diff --git a/oatdump/oatdump.cc b/oatdump/oatdump.cc
index 75bc49b..2114ada 100644
--- a/oatdump/oatdump.cc
+++ b/oatdump/oatdump.cc
@@ -427,12 +427,13 @@
       Runtime* runtime = Runtime::Current();
       if (runtime != nullptr) {
         ScopedObjectAccess soa(Thread::Current());
-        StackHandleScope<1> hs(soa.Self());
+        StackHandleScope<2> hs(soa.Self());
         Handle<mirror::DexCache> dex_cache(
             hs.NewHandle(runtime->GetClassLinker()->FindDexCache(dex_file)));
         NullHandle<mirror::ClassLoader> class_loader;
+        Handle<mirror::ArtMethod> method(hs.NewHandle<mirror::ArtMethod>(nullptr));
         verifier::MethodVerifier verifier(&dex_file, &dex_cache, &class_loader, &class_def,
-                                          code_item, dex_method_idx, nullptr, method_access_flags,
+                                          code_item, dex_method_idx, method, method_access_flags,
                                           true, true, true);
         verifier.Verify();
         DumpCode(*indent2_os, &verifier, oat_method, code_item);
@@ -698,12 +699,13 @@
                     uint32_t method_access_flags) {
     if ((method_access_flags & kAccNative) == 0) {
       ScopedObjectAccess soa(Thread::Current());
-      StackHandleScope<2> hs(soa.Self());
+      StackHandleScope<3> hs(soa.Self());
       Handle<mirror::DexCache> dex_cache(
           hs.NewHandle(Runtime::Current()->GetClassLinker()->FindDexCache(*dex_file)));
       auto class_loader(hs.NewHandle<mirror::ClassLoader>(nullptr));
+      Handle<mirror::ArtMethod> method(hs.NewHandle<mirror::ArtMethod>(nullptr));
       verifier::MethodVerifier::VerifyMethodAndDump(os, dex_method_idx, dex_file, dex_cache,
-                                                    class_loader, &class_def, code_item, nullptr,
+                                                    class_loader, &class_def, code_item, method,
                                                     method_access_flags);
     }
   }
diff --git a/runtime/debugger.cc b/runtime/debugger.cc
index 6d2f21e..5b00a37 100644
--- a/runtime/debugger.cc
+++ b/runtime/debugger.cc
@@ -3031,12 +3031,13 @@
     // should never be null. We could just check we never encounter this case.
     return false;
   }
-  StackHandleScope<2> hs(self);
+  StackHandleScope<3> hs(self);
   mirror::Class* declaring_class = m->GetDeclaringClass();
   Handle<mirror::DexCache> dex_cache(hs.NewHandle(declaring_class->GetDexCache()));
   Handle<mirror::ClassLoader> class_loader(hs.NewHandle(declaring_class->GetClassLoader()));
+  Handle<mirror::ArtMethod> method(hs.NewHandle(m));
   verifier::MethodVerifier verifier(dex_cache->GetDexFile(), &dex_cache, &class_loader,
-                                    &m->GetClassDef(), code_item, m->GetDexMethodIndex(), m,
+                                    &m->GetClassDef(), code_item, m->GetDexMethodIndex(), method,
                                     m->GetAccessFlags(), false, true, false);
   // Note: we don't need to verify the method.
   return InlineMethodAnalyser::AnalyseMethodCode(&verifier, nullptr);
diff --git a/runtime/quick_exception_handler.cc b/runtime/quick_exception_handler.cc
index 98eeda7..1e933a2 100644
--- a/runtime/quick_exception_handler.cc
+++ b/runtime/quick_exception_handler.cc
@@ -206,12 +206,13 @@
     const Instruction* inst = Instruction::At(code_item->insns_ + dex_pc);
     uint32_t new_dex_pc = dex_pc + inst->SizeInCodeUnits();
     ShadowFrame* new_frame = ShadowFrame::Create(num_regs, nullptr, m, new_dex_pc);
-    StackHandleScope<2> hs(self_);
+    StackHandleScope<3> hs(self_);