ELF section if requested in the compiler options.
   size_t non_relative_linker_patch_count_ GUARDED_BY(compiled_methods_lock_);
 
-  const bool boot_image_;
-  const bool app_image_;
-
   // If image_ is true, specifies the classes that will be included in the image.
   // Note if image_classes_ is null, all classes are included in the image.
   std::unique_ptr<std::unordered_set<std::string>> image_classes_;
diff --git a/compiler/driver/compiler_options.cc b/compiler/driver/compiler_options.cc
index 30ba8c9..cbcc169 100644
--- a/compiler/driver/compiler_options.cc
+++ b/compiler/driver/compiler_options.cc
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@
       inline_depth_limit_(kUnsetInlineDepthLimit),
       inline_max_code_units_(kUnsetInlineMaxCodeUnits),
       no_inline_from_(nullptr),
+      boot_image_(false),
+      app_image_(false),
       include_patch_information_(kDefaultIncludePatchInformation),
       top_k_profile_threshold_(kDefaultTopKProfileThreshold),
       debuggable_(false),
@@ -78,34 +80,35 @@
                                  bool dump_cfg_append,
                                  bool force_determinism,
                                  RegisterAllocator::Strategy regalloc_strategy,
-                                 const std::vector<std::string>* passes_to_run
-                                 ) :  // NOLINT(whitespace/parens)
-    compiler_filter_(compiler_filter),
-    huge_method_threshold_(huge_method_threshold),
-    large_method_threshold_(large_method_threshold),
-    small_method_threshold_(small_method_threshold),
-    tiny_method_threshold_(tiny_method_threshold),
-    num_dex_methods_threshold_(num_dex_methods_threshold),
-    inline_depth_limit_(inline_depth_limit),
-    inline_max_code_units_(inline_max_code_units),
-    no_inline_from_(no_inline_from),
-    include_patch_information_(include_patch_information),
-    top_k_profile_threshold_(top_k_profile_threshold),
-    debuggable_(debuggable),
-    generate_debug_info_(generate_debug_info),
-    generate_mini_debug_info_(kDefaultGenerateMiniDebugInfo),
-    implicit_null_checks_(implicit_null_checks),
-    implicit_so_checks_(implicit_so_checks),
-    implicit_suspend_checks_(implicit_suspend_checks),
-    compile_pic_(compile_pic),
-    verbose_methods_(verbose_methods),
-    abort_on_hard_verifier_failure_(abort_on_hard_verifier_failure),
-    init_failure_output_(init_failure_output),
-    dump_cfg_file_name_(dump_cfg_file_name),
-    dump_cfg_append_(dump_cfg_append),
-    force_determinism_(force_determinism),
-    register_allocation_strategy_(regalloc_strategy),
-    passes_to_run_(passes_to_run) {
+                                 const std::vector<std::string>* passes_to_run)
+    : compiler_filter_(compiler_filter),
+      huge_method_threshold_(huge_method_threshold),
+      large_method_threshold_(large_method_threshold),
+      small_method_threshold_(small_method_threshold),
+      tiny_method_threshold_(tiny_method_threshold),
+      num_dex_methods_threshold_(num_dex_methods_threshold),
+      inline_depth_limit_(inline_depth_limit),
+      inline_max_code_units_(inline_max_code_units),
+      no_inline_from_(no_inline_from),
+      boot_image_(false),
+      app_image_(false),
+      include_patch_information_(include_patch_information),
+      top_k_profile_threshold_(top_k_profile_threshold),
+      debuggable_(debuggable),
+      generate_debug_info_(generate_debug_info),
+      generate_mini_debug_info_(kDefaultGenerateMiniDebugInfo),
+      implicit_null_checks_(implicit_null_checks),
+      implicit_so_checks_(implicit_so_checks),
+      implicit_suspend_checks_(implicit_suspend_checks),
+      compile_pic_(compile_pic),
+      verbose_methods_(verbose_methods),
+      abort_on_hard_verifier_failure_(abort_on_hard_verifier_failure),
+      init_failure_output_(init_failure_output),
+      dump_cfg_file_name_(dump_cfg_file_name),
+      dump_cfg_append_(dump_cfg_append),
+      force_determinism_(force_determinism),
+      register_allocation_strategy_(regalloc_strategy),
+      passes_to_run_(passes_to_run) {
 }
 
 void CompilerOptions::ParseHugeMethodMax(const StringPiece& option, UsageFn Usage) {
diff --git a/compiler/driver/compiler_options.h b/compiler/driver/compiler_options.h
index abc58d7..8e4a775 100644
--- a/compiler/driver/compiler_options.h
+++ b/compiler/driver/compiler_options.h
@@ -203,6 +203,14 @@
     return include_patch_information_;
   }
 
+  bool IsBootImage() const {
+    return boot_image_;
+  }
+
+  bool IsAppImage() const {
+    return app_image_;
+  }
+
   // Should the code be compiled as position independent?
   bool GetCompilePic() const {
     return compile_pic_;
@@ -281,6 +289,8 @@
   // prefer vector<> over a lookup-oriented container, such as set<>.
   const std::vector<const DexFile*>* no_inline_from_;
 
+  bool boot_image_;
+  bool app_image_;
   bool include_patch_information_;
   // When using a profile file only the top K% of the profiled samples will be compiled.
   double top_k_profile_threshold_;
@@ -305,7 +315,7 @@
   std::string dump_cfg_file_name_;
   bool dump_cfg_append_;
 
-  // Whether the compiler should trade performance for determinism to guarantee exactly reproducable
+  // Whether the compiler should trade performance for determinism to guarantee exactly reproducible
   // outcomes.
   bool force_determinism_;
 
@@ -320,6 +330,7 @@
   const std::vector<std::string>* passes_to_run_;
 
   friend class Dex2Oat;
+  friend class CommonCompilerTest;
 
   DISALLOW_COPY_AND_ASSIGN(CompilerOptions);
 };
diff --git a/compiler/elf_builder.h b/compiler/elf_builder.h
index 02831c9..73240be 100644
--- a/compiler/elf_builder.h
+++ b/compiler/elf_builder.h
@@ -619,7 +619,8 @@
   void PrepareDynamicSection(const std::string& elf_file_path,
                              Elf_Word rodata_size,
                              Elf_Word text_size,
-                             Elf_Word bss_size) {
+                             Elf_Word bss_size,
+                             Elf_Word bss_roots_offset) {
     std::string soname(elf_file_path);
     size_t directory_separator_pos = soname.rfind('/');
     if (directory_separator_pos != std::string::npos) {
@@ -659,10 +660,20 @@
       Elf_Word oatlastword_address = rodata_address + rodata_size - 4;
       dynsym_.Add(oatlastword, rodata_index, oatlastword_address, 4, STB_GLOBAL, STT_OBJECT);
     }
+    DCHECK_LE(bss_roots_offset, bss_size);
     if (bss_size != 0u) {
       Elf_Word bss_index = rodata_index + 1u + (text_size != 0 ? 1u : 0u);
       Elf_Word oatbss = dynstr_.Add("oatbss");
-      dynsym_.Add(oatbss, bss_index, bss_address, bss_size, STB_GLOBAL, STT_OBJECT);
+      dynsym_.Add(oatbss, bss_index, bss_address, bss_roots_offset, STB_GLOBAL, STT_OBJECT);
+      // Add a symbol marking the start of the GC roots part of the .bss, if not empty.
+      if (bss_roots_offset != bss_size) {
+        DCHECK_LT(bss_roots_offset, bss_size);
+        Elf_Word bss_roots_address = bss_address + bss_roots_offset;
+        Elf_Word bss_roots_size = bss_size - bss_roots_offset;
+        Elf_Word oatbssroots = dynstr_.Add("oatbssroots");
+        dynsym_.Add(
+            oatbssroots, bss_index, bss_roots_address, bss_roots_size, STB_GLOBAL, STT_OBJECT);
+      }
       Elf_Word oatbsslastword = dynstr_.Add("oatbsslastword");
       Elf_Word bsslastword_address = bss_address + bss_size - 4;
       dynsym_.Add(oatbsslastword, bss_index, bsslastword_address, 4, STB_GLOBAL, STT_OBJECT);
diff --git a/compiler/elf_writer.h b/compiler/elf_writer.h
index f8f9102..d55f745 100644
--- a/compiler/elf_writer.h
+++ b/compiler/elf_writer.h
@@ -52,7 +52,10 @@
   virtual ~ElfWriter() {}
 
   virtual void Start() = 0;
-  virtual void SetLoadedSectionSizes(size_t rodata_size, size_t text_size, size_t bss_size) = 0;
+  virtual void PrepareDynamicSection(size_t rodata_size,
+                                     size_t text_size,
+                                     size_t bss_size,
+                                     size_t bss_roots_offset) = 0;
   virtual void PrepareDebugInfo(const ArrayRef<const debug::MethodDebugInfo>& method_infos) = 0;
   virtual OutputStream* StartRoData() = 0;
   virtual void EndRoData(OutputStream* rodata) = 0;
diff --git a/compiler/elf_writer_quick.cc b/compiler/elf_writer_quick.cc
index bed864b..36cd232 100644
--- a/compiler/elf_writer_quick.cc
+++ b/compiler/elf_writer_quick.cc
@@ -93,7 +93,10 @@
   ~ElfWriterQuick();
 
   void Start() OVERRIDE;
-  void SetLoadedSectionSizes(size_t rodata_size, size_t text_size, size_t bss_size) OVERRIDE;
+  void PrepareDynamicSection(size_t rodata_size,
+                             size_t text_size,
+                             size_t bss_size,
+                             size_t bss_roots_offset) OVERRIDE;
   void PrepareDebugInfo(const ArrayRef<const debug::MethodDebugInfo>& method_infos) OVERRIDE;
   OutputStream* StartRoData() OVERRIDE;
   void EndRoData(OutputStream* rodata) OVERRIDE;
@@ -167,16 +170,21 @@
 }
 
 template <typename ElfTypes>
-void ElfWriterQuick<ElfTypes>::SetLoadedSectionSizes(size_t rodata_size,
+void ElfWriterQuick<ElfTypes>::PrepareDynamicSection(size_t rodata_size,
                                                      size_t text_size,
-                                                     size_t bss_size) {
+                                                     size_t bss_size,
+                                                     size_t bss_roots_offset) {
   DCHECK_EQ(rodata_size_, 0u);
   rodata_size_ = rodata_size;
   DCHECK_EQ(text_size_, 0u);
   text_size_ = text_size;
   DCHECK_EQ(bss_size_, 0u);
   bss_size_ = bss_size;
-  builder_->PrepareDynamicSection(elf_file_->GetPath(), rodata_size_, text_size_, bss_size_);
+  builder_->PrepareDynamicSection(elf_file_->GetPath(),
+                                  rodata_size_,
+                                  text_size_,
+                                  bss_size_,
+                                  bss_roots_offset);
 }
 
 template <typename ElfTypes>
diff --git a/compiler/image_test.cc b/compiler/image_test.cc
index 4689c9d..9e94b9d 100644
--- a/compiler/image_test.cc
+++ b/compiler/image_test.cc
@@ -263,7 +263,10 @@
         oat_writer->PrepareLayout(driver, writer.get(), cur_dex_files, &patcher);
         size_t rodata_size = oat_writer->GetOatHeader().GetExecutableOffset();
         size_t text_size = oat_writer->GetOatSize() - rodata_size;
-        elf_writer->SetLoadedSectionSizes(rodata_size, text_size, oat_writer->GetBssSize());
+        elf_writer->PrepareDynamicSection(rodata_size,
+                                          text_size,
+                                          oat_writer->GetBssSize(),
+                                          oat_writer->GetBssRootsOffset());
 
         writer->UpdateOatFileLayout(i,
                                     elf_writer->GetLoadedSize(),
diff --git a/compiler/jit/jit_compiler.cc b/compiler/jit/jit_compiler.cc
index 4f86905..4ef2db8 100644
--- a/compiler/jit/jit_compiler.cc
+++ b/compiler/jit/jit_compiler.cc
@@ -156,8 +156,6 @@
       Compiler::kOptimizing,
       instruction_set,
       instruction_set_features_.get(),
-      /* boot_image */ false,
-      /* app_image */ false,
       /* image_classes */ nullptr,
       /* compiled_classes */ nullptr,
       /* compiled_methods */ nullptr,
diff --git a/compiler/linker/arm64/relative_patcher_arm64.cc b/compiler/linker/arm64/relative_patcher_arm64.cc
index 4c8788e..3b77880 100644
--- a/compiler/linker/arm64/relative_patcher_arm64.cc
+++ b/compiler/linker/arm64/relative_patcher_arm64.cc
@@ -222,9 +222,10 @@
       }
       shift = 0u;  // No shift for ADD.
     } else {
-      // LDR 32-bit or 64-bit with imm12 == 0 (unset).
-      DCHECK(patch.GetType() == LinkerPatch::Type::kDexCacheArray) << patch.GetType();
-      DCHECK_EQ(insn & 0xbffffc00, 0xb9400000) << std::hex << insn;
+      // LDR/STR 32-bit or 64-bit with imm12 == 0 (unset).
+      DCHECK(patch.GetType() == LinkerPatch::Type::kDexCacheArray ||
+             patch.GetType() == LinkerPatch::Type::kStringBssEntry) << patch.GetType();
+      DCHECK_EQ(insn & 0xbfbffc00, 0xb9000000) << std::hex << insn;
     }
     if (kIsDebugBuild) {
       uint32_t adrp = GetInsn(code, pc_insn_offset);
diff --git a/compiler/linker/relative_patcher_test.h b/compiler/linker/relative_patcher_test.h
index 62b3a0a..0151789 100644
--- a/compiler/linker/relative_patcher_test.h
+++ b/compiler/linker/relative_patcher_test.h
@@ -47,8 +47,6 @@
                 Compiler::kQuick,
                 instruction_set,
                 /* instruction_set_features*/ nullptr,
-                /* boot_image */ false,
-                /* app_image */ false,
                 /* image_classes */ nullptr,
                 /* compiled_classes */ nullptr,
                 /* compiled_methods */ nullptr,
diff --git a/compiler/oat_test.cc b/compiler/oat_test.cc
index e8bc67d..2762804 100644
--- a/compiler/oat_test.cc
+++ b/compiler/oat_test.cc
@@ -108,8 +108,6 @@
                                               compiler_kind,
                                               insn_set,
                                               insn_features_.get(),
-                                              /* boot_image */ false,
-                                              /* app_image */ false,
                                               /* image_classes */ nullptr,
                                               /* compiled_classes */ nullptr,
                                               /* compiled_methods */ nullptr,
@@ -194,6 +192,7 @@
                                          &opened_dex_files)) {
       return false;
     }
+
     Runtime* runtime = Runtime::Current();
     ClassLinker* const class_linker = runtime->GetClassLinker();
     std::vector<const DexFile*> dex_files;
@@ -207,7 +206,10 @@
     oat_writer.PrepareLayout(compiler_driver_.get(), nullptr, dex_files, &patcher);
     size_t rodata_size = oat_writer.GetOatHeader().GetExecutableOffset();
     size_t text_size = oat_writer.GetOatSize() - rodata_size;
-    elf_writer->SetLoadedSectionSizes(rodata_size, text_size, oat_writer.GetBssSize());
+    elf_writer->PrepareDynamicSection(rodata_size,
+                                      text_size,
+                                      oat_writer.GetBssSize(),
+                                      oat_writer.GetBssRootsOffset());
 
     if (!oat_writer.WriteRodata(oat_rodata)) {
       return false;
@@ -228,7 +230,15 @@
     elf_writer->WriteDebugInfo(oat_writer.GetMethodDebugInfo());
     elf_writer->WritePatchLocations(oat_writer.GetAbsolutePatchLocations());
 
-    return elf_writer->End();
+    if (!elf_writer->End()) {
+      return false;
+    }
+
+    opened_dex_files_maps_.emplace_back(std::move(opened_dex_files_map));
+    for (std::unique_ptr<const DexFile>& dex_file : opened_dex_files) {
+      opened_dex_files_.emplace_back(dex_file.release());
+    }
+    return true;
   }
 
   void TestDexFileInput(bool verify, bool low_4gb);
@@ -236,6 +246,9 @@
 
   std::unique_ptr<const InstructionSetFeatures> insn_features_;
   std::unique_ptr<QuickCompilerCallbacks> callbacks_;
+
+  std::vector<std::unique_ptr<MemMap>> opened_dex_files_maps_;
+  std::vector<std::unique_ptr<const DexFile>> opened_dex_files_;
 };
 
 class ZipBuilder {
diff --git a/compiler/oat_writer.cc b/compiler/oat_writer.cc
index 54ec7c1..44c26ed 100644
--- a/compiler/oat_writer.cc
+++ b/compiler/oat_writer.cc
@@ -300,7 +300,10 @@
     vdex_dex_files_offset_(0u),
     vdex_verifier_deps_offset_(0u),
     oat_size_(0u),
+    bss_start_(0u),
     bss_size_(0u),
+    bss_roots_offset_(0u),
+    bss_string_entries_(),
     oat_data_offset_(0u),
     oat_header_(nullptr),
     size_vdex_header_(0),
@@ -554,15 +557,8 @@
   oat_size_ = offset;
 
   if (!HasBootImage()) {
-    // Allocate space for app dex cache arrays in the .bss section.
-    size_t bss_start = RoundUp(oat_size_, kPageSize);
-    PointerSize pointer_size = GetInstructionSetPointerSize(instruction_set);
-    bss_size_ = 0u;
-    for (const DexFile* dex_file : *dex_files_) {
-      dex_cache_arrays_offsets_.Put(dex_file, bss_start + bss_size_);
-      DexCacheArraysLayout layout(pointer_size, dex_file);
-      bss_size_ += layout.Size();
-    }
+    TimingLogger::ScopedTiming split("InitBssLayout", timings_);
+    InitBssLayout(instruction_set);
   }
 
   CHECK_EQ(dex_files_->size(), oat_dex_files_.size());
@@ -805,6 +801,10 @@
             if (!patch.IsPcRelative()) {
               writer_->absolute_patch_locations_.push_back(base_loc + patch.LiteralOffset());
             }
+            if (patch.GetType() == LinkerPatch::Type::kStringBssEntry) {
+              StringReference ref(patch.TargetStringDexFile(), patch.TargetStringIndex());
+              writer_->bss_string_entries_.Overwrite(ref, /* placeholder */ 0u);
+            }
           }
         }
       }
@@ -1115,6 +1115,15 @@
                                                                      target_offset);
                 break;
               }
+              case LinkerPatch::Type::kStringBssEntry: {
+                StringReference ref(patch.TargetStringDexFile(), patch.TargetStringIndex());
+                uint32_t target_offset = writer_->bss_string_entries_.Get(ref);
+                writer_->relative_patcher_->PatchPcRelativeReference(&patched_code_,
+                                                                     patch,
+                                                                     offset_ + literal_offset,
+                                                                     target_offset);
+                break;
+              }
               case LinkerPatch::Type::kTypeRelative: {
                 uint32_t target_offset = GetTargetObjectOffset(GetTargetType(patch));
                 writer_->relative_patcher_->PatchPcRelativeReference(&patched_code_,
@@ -1500,7 +1509,7 @@
   offset = RoundUp(offset, kPageSize);
   oat_header_->SetExecutableOffset(offset);
   size_executable_offset_alignment_ = offset - old_offset;
-  if (compiler_driver_->IsBootImage()) {
+  if (compiler_driver_->GetCompilerOptions().IsBootImage()) {
     InstructionSet instruction_set = compiler_driver_->GetInstructionSet();
 
     #define DO_TRAMPOLINE(field, fn_name) \
@@ -1548,6 +1557,29 @@
   return offset;
 }
 
+void OatWriter::InitBssLayout(InstructionSet instruction_set) {
+  DCHECK(!HasBootImage());
+
+  // Allocate space for app dex cache arrays in the .bss section.
+  bss_start_ = RoundUp(oat_size_, kPageSize);
+  PointerSize pointer_size = GetInstructionSetPointerSize(instruction_set);
+  bss_size_ = 0u;
+  for (const DexFile* dex_file : *dex_files_) {
+    dex_cache_arrays_offsets_.Put(dex_file, bss_start_ + bss_size_);
+    DexCacheArraysLayout layout(pointer_size, dex_file);
+    bss_size_ += layout.Size();
+  }
+
+  bss_roots_offset_ = bss_size_;
+
+  // Prepare offsets for .bss String entries.
+  for (auto& entry : bss_string_entries_) {
+    DCHECK_EQ(entry.second, 0u);
+    entry.second = bss_start_ + bss_size_;
+    bss_size_ += sizeof(GcRoot<mirror::String>);
+  }
+}
+
 bool OatWriter::WriteRodata(OutputStream* out) {
   CHECK(write_state_ == WriteState::kWriteRoData);
 
@@ -1736,7 +1768,7 @@
 
   oat_header_->SetImageFileLocationOatChecksum(image_file_location_oat_checksum);
   oat_header_->SetImageFileLocationOatDataBegin(image_file_location_oat_begin);
-  if (compiler_driver_->IsBootImage()) {
+  if (compiler_driver_->GetCompilerOptions().IsBootImage()) {
     CHECK_EQ(image_patch_delta, 0);
     CHECK_EQ(oat_header_->GetImagePatchDelta(), 0);
   } else {
@@ -1826,7 +1858,7 @@
 }
 
 size_t OatWriter::WriteCode(OutputStream* out, const size_t file_offset, size_t relative_offset) {
-  if (compiler_driver_->IsBootImage()) {
+  if (compiler_driver_->GetCompilerOptions().IsBootImage()) {
     InstructionSet instruction_set = compiler_driver_->GetInstructionSet();
 
     #define DO_TRAMPOLINE(field) \
diff --git a/compiler/oat_writer.h b/compiler/oat_writer.h
index 670accb..1cc193b 100644
--- a/compiler/oat_writer.h
+++ b/compiler/oat_writer.h
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 #include "oat.h"
 #include "os.h"
 #include "safe_map.h"
+#include "string_reference.h"
 
 namespace art {
 
@@ -194,6 +195,10 @@
     return bss_size_;
   }
 
+  size_t GetBssRootsOffset() const {
+    return bss_roots_offset_;
+  }
+
   size_t GetOatDataOffset() const {
     return oat_data_offset_;
   }
@@ -265,6 +270,7 @@
   size_t InitOatMaps(size_t offset);
   size_t InitOatCode(size_t offset);
   size_t InitOatCodeDexFiles(size_t offset);
+  void InitBssLayout(InstructionSet instruction_set);
 
   bool WriteClassOffsets(OutputStream* out);
   bool WriteClasses(OutputStream* out);
@@ -322,9 +328,20 @@
   // Size required for Oat data structures.
   size_t oat_size_;
 
-  // The size of the required .bss section holding the DexCache data.
+  // The start of the required .bss section.
+  size_t bss_start_;
+
+  // The size of the required .bss section holding the DexCache data and GC roots.
   size_t bss_size_;
 
+  // The offset of the GC roots in .bss section.
+  size_t bss_roots_offset_;
+
+  // Map for allocating String entries in .bss. Indexed by StringReference for the source
+  // string in the dex file with the "string value comparator" for deduplication. The value
+  // is the target offset for patching, starting at `bss_start_ + bss_roots_offset_`.
+  SafeMap<StringReference, size_t, StringReferenceValueComparator> bss_string_entries_;
+
   // Offsets of the dex cache arrays for each app dex file. For the
   // boot image, this information is provided by the ImageWriter.
   SafeMap<const DexFile*, size_t> dex_cache_arrays_offsets_;  // DexFiles not owned.
diff --git a/compiler/optimizing/code_generator.h b/compiler/optimizing/code_generator.h
index 8500204..49f4f18 100644
--- a/compiler/optimizing/code_generator.h
+++ b/compiler/optimizing/code_generator.h
@@ -531,40 +531,15 @@
   uint32_t GetReferenceDisableFlagOffset() const;
 
  protected:
-  // Method patch info used for recording locations of required linker patches and
-  // target methods. The target method can be used for various purposes, whether for
-  // patching the address of the method or the code pointer or a PC-relative call.
+  // Patch info used for recording locations of required linker patches and their targets,
+  // i.e. target method, string, type or code identified by their dex file and index.
   template <typename LabelType>
-  struct MethodPatchInfo {
-    explicit MethodPatchInfo(MethodReference m) : target_method(m), label() { }
-
-    MethodReference target_method;
-    LabelType label;
-  };
-
-  // String patch info used for recording locations of required linker patches and
-  // target strings. The actual string address can be absolute or PC-relative.
-  template <typename LabelType>
-  struct StringPatchInfo {
-    StringPatchInfo(const DexFile& df, uint32_t index)
-        : dex_file(df), string_index(index), label() { }
+  struct PatchInfo {
+    PatchInfo(const DexFile& target_dex_file, uint32_t target_index)
+        : dex_file(target_dex_file), index(target_index) { }
 
     const DexFile& dex_file;
-    uint32_t string_index;
-    LabelType label;
-  };
-
-  // Type patch info used for recording locations of required linker patches and
-  // target types. The actual type address can be absolute or PC-relative.
-  // TODO: Consider merging with MethodPatchInfo and StringPatchInfo - all these
-  // classes contain the dex file, some index and the label.
-  template <typename LabelType>
-  struct TypePatchInfo {
-    TypePatchInfo(const DexFile& df, uint32_t index)
-        : dex_file(df), type_index(index), label() { }
-
-    const DexFile& dex_file;
-    uint32_t type_index;
+    uint32_t index;
     LabelType label;
   };
 
diff --git a/compiler/optimizing/code_generator_arm.cc b/compiler/optimizing/code_generator_arm.cc
index 681988d..9870876 100644
--- a/compiler/optimizing/code_generator_arm.cc
+++ b/compiler/optimizing/code_generator_arm.cc
@@ -422,6 +422,50 @@
   DISALLOW_COPY_AND_ASSIGN(LoadClassSlowPathARM);
 };
 
+class LoadStringSlowPathARM : public SlowPathCodeARM {
+ public:
+  explicit LoadStringSlowPathARM(HLoadString* instruction) : SlowPathCodeARM(instruction) {}
+
+  void EmitNativeCode(CodeGenerator* codegen) OVERRIDE {
+    LocationSummary* locations = instruction_->GetLocations();
+    DCHECK(!locations->GetLiveRegisters()->ContainsCoreRegister(locations->Out().reg()));
+
+    CodeGeneratorARM* arm_codegen = down_cast<CodeGeneratorARM*>(codegen);
+    __ Bind(GetEntryLabel());
+    SaveLiveRegisters(codegen, locations);
+
+    InvokeRuntimeCallingConvention calling_convention;
+    HLoadString* load = instruction_->AsLoadString();
+    const uint32_t string_index = load->GetStringIndex();
+    __ LoadImmediate(calling_convention.GetRegisterAt(0), string_index);
+    arm_codegen->InvokeRuntime(kQuickResolveString, instruction_, instruction_->GetDexPc(), this);
+    CheckEntrypointTypes<kQuickResolveString, void*, uint32_t>();
+    arm_codegen->Move32(locations->Out(), Location::RegisterLocation(R0));
+
+    RestoreLiveRegisters(codegen, locations);
+
+    // Store the resolved String to the BSS entry.
+    // TODO: Change art_quick_resolve_string to kSaveEverything and use a temporary for the
+    // .bss entry address in the fast path, so that we can avoid another calculation here.
+    CodeGeneratorARM::PcRelativePatchInfo* labels =
+        arm_codegen->NewPcRelativeStringPatch(load->GetDexFile(), string_index);
+    __ BindTrackedLabel(&labels->movw_label);
+    __ movw(IP, /* placeholder */ 0u);
+    __ BindTrackedLabel(&labels->movt_label);
+    __ movt(IP, /* placeholder */ 0u);
+    __ BindTrackedLabel(&labels->add_pc_label);
+    __ add(IP, IP, ShifterOperand(PC));
+    __ str(locations->Out().AsRegister<Register>(), Address(IP));
+
+    __ b(GetExitLabel());
+  }
+
+  const char* GetDescription() const OVERRIDE { return "LoadStringSlowPathARM"; }
+
+ private:
+  DISALLOW_COPY_AND_ASSIGN(LoadStringSlowPathARM);
+};
+
 class TypeCheckSlowPathARM : public SlowPathCodeARM {
  public:
   TypeCheckSlowPathARM(HInstruction* instruction, bool is_fatal)
@@ -5641,15 +5685,8 @@
     case HLoadString::LoadKind::kDexCacheAddress:
       DCHECK(Runtime::Current()->UseJitCompilation());
       break;
-    case HLoadString::LoadKind::kDexCachePcRelative:
+    case HLoadString::LoadKind::kBssEntry:
       DCHECK(!Runtime::Current()->UseJitCompilation());
-      // We disable pc-relative load when there is an irreducible loop, as the optimization
-      // is incompatible with it.
-      // TODO: Create as many ArmDexCacheArraysBase instructions as needed for methods
-      // with irreducible loops.
-      if (GetGraph()->HasIrreducibleLoops()) {
-        return HLoadString::LoadKind::kDexCacheViaMethod;
-      }
       break;
     case HLoadString::LoadKind::kDexCacheViaMethod:
       break;
@@ -5659,12 +5696,13 @@
 
 void LocationsBuilderARM::VisitLoadString(HLoadString* load) {
   LocationSummary::CallKind call_kind = load->NeedsEnvironment()
-      ? LocationSummary::kCallOnMainOnly
+      ? ((load->GetLoadKind() == HLoadString::LoadKind::kDexCacheViaMethod)
+          ? LocationSummary::kCallOnMainOnly
+          : LocationSummary::kCallOnSlowPath)
       : LocationSummary::kNoCall;
   LocationSummary* locations = new (GetGraph()->GetArena()) LocationSummary(load, call_kind);
 
   HLoadString::LoadKind load_kind = load->GetLoadKind();
-  DCHECK(load_kind != HLoadString::LoadKind::kDexCachePcRelative) << "Not supported";
   if (load_kind == HLoadString::LoadKind::kDexCacheViaMethod) {
     locations->SetInAt(0, Location::RequiresRegister());
     locations->SetOut(Location::RegisterLocation(R0));
@@ -5686,6 +5724,7 @@
       return;  // No dex cache slow path.
     }
     case HLoadString::LoadKind::kBootImageLinkTimePcRelative: {
+      DCHECK(codegen_->GetCompilerOptions().IsBootImage());
       CodeGeneratorARM::PcRelativePatchInfo* labels =
           codegen_->NewPcRelativeStringPatch(load->GetDexFile(), load->GetStringIndex());
       __ BindTrackedLabel(&labels->movw_label);
@@ -5702,6 +5741,23 @@
       __ LoadLiteral(out, codegen_->DeduplicateBootImageAddressLiteral(address));
       return;  // No dex cache slow path.
     }
+    case HLoadString::LoadKind::kBssEntry: {
+      DCHECK(!codegen_->GetCompilerOptions().IsBootImage());
+      CodeGeneratorARM::PcRelativePatchInfo* labels =
+          codegen_->NewPcRelativeStringPatch(load->GetDexFile(), load->GetStringIndex());
+      __ BindTrackedLabel(&labels->movw_label);
+      __ movw(out, /* placeholder */ 0u);
+      __ BindTrackedLabel(&labels->movt_label);
+      __ movt(out, /* placeholder */ 0u);
+      __ BindTrackedLabel(&labels->add_pc_label);
+      __ add(out, out, ShifterOperand(PC));
+      GenerateGcRootFieldLoad(load, out_loc, out, 0);
+      SlowPathCode* slow_path = new (GetGraph()->GetArena()) LoadStringSlowPathARM(load);
+      codegen_->AddSlowPath(slow_path);
+      __ CompareAndBranchIfZero(out, slow_path->GetEntryLabel());
+      __ Bind(slow_path->GetExitLabel());
+      return;
+    }
     default:
       break;
   }
@@ -6850,7 +6906,8 @@
       __ bl(GetFrameEntryLabel());
       break;
     case HInvokeStaticOrDirect::CodePtrLocation::kCallPCRelative:
-      relative_call_patches_.emplace_back(invoke->GetTargetMethod());
+      relative_call_patches_.emplace_back(*invoke->GetTargetMethod().dex_file,
+                                          invoke->GetTargetMethod().dex_method_index);
       __ BindTrackedLabel(&relative_call_patches_.back().label);
       // Arbitrarily branch to the BL itself, override at link time.
       __ bl(&relative_call_patches_.back().label);
@@ -6952,17 +7009,37 @@
   return DeduplicateUint32Literal(address, &uint32_literals_);
 }
 
+template <LinkerPatch (*Factory)(size_t, const DexFile*, uint32_t, uint32_t)>
+inline void CodeGeneratorARM::EmitPcRelativeLinkerPatches(
+    const ArenaDeque<PcRelativePatchInfo>& infos,
+    ArenaVector<LinkerPatch>* linker_patches) {
+  for (const PcRelativePatchInfo& info : infos) {
+    const DexFile& dex_file = info.target_dex_file;
+    size_t offset_or_index = info.offset_or_index;
+    DCHECK(info.add_pc_label.IsBound());
+    uint32_t add_pc_offset = dchecked_integral_cast<uint32_t>(info.add_pc_label.Position());
+    // Add MOVW patch.
+    DCHECK(info.movw_label.IsBound());
+    uint32_t movw_offset = dchecked_integral_cast<uint32_t>(info.movw_label.Position());
+    linker_patches->push_back(Factory(movw_offset, &dex_file, add_pc_offset, offset_or_index));
+    // Add MOVT patch.
+    DCHECK(info.movt_label.IsBound());
+    uint32_t movt_offset = dchecked_integral_cast<uint32_t>(info.movt_label.Position());
+    linker_patches->push_back(Factory(movt_offset, &dex_file, add_pc_offset, offset_or_index));
+  }
+}
+
 void CodeGeneratorARM::EmitLinkerPatches(ArenaVector<LinkerPatch>* linker_patches) {
   DCHECK(linker_patches->empty());
   size_t size =
       method_patches_.size() +
       call_patches_.size() +
       relative_call_patches_.size() +
-      /* MOVW+MOVT for each base */ 2u * pc_relative_dex_cache_patches_.size() +
+      /* MOVW+MOVT for each entry */ 2u * pc_relative_dex_cache_patches_.size() +
       boot_image_string_patches_.size() +
-      /* MOVW+MOVT for each base */ 2u * pc_relative_string_patches_.size() +
+      /* MOVW+MOVT for each entry */ 2u * pc_relative_string_patches_.size() +
       boot_image_type_patches_.size() +
-      /* MOVW+MOVT for each base */ 2u * pc_relative_type_patches_.size() +
+      /* MOVW+MOVT for each entry */ 2u * pc_relative_type_patches_.size() +
       boot_image_address_patches_.size();
   linker_patches->reserve(size);
   for (const auto& entry : method_patches_) {
@@ -6983,32 +7060,13 @@
                                                      target_method.dex_file,
                                                      target_method.dex_method_index));
   }
-  for (const MethodPatchInfo<Label>& info : relative_call_patches_) {
+  for (const PatchInfo<Label>& info : relative_call_patches_) {
     uint32_t literal_offset = info.label.Position();
-    linker_patches->push_back(LinkerPatch::RelativeCodePatch(literal_offset,
-                                                             info.target_method.dex_file,
-                                                             info.target_method.dex_method_index));
+    linker_patches->push_back(
+        LinkerPatch::RelativeCodePatch(literal_offset, &info.dex_file, info.index));
   }
-  for (const PcRelativePatchInfo& info : pc_relative_dex_cache_patches_) {
-    const DexFile& dex_file = info.target_dex_file;
-    size_t base_element_offset = info.offset_or_index;
-    DCHECK(info.add_pc_label.IsBound());
-    uint32_t add_pc_offset = dchecked_integral_cast<uint32_t>(info.add_pc_label.Position());
-    // Add MOVW patch.
-    DCHECK(info.movw_label.IsBound());
-    uint32_t movw_offset = dchecked_integral_cast<uint32_t>(info.movw_label.Position());
-    linker_patches->push_back(LinkerPatch::DexCacheArrayPatch(movw_offset,
-                                                              &dex_file,
-                                                              add_pc_offset,
-                                                              base_element_offset));
-    // Add MOVT patch.
-    DCHECK(info.movt_label.IsBound());
-    uint32_t movt_offset = dchecked_integral_cast<uint32_t>(info.movt_label.Position());
-    linker_patches->push_back(LinkerPatch::DexCacheArrayPatch(movt_offset,
-                                                              &dex_file,
-                                                              add_pc_offset,
-                                                              base_element_offset));
-  }
+  EmitPcRelativeLinkerPatches<LinkerPatch::DexCacheArrayPatch>(pc_relative_dex_cache_patches_,
+                                                               linker_patches);
   for (const auto& entry : boot_image_string_patches_) {
     const StringReference& target_string = entry.first;
     Literal* literal = entry.second;
@@ -7018,25 +7076,12 @@
                                                        target_string.dex_file,
                                                        target_string.string_index));
   }
-  for (const PcRelativePatchInfo& info : pc_relative_string_patches_) {
-    const DexFile& dex_file = info.target_dex_file;
-    uint32_t string_index = info.offset_or_index;
-    DCHECK(info.add_pc_label.IsBound());
-    uint32_t add_pc_offset = dchecked_integral_cast<uint32_t>(info.add_pc_label.Position());
-    // Add MOVW patch.
-    DCHECK(info.movw_label.IsBound());
-    uint32_t movw_offset = dchecked_integral_cast<uint32_t>(info.movw_label.Position());
-    linker_patches->push_back(LinkerPatch::RelativeStringPatch(movw_offset,
-                                                               &dex_file,
-                                                               add_pc_offset,
-                                                               string_index));
-    // Add MOVT patch.
-    DCHECK(info.movt_label.IsBound());
-    uint32_t movt_offset = dchecked_integral_cast<uint32_t>(info.movt_label.Position());
-    linker_patches->push_back(LinkerPatch::RelativeStringPatch(movt_offset,
-                                                               &dex_file,
-                                                               add_pc_offset,
-                                                               string_index));
+  if (!GetCompilerOptions().IsBootImage()) {
+    EmitPcRelativeLinkerPatches<LinkerPatch::StringBssEntryPatch>(pc_relative_string_patches_,
+                                                                  linker_patches);
+  } else {
+    EmitPcRelativeLinkerPatches<LinkerPatch::RelativeStringPatch>(pc_relative_string_patches_,
+                                                                  linker_patches);
   }
   for (const auto& entry : boot_image_type_patches_) {
     const TypeReference& target_type = entry.first;
@@ -7047,26 +7092,8 @@
                                                      target_type.dex_file,
                                                      target_type.type_index));
   }
-  for (const PcRelativePatchInfo& info : pc_relative_type_patches_) {
-    const DexFile& dex_file = info.target_dex_file;
-    uint32_t type_index = info.offset_or_index;
-    DCHECK(info.add_pc_label.IsBound());
-    uint32_t add_pc_offset = dchecked_integral_cast<uint32_t>(info.add_pc_label.Position());
-    // Add MOVW patch.
-    DCHECK(info.movw_label.IsBound());
-    uint32_t movw_offset = dchecked_integral_cast<uint32_t>(info.movw_label.Position());
-    linker_patches->push_back(LinkerPatch::RelativeTypePatch(movw_offset,
-                                                             &dex_file,
-                                                             add_pc_offset,
-                                                             type_index));
-    // Add MOVT patch.
-    DCHECK(info.movt_label.IsBound());
-    uint32_t movt_offset = dchecked_integral_cast<uint32_t>(info.movt_label.Position());
-    linker_patches->push_back(LinkerPatch::RelativeTypePatch(movt_offset,
-                                                             &dex_file,
-                                                             add_pc_offset,
-                                                             type_index));
-  }
+  EmitPcRelativeLinkerPatches<LinkerPatch::RelativeTypePatch>(pc_relative_type_patches_,
+                                                              linker_patches);
   for (const auto& entry : boot_image_address_patches_) {
     DCHECK(GetCompilerOptions().GetIncludePatchInformation());
     Literal* literal = entry.second;
diff --git a/compiler/optimizing/code_generator_arm.h b/compiler/optimizing/code_generator_arm.h
index 6416d40..ef2e23f 100644
--- a/compiler/optimizing/code_generator_arm.h
+++ b/compiler/optimizing/code_generator_arm.h
@@ -593,6 +593,10 @@
                                           uint32_t offset_or_index,
                                           ArenaDeque<PcRelativePatchInfo>* patches);
 
+  template <LinkerPatch (*Factory)(size_t, const DexFile*, uint32_t, uint32_t)>
+  static void EmitPcRelativeLinkerPatches(const ArenaDeque<PcRelativePatchInfo>& infos,
+                                          ArenaVector<LinkerPatch>* linker_patches);
+
   // Labels for each block that will be compiled.
   Label* block_labels_;  // Indexed by block id.
   Label frame_entry_label_;
@@ -609,12 +613,12 @@
   MethodToLiteralMap call_patches_;
   // Relative call patch info.
   // Using ArenaDeque<> which retains element addresses on push/emplace_back().
-  ArenaDeque<MethodPatchInfo<Label>> relative_call_patches_;
+  ArenaDeque<PatchInfo<Label>> relative_call_patches_;
   // PC-relative patch info for each HArmDexCacheArraysBase.
   ArenaDeque<PcRelativePatchInfo> pc_relative_dex_cache_patches_;
   // Deduplication map for boot string literals for kBootImageLinkTimeAddress.
   BootStringToLiteralMap boot_image_string_patches_;
-  // PC-relative String patch info.
+  // PC-relative String patch info; type depends on configuration (app .bss or boot image PIC).
   ArenaDeque<PcRelativePatchInfo> pc_relative_string_patches_;
   // Deduplication map for boot type literals for kBootImageLinkTimeAddress.
   BootTypeToLiteralMap boot_image_type_patches_;
diff --git a/compiler/optimizing/code_generator_arm64.cc b/compiler/optimizing/code_generator_arm64.cc
index 4f7f36b..969d653 100644
--- a/compiler/optimizing/code_generator_arm64.cc
+++ b/compiler/optimizing/code_generator_arm64.cc
@@ -329,6 +329,55 @@
   DISALLOW_COPY_AND_ASSIGN(LoadClassSlowPathARM64);
 };
 
+class LoadStringSlowPathARM64 : public SlowPathCodeARM64 {
+ public:
+  explicit LoadStringSlowPathARM64(HLoadString* instruction) : SlowPathCodeARM64(instruction) {}
+
+  void EmitNativeCode(CodeGenerator* codegen) OVERRIDE {
+    LocationSummary* locations = instruction_->GetLocations();
+    DCHECK(!locations->GetLiveRegisters()->ContainsCoreRegister(locations->Out().reg()));
+    CodeGeneratorARM64* arm64_codegen = down_cast<CodeGeneratorARM64*>(codegen);
+
+    __ Bind(GetEntryLabel());
+    SaveLiveRegisters(codegen, locations);
+
+    InvokeRuntimeCallingConvention calling_convention;
+    const uint32_t string_index = instruction_->AsLoadString()->GetStringIndex();
+    __ Mov(calling_convention.GetRegisterAt(0).W(), string_index);
+    arm64_codegen->InvokeRuntime(kQuickResolveString, instruction_, instruction_->GetDexPc(), this);
+    CheckEntrypointTypes<kQuickResolveString, void*, uint32_t>();
+    Primitive::Type type = instruction_->GetType();
+    arm64_codegen->MoveLocation(locations->Out(), calling_convention.GetReturnLocation(type), type);
+
+    RestoreLiveRegisters(codegen, locations);
+
+    // Store the resolved String to the BSS entry.
+    UseScratchRegisterScope temps(arm64_codegen->GetVIXLAssembler());
+    Register temp = temps.AcquireX();
+    const DexFile& dex_file = instruction_->AsLoadString()->GetDexFile();
+    // TODO: Change art_quick_resolve_string to kSaveEverything and use a temporary
+    // for the ADRP in the fast path, so that we can avoid the ADRP here.
+    vixl::aarch64::Label* adrp_label =
+        arm64_codegen->NewPcRelativeStringPatch(dex_file, string_index);
+    arm64_codegen->EmitAdrpPlaceholder(adrp_label, temp);
+    vixl::aarch64::Label* strp_label =
+        arm64_codegen->NewPcRelativeStringPatch(dex_file, string_index, adrp_label);
+    {
+      SingleEmissionCheckScope guard(arm64_codegen->GetVIXLAssembler());
+      __ Bind(strp_label);
+      __ str(RegisterFrom(locations->Out(), Primitive::kPrimNot),
+             MemOperand(temp, /* offset placeholder */ 0));
+    }
+
+    __ B(GetExitLabel());
+  }
+
+  const char* GetDescription() const OVERRIDE { return "LoadStringSlowPathARM64"; }
+
+ private:
+  DISALLOW_COPY_AND_ASSIGN(LoadStringSlowPathARM64);
+};
+
 class NullCheckSlowPathARM64 : public SlowPathCodeARM64 {
  public:
   explicit NullCheckSlowPathARM64(HNullCheck* instr) : SlowPathCodeARM64(instr) {}
@@ -3631,19 +3680,11 @@
       const DexFile& dex_file = invoke->GetDexFile();
       uint32_t element_offset = invoke->GetDexCacheArrayOffset();
       vixl::aarch64::Label* adrp_label = NewPcRelativeDexCacheArrayPatch(dex_file, element_offset);
-      {
-        SingleEmissionCheckScope guard(GetVIXLAssembler());
-        __ Bind(adrp_label);
-        __ adrp(XRegisterFrom(temp), /* offset placeholder */ 0);
-      }
+      EmitAdrpPlaceholder(adrp_label, XRegisterFrom(temp));
       // Add LDR with its PC-relative DexCache access patch.
       vixl::aarch64::Label* ldr_label =
           NewPcRelativeDexCacheArrayPatch(dex_file, element_offset, adrp_label);
-      {
-        SingleEmissionCheckScope guard(GetVIXLAssembler());
-        __ Bind(ldr_label);
-        __ ldr(XRegisterFrom(temp), MemOperand(XRegisterFrom(temp), /* offset placeholder */ 0));
-      }
+      EmitLdrOffsetPlaceholder(ldr_label, XRegisterFrom(temp), XRegisterFrom(temp));
       break;
     }
     case HInvokeStaticOrDirect::MethodLoadKind::kDexCacheViaMethod: {
@@ -3676,7 +3717,8 @@
       __ Bl(&frame_entry_label_);
       break;
     case HInvokeStaticOrDirect::CodePtrLocation::kCallPCRelative: {
-      relative_call_patches_.emplace_back(invoke->GetTargetMethod());
+      relative_call_patches_.emplace_back(*invoke->GetTargetMethod().dex_file,
+                                          invoke->GetTargetMethod().dex_method_index);
       vixl::aarch64::Label* label = &relative_call_patches_.back().label;
       SingleEmissionCheckScope guard(GetVIXLAssembler());
       __ Bind(label);
@@ -3798,6 +3840,45 @@
   return DeduplicateUint64Literal(address);
 }
 
+void CodeGeneratorARM64::EmitAdrpPlaceholder(vixl::aarch64::Label* fixup_label,
+                                             vixl::aarch64::Register reg) {
+  DCHECK(reg.IsX());
+  SingleEmissionCheckScope guard(GetVIXLAssembler());
+  __ Bind(fixup_label);
+  __ adrp(reg, /* offset placeholder */ 0);
+}
+
+void CodeGeneratorARM64::EmitAddPlaceholder(vixl::aarch64::Label* fixup_label,
+                                            vixl::aarch64::Register out,
+                                            vixl::aarch64::Register base) {
+  DCHECK(out.IsX());
+  DCHECK(base.IsX());
+  SingleEmissionCheckScope guard(GetVIXLAssembler());
+  __ Bind(fixup_label);
+  __ add(out, base, Operand(/* offset placeholder */ 0));
+}
+
+void CodeGeneratorARM64::EmitLdrOffsetPlaceholder(vixl::aarch64::Label* fixup_label,
+                                                  vixl::aarch64::Register out,
+                                                  vixl::aarch64::Register base) {
+  DCHECK(base.IsX());
+  SingleEmissionCheckScope guard(GetVIXLAssembler());
+  __ Bind(fixup_label);
+  __ ldr(out, MemOperand(base, /* offset placeholder */ 0));
+}
+
+template <LinkerPatch (*Factory)(size_t, const DexFile*, uint32_t, uint32_t)>
+inline void CodeGeneratorARM64::EmitPcRelativeLinkerPatches(
+    const ArenaDeque<PcRelativePatchInfo>& infos,
+    ArenaVector<LinkerPatch>* linker_patches) {
+  for (const PcRelativePatchInfo& info : infos) {
+    linker_patches->push_back(Factory(info.label.GetLocation(),
+                                      &info.target_dex_file,
+                                      info.pc_insn_label->GetLocation(),
+                                      info.offset_or_index));
+  }
+}
+
 void CodeGeneratorARM64::EmitLinkerPatches(ArenaVector<LinkerPatch>* linker_patches) {
   DCHECK(linker_patches->empty());
   size_t size =
@@ -3825,10 +3906,9 @@
                                                      target_method.dex_file,
                                                      target_method.dex_method_index));
   }
-  for (const MethodPatchInfo<vixl::aarch64::Label>& info : relative_call_patches_) {
-    linker_patches->push_back(LinkerPatch::RelativeCodePatch(info.label.GetLocation(),
-                                                             info.target_method.dex_file,
-                                                             info.target_method.dex_method_index));
+  for (const PatchInfo<vixl::aarch64::Label>& info : relative_call_patches_) {
+    linker_patches->push_back(
+        LinkerPatch::RelativeCodePatch(info.label.GetLocation(), &info.dex_file, info.index));
   }
   for (const PcRelativePatchInfo& info : pc_relative_dex_cache_patches_) {
     linker_patches->push_back(LinkerPatch::DexCacheArrayPatch(info.label.GetLocation(),
@@ -3843,11 +3923,12 @@
                                                        target_string.dex_file,
                                                        target_string.string_index));
   }
-  for (const PcRelativePatchInfo& info : pc_relative_string_patches_) {
-    linker_patches->push_back(LinkerPatch::RelativeStringPatch(info.label.GetLocation(),
-                                                               &info.target_dex_file,
-                                                               info.pc_insn_label->GetLocation(),
-                                                               info.offset_or_index));
+  if (!GetCompilerOptions().IsBootImage()) {
+    EmitPcRelativeLinkerPatches<LinkerPatch::StringBssEntryPatch>(pc_relative_string_patches_,
+                                                                  linker_patches);
+  } else {
+    EmitPcRelativeLinkerPatches<LinkerPatch::RelativeStringPatch>(pc_relative_string_patches_,
+                                                                  linker_patches);
   }
   for (const auto& entry : boot_image_type_patches_) {
     const TypeReference& target_type = entry.first;
@@ -3856,12 +3937,8 @@
                                                      target_type.dex_file,
                                                      target_type.type_index));
   }
-  for (const PcRelativePatchInfo& info : pc_relative_type_patches_) {
-    linker_patches->push_back(LinkerPatch::RelativeTypePatch(info.label.GetLocation(),
-                                                             &info.target_dex_file,
-                                                             info.pc_insn_label->GetLocation(),
-                                                             info.offset_or_index));
-  }
+  EmitPcRelativeLinkerPatches<LinkerPatch::RelativeTypePatch>(pc_relative_type_patches_,
+                                                                linker_patches);
   for (const auto& entry : boot_image_address_patches_) {
     DCHECK(GetCompilerOptions().GetIncludePatchInformation());
     vixl::aarch64::Literal<uint32_t>* literal = entry.second;
@@ -4018,19 +4095,11 @@
       const DexFile& dex_file = cls->GetDexFile();
       uint32_t type_index = cls->GetTypeIndex();
       vixl::aarch64::Label* adrp_label = codegen_->NewPcRelativeTypePatch(dex_file, type_index);
-      {
-        SingleEmissionCheckScope guard(GetVIXLAssembler());
-        __ Bind(adrp_label);
-        __ adrp(out.X(), /* offset placeholder */ 0);
-      }
+      codegen_->EmitAdrpPlaceholder(adrp_label, out.X());
       // Add ADD with its PC-relative type patch.
       vixl::aarch64::Label* add_label =
           codegen_->NewPcRelativeTypePatch(dex_file, type_index, adrp_label);
-      {
-        SingleEmissionCheckScope guard(GetVIXLAssembler());
-        __ Bind(add_label);
-        __ add(out.X(), out.X(), Operand(/* offset placeholder */ 0));
-      }
+      codegen_->EmitAddPlaceholder(add_label, out.X(), out.X());
       break;
     }
     case HLoadClass::LoadKind::kBootImageAddress: {
@@ -4067,11 +4136,7 @@
       uint32_t element_offset = cls->GetDexCacheElementOffset();
       vixl::aarch64::Label* adrp_label =
           codegen_->NewPcRelativeDexCacheArrayPatch(dex_file, element_offset);
-      {
-        SingleEmissionCheckScope guard(GetVIXLAssembler());
-        __ Bind(adrp_label);
-        __ adrp(out.X(), /* offset placeholder */ 0);
-      }
+      codegen_->EmitAdrpPlaceholder(adrp_label, out.X());
       // Add LDR with its PC-relative DexCache access patch.
       vixl::aarch64::Label* ldr_label =
           codegen_->NewPcRelativeDexCacheArrayPatch(dex_file, element_offset, adrp_label);
@@ -4156,7 +4221,7 @@
     case HLoadString::LoadKind::kDexCacheAddress:
       DCHECK(Runtime::Current()->UseJitCompilation());
       break;
-    case HLoadString::LoadKind::kDexCachePcRelative:
+    case HLoadString::LoadKind::kBssEntry:
       DCHECK(!Runtime::Current()->UseJitCompilation());
       break;
     case HLoadString::LoadKind::kDexCacheViaMethod:
@@ -4167,7 +4232,9 @@
 
 void LocationsBuilderARM64::VisitLoadString(HLoadString* load) {
   LocationSummary::CallKind call_kind = load->NeedsEnvironment()
-      ? LocationSummary::kCallOnMainOnly
+      ? ((load->GetLoadKind() == HLoadString::LoadKind::kDexCacheViaMethod)
+          ? LocationSummary::kCallOnMainOnly
+          : LocationSummary::kCallOnSlowPath)
       : LocationSummary::kNoCall;
   LocationSummary* locations = new (GetGraph()->GetArena()) LocationSummary(load, call_kind);
   if (load->GetLoadKind() == HLoadString::LoadKind::kDexCacheViaMethod) {
@@ -4191,20 +4258,13 @@
       // Add ADRP with its PC-relative String patch.
       const DexFile& dex_file = load->GetDexFile();
       uint32_t string_index = load->GetStringIndex();
+      DCHECK(codegen_->GetCompilerOptions().IsBootImage());
       vixl::aarch64::Label* adrp_label = codegen_->NewPcRelativeStringPatch(dex_file, string_index);
-      {
-        SingleEmissionCheckScope guard(GetVIXLAssembler());
-        __ Bind(adrp_label);
-        __ adrp(out.X(), /* offset placeholder */ 0);
-      }
+      codegen_->EmitAdrpPlaceholder(adrp_label, out.X());
       // Add ADD with its PC-relative String patch.
       vixl::aarch64::Label* add_label =
           codegen_->NewPcRelativeStringPatch(dex_file, string_index, adrp_label);
-      {
-        SingleEmissionCheckScope guard(GetVIXLAssembler());
-        __ Bind(add_label);
-        __ add(out.X(), out.X(), Operand(/* offset placeholder */ 0));
-      }
+      codegen_->EmitAddPlaceholder(add_label, out.X(), out.X());
       return;  // No dex cache slow path.
     }
     case HLoadString::LoadKind::kBootImageAddress: {
@@ -4212,6 +4272,28 @@
       __ Ldr(out.W(), codegen_->DeduplicateBootImageAddressLiteral(load->GetAddress()));
       return;  // No dex cache slow path.
     }
+    case HLoadString::LoadKind::kBssEntry: {
+      // Add ADRP with its PC-relative String .bss entry patch.
+      const DexFile& dex_file = load->GetDexFile();
+      uint32_t string_index = load->GetStringIndex();
+      DCHECK(!codegen_->GetCompilerOptions().IsBootImage());
+      vixl::aarch64::Label* adrp_label = codegen_->NewPcRelativeStringPatch(dex_file, string_index);
+      codegen_->EmitAdrpPlaceholder(adrp_label, out.X());
+      // Add LDR with its PC-relative String patch.
+      vixl::aarch64::Label* ldr_label =
+          codegen_->NewPcRelativeStringPatch(dex_file, string_index, adrp_label);
+      // /* GcRoot<mirror::Class> */ out = *(base_address + offset)  /* PC-relative */
+      GenerateGcRootFieldLoad(load,
+                              load->GetLocations()->Out(),
+                              out.X(),
+                              /* placeholder */ 0u,
+                              ldr_label);
+      SlowPathCodeARM64* slow_path = new (GetGraph()->GetArena()) LoadStringSlowPathARM64(load);
+      codegen_->AddSlowPath(slow_path);
+      __ Cbz(out.X(), slow_path->GetEntryLabel());
+      __ Bind(slow_path->GetExitLabel());
+      return;
+    }
     default:
       break;
   }
@@ -4981,6 +5063,7 @@
                                                             uint32_t offset,
                                                             vixl::aarch64::Label* fixup_label,
                                                             bool requires_read_barrier) {
+  DCHECK(fixup_label == nullptr || offset == 0u);
   Register root_reg = RegisterFrom(root, Primitive::kPrimNot);
   if (requires_read_barrier) {
     DCHECK(kEmitCompilerReadBarrier);
@@ -4997,9 +5080,7 @@
       if (fixup_label == nullptr) {
         __ Ldr(root_reg, MemOperand(obj, offset));
       } else {
-        SingleEmissionCheckScope guard(GetVIXLAssembler());
-        __ Bind(fixup_label);
-        __ ldr(root_reg, MemOperand(obj, offset));
+        codegen_->EmitLdrOffsetPlaceholder(fixup_label, root_reg, obj);
       }
       static_assert(
           sizeof(mirror::CompressedReference<mirror::Object>) == sizeof(GcRoot<mirror::Object>),
@@ -5028,9 +5109,7 @@
       if (fixup_label == nullptr) {
         __ Add(root_reg.X(), obj.X(), offset);
       } else {
-        SingleEmissionCheckScope guard(GetVIXLAssembler());
-        __ Bind(fixup_label);
-        __ add(root_reg.X(), obj.X(), offset);
+        codegen_->EmitAddPlaceholder(fixup_label, root_reg.X(), obj.X());
       }
       // /* mirror::Object* */ root = root->Read()
       codegen_->GenerateReadBarrierForRootSlow(instruction, root, root);
@@ -5041,9 +5120,7 @@
     if (fixup_label == nullptr) {
       __ Ldr(root_reg, MemOperand(obj, offset));
     } else {
-      SingleEmissionCheckScope guard(GetVIXLAssembler());
-      __ Bind(fixup_label);
-      __ ldr(root_reg, MemOperand(obj, offset));
+      codegen_->EmitLdrOffsetPlaceholder(fixup_label, root_reg, obj.X());
     }
     // Note that GC roots are not affected by heap poisoning, thus we
     // do not have to unpoison `root_reg` here.
diff --git a/compiler/optimizing/code_generator_arm64.h b/compiler/optimizing/code_generator_arm64.h
index a152245..eb28ecb 100644
--- a/compiler/optimizing/code_generator_arm64.h
+++ b/compiler/optimizing/code_generator_arm64.h
@@ -564,6 +564,14 @@
   vixl::aarch64::Literal<uint32_t>* DeduplicateBootImageAddressLiteral(uint64_t address);
   vixl::aarch64::Literal<uint64_t>* DeduplicateDexCacheAddressLiteral(uint64_t address);
 
+  void EmitAdrpPlaceholder(vixl::aarch64::Label* fixup_label, vixl::aarch64::Register reg);
+  void EmitAddPlaceholder(vixl::aarch64::Label* fixup_label,
+                          vixl::aarch64::Register out,
+                          vixl::aarch64::Register base);
+  void EmitLdrOffsetPlaceholder(vixl::aarch64::Label* fixup_label,
+                                vixl::aarch64::Register out,
+                                vixl::aarch64::Register base);
+
   void EmitLinkerPatches(ArenaVector<LinkerPatch>* linker_patches) OVERRIDE;
 
   // Fast path implementation of ReadBarrier::Barrier for a heap
@@ -691,6 +699,10 @@
 
   void EmitJumpTables();
 
+  template <LinkerPatch (*Factory)(size_t, const DexFile*, uint32_t, uint32_t)>
+  static void EmitPcRelativeLinkerPatches(const ArenaDeque<PcRelativePatchInfo>& infos,
+                                          ArenaVector<LinkerPatch>* linker_patches);
+
   // Labels for each block that will be compiled.
   // We use a deque so that the `vixl::aarch64::Label` objects do not move in memory.
   ArenaDeque<vixl::aarch64::Label> block_labels_;  // Indexed by block id.
@@ -713,12 +725,12 @@
   MethodToLiteralMap call_patches_;
   // Relative call patch info.
   // Using ArenaDeque<> which retains element addresses on push/emplace_back().
-  ArenaDeque<MethodPatchInfo<vixl::aarch64::Label>> relative_call_patches_;
+  ArenaDeque<PatchInfo<vixl::aarch64::Label>> relative_call_patches_;
   // PC-relative DexCache access info.
   ArenaDeque<PcRelativePatchInfo> pc_relative_dex_cache_patches_;
   // Deduplication map for boot string literals for kBootImageLinkTimeAddress.
   BootStringToLiteralMap boot_image_string_patches_;
-  // PC-relative String patch info.
+  // PC-relative String patch info; type depends on configuration (app .bss or boot image PIC).
   ArenaDeque<PcRelativePatchInfo> pc_relative_string_patches_;
   // Deduplication map for boot type literals for kBootImageLinkTimeAddress.
   BootTypeToLiteralMap boot_image_type_patches_;
diff --git a/compiler/optimizing/code_generator_mips.cc b/compiler/optimizing/code_generator_mips.cc
index 5c0ca85..1c540c2 100644
--- a/compiler/optimizing/code_generator_mips.cc
+++ b/compiler/optimizing/code_generator_mips.cc
@@ -279,7 +279,8 @@
     SaveLiveRegisters(codegen, locations);
 
     InvokeRuntimeCallingConvention calling_convention;
-    const uint32_t string_index = instruction_->AsLoadString()->GetStringIndex();
+    HLoadString* load = instruction_->AsLoadString();
+    const uint32_t string_index = load->GetStringIndex();
     __ LoadConst32(calling_convention.GetRegisterAt(0), string_index);
     mips_codegen->InvokeRuntime(kQuickResolveString, instruction_, instruction_->GetDexPc(), this);
     CheckEntrypointTypes<kQuickResolveString, void*, uint32_t>();
@@ -289,6 +290,19 @@
                                type);
 
     RestoreLiveRegisters(codegen, locations);
+
+    // Store the resolved String to the BSS entry.
+    // TODO: Change art_quick_resolve_string to kSaveEverything and use a temporary for the
+    // .bss entry address in the fast path, so that we can avoid another calculation here.
+    bool isR6 = mips_codegen->GetInstructionSetFeatures().IsR6();
+    Register base = isR6 ? ZERO : locations->InAt(0).AsRegister<Register>();
+    Register out = locations->Out().AsRegister<Register>();
+    DCHECK_NE(out, AT);
+    CodeGeneratorMIPS::PcRelativePatchInfo* info =
+        mips_codegen->NewPcRelativeStringPatch(load->GetDexFile(), string_index);
+    mips_codegen->EmitPcRelativeAddressPlaceholder(info, TMP, base);
+    __ StoreToOffset(kStoreWord, out, TMP, 0);
+
     __ B(GetExitLabel());
   }
 
@@ -957,6 +971,24 @@
   }
 }
 
+template <LinkerPatch (*Factory)(size_t, const DexFile*, uint32_t, uint32_t)>
+inline void CodeGeneratorMIPS::EmitPcRelativeLinkerPatches(
+    const ArenaDeque<PcRelativePatchInfo>& infos,
+    ArenaVector<LinkerPatch>* linker_patches) {
+  for (const PcRelativePatchInfo& info : infos) {
+    const DexFile& dex_file = info.target_dex_file;
+    size_t offset_or_index = info.offset_or_index;
+    DCHECK(info.high_label.IsBound());
+    uint32_t high_offset = __ GetLabelLocation(&info.high_label);
+    // On R2 we use HMipsComputeBaseMethodAddress and patch relative to
+    // the assembler's base label used for PC-relative addressing.
+    uint32_t pc_rel_offset = info.pc_rel_label.IsBound()
+        ? __ GetLabelLocation(&info.pc_rel_label)
+        : __ GetPcRelBaseLabelLocation();
+    linker_patches->push_back(Factory(high_offset, &dex_file, pc_rel_offset, offset_or_index));
+  }
+}
+
 void CodeGeneratorMIPS::EmitLinkerPatches(ArenaVector<LinkerPatch>* linker_patches) {
   DCHECK(linker_patches->empty());
   size_t size =
@@ -987,48 +1019,17 @@
                                                      target_method.dex_file,
                                                      target_method.dex_method_index));
   }
-  for (const PcRelativePatchInfo& info : pc_relative_dex_cache_patches_) {
-    const DexFile& dex_file = info.target_dex_file;
-    size_t base_element_offset = info.offset_or_index;
-    DCHECK(info.high_label.IsBound());
-    uint32_t high_offset = __ GetLabelLocation(&info.high_label);
-    DCHECK(info.pc_rel_label.IsBound());
-    uint32_t pc_rel_offset = __ GetLabelLocation(&info.pc_rel_label);
-    linker_patches->push_back(LinkerPatch::DexCacheArrayPatch(high_offset,
-                                                              &dex_file,
-                                                              pc_rel_offset,
-                                                              base_element_offset));
+  EmitPcRelativeLinkerPatches<LinkerPatch::DexCacheArrayPatch>(pc_relative_dex_cache_patches_,
+                                                               linker_patches);
+  if (!GetCompilerOptions().IsBootImage()) {
+    EmitPcRelativeLinkerPatches<LinkerPatch::StringBssEntryPatch>(pc_relative_string_patches_,
+                                                                  linker_patches);
+  } else {
+    EmitPcRelativeLinkerPatches<LinkerPatch::RelativeStringPatch>(pc_relative_string_patches_,
+                                                                  linker_patches);
   }
-  for (const PcRelativePatchInfo& info : pc_relative_string_patches_) {
-    const DexFile& dex_file = info.target_dex_file;
-    size_t string_index = info.offset_or_index;
-    DCHECK(info.high_label.IsBound());
-    uint32_t high_offset = __ GetLabelLocation(&info.high_label);
-    // On R2 we use HMipsComputeBaseMethodAddress and patch relative to
-    // the assembler's base label used for PC-relative literals.
-    uint32_t pc_rel_offset = info.pc_rel_label.IsBound()
-        ? __ GetLabelLocation(&info.pc_rel_label)
-        : __ GetPcRelBaseLabelLocation();
-    linker_patches->push_back(LinkerPatch::RelativeStringPatch(high_offset,
-                                                               &dex_file,
-                                                               pc_rel_offset,
-                                                               string_index));
-  }
-  for (const PcRelativePatchInfo& info : pc_relative_type_patches_) {
-    const DexFile& dex_file = info.target_dex_file;
-    size_t type_index = info.offset_or_index;
-    DCHECK(info.high_label.IsBound());
-    uint32_t high_offset = __ GetLabelLocation(&info.high_label);
-    // On R2 we use HMipsComputeBaseMethodAddress and patch relative to
-    // the assembler's base label used for PC-relative literals.
-    uint32_t pc_rel_offset = info.pc_rel_label.IsBound()
-        ? __ GetLabelLocation(&info.pc_rel_label)
-        : __ GetPcRelBaseLabelLocation();
-    linker_patches->push_back(LinkerPatch::RelativeTypePatch(high_offset,
-                                                             &dex_file,
-                                                             pc_rel_offset,
-                                                             type_index));
-  }
+  EmitPcRelativeLinkerPatches<LinkerPatch::RelativeTypePatch>(pc_relative_type_patches_,
+                                                              linker_patches);
   for (const auto& entry : boot_image_string_patches_) {
     const StringReference& target_string = entry.first;
     Literal* literal = entry.second;
@@ -1118,6 +1119,36 @@
   return DeduplicateUint32Literal(dchecked_integral_cast<uint32_t>(address), map);
 }
 
+void CodeGeneratorMIPS::EmitPcRelativeAddressPlaceholder(
+    PcRelativePatchInfo* info, Register out, Register base) {
+  bool reordering = __ SetReorder(false);
+  if (GetInstructionSetFeatures().IsR6()) {
+    DCHECK_EQ(base, ZERO);
+    __ Bind(&info->high_label);
+    __ Bind(&info->pc_rel_label);
+    // Add a 32-bit offset to PC.
+    __ Auipc(out, /* placeholder */ 0x1234);
+    __ Addiu(out, out, /* placeholder */ 0x5678);
+  } else {
+    // If base is ZERO, emit NAL to obtain the actual base.
+    if (base == ZERO) {
+      // Generate a dummy PC-relative call to obtain PC.
+      __ Nal();
+    }
+    __ Bind(&info->high_label);
+    __ Lui(out, /* placeholder */ 0x1234);
+    // If we emitted the NAL, bind the pc_rel_label, otherwise base is a register holding
+    // the HMipsComputeBaseMethodAddress which has its own label stored in MipsAssembler.
+    if (base == ZERO) {
+      __ Bind(&info->pc_rel_label);
+    }
+    __ Ori(out, out, /* placeholder */ 0x5678);
+    // Add a 32-bit offset to PC.
+    __ Addu(out, out, (base == ZERO) ? RA : base);
+  }
+  __ SetReorder(reordering);
+}
+
 void CodeGeneratorMIPS::MarkGCCard(Register object, Register value) {
   MipsLabel done;
   Register card = AT;
@@ -4229,6 +4260,8 @@
   }
   // We disable PC-relative load when there is an irreducible loop, as the optimization
   // is incompatible with it.
+  // TODO: Create as many MipsDexCacheArraysBase instructions as needed for methods
+  // with irreducible loops.
   bool has_irreducible_loops = GetGraph()->HasIrreducibleLoops();
   bool fallback_load = has_irreducible_loops;
   switch (desired_string_load_kind) {
@@ -4244,10 +4277,8 @@
       DCHECK(Runtime::Current()->UseJitCompilation());
       fallback_load = false;
       break;
-    case HLoadString::LoadKind::kDexCachePcRelative:
+    case HLoadString::LoadKind::kBssEntry:
       DCHECK(!Runtime::Current()->UseJitCompilation());
-      // TODO: Create as many MipsDexCacheArraysBase instructions as needed for methods
-      // with irreducible loops.
       break;
     case HLoadString::LoadKind::kDexCacheViaMethod:
       fallback_load = false;
@@ -4627,23 +4658,7 @@
       DCHECK(!kEmitCompilerReadBarrier);
       CodeGeneratorMIPS::PcRelativePatchInfo* info =
           codegen_->NewPcRelativeTypePatch(cls->GetDexFile(), cls->GetTypeIndex());
-      bool reordering = __ SetReorder(false);
-      if (isR6) {
-        __ Bind(&info->high_label);
-        __ Bind(&info->pc_rel_label);
-        // Add a 32-bit offset to PC.
-        __ Auipc(out, /* placeholder */ 0x1234);
-        __ Addiu(out, out, /* placeholder */ 0x5678);
-      } else {
-        __ Bind(&info->high_label);
-        __ Lui(out, /* placeholder */ 0x1234);
-        // We do not bind info->pc_rel_label here, we'll use the assembler's label
-        // for PC-relative literals and the base from HMipsComputeBaseMethodAddress.
-        __ Ori(out, out, /* placeholder */ 0x5678);
-        // Add a 32-bit offset to PC.
-        __ Addu(out, out, base_or_current_method_reg);
-      }
-      __ SetReorder(reordering);
+      codegen_->EmitPcRelativeAddressPlaceholder(info, out, base_or_current_method_reg);
       break;
     }
     case HLoadClass::LoadKind::kBootImageAddress: {
@@ -4732,7 +4747,9 @@
 
 void LocationsBuilderMIPS::VisitLoadString(HLoadString* load) {
   LocationSummary::CallKind call_kind = (load->NeedsEnvironment() || kEmitCompilerReadBarrier)
-      ? LocationSummary::kCallOnSlowPath
+      ? ((load->GetLoadKind() == HLoadString::LoadKind::kDexCacheViaMethod)
+          ? LocationSummary::kCallOnMainOnly
+          : LocationSummary::kCallOnSlowPath)
       : LocationSummary::kNoCall;
   LocationSummary* locations = new (GetGraph()->GetArena()) LocationSummary(load, call_kind);
   HLoadString::LoadKind load_kind = load->GetLoadKind();
@@ -4741,12 +4758,12 @@
     case HLoadString::LoadKind::kBootImageLinkTimeAddress:
     case HLoadString::LoadKind::kBootImageAddress:
     case HLoadString::LoadKind::kBootImageLinkTimePcRelative:
+    case HLoadString::LoadKind::kBssEntry:
       if (codegen_->GetInstructionSetFeatures().IsR6()) {
         break;
       }
       FALLTHROUGH_INTENDED;
     // We need an extra register for PC-relative dex cache accesses.
-    case HLoadString::LoadKind::kDexCachePcRelative:
     case HLoadString::LoadKind::kDexCacheViaMethod:
       locations->SetInAt(0, Location::RequiresRegister());
       break;
@@ -4768,6 +4785,7 @@
     case HLoadString::LoadKind::kBootImageLinkTimeAddress:
     case HLoadString::LoadKind::kBootImageAddress:
     case HLoadString::LoadKind::kBootImageLinkTimePcRelative:
+    case HLoadString::LoadKind::kBssEntry:
       base_or_current_method_reg = isR6 ? ZERO : locations->InAt(0).AsRegister<Register>();
       break;
     default:
@@ -4785,25 +4803,10 @@
       return;  // No dex cache slow path.
     case HLoadString::LoadKind::kBootImageLinkTimePcRelative: {
       DCHECK(!kEmitCompilerReadBarrier);
+      DCHECK(codegen_->GetCompilerOptions().IsBootImage());
       CodeGeneratorMIPS::PcRelativePatchInfo* info =
           codegen_->NewPcRelativeStringPatch(load->GetDexFile(), load->GetStringIndex());
-      bool reordering = __ SetReorder(false);
-      if (isR6) {
-        __ Bind(&info->high_label);
-        __ Bind(&info->pc_rel_label);
-        // Add a 32-bit offset to PC.
-        __ Auipc(out, /* placeholder */ 0x1234);
-        __ Addiu(out, out, /* placeholder */ 0x5678);
-      } else {
-        __ Bind(&info->high_label);
-        __ Lui(out, /* placeholder */ 0x1234);
-        // We do not bind info->pc_rel_label here, we'll use the assembler's label
-        // for PC-relative literals and the base from HMipsComputeBaseMethodAddress.
-        __ Ori(out, out, /* placeholder */ 0x5678);
-        // Add a 32-bit offset to PC.
-        __ Addu(out, out, base_or_current_method_reg);
-      }
-      __ SetReorder(reordering);
+      codegen_->EmitPcRelativeAddressPlaceholder(info, out, base_or_current_method_reg);
       return;  // No dex cache slow path.
     }
     case HLoadString::LoadKind::kBootImageAddress: {
@@ -4815,15 +4818,28 @@
                      codegen_->DeduplicateBootImageAddressLiteral(address));
       return;  // No dex cache slow path.
     }
+    case HLoadString::LoadKind::kBssEntry: {
+      DCHECK(!codegen_->GetCompilerOptions().IsBootImage());
+      CodeGeneratorMIPS::PcRelativePatchInfo* info =
+          codegen_->NewPcRelativeStringPatch(load->GetDexFile(), load->GetStringIndex());
+      codegen_->EmitPcRelativeAddressPlaceholder(info, out, base_or_current_method_reg);
+      __ LoadFromOffset(kLoadWord, out, out, 0);
+      SlowPathCodeMIPS* slow_path = new (GetGraph()->GetArena()) LoadStringSlowPathMIPS(load);
+      codegen_->AddSlowPath(slow_path);
+      __ Beqz(out, slow_path->GetEntryLabel());
+      __ Bind(slow_path->GetExitLabel());
+      return;
+    }
     default:
       break;
   }
 
   // TODO: Re-add the compiler code to do string dex cache lookup again.
-  SlowPathCodeMIPS* slow_path = new (GetGraph()->GetArena()) LoadStringSlowPathMIPS(load);
-  codegen_->AddSlowPath(slow_path);
-  __ B(slow_path->GetEntryLabel());
-  __ Bind(slow_path->GetExitLabel());
+  DCHECK(load_kind == HLoadString::LoadKind::kDexCacheViaMethod);
+  InvokeRuntimeCallingConvention calling_convention;
+  __ LoadConst32(calling_convention.GetRegisterAt(0), load->GetStringIndex());
+  codegen_->InvokeRuntime(kQuickResolveString, load, load->GetDexPc());
+  CheckEntrypointTypes<kQuickResolveString, void*, uint32_t>();
 }
 
 void LocationsBuilderMIPS::VisitLongConstant(HLongConstant* constant) {
@@ -6011,25 +6027,8 @@
   Register reg = base->GetLocations()->Out().AsRegister<Register>();
   CodeGeneratorMIPS::PcRelativePatchInfo* info =
       codegen_->NewPcRelativeDexCacheArrayPatch(base->GetDexFile(), base->GetElementOffset());
-  bool reordering = __ SetReorder(false);
-  if (codegen_->GetInstructionSetFeatures().IsR6()) {
-    __ Bind(&info->high_label);
-    __ Bind(&info->pc_rel_label);
-    // Add a 32-bit offset to PC.
-    __ Auipc(reg, /* placeholder */ 0x1234);
-    __ Addiu(reg, reg, /* placeholder */ 0x5678);
-  } else {
-    // Generate a dummy PC-relative call to obtain PC.
-    __ Nal();
-    __ Bind(&info->high_label);
-    __ Lui(reg, /* placeholder */ 0x1234);
-    __ Bind(&info->pc_rel_label);
-    __ Ori(reg, reg, /* placeholder */ 0x5678);
-    // Add a 32-bit offset to PC.
-    __ Addu(reg, reg, RA);
-    // TODO: Can we share this code with that of VisitMipsComputeBaseMethodAddress()?
-  }
-  __ SetReorder(reordering);
+  // TODO: Reuse MipsComputeBaseMethodAddress on R2 instead of passing ZERO to force emitting NAL.
+  codegen_->EmitPcRelativeAddressPlaceholder(info, reg, ZERO);
 }
 
 void LocationsBuilderMIPS::VisitInvokeUnresolved(HInvokeUnresolved* invoke) {
diff --git a/compiler/optimizing/code_generator_mips.h b/compiler/optimizing/code_generator_mips.h
index f943978..0e8d8d4 100644
--- a/compiler/optimizing/code_generator_mips.h
+++ b/compiler/optimizing/code_generator_mips.h
@@ -435,6 +435,8 @@
   Literal* DeduplicateBootImageTypeLiteral(const DexFile& dex_file, uint32_t type_index);
   Literal* DeduplicateBootImageAddressLiteral(uint32_t address);
 
+  void EmitPcRelativeAddressPlaceholder(PcRelativePatchInfo* info, Register out, Register base);
+
  private:
   Register GetInvokeStaticOrDirectExtraParameter(HInvokeStaticOrDirect* invoke, Register temp);
 
@@ -455,6 +457,10 @@
                                           uint32_t offset_or_index,
                                           ArenaDeque<PcRelativePatchInfo>* patches);
 
+  template <LinkerPatch (*Factory)(size_t, const DexFile*, uint32_t, uint32_t)>
+  void EmitPcRelativeLinkerPatches(const ArenaDeque<PcRelativePatchInfo>& infos,
+                                   ArenaVector<LinkerPatch>* linker_patches);
+
   // Labels for each block that will be compiled.
   MipsLabel* block_labels_;
   MipsLabel frame_entry_label_;
@@ -473,7 +479,7 @@
   ArenaDeque<PcRelativePatchInfo> pc_relative_dex_cache_patches_;
   // Deduplication map for boot string literals for kBootImageLinkTimeAddress.
   BootStringToLiteralMap boot_image_string_patches_;
-  // PC-relative String patch info.
+  // PC-relative String patch info; type depends on configuration (app .bss or boot image PIC).
   ArenaDeque<PcRelativePatchInfo> pc_relative_string_patches_;
   // Deduplication map for boot type literals for kBootImageLinkTimeAddress.
   BootTypeToLiteralMap boot_image_type_patches_;
diff --git a/compiler/optimizing/code_generator_x86.cc b/compiler/optimizing/code_generator_x86.cc
index a7051ae..0b23599 100644
--- a/compiler/optimizing/code_generator_x86.cc
+++ b/compiler/optimizing/code_generator_x86.cc
@@ -212,6 +212,42 @@
   DISALLOW_COPY_AND_ASSIGN(SuspendCheckSlowPathX86);
 };
 
+class LoadStringSlowPathX86 : public SlowPathCode {
+ public:
+  explicit LoadStringSlowPathX86(HLoadString* instruction): SlowPathCode(instruction) {}
+
+  void EmitNativeCode(CodeGenerator* codegen) OVERRIDE {
+    LocationSummary* locations = instruction_->GetLocations();
+    DCHECK(!locations->GetLiveRegisters()->ContainsCoreRegister(locations->Out().reg()));
+
+    CodeGeneratorX86* x86_codegen = down_cast<CodeGeneratorX86*>(codegen);
+    __ Bind(GetEntryLabel());
+    SaveLiveRegisters(codegen, locations);
+
+    InvokeRuntimeCallingConvention calling_convention;
+    const uint32_t string_index = instruction_->AsLoadString()->GetStringIndex();
+    __ movl(calling_convention.GetRegisterAt(0), Immediate(string_index));
+    x86_codegen->InvokeRuntime(kQuickResolveString, instruction_, instruction_->GetDexPc(), this);
+    CheckEntrypointTypes<kQuickResolveString, void*, uint32_t>();
+    x86_codegen->Move32(locations->Out(), Location::RegisterLocation(EAX));
+    RestoreLiveRegisters(codegen, locations);
+
+    // Store the resolved String to the BSS entry.
+    Register method_address = locations->InAt(0).AsRegister<Register>();
+    __ movl(Address(method_address, CodeGeneratorX86::kDummy32BitOffset),
+            locations->Out().AsRegister<Register>());
+    Label* fixup_label = x86_codegen->NewStringBssEntryPatch(instruction_->AsLoadString());
+    __ Bind(fixup_label);
+
+    __ jmp(GetExitLabel());
+  }
+
+  const char* GetDescription() const OVERRIDE { return "LoadStringSlowPathX86"; }
+
+ private:
+  DISALLOW_COPY_AND_ASSIGN(LoadStringSlowPathX86);
+};
+
 class LoadClassSlowPathX86 : public SlowPathCode {
  public:
   LoadClassSlowPathX86(HLoadClass* cls,
@@ -4294,7 +4330,8 @@
       break;
     case HInvokeStaticOrDirect::MethodLoadKind::kDirectAddressWithFixup:
       __ movl(temp.AsRegister<Register>(), Immediate(/* placeholder */ 0));
-      method_patches_.emplace_back(invoke->GetTargetMethod());
+      method_patches_.emplace_back(*invoke->GetTargetMethod().dex_file,
+                                   invoke->GetTargetMethod().dex_method_index);
       __ Bind(&method_patches_.back().label);  // Bind the label at the end of the "movl" insn.
       break;
     case HInvokeStaticOrDirect::MethodLoadKind::kDexCachePcRelative: {
@@ -4339,7 +4376,8 @@
       __ call(GetFrameEntryLabel());
       break;
     case HInvokeStaticOrDirect::CodePtrLocation::kCallPCRelative: {
-      relative_call_patches_.emplace_back(invoke->GetTargetMethod());
+      relative_call_patches_.emplace_back(*invoke->GetTargetMethod().dex_file,
+                                          invoke->GetTargetMethod().dex_method_index);
       Label* label = &relative_call_patches_.back().label;
       __ call(label);  // Bind to the patch label, override at link time.
       __ Bind(label);  // Bind the label at the end of the "call" insn.
@@ -4398,7 +4436,8 @@
   }
 }
 
-void CodeGeneratorX86::RecordStringPatch(HLoadString* load_string) {
+void CodeGeneratorX86::RecordBootStringPatch(HLoadString* load_string) {
+  DCHECK(GetCompilerOptions().IsBootImage());
   string_patches_.emplace_back(load_string->GetDexFile(), load_string->GetStringIndex());
   __ Bind(&string_patches_.back().label);
 }
@@ -4408,6 +4447,12 @@
   __ Bind(&type_patches_.back().label);
 }
 
+Label* CodeGeneratorX86::NewStringBssEntryPatch(HLoadString* load_string) {
+  DCHECK(!GetCompilerOptions().IsBootImage());
+  string_patches_.emplace_back(load_string->GetDexFile(), load_string->GetStringIndex());
+  return &string_patches_.back().label;
+}
+
 Label* CodeGeneratorX86::NewPcRelativeDexCacheArrayPatch(const DexFile& dex_file,
                                                          uint32_t element_offset) {
   // Add the patch entry and bind its label at the end of the instruction.
@@ -4415,6 +4460,21 @@
   return &pc_relative_dex_cache_patches_.back().label;
 }
 
+// The label points to the end of the "movl" or another instruction but the literal offset
+// for method patch needs to point to the embedded constant which occupies the last 4 bytes.
+constexpr uint32_t kLabelPositionToLiteralOffsetAdjustment = 4u;
+
+template <LinkerPatch (*Factory)(size_t, const DexFile*, uint32_t, uint32_t)>
+inline void CodeGeneratorX86::EmitPcRelativeLinkerPatches(
+    const ArenaDeque<PatchInfo<Label>>& infos,
+    ArenaVector<LinkerPatch>* linker_patches) {
+  for (const PatchInfo<Label>& info : infos) {
+    uint32_t literal_offset = info.label.Position() - kLabelPositionToLiteralOffsetAdjustment;
+    linker_patches->push_back(
+        Factory(literal_offset, &info.dex_file, GetMethodAddressOffset(), info.index));
+  }
+}
+
 void CodeGeneratorX86::EmitLinkerPatches(ArenaVector<LinkerPatch>* linker_patches) {
   DCHECK(linker_patches->empty());
   size_t size =
@@ -4425,59 +4485,38 @@
       string_patches_.size() +
       type_patches_.size();
   linker_patches->reserve(size);
-  // The label points to the end of the "movl" insn but the literal offset for method
-  // patch needs to point to the embedded constant which occupies the last 4 bytes.
-  constexpr uint32_t kLabelPositionToLiteralOffsetAdjustment = 4u;
-  for (const MethodPatchInfo<Label>& info : method_patches_) {
+  for (const PatchInfo<Label>& info : method_patches_) {
     uint32_t literal_offset = info.label.Position() - kLabelPositionToLiteralOffsetAdjustment;
-    linker_patches->push_back(LinkerPatch::MethodPatch(literal_offset,
-                                                       info.target_method.dex_file,
-                                                       info.target_method.dex_method_index));
+    linker_patches->push_back(LinkerPatch::MethodPatch(literal_offset, &info.dex_file, info.index));
   }
-  for (const MethodPatchInfo<Label>& info : relative_call_patches_) {
+  for (const PatchInfo<Label>& info : relative_call_patches_) {
     uint32_t literal_offset = info.label.Position() - kLabelPositionToLiteralOffsetAdjustment;
-    linker_patches->push_back(LinkerPatch::RelativeCodePatch(literal_offset,
-                                                             info.target_method.dex_file,
-                                                             info.target_method.dex_method_index));
+    linker_patches->push_back(
+        LinkerPatch::RelativeCodePatch(literal_offset, &info.dex_file, info.index));
   }
-  for (const PcRelativeDexCacheAccessInfo& info : pc_relative_dex_cache_patches_) {
-    uint32_t literal_offset = info.label.Position() - kLabelPositionToLiteralOffsetAdjustment;
-    linker_patches->push_back(LinkerPatch::DexCacheArrayPatch(literal_offset,
-                                                              &info.target_dex_file,
-                                                              GetMethodAddressOffset(),
-                                                              info.element_offset));
-  }
+  EmitPcRelativeLinkerPatches<LinkerPatch::DexCacheArrayPatch>(pc_relative_dex_cache_patches_,
+                                                               linker_patches);
   for (const Label& label : simple_patches_) {
     uint32_t literal_offset = label.Position() - kLabelPositionToLiteralOffsetAdjustment;
     linker_patches->push_back(LinkerPatch::RecordPosition(literal_offset));
   }
-  if (GetCompilerOptions().GetCompilePic()) {
-    for (const StringPatchInfo<Label>& info : string_patches_) {
-      uint32_t literal_offset = info.label.Position() - kLabelPositionToLiteralOffsetAdjustment;
-      linker_patches->push_back(LinkerPatch::RelativeStringPatch(literal_offset,
-                                                                 &info.dex_file,
-                                                                 GetMethodAddressOffset(),
-                                                                 info.string_index));
-    }
-    for (const TypePatchInfo<Label>& info : type_patches_) {
-      uint32_t literal_offset = info.label.Position() - kLabelPositionToLiteralOffsetAdjustment;
-      linker_patches->push_back(LinkerPatch::RelativeTypePatch(literal_offset,
-                                                               &info.dex_file,
-                                                               GetMethodAddressOffset(),
-                                                               info.type_index));
-    }
+  if (!GetCompilerOptions().IsBootImage()) {
+    EmitPcRelativeLinkerPatches<LinkerPatch::StringBssEntryPatch>(string_patches_, linker_patches);
+  } else if (GetCompilerOptions().GetCompilePic()) {
+    EmitPcRelativeLinkerPatches<LinkerPatch::RelativeStringPatch>(string_patches_, linker_patches);
   } else {
-    for (const StringPatchInfo<Label>& info : string_patches_) {
+    for (const PatchInfo<Label>& info : string_patches_) {
       uint32_t literal_offset = info.label.Position() - kLabelPositionToLiteralOffsetAdjustment;
-      linker_patches->push_back(LinkerPatch::StringPatch(literal_offset,
-                                                         &info.dex_file,
-                                                         info.string_index));
+      linker_patches->push_back(
+          LinkerPatch::StringPatch(literal_offset, &info.dex_file, info.index));
     }
-    for (const TypePatchInfo<Label>& info : type_patches_) {
+  }
+  if (GetCompilerOptions().GetCompilePic()) {
+    EmitPcRelativeLinkerPatches<LinkerPatch::RelativeTypePatch>(type_patches_, linker_patches);
+  } else {
+    for (const PatchInfo<Label>& info : type_patches_) {
       uint32_t literal_offset = info.label.Position() - kLabelPositionToLiteralOffsetAdjustment;
-      linker_patches->push_back(LinkerPatch::TypePatch(literal_offset,
-                                                       &info.dex_file,
-                                                       info.type_index));
+      linker_patches->push_back(LinkerPatch::TypePatch(literal_offset, &info.dex_file, info.index));
     }
   }
 }
@@ -5991,7 +6030,7 @@
     case HLoadString::LoadKind::kBootImageLinkTimePcRelative:
       DCHECK(GetCompilerOptions().GetCompilePic());
       FALLTHROUGH_INTENDED;
-    case HLoadString::LoadKind::kDexCachePcRelative:
+    case HLoadString::LoadKind::kBssEntry:
       DCHECK(!Runtime::Current()->UseJitCompilation());  // Note: boot image is also non-JIT.
       // We disable pc-relative load when there is an irreducible loop, as the optimization
       // is incompatible with it.
@@ -6014,13 +6053,15 @@
 
 void LocationsBuilderX86::VisitLoadString(HLoadString* load) {
   LocationSummary::CallKind call_kind = (load->NeedsEnvironment() || kEmitCompilerReadBarrier)
-      ? LocationSummary::kCallOnMainOnly
+      ? ((load->GetLoadKind() == HLoadString::LoadKind::kDexCacheViaMethod)
+          ? LocationSummary::kCallOnMainOnly
+          : LocationSummary::kCallOnSlowPath)
       : LocationSummary::kNoCall;
   LocationSummary* locations = new (GetGraph()->GetArena()) LocationSummary(load, call_kind);
   HLoadString::LoadKind load_kind = load->GetLoadKind();
   if (load_kind == HLoadString::LoadKind::kDexCacheViaMethod ||
       load_kind == HLoadString::LoadKind::kBootImageLinkTimePcRelative ||
-      load_kind == HLoadString::LoadKind::kDexCachePcRelative) {
+      load_kind == HLoadString::LoadKind::kBssEntry) {
     locations->SetInAt(0, Location::RequiresRegister());
   }
   if (load_kind == HLoadString::LoadKind::kDexCacheViaMethod) {
@@ -6038,13 +6079,13 @@
   switch (load->GetLoadKind()) {
     case HLoadString::LoadKind::kBootImageLinkTimeAddress: {
       __ movl(out, Immediate(/* placeholder */ 0));
-      codegen_->RecordStringPatch(load);
+      codegen_->RecordBootStringPatch(load);
       return;  // No dex cache slow path.
     }
     case HLoadString::LoadKind::kBootImageLinkTimePcRelative: {
       Register method_address = locations->InAt(0).AsRegister<Register>();
       __ leal(out, Address(method_address, CodeGeneratorX86::kDummy32BitOffset));
-      codegen_->RecordStringPatch(load);
+      codegen_->RecordBootStringPatch(load);
       return;  // No dex cache slow path.
     }
     case HLoadString::LoadKind::kBootImageAddress: {
@@ -6054,6 +6095,19 @@
       codegen_->RecordSimplePatch();
       return;  // No dex cache slow path.
     }
+    case HLoadString::LoadKind::kBssEntry: {
+      Register method_address = locations->InAt(0).AsRegister<Register>();
+      Address address = Address(method_address, CodeGeneratorX86::kDummy32BitOffset);
+      Label* fixup_label = codegen_->NewStringBssEntryPatch(load);
+      // /* GcRoot<mirror::Class> */ out = *address  /* PC-relative */
+      GenerateGcRootFieldLoad(load, out_loc, address, fixup_label);
+      SlowPathCode* slow_path = new (GetGraph()->GetArena()) LoadStringSlowPathX86(load);
+      codegen_->AddSlowPath(slow_path);
+      __ testl(out, out);
+      __ j(kEqual, slow_path->GetEntryLabel());
+      __ Bind(slow_path->GetExitLabel());
+      return;
+    }
     default:
       break;
   }
diff --git a/compiler/optimizing/code_generator_x86.h b/compiler/optimizing/code_generator_x86.h
index 1bd28da..25f5c2a 100644
--- a/compiler/optimizing/code_generator_x86.h
+++ b/compiler/optimizing/code_generator_x86.h
@@ -411,8 +411,9 @@
   void GenerateVirtualCall(HInvokeVirtual* invoke, Location temp) OVERRIDE;
 
   void RecordSimplePatch();
-  void RecordStringPatch(HLoadString* load_string);
+  void RecordBootStringPatch(HLoadString* load_string);
   void RecordTypePatch(HLoadClass* load_class);
+  Label* NewStringBssEntryPatch(HLoadString* load_string);
   Label* NewPcRelativeDexCacheArrayPatch(const DexFile& dex_file, uint32_t element_offset);
 
   void MoveFromReturnRegister(Location trg, Primitive::Type type) OVERRIDE;
@@ -580,15 +581,9 @@
  private:
   Register GetInvokeStaticOrDirectExtraParameter(HInvokeStaticOrDirect* invoke, Register temp);
 
-  struct PcRelativeDexCacheAccessInfo {
-    PcRelativeDexCacheAccessInfo(const DexFile& dex_file, uint32_t element_off)
-        : target_dex_file(dex_file), element_offset(element_off), label() { }
-
-    const DexFile& target_dex_file;
-    uint32_t element_offset;
-    // NOTE: Label is bound to the end of the instruction that has an embedded 32-bit offset.
-    Label label;
-  };
+  template <LinkerPatch (*Factory)(size_t, const DexFile*, uint32_t, uint32_t)>
+  void EmitPcRelativeLinkerPatches(const ArenaDeque<PatchInfo<Label>>& infos,
+                                   ArenaVector<LinkerPatch>* linker_patches);
 
   // Labels for each block that will be compiled.
   Label* block_labels_;  // Indexed by block id.
@@ -600,16 +595,16 @@
   const X86InstructionSetFeatures& isa_features_;
 
   // Method patch info. Using ArenaDeque<> which retains element addresses on push/emplace_back().
-  ArenaDeque<MethodPatchInfo<Label>> method_patches_;
-  ArenaDeque<MethodPatchInfo<Label>> relative_call_patches_;
+  ArenaDeque<PatchInfo<Label>> method_patches_;
+  ArenaDeque<PatchInfo<Label>> relative_call_patches_;
   // PC-relative DexCache access info.
-  ArenaDeque<PcRelativeDexCacheAccessInfo> pc_relative_dex_cache_patches_;
+  ArenaDeque<PatchInfo<Label>> pc_relative_dex_cache_patches_;
   // Patch locations for patchoat where the linker doesn't do any other work.
   ArenaDeque<Label> simple_patches_;
-  // String patch locations.
-  ArenaDeque<StringPatchInfo<Label>> string_patches_;
+  // String patch locations; type depends on configuration (app .bss or boot image PIC/non-PIC).
+  ArenaDeque<PatchInfo<Label>> string_patches_;
   // Type patch locations.
-  ArenaDeque<TypePatchInfo<Label>> type_patches_;
+  ArenaDeque<PatchInfo<Label>> type_patches_;
 
   // Offset to the start of the constant area in the assembled code.
   // Used for fixups to the constant area.
diff --git a/compiler/optimizing/code_generator_x86_64.cc b/compiler/optimizing/code_generator_x86_64.cc
index b243ee0..28638d7 100644
--- a/compiler/optimizing/code_generator_x86_64.cc
+++ b/compiler/optimizing/code_generator_x86_64.cc
@@ -287,6 +287,44 @@
   DISALLOW_COPY_AND_ASSIGN(LoadClassSlowPathX86_64);
 };
 
+class LoadStringSlowPathX86_64 : public SlowPathCode {
+ public:
+  explicit LoadStringSlowPathX86_64(HLoadString* instruction) : SlowPathCode(instruction) {}
+
+  void EmitNativeCode(CodeGenerator* codegen) OVERRIDE {
+    LocationSummary* locations = instruction_->GetLocations();
+    DCHECK(!locations->GetLiveRegisters()->ContainsCoreRegister(locations->Out().reg()));
+
+    CodeGeneratorX86_64* x86_64_codegen = down_cast<CodeGeneratorX86_64*>(codegen);
+    __ Bind(GetEntryLabel());
+    SaveLiveRegisters(codegen, locations);
+
+    InvokeRuntimeCallingConvention calling_convention;
+    const uint32_t string_index = instruction_->AsLoadString()->GetStringIndex();
+    __ movl(CpuRegister(calling_convention.GetRegisterAt(0)), Immediate(string_index));
+    x86_64_codegen->InvokeRuntime(kQuickResolveString,
+                                  instruction_,
+                                  instruction_->GetDexPc(),
+                                  this);
+    CheckEntrypointTypes<kQuickResolveString, void*, uint32_t>();
+    x86_64_codegen->Move(locations->Out(), Location::RegisterLocation(RAX));
+    RestoreLiveRegisters(codegen, locations);
+
+    // Store the resolved String to the BSS entry.
+    __ movl(Address::Absolute(CodeGeneratorX86_64::kDummy32BitOffset, /* no_rip */ false),
+            locations->Out().AsRegister<CpuRegister>());
+    Label* fixup_label = x86_64_codegen->NewStringBssEntryPatch(instruction_->AsLoadString());
+    __ Bind(fixup_label);
+
+    __ jmp(GetExitLabel());
+  }
+
+  const char* GetDescription() const OVERRIDE { return "LoadStringSlowPathX86_64"; }
+
+ private:
+  DISALLOW_COPY_AND_ASSIGN(LoadStringSlowPathX86_64);
+};
+
 class TypeCheckSlowPathX86_64 : public SlowPathCode {
  public:
   TypeCheckSlowPathX86_64(HInstruction* instruction, bool is_fatal)
@@ -772,7 +810,8 @@
       break;
     case HInvokeStaticOrDirect::MethodLoadKind::kDirectAddressWithFixup:
       __ movl(temp.AsRegister<CpuRegister>(), Immediate(0));  // Placeholder.
-      method_patches_.emplace_back(invoke->GetTargetMethod());
+      method_patches_.emplace_back(*invoke->GetTargetMethod().dex_file,
+                                   invoke->GetTargetMethod().dex_method_index);
       __ Bind(&method_patches_.back().label);  // Bind the label at the end of the "movl" insn.
       break;
     case HInvokeStaticOrDirect::MethodLoadKind::kDexCachePcRelative: {
@@ -819,7 +858,8 @@
       __ call(&frame_entry_label_);
       break;
     case HInvokeStaticOrDirect::CodePtrLocation::kCallPCRelative: {
-      relative_call_patches_.emplace_back(invoke->GetTargetMethod());
+      relative_call_patches_.emplace_back(*invoke->GetTargetMethod().dex_file,
+                                          invoke->GetTargetMethod().dex_method_index);
       Label* label = &relative_call_patches_.back().label;
       __ call(label);  // Bind to the patch label, override at link time.
       __ Bind(label);  // Bind the label at the end of the "call" insn.
@@ -879,7 +919,8 @@
   }
 }
 
-void CodeGeneratorX86_64::RecordStringPatch(HLoadString* load_string) {
+void CodeGeneratorX86_64::RecordBootStringPatch(HLoadString* load_string) {
+  DCHECK(GetCompilerOptions().IsBootImage());
   string_patches_.emplace_back(load_string->GetDexFile(), load_string->GetStringIndex());
   __ Bind(&string_patches_.back().label);
 }
@@ -889,6 +930,12 @@
   __ Bind(&type_patches_.back().label);
 }
 
+Label* CodeGeneratorX86_64::NewStringBssEntryPatch(HLoadString* load_string) {
+  DCHECK(!GetCompilerOptions().IsBootImage());
+  string_patches_.emplace_back(load_string->GetDexFile(), load_string->GetStringIndex());
+  return &string_patches_.back().label;
+}
+
 Label* CodeGeneratorX86_64::NewPcRelativeDexCacheArrayPatch(const DexFile& dex_file,
                                                             uint32_t element_offset) {
   // Add a patch entry and return the label.
@@ -896,6 +943,21 @@
   return &pc_relative_dex_cache_patches_.back().label;
 }
 
+// The label points to the end of the "movl" or another instruction but the literal offset
+// for method patch needs to point to the embedded constant which occupies the last 4 bytes.
+constexpr uint32_t kLabelPositionToLiteralOffsetAdjustment = 4u;
+
+template <LinkerPatch (*Factory)(size_t, const DexFile*, uint32_t, uint32_t)>
+inline void CodeGeneratorX86_64::EmitPcRelativeLinkerPatches(
+    const ArenaDeque<PatchInfo<Label>>& infos,
+    ArenaVector<LinkerPatch>* linker_patches) {
+  for (const PatchInfo<Label>& info : infos) {
+    uint32_t literal_offset = info.label.Position() - kLabelPositionToLiteralOffsetAdjustment;
+    linker_patches->push_back(
+        Factory(literal_offset, &info.dex_file, info.label.Position(), info.index));
+  }
+}
+
 void CodeGeneratorX86_64::EmitLinkerPatches(ArenaVector<LinkerPatch>* linker_patches) {
   DCHECK(linker_patches->empty());
   size_t size =
@@ -906,48 +968,29 @@
       string_patches_.size() +
       type_patches_.size();
   linker_patches->reserve(size);
-  // The label points to the end of the "movl" insn but the literal offset for method
-  // patch needs to point to the embedded constant which occupies the last 4 bytes.
-  constexpr uint32_t kLabelPositionToLiteralOffsetAdjustment = 4u;
-  for (const MethodPatchInfo<Label>& info : method_patches_) {
+  for (const PatchInfo<Label>& info : method_patches_) {
     uint32_t literal_offset = info.label.Position() - kLabelPositionToLiteralOffsetAdjustment;
-    linker_patches->push_back(LinkerPatch::MethodPatch(literal_offset,
-                                                       info.target_method.dex_file,
-                                                       info.target_method.dex_method_index));
+    linker_patches->push_back(LinkerPatch::MethodPatch(literal_offset, &info.dex_file, info.index));
   }
-  for (const MethodPatchInfo<Label>& info : relative_call_patches_) {
+  for (const PatchInfo<Label>& info : relative_call_patches_) {
     uint32_t literal_offset = info.label.Position() - kLabelPositionToLiteralOffsetAdjustment;
-    linker_patches->push_back(LinkerPatch::RelativeCodePatch(literal_offset,
-                                                             info.target_method.dex_file,
-                                                             info.target_method.dex_method_index));
+    linker_patches->push_back(
+        LinkerPatch::RelativeCodePatch(literal_offset, &info.dex_file, info.index));
   }
-  for (const PcRelativeDexCacheAccessInfo& info : pc_relative_dex_cache_patches_) {
-    uint32_t literal_offset = info.label.Position() - kLabelPositionToLiteralOffsetAdjustment;
-    linker_patches->push_back(LinkerPatch::DexCacheArrayPatch(literal_offset,
-                                                              &info.target_dex_file,
-                                                              info.label.Position(),
-                                                              info.element_offset));
-  }
+  EmitPcRelativeLinkerPatches<LinkerPatch::DexCacheArrayPatch>(pc_relative_dex_cache_patches_,
+                                                               linker_patches);
   for (const Label& label : simple_patches_) {
     uint32_t literal_offset = label.Position() - kLabelPositionToLiteralOffsetAdjustment;
     linker_patches->push_back(LinkerPatch::RecordPosition(literal_offset));
   }
-  for (const StringPatchInfo<Label>& info : string_patches_) {
+  if (!GetCompilerOptions().IsBootImage()) {
+    EmitPcRelativeLinkerPatches<LinkerPatch::StringBssEntryPatch>(string_patches_, linker_patches);
+  } else {
     // These are always PC-relative, see GetSupportedLoadStringKind().
-    uint32_t literal_offset = info.label.Position() - kLabelPositionToLiteralOffsetAdjustment;
-    linker_patches->push_back(LinkerPatch::RelativeStringPatch(literal_offset,
-                                                               &info.dex_file,
-                                                               info.label.Position(),
-                                                               info.string_index));
+    EmitPcRelativeLinkerPatches<LinkerPatch::RelativeStringPatch>(string_patches_, linker_patches);
   }
-  for (const TypePatchInfo<Label>& info : type_patches_) {
-    // These are always PC-relative, see GetSupportedLoadClassKind().
-    uint32_t literal_offset = info.label.Position() - kLabelPositionToLiteralOffsetAdjustment;
-    linker_patches->push_back(LinkerPatch::RelativeTypePatch(literal_offset,
-                                                             &info.dex_file,
-                                                             info.label.Position(),
-                                                             info.type_index));
-  }
+  // These are always PC-relative, see GetSupportedLoadClassKind().
+  EmitPcRelativeLinkerPatches<LinkerPatch::RelativeTypePatch>(type_patches_, linker_patches);
 }
 
 void CodeGeneratorX86_64::DumpCoreRegister(std::ostream& stream, int reg) const {
@@ -5390,7 +5433,7 @@
     case HLoadString::LoadKind::kDexCacheAddress:
       DCHECK(Runtime::Current()->UseJitCompilation());
       break;
-    case HLoadString::LoadKind::kDexCachePcRelative:
+    case HLoadString::LoadKind::kBssEntry:
       DCHECK(!Runtime::Current()->UseJitCompilation());
       break;
     case HLoadString::LoadKind::kDexCacheViaMethod:
@@ -5401,7 +5444,9 @@
 
 void LocationsBuilderX86_64::VisitLoadString(HLoadString* load) {
   LocationSummary::CallKind call_kind = load->NeedsEnvironment()
-      ? LocationSummary::kCallOnMainOnly
+      ? ((load->GetLoadKind() == HLoadString::LoadKind::kDexCacheViaMethod)
+          ? LocationSummary::kCallOnMainOnly
+          : LocationSummary::kCallOnSlowPath)
       : LocationSummary::kNoCall;
   LocationSummary* locations = new (GetGraph()->GetArena()) LocationSummary(load, call_kind);
   if (load->GetLoadKind() == HLoadString::LoadKind::kDexCacheViaMethod) {
@@ -5420,7 +5465,7 @@
   switch (load->GetLoadKind()) {
     case HLoadString::LoadKind::kBootImageLinkTimePcRelative: {
       __ leal(out, Address::Absolute(CodeGeneratorX86_64::kDummy32BitOffset, /* no_rip */ false));
-      codegen_->RecordStringPatch(load);
+      codegen_->RecordBootStringPatch(load);
       return;  // No dex cache slow path.
     }
     case HLoadString::LoadKind::kBootImageAddress: {
@@ -5430,6 +5475,19 @@
       codegen_->RecordSimplePatch();
       return;  // No dex cache slow path.
     }
+    case HLoadString::LoadKind::kBssEntry: {
+      Address address = Address::Absolute(CodeGeneratorX86_64::kDummy32BitOffset,
+                                          /* no_rip */ false);
+      Label* fixup_label = codegen_->NewStringBssEntryPatch(load);
+      // /* GcRoot<mirror::Class> */ out = *address  /* PC-relative */
+      GenerateGcRootFieldLoad(load, out_loc, address, fixup_label);
+      SlowPathCode* slow_path = new (GetGraph()->GetArena()) LoadStringSlowPathX86_64(load);
+      codegen_->AddSlowPath(slow_path);
+      __ testl(out, out);
+      __ j(kEqual, slow_path->GetEntryLabel());
+      __ Bind(slow_path->GetExitLabel());
+      return;
+    }
     default:
       break;
   }
diff --git a/compiler/optimizing/code_generator_x86_64.h b/compiler/optimizing/code_generator_x86_64.h
index 8dec44e..57ef83f 100644
--- a/compiler/optimizing/code_generator_x86_64.h
+++ b/compiler/optimizing/code_generator_x86_64.h
@@ -406,8 +406,9 @@
   void GenerateVirtualCall(HInvokeVirtual* invoke, Location temp) OVERRIDE;
 
   void RecordSimplePatch();
-  void RecordStringPatch(HLoadString* load_string);
+  void RecordBootStringPatch(HLoadString* load_string);
   void RecordTypePatch(HLoadClass* load_class);
+  Label* NewStringBssEntryPatch(HLoadString* load_string);
   Label* NewPcRelativeDexCacheArrayPatch(const DexFile& dex_file, uint32_t element_offset);
 
   void MoveFromReturnRegister(Location trg, Primitive::Type type) OVERRIDE;
@@ -555,14 +556,9 @@
   static constexpr int32_t kDummy32BitOffset = 256;
 
  private:
-  struct PcRelativeDexCacheAccessInfo {
-    PcRelativeDexCacheAccessInfo(const DexFile& dex_file, uint32_t element_off)
-        : target_dex_file(dex_file), element_offset(element_off), label() { }
-
-    const DexFile& target_dex_file;
-    uint32_t element_offset;
-    Label label;
-  };
+  template <LinkerPatch (*Factory)(size_t, const DexFile*, uint32_t, uint32_t)>
+  static void EmitPcRelativeLinkerPatches(const ArenaDeque<PatchInfo<Label>>& infos,
+                                          ArenaVector<LinkerPatch>* linker_patches);
 
   // Labels for each block that will be compiled.
   Label* block_labels_;  // Indexed by block id.
@@ -578,16 +574,16 @@
   int constant_area_start_;
 
   // Method patch info. Using ArenaDeque<> which retains element addresses on push/emplace_back().
-  ArenaDeque<MethodPatchInfo<Label>> method_patches_;
-  ArenaDeque<MethodPatchInfo<Label>> relative_call_patches_;
+  ArenaDeque<PatchInfo<Label>> method_patches_;
+  ArenaDeque<PatchInfo<Label>> relative_call_patches_;
   // PC-relative DexCache access info.
-  ArenaDeque<PcRelativeDexCacheAccessInfo> pc_relative_dex_cache_patches_;
+  ArenaDeque<PatchInfo<Label>> pc_relative_dex_cache_patches_;
   // Patch locations for patchoat where the linker doesn't do any other work.
   ArenaDeque<Label> simple_patches_;
-  // String patch locations.
-  ArenaDeque<StringPatchInfo<Label>> string_patches_;
+  // String patch locations; type depends on configuration (app .bss or boot image PIC).
+  ArenaDeque<PatchInfo<Label>> string_patches_;
   // Type patch locations.
-  ArenaDeque<TypePatchInfo<Label>> type_patches_;
+  ArenaDeque<PatchInfo<Label>> type_patches_;
 
   // Fixups for jump tables need to be handled specially.
   ArenaVector<JumpTableRIPFixup*> fixups_to_jump_tables_;
diff --git a/compiler/optimizing/dex_cache_array_fixups_arm.cc b/compiler/optimizing/dex_cache_array_fixups_arm.cc
index 7010171..82b8123 100644
--- a/compiler/optimizing/dex_cache_array_fixups_arm.cc
+++ b/compiler/optimizing/dex_cache_array_fixups_arm.cc
@@ -62,21 +62,6 @@
     }
   }
 
-  void VisitLoadString(HLoadString* load_string) OVERRIDE {
-    // If this is a load with PC-relative access to the dex cache strings array,
-    // we need to add the dex cache arrays base as the special input.
-    if (load_string->GetLoadKind() == HLoadString::LoadKind::kDexCachePcRelative) {
-      // Initialize base for target dex file if needed.
-      const DexFile& dex_file = load_string->GetDexFile();
-      HArmDexCacheArraysBase* base = GetOrCreateDexCacheArrayBase(dex_file);
-      // Update the element offset in base.
-      DexCacheArraysLayout layout(kArmPointerSize, &dex_file);
-      base->UpdateElementOffset(layout.StringOffset(load_string->GetStringIndex()));
-      // Add the special argument base to the load.
-      load_string->AddSpecialInput(base);
-    }
-  }
-
   void VisitInvokeStaticOrDirect(HInvokeStaticOrDirect* invoke) OVERRIDE {
     // If this is an invoke with PC-relative access to the dex cache methods array,
     // we need to add the dex cache arrays base as the special input.
diff --git a/compiler/optimizing/dex_cache_array_fixups_mips.cc b/compiler/optimizing/dex_cache_array_fixups_mips.cc
index 4456b49..31fff26 100644
--- a/compiler/optimizing/dex_cache_array_fixups_mips.cc
+++ b/compiler/optimizing/dex_cache_array_fixups_mips.cc
@@ -68,21 +68,6 @@
     }
   }
 
-  void VisitLoadString(HLoadString* load_string) OVERRIDE {
-    // If this is a load with PC-relative access to the dex cache strings array,
-    // we need to add the dex cache arrays base as the special input.
-    if (load_string->GetLoadKind() == HLoadString::LoadKind::kDexCachePcRelative) {
-      // Initialize base for target dex file if needed.
-      const DexFile& dex_file = load_string->GetDexFile();
-      HMipsDexCacheArraysBase* base = GetOrCreateDexCacheArrayBase(dex_file);
-      // Update the element offset in base.
-      DexCacheArraysLayout layout(kMipsPointerSize, &dex_file);
-      base->UpdateElementOffset(layout.StringOffset(load_string->GetStringIndex()));
-      // Add the special argument base to the load.
-      load_string->AddSpecialInput(base);
-    }
-  }
-
   void VisitInvokeStaticOrDirect(HInvokeStaticOrDirect* invoke) OVERRIDE {
     // If this is an invoke with PC-relative access to the dex cache methods array,
     // we need to add the dex cache arrays base as the special input.
diff --git a/compiler/optimizing/nodes.cc b/compiler/optimizing/nodes.cc
index ef9bf23..cea29bc 100644
--- a/compiler/optimizing/nodes.cc
+++ b/compiler/optimizing/nodes.cc
@@ -2607,12 +2607,8 @@
   LoadKind load_kind = GetLoadKind();
   if (HasAddress(load_kind)) {
     return GetAddress() == other_load_string->GetAddress();
-  } else if (HasStringReference(load_kind)) {
-    return IsSameDexFile(GetDexFile(), other_load_string->GetDexFile());
   } else {
-    DCHECK(HasDexCacheReference(load_kind)) << load_kind;
-    // If the string indexes and dex files are the same, dex cache element offsets
-    // must also be the same, so we don't need to compare them.
+    DCHECK(HasStringReference(load_kind)) << load_kind;
     return IsSameDexFile(GetDexFile(), other_load_string->GetDexFile());
   }
 }
@@ -2642,8 +2638,8 @@
       return os << "BootImageAddress";
     case HLoadString::LoadKind::kDexCacheAddress:
       return os << "DexCacheAddress";
-    case HLoadString::LoadKind::kDexCachePcRelative:
-      return os << "DexCachePcRelative";
+    case HLoadString::LoadKind::kBssEntry:
+      return os << "BssEntry";
     case HLoadString::LoadKind::kDexCacheViaMethod:
       return os << "DexCacheViaMethod";
     default:
diff --git a/compiler/optimizing/nodes.h b/compiler/optimizing/nodes.h
index 397abde..077e867 100644
--- a/compiler/optimizing/nodes.h
+++ b/compiler/optimizing/nodes.h
@@ -5650,10 +5650,9 @@
     // Used for strings outside the boot image referenced by JIT-compiled code.
     kDexCacheAddress,
 
-    // Load from resolved strings array in the dex cache using a PC-relative load.
-    // Used for strings outside boot image when we know that we can access
-    // the dex cache arrays using a PC-relative load.
-    kDexCachePcRelative,
+    // Load from an entry in the .bss section using a PC-relative load.
+    // Used for strings outside boot image when .bss is accessible with a PC-relative load.
+    kBssEntry,
 
     // Load from resolved strings array accessed through the class loaded from
     // the compiled method's own ArtMethod*. This is the default access type when
@@ -5672,7 +5671,7 @@
         string_index_(string_index) {
     SetPackedFlag<kFlagIsInDexCache>(false);
     SetPackedField<LoadKindField>(LoadKind::kDexCacheViaMethod);
-    load_data_.ref.dex_file = &dex_file;
+    load_data_.dex_file_ = &dex_file;
   }
 
   void SetLoadKindWithAddress(LoadKind load_kind, uint64_t address) {
@@ -5685,20 +5684,11 @@
                                       const DexFile& dex_file,
                                       uint32_t string_index) {
     DCHECK(HasStringReference(load_kind));
-    load_data_.ref.dex_file = &dex_file;
+    load_data_.dex_file_ = &dex_file;
     string_index_ = string_index;
     SetLoadKindInternal(load_kind);
   }
 
-  void SetLoadKindWithDexCacheReference(LoadKind load_kind,
-                                        const DexFile& dex_file,
-                                        uint32_t element_index) {
-    DCHECK(HasDexCacheReference(load_kind));
-    load_data_.ref.dex_file = &dex_file;
-    load_data_.ref.dex_cache_element_index = element_index;
-    SetLoadKindInternal(load_kind);
-  }
-
   LoadKind GetLoadKind() const {
     return GetPackedField<LoadKindField>();
   }
@@ -5710,8 +5700,6 @@
     return string_index_;
   }
 
-  uint32_t GetDexCacheElementOffset() const;
-
   uint64_t GetAddress() const {
     DCHECK(HasAddress(GetLoadKind()));
     return load_data_.address;
@@ -5781,6 +5769,7 @@
   static bool HasStringReference(LoadKind load_kind) {
     return load_kind == LoadKind::kBootImageLinkTimeAddress ||
         load_kind == LoadKind::kBootImageLinkTimePcRelative ||
+        load_kind == LoadKind::kBssEntry ||
         load_kind == LoadKind::kDexCacheViaMethod;
   }
 
@@ -5788,10 +5777,6 @@
     return load_kind == LoadKind::kBootImageAddress || load_kind == LoadKind::kDexCacheAddress;
   }
 
-  static bool HasDexCacheReference(LoadKind load_kind) {
-    return load_kind == LoadKind::kDexCachePcRelative;
-  }
-
   void SetLoadKindInternal(LoadKind load_kind);
 
   // The special input is the HCurrentMethod for kDexCacheViaMethod.
@@ -5804,10 +5789,7 @@
   uint32_t string_index_;
 
   union {
-    struct {
-      const DexFile* dex_file;            // For string reference and dex cache reference.
-      uint32_t dex_cache_element_index;   // Only for dex cache reference.
-    } ref;
+    const DexFile* dex_file_;            // For string reference.
     uint64_t address;  // Up to 64-bit, needed for kDexCacheAddress on 64-bit targets.
   } load_data_;
 
@@ -5817,15 +5799,8 @@
 
 // Note: defined outside class to see operator<<(., HLoadString::LoadKind).
 inline const DexFile& HLoadString::GetDexFile() const {
-  DCHECK(HasStringReference(GetLoadKind()) || HasDexCacheReference(GetLoadKind()))
-      << GetLoadKind();
-  return *load_data_.ref.dex_file;
-}
-
-// Note: defined outside class to see operator<<(., HLoadString::LoadKind).
-inline uint32_t HLoadString::GetDexCacheElementOffset() const {
-  DCHECK(HasDexCacheReference(GetLoadKind())) << GetLoadKind();
-  return load_data_.ref.dex_cache_element_index;
+  DCHECK(HasStringReference(GetLoadKind())) << GetLoadKind();
+  return *load_data_.dex_file_;
 }
 
 // Note: defined outside class to see operator<<(., HLoadString::LoadKind).
@@ -5833,7 +5808,7 @@
   // The special input is used for PC-relative loads on some architectures,
   // including literal pool loads, which are PC-relative too.
   DCHECK(GetLoadKind() == LoadKind::kBootImageLinkTimePcRelative ||
-         GetLoadKind() == LoadKind::kDexCachePcRelative ||
+         GetLoadKind() == LoadKind::kBssEntry ||
          GetLoadKind() == LoadKind::kBootImageLinkTimeAddress ||
          GetLoadKind() == LoadKind::kBootImageAddress) << GetLoadKind();
   // HLoadString::GetInputRecords() returns an empty array at this point,
diff --git a/compiler/optimizing/pc_relative_fixups_mips.cc b/compiler/optimizing/pc_relative_fixups_mips.cc
index 6006e6c..82feb95 100644
--- a/compiler/optimizing/pc_relative_fixups_mips.cc
+++ b/compiler/optimizing/pc_relative_fixups_mips.cc
@@ -83,6 +83,7 @@
       case HLoadString::LoadKind::kBootImageLinkTimeAddress:
       case HLoadString::LoadKind::kBootImageAddress:
       case HLoadString::LoadKind::kBootImageLinkTimePcRelative:
+      case HLoadString::LoadKind::kBssEntry:
         // Add a base register for PC-relative literals on R2.
         InitializePCRelativeBasePointer();
         load_string->AddSpecialInput(base_);
diff --git a/compiler/optimizing/pc_relative_fixups_x86.cc b/compiler/optimizing/pc_relative_fixups_x86.cc
index 75587af..b1fdb17 100644
--- a/compiler/optimizing/pc_relative_fixups_x86.cc
+++ b/compiler/optimizing/pc_relative_fixups_x86.cc
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@
   void VisitLoadString(HLoadString* load_string) OVERRIDE {
     HLoadString::LoadKind load_kind = load_string->GetLoadKind();
     if (load_kind == HLoadString::LoadKind::kBootImageLinkTimePcRelative ||
-        load_kind == HLoadString::LoadKind::kDexCachePcRelative) {
+        load_kind == HLoadString::LoadKind::kBssEntry) {
       InitializePCRelativeBasePointer();
       load_string->AddSpecialInput(base_);
     }
diff --git a/compiler/optimizing/sharpening.cc b/compiler/optimizing/sharpening.cc
index a4a3e06..c1cfe8d 100644
--- a/compiler/optimizing/sharpening.cc
+++ b/compiler/optimizing/sharpening.cc
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@
         : hs.NewHandle(class_linker->FindDexCache(soa.Self(), dex_file));
     mirror::Class* klass = dex_cache->GetResolvedType(type_index);
 
-    if (compiler_driver_->IsBootImage()) {
+    if (codegen_->GetCompilerOptions().IsBootImage()) {
       // Compiling boot image. Check if the class is a boot image class.
       DCHECK(!runtime->UseJitCompilation());
       if (!compiler_driver_->GetSupportBootImageFixup()) {
@@ -281,7 +281,7 @@
         ? compilation_unit_.GetDexCache()
         : hs.NewHandle(class_linker->FindDexCache(soa.Self(), dex_file));
 
-    if (compiler_driver_->IsBootImage()) {
+    if (codegen_->GetCompilerOptions().IsBootImage()) {
       // Compiling boot image. Resolve the string and allocate it if needed.
       DCHECK(!runtime->UseJitCompilation());
       mirror::String* string = class_linker->ResolveString(dex_file, string_index, dex_cache);
@@ -311,6 +311,8 @@
           !codegen_->GetCompilerOptions().GetCompilePic()) {
         desired_load_kind = HLoadString::LoadKind::kBootImageAddress;
         address = reinterpret_cast64<uint64_t>(string);
+      } else {
+        desired_load_kind = HLoadString::LoadKind::kBssEntry;
       }
     }
   }
@@ -319,6 +321,7 @@
   switch (load_kind) {
     case HLoadString::LoadKind::kBootImageLinkTimeAddress:
     case HLoadString::LoadKind::kBootImageLinkTimePcRelative:
+    case HLoadString::LoadKind::kBssEntry:
     case HLoadString::LoadKind::kDexCacheViaMethod:
       load_string->SetLoadKindWithStringReference(load_kind, dex_file, string_index);
       break;
@@ -327,13 +330,6 @@
       DCHECK_NE(address, 0u);
       load_string->SetLoadKindWithAddress(load_kind, address);
       break;
-    case HLoadString::LoadKind::kDexCachePcRelative: {
-      PointerSize pointer_size = InstructionSetPointerSize(codegen_->GetInstructionSet());
-      DexCacheArraysLayout layout(pointer_size, &dex_file);
-      size_t element_index = layout.StringOffset(string_index);
-      load_string->SetLoadKindWithDexCacheReference(load_kind, dex_file, element_index);
-      break;
-    }
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/compiler/utils/arm/assembler_arm.h b/compiler/utils/arm/assembler_arm.h
index ee5811c..0ed8a35 100644
--- a/compiler/utils/arm/assembler_arm.h
+++ b/compiler/utils/arm/assembler_arm.h
@@ -262,12 +262,6 @@
     CHECK_NE(rm, PC);
   }
 
-  // LDR(literal) - pc relative load.
-  explicit Address(int32_t offset) :
-               rn_(PC), rm_(R0), offset_(offset),
-               am_(Offset), is_immed_offset_(false), shift_(LSL) {
-  }
-
   static bool CanHoldLoadOffsetArm(LoadOperandType type, int offset);
   static bool CanHoldStoreOffsetArm(StoreOperandType type, int offset);
 
diff --git a/compiler/utils/arm/assembler_thumb2.cc b/compiler/utils/arm/assembler_thumb2.cc
index 2269ba2..61b7f08 100644
--- a/compiler/utils/arm/assembler_thumb2.cc
+++ b/compiler/utils/arm/assembler_thumb2.cc
@@ -2461,58 +2461,36 @@
     }
   } else {
     // Register shift.
-    if (ad.GetRegister() == PC) {
-       // PC relative literal encoding.
-      int32_t offset = ad.GetOffset();
-      if (must_be_32bit || offset < 0 || offset >= (1 << 10) || !load) {
-        int32_t up = B23;
-        if (offset < 0) {
-          offset = -offset;
-          up = 0;
-        }
-        CHECK_LT(offset, (1 << 12));
-        int32_t encoding = 0x1f << 27 | 0xf << 16 | B22 | (load ? B20 : 0) |
-            offset | up |
-            static_cast<uint32_t>(rd) << 12;
-        Emit32(encoding);
-      } else {
-        // 16 bit literal load.
-        CHECK_GE(offset, 0);
-        CHECK_LT(offset, (1 << 10));
-        int32_t encoding = B14 | (load ? B11 : 0) | static_cast<uint32_t>(rd) << 8 | offset >> 2;
-        Emit16(encoding);
-      }
-    } else {
-      if (ad.GetShiftCount() != 0) {
-        // If there is a shift count this must be 32 bit.
-        must_be_32bit = true;
-      } else if (IsHighRegister(ad.GetRegisterOffset())) {
-        must_be_32bit = true;
-      }
+    CHECK_NE(ad.GetRegister(), PC);
+    if (ad.GetShiftCount() != 0) {
+      // If there is a shift count this must be 32 bit.
+      must_be_32bit = true;
+    } else if (IsHighRegister(ad.GetRegisterOffset())) {
+      must_be_32bit = true;
+    }
 
-      if (must_be_32bit) {
-        int32_t encoding = 0x1f << 27 | (load ? B20 : 0) | static_cast<uint32_t>(rd) << 12 |
-            ad.encodingThumb(true);
-        if (half) {
-          encoding |= B21;
-        } else if (!byte) {
-          encoding |= B22;
-        }
-        if (load && is_signed && (byte || half)) {
-          encoding |= B24;
-        }
-        Emit32(encoding);
-      } else {
-        // 16 bit register offset.
-        int32_t encoding = B14 | B12 | (load ? B11 : 0) | static_cast<uint32_t>(rd) |
-            ad.encodingThumb(false);
-        if (byte) {
-          encoding |= B10;
-        } else if (half) {
-          encoding |= B9;
-        }
-        Emit16(encoding);
+    if (must_be_32bit) {
+      int32_t encoding = 0x1f << 27 | (load ? B20 : 0) | static_cast<uint32_t>(rd) << 12 |
+          ad.encodingThumb(true);
+      if (half) {
+        encoding |= B21;
+      } else if (!byte) {
+        encoding |= B22;
       }
+      if (load && is_signed && (byte || half)) {
+        encoding |= B24;
+      }
+      Emit32(encoding);
+    } else {
+      // 16 bit register offset.
+      int32_t encoding = B14 | B12 | (load ? B11 : 0) | static_cast<uint32_t>(rd) |
+          ad.encodingThumb(false);
+      if (byte) {
+        encoding |= B10;
+      } else if (half) {
+        encoding |= B9;
+      }
+      Emit16(encoding);
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/compiler/utils/assembler_thumb_test.cc b/compiler/utils/assembler_thumb_test.cc
index 3b05173..86a4aa2 100644
--- a/compiler/utils/assembler_thumb_test.cc
+++ b/compiler/utils/assembler_thumb_test.cc
@@ -1245,22 +1245,6 @@
   EmitAndCheck(&assembler, "LoadStoreRegOffset");
 }
 
-TEST_F(Thumb2AssemblerTest, LoadStoreLiteral) {
-  __ ldr(R0, Address(4));
-  __ str(R0, Address(4));
-
-  __ ldr(R0, Address(-8));
-  __ str(R0, Address(-8));
-
-  // Limits.
-  __ ldr(R0, Address(0x3ff));       // 10 bits (16 bit).
-  __ ldr(R0, Address(0x7ff));       // 11 bits (32 bit).
-  __ str(R0, Address(0x3ff));       // 32 bit (no 16 bit str(literal)).
-  __ str(R0, Address(0x7ff));       // 11 bits (32 bit).
-
-  EmitAndCheck(&assembler, "LoadStoreLiteral");
-}
-
 TEST_F(Thumb2AssemblerTest, LoadStoreLimits) {
   __ ldr(R0, Address(R4, 124));     // 16 bit.
   __ ldr(R0, Address(R4, 128));     // 32 bit.
diff --git a/compiler/utils/assembler_thumb_test_expected.cc.inc b/compiler/utils/assembler_thumb_test_expected.cc.inc
index 81c6ec5..91f3970 100644
--- a/compiler/utils/assembler_thumb_test_expected.cc.inc
+++ b/compiler/utils/assembler_thumb_test_expected.cc.inc
@@ -5012,17 +5012,6 @@
   "  28:	f841 0008 	str.w	r0, [r1, r8]\n",
   nullptr
 };
-const char* const LoadStoreLiteralResults[] = {
-  "   0:   4801            ldr     r0, [pc, #4]    ; (8 <LoadStoreLiteral+0x8>)\n",
-  "   2:   f8cf 0004       str.w   r0, [pc, #4]    ; 8 <LoadStoreLiteral+0x8>\n",
-  "   6:   f85f 0008       ldr.w   r0, [pc, #-8]   ; 0 <LoadStoreLiteral>\n",
-  "   a:   f84f 0008       str.w   r0, [pc, #-8]   ; 4 <LoadStoreLiteral+0x4>\n",
-  "   e:   48ff            ldr     r0, [pc, #1020] ; (40c <LoadStoreLiteral+0x40c>)\n",
-  "  10:   f8df 07ff       ldr.w   r0, [pc, #2047] ; 813 <LoadStoreLiteral+0x813>\n",
-  "  14:   f8cf 03ff       str.w   r0, [pc, #1023] ; 417 <LoadStoreLiteral+0x417>\n",
-  "  18:   f8cf 07ff       str.w   r0, [pc, #2047] ; 81b <LoadStoreLiteral+0x81b>\n",
-  nullptr
-};
 const char* const LoadStoreLimitsResults[] = {
   "   0:   6fe0            ldr     r0, [r4, #124]  ; 0x7c\n",
   "   2:   f8d4 0080       ldr.w   r0, [r4, #128]  ; 0x80\n",
@@ -5708,7 +5697,6 @@
     test_results["MixedBranch32"] = MixedBranch32Results;
     test_results["Shifts"] = ShiftsResults;
     test_results["LoadStoreRegOffset"] = LoadStoreRegOffsetResults;
-    test_results["LoadStoreLiteral"] = LoadStoreLiteralResults;
     test_results["LoadStoreLimits"] = LoadStoreLimitsResults;
     test_results["CompareAndBranch"] = CompareAndBranchResults;
     test_results["AddConstant"] = AddConstantResults;
diff --git a/dex2oat/dex2oat.cc b/dex2oat/dex2oat.cc
index 1ddf961..abdbbb5 100644
--- a/dex2oat/dex2oat.cc
+++ b/dex2oat/dex2oat.cc
@@ -523,8 +523,6 @@
       compiled_methods_zip_filename_(nullptr),
       compiled_methods_filename_(nullptr),
       passes_to_run_filename_(nullptr),
-      app_image_(false),
-      boot_image_(false),
       multi_image_(false),
       is_host_(false),
       class_loader_(nullptr),
@@ -691,8 +689,8 @@
   }
 
   void ProcessOptions(ParserOptions* parser_options) {
-    boot_image_ = !image_filenames_.empty();
-    app_image_ = app_image_fd_ != -1 || !app_image_file_name_.empty();
+    compiler_options_->boot_image_ = !image_filenames_.empty();
+    compiler_options_->app_image_ = app_image_fd_ != -1 || !app_image_file_name_.empty();
 
     if (IsAppImage() && IsBootImage()) {
       Usage("Can't have both --image and (--app-image-fd or --app-image-file)");
@@ -744,7 +742,7 @@
       android_root_ += android_root_env_var;
     }
 
-    if (!boot_image_ && parser_options->boot_image_filename.empty()) {
+    if (!IsBootImage() && parser_options->boot_image_filename.empty()) {
       parser_options->boot_image_filename += android_root_;
       parser_options->boot_image_filename += "/framework/boot.art";
     }
@@ -1327,7 +1325,7 @@
   }
 
   void LoadClassProfileDescriptors() {
-    if (profile_compilation_info_ != nullptr && app_image_) {
+    if (profile_compilation_info_ != nullptr && IsAppImage()) {
       Runtime* runtime = Runtime::Current();
       CHECK(runtime != nullptr);
       std::set<DexCacheResolvedClasses> resolved_classes(
@@ -1634,8 +1632,6 @@
                                      compiler_kind_,
                                      instruction_set_,
                                      instruction_set_features_.get(),
-                                     IsBootImage(),
-                                     IsAppImage(),
                                      image_classes_.release(),
                                      compiled_classes_.release(),
                                      compiled_methods_.release(),
@@ -1726,7 +1722,7 @@
     }
 
     if (IsImage()) {
-      if (app_image_ && image_base_ == 0) {
+      if (IsAppImage() && image_base_ == 0) {
         gc::Heap* const heap = Runtime::Current()->GetHeap();
         for (gc::space::ImageSpace* image_space : heap->GetBootImageSpaces()) {
           image_base_ = std::max(image_base_, RoundUp(
@@ -1794,7 +1790,10 @@
 
         size_t rodata_size = oat_writer->GetOatHeader().GetExecutableOffset();
         size_t text_size = oat_writer->GetOatSize() - rodata_size;
-        elf_writer->SetLoadedSectionSizes(rodata_size, text_size, oat_writer->GetBssSize());
+        elf_writer->PrepareDynamicSection(rodata_size,
+                                          text_size,
+                                          oat_writer->GetBssSize(),
+                                          oat_writer->GetBssRootsOffset());
 
         if (IsImage()) {
           // Update oat layout.
@@ -1977,11 +1976,11 @@
   }
 
   bool IsAppImage() const {
-    return app_image_;
+    return compiler_options_->IsAppImage();
   }
 
   bool IsBootImage() const {
-    return boot_image_;
+    return compiler_options_->IsBootImage();
   }
 
   bool IsHost() const {
@@ -2575,8 +2574,6 @@
   std::unique_ptr<std::unordered_set<std::string>> compiled_classes_;
   std::unique_ptr<std::unordered_set<std::string>> compiled_methods_;
   std::unique_ptr<std::vector<std::string>> passes_to_run_;
-  bool app_image_;
-  bool boot_image_;
   bool multi_image_;
   bool is_host_;
   std::string android_root_;
diff --git a/oatdump/oatdump.cc b/oatdump/oatdump.cc
index 4d0dc56..fe31176 100644
--- a/oatdump/oatdump.cc
+++ b/oatdump/oatdump.cc
@@ -155,8 +155,11 @@
     if (isa == kMips || isa == kMips64) {
       builder_->WriteMIPSabiflagsSection();
     }
-    builder_->PrepareDynamicSection(
-        elf_file->GetPath(), rodata_size, text_size, oat_file_->BssSize());
+    builder_->PrepareDynamicSection(elf_file->GetPath(),
+                                    rodata_size,
+                                    text_size,
+                                    oat_file_->BssSize(),
+                                    oat_file_->BssRootsOffset());
     builder_->WriteDynamicSection();
 
     Walk();
diff --git a/runtime/class_table-inl.h b/runtime/class_table-inl.h
index d52365d..3e54a64 100644
--- a/runtime/class_table-inl.h
+++ b/runtime/class_table-inl.h
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 #define ART_RUNTIME_CLASS_TABLE_INL_H_
 
 #include "class_table.h"
+#include "oat_file.h"
 
 namespace art {
 
@@ -32,6 +33,11 @@
   for (GcRoot<mirror::Object>& root : strong_roots_) {
     visitor.VisitRoot(root.AddressWithoutBarrier());
   }
+  for (const OatFile* oat_file : oat_files_) {
+    for (GcRoot<mirror::Object>& root : oat_file->GetBssGcRoots()) {
+      visitor.VisitRootIfNonNull(root.AddressWithoutBarrier());
+    }
+  }
 }
 
 template<class Visitor>
@@ -45,6 +51,11 @@
   for (GcRoot<mirror::Object>& root : strong_roots_) {
     visitor.VisitRoot(root.AddressWithoutBarrier());
   }
+  for (const OatFile* oat_file : oat_files_) {
+    for (GcRoot<mirror::Object>& root : oat_file->GetBssGcRoots()) {
+      visitor.VisitRootIfNonNull(root.AddressWithoutBarrier());
+    }
+  }
 }
 
 template <typename Visitor>
diff --git a/runtime/class_table.cc b/runtime/class_table.cc
index 0600876..2ae7e8c 100644
--- a/runtime/class_table.cc
+++ b/runtime/class_table.cc
@@ -165,6 +165,16 @@
     }
   }
   strong_roots_.push_back(GcRoot<mirror::Object>(obj));
+  // If `obj` is a dex cache associated with a new oat file with GC roots, add it to oat_files_.
+  if (obj->IsDexCache()) {
+    const DexFile* dex_file = down_cast<mirror::DexCache*>(obj)->GetDexFile();
+    if (dex_file != nullptr && dex_file->GetOatDexFile() != nullptr) {
+      const OatFile* oat_file = dex_file->GetOatDexFile()->GetOatFile();
+      if (!oat_file->GetBssGcRoots().empty() && !ContainsElement(oat_files_, oat_file)) {
+        oat_files_.push_back(oat_file);
+      }
+    }
+  }
   return true;
 }
 
@@ -201,6 +211,7 @@
 
 void ClassTable::ClearStrongRoots() {
   WriterMutexLock mu(Thread::Current(), lock_);
+  oat_files_.clear();
   strong_roots_.clear();
 }
 }  // namespace art
diff --git a/runtime/class_table.h b/runtime/class_table.h
index 8c91806..acb15c7 100644
--- a/runtime/class_table.h
+++ b/runtime/class_table.h
@@ -32,6 +32,8 @@
 
 namespace art {
 
+class OatFile;
+
 namespace mirror {
   class ClassLoader;
 }  // namespace mirror
@@ -173,6 +175,8 @@
   // loader which may not be owned by the class loader must be held strongly live. Also dex caches
   // are held live to prevent them being unloading once they have classes in them.
   std::vector<GcRoot<mirror::Object>> strong_roots_ GUARDED_BY(lock_);
+  // Keep track of oat files with GC roots associated with dex caches in `strong_roots_`.
+  std::vector<const OatFile*> oat_files_ GUARDED_BY(lock_);
 
   friend class ImageWriter;  // for InsertWithoutLocks.
 };
diff --git a/runtime/entrypoints/quick/quick_dexcache_entrypoints.cc b/runtime/entrypoints/quick/quick_dexcache_entrypoints.cc
index 2cd0331..4311d19 100644
--- a/runtime/entrypoints/quick/quick_dexcache_entrypoints.cc
+++ b/runtime/entrypoints/quick/quick_dexcache_entrypoints.cc
@@ -18,10 +18,15 @@
 #include "callee_save_frame.h"
 #include "entrypoints/entrypoint_utils-inl.h"
 #include "class_linker-inl.h"
+#include "class_table-inl.h"
 #include "dex_file-inl.h"
-#include "gc/accounting/card_table-inl.h"
+#include "gc/heap.h"
+#include "mirror/class-inl.h"
+#include "mirror/class_loader.h"
 #include "mirror/object_array-inl.h"
 #include "mirror/object-inl.h"
+#include "oat_file.h"
+#include "runtime.h"
 
 namespace art {
 
@@ -56,7 +61,20 @@
     REQUIRES_SHARED(Locks::mutator_lock_) {
   ScopedQuickEntrypointChecks sqec(self);
   auto* caller = GetCalleeSaveMethodCaller(self, Runtime::kSaveRefsOnly);
-  return ResolveStringFromCode(caller, string_idx);
+  mirror::String* result = ResolveStringFromCode(caller, string_idx);
+  if (LIKELY(result != nullptr)) {
+    // For AOT code, we need a write barrier for the dex cache that holds the GC roots in the .bss.
+    const DexFile* dex_file = caller->GetDexFile();
+    if (dex_file != nullptr &&
+        dex_file->GetOatDexFile() != nullptr &&
+        !dex_file->GetOatDexFile()->GetOatFile()->GetBssGcRoots().empty()) {
+      mirror::ClassLoader* class_loader = caller->GetDeclaringClass()->GetClassLoader();
+      // Note that we emit the barrier before the compiled code stores the string as GC root.
+      // This is OK as there is no suspend point point in between.
+      Runtime::Current()->GetHeap()->WriteBarrierEveryFieldOf(class_loader);
+    }
+  }
+  return result;
 }
 
 }  // namespace art
diff --git a/runtime/oat_file.cc b/runtime/oat_file.cc
index ea692cd..5f37b82 100644
--- a/runtime/oat_file.cc
+++ b/runtime/oat_file.cc
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@
 #include "base/unix_file/fd_file.h"
 #include "elf_file.h"
 #include "elf_utils.h"
+#include "gc_root.h"
 #include "oat.h"
 #include "mem_map.h"
 #include "mirror/class.h"
@@ -239,6 +240,8 @@
     }
     // Readjust to be non-inclusive upper bound.
     bss_end_ += sizeof(uint32_t);
+    // Find bss roots if present.
+    bss_roots_ = const_cast<uint8_t*>(FindDynamicSymbolAddress("oatbssroots", &symbol_error_msg));
   }
 
   return true;
@@ -291,8 +294,31 @@
     return false;
   }
 
+  if (!IsAligned<alignof(GcRoot<mirror::Object>)>(bss_begin_) ||
+      !IsAligned<alignof(GcRoot<mirror::Object>)>(bss_roots_) ||
+      !IsAligned<alignof(GcRoot<mirror::Object>)>(bss_end_)) {
+    *error_msg = StringPrintf("In oat file '%s' found unaligned bss symbol(s): "
+                                  "begin = %p, roots = %p, end = %p",
+                              GetLocation().c_str(),
+                              bss_begin_,
+                              bss_roots_,
+                              bss_end_);
+    return false;
+  }
+
+  if (bss_roots_ != nullptr && (bss_roots_ < bss_begin_ || bss_roots_ > bss_end_)) {
+    *error_msg = StringPrintf("In oat file '%s' found bss roots outside .bss: "
+                                  "%p is outside range [%p, %p]",
+                              GetLocation().c_str(),
+                              bss_roots_,
+                              bss_begin_,
+                              bss_end_);
+    return false;
+  }
+
   PointerSize pointer_size = GetInstructionSetPointerSize(GetOatHeader().GetInstructionSet());
   uint8_t* dex_cache_arrays = bss_begin_;
+  uint8_t* dex_cache_arrays_end = (bss_roots_ != nullptr) ? bss_roots_ : bss_end_;
   uint32_t dex_file_count = GetOatHeader().GetDexFileCount();
   oat_dex_files_storage_.reserve(dex_file_count);
   for (size_t i = 0; i < dex_file_count; i++) {
@@ -469,13 +495,13 @@
     if (dex_cache_arrays != nullptr) {
       DexCacheArraysLayout layout(pointer_size, *header);
       if (layout.Size() != 0u) {
-        if (static_cast<size_t>(bss_end_ - dex_cache_arrays) < layout.Size()) {
+        if (static_cast<size_t>(dex_cache_arrays_end - dex_cache_arrays) < layout.Size()) {
           *error_msg = StringPrintf("In oat file '%s' found OatDexFile #%zu for '%s' with "
                                         "truncated dex cache arrays, %zu < %zu.",
                                     GetLocation().c_str(),
                                     i,
                                     dex_file_location.c_str(),
-                                    static_cast<size_t>(bss_end_ - dex_cache_arrays),
+                                    static_cast<size_t>(dex_cache_arrays_end - dex_cache_arrays),
                                     layout.Size());
           return false;
         }
@@ -506,9 +532,9 @@
     }
   }
 
-  if (dex_cache_arrays != bss_end_) {
+  if (dex_cache_arrays != dex_cache_arrays_end) {
     // We expect the bss section to be either empty (dex_cache_arrays and bss_end_
-    // both null) or contain just the dex cache arrays and nothing else.
+    // both null) or contain just the dex cache arrays and optionally some GC roots.
     *error_msg = StringPrintf("In oat file '%s' found unexpected bss size bigger by %zu bytes.",
                               GetLocation().c_str(),
                               static_cast<size_t>(bss_end_ - dex_cache_arrays));
@@ -1082,6 +1108,7 @@
       end_(nullptr),
       bss_begin_(nullptr),
       bss_end_(nullptr),
+      bss_roots_(nullptr),
       is_executable_(is_executable),
       secondary_lookup_lock_("OatFile secondary lookup lock", kOatFileSecondaryLookupLock) {
   CHECK(!location_.empty());
@@ -1121,6 +1148,16 @@
   return kIsVdexEnabled ? vdex_->End() : End();
 }
 
+ArrayRef<GcRoot<mirror::Object>> OatFile::GetBssGcRoots() const {
+  if (bss_roots_ != nullptr) {
+    auto* roots = reinterpret_cast<GcRoot<mirror::Object>*>(bss_roots_);
+    auto* roots_end = reinterpret_cast<GcRoot<mirror::Object>*>(bss_end_);
+    return ArrayRef<GcRoot<mirror::Object>>(roots, roots_end - roots);
+  } else {
+    return ArrayRef<GcRoot<mirror::Object>>();
+  }
+}
+
 const OatFile::OatDexFile* OatFile::GetOatDexFile(const char* dex_location,
                                                   const uint32_t* dex_location_checksum,
                                                   std::string* error_msg) const {
diff --git a/runtime/oat_file.h b/runtime/oat_file.h
index a61b941..c3188cb 100644
--- a/runtime/oat_file.h
+++ b/runtime/oat_file.h
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 #include <string>
 #include <vector>
 
+#include "base/array_ref.h"
 #include "base/mutex.h"
 #include "base/stringpiece.h"
 #include "dex_file.h"
@@ -38,6 +39,7 @@
 
 class BitVector;
 class ElfFile;
+template <class MirrorType> class GcRoot;
 class MemMap;
 class OatMethodOffsets;
 class OatHeader;
@@ -253,6 +255,10 @@
     return BssEnd() - BssBegin();
   }
 
+  size_t BssRootsOffset() const {
+    return bss_roots_ - BssBegin();
+  }
+
   size_t DexSize() const {
     return DexEnd() - DexBegin();
   }
@@ -266,6 +272,8 @@
   const uint8_t* DexBegin() const;
   const uint8_t* DexEnd() const;
 
+  ArrayRef<GcRoot<mirror::Object>> GetBssGcRoots() const;
+
   // Returns the absolute dex location for the encoded relative dex location.
   //
   // If not null, abs_dex_location is used to resolve the absolute dex
@@ -314,6 +322,9 @@
   // Pointer to the end of the .bss section, if present, otherwise null.
   uint8_t* bss_end_;
 
+  // Pointer to the beginning of the GC roots in .bss section, if present, otherwise null.
+  uint8_t* bss_roots_;
+
   // Was this oat_file loaded executable?
   const bool is_executable_;
 
diff --git a/test/552-checker-sharpening/src/Main.java b/test/552-checker-sharpening/src/Main.java
index 2232ff4..3c053cf 100644
--- a/test/552-checker-sharpening/src/Main.java
+++ b/test/552-checker-sharpening/src/Main.java
@@ -285,31 +285,27 @@
   /// CHECK:                LoadString load_kind:DexCacheViaMethod
 
   /// CHECK-START-X86: java.lang.String Main.$noinline$getNonBootImageString() sharpening (after)
-  /// CHECK:                LoadString load_kind:DexCachePcRelative
+  /// CHECK:                LoadString load_kind:BssEntry
 
   /// CHECK-START-X86: java.lang.String Main.$noinline$getNonBootImageString() pc_relative_fixups_x86 (after)
   /// CHECK-DAG:            X86ComputeBaseMethodAddress
-  /// CHECK-DAG:            LoadString load_kind:DexCachePcRelative
+  /// CHECK-DAG:            LoadString load_kind:BssEntry
 
   /// CHECK-START-X86_64: java.lang.String Main.$noinline$getNonBootImageString() sharpening (after)
-  /// CHECK:                LoadString load_kind:DexCachePcRelative
+  /// CHECK:                LoadString load_kind:BssEntry
 
   /// CHECK-START-ARM: java.lang.String Main.$noinline$getNonBootImageString() sharpening (after)
-  /// CHECK:                LoadString load_kind:DexCachePcRelative
-
-  /// CHECK-START-ARM: java.lang.String Main.$noinline$getNonBootImageString() dex_cache_array_fixups_arm (after)
-  /// CHECK-DAG:            ArmDexCacheArraysBase
-  /// CHECK-DAG:            LoadString load_kind:DexCachePcRelative
+  /// CHECK:                LoadString load_kind:BssEntry
 
   /// CHECK-START-ARM64: java.lang.String Main.$noinline$getNonBootImageString() sharpening (after)
-  /// CHECK:                LoadString load_kind:DexCachePcRelative
+  /// CHECK:                LoadString load_kind:BssEntry
 
   /// CHECK-START-MIPS: java.lang.String Main.$noinline$getNonBootImageString() sharpening (after)
-  /// CHECK:                LoadString load_kind:DexCachePcRelative
+  /// CHECK:                LoadString load_kind:BssEntry
 
-  /// CHECK-START-MIPS: java.lang.String Main.$noinline$getNonBootImageString() dex_cache_array_fixups_mips (after)
-  /// CHECK-DAG:            MipsDexCacheArraysBase
-  /// CHECK-DAG:            LoadString load_kind:DexCachePcRelative
+  /// CHECK-START-MIPS: java.lang.String Main.$noinline$getNonBootImageString() pc_relative_fixups_mips (after)
+  /// CHECK-DAG:            MipsComputeBaseMethodAddress
+  /// CHECK-DAG:            LoadString load_kind:BssEntry
 
   public static String $noinline$getNonBootImageString() {
     // Prevent inlining to avoid the string comparison being optimized away.
diff --git a/test/Android.run-test.mk b/test/Android.run-test.mk
index 33108dd..6464321 100644
--- a/test/Android.run-test.mk
+++ b/test/Android.run-test.mk
@@ -233,11 +233,9 @@
 
 # Disable 149-suspend-all-stress, its output is flaky (b/28988206).
 # Disable 577-profile-foreign-dex (b/27454772).
-# Disable 552-checker-sharpening, until compiler component of new string dex cache is added (@cwadsworth, @vmarko)
 TEST_ART_BROKEN_ALL_TARGET_TESTS := \
   149-suspend-all-stress \
   577-profile-foreign-dex \
-  552-checker-sharpening \
 
 ART_TEST_KNOWN_BROKEN += $(call all-run-test-names,$(TARGET_TYPES),$(RUN_TYPES),$(PREBUILD_TYPES), \
     $(COMPILER_TYPES), $(RELOCATE_TYPES),$(TRACE_TYPES),$(GC_TYPES),$(JNI_TYPES), \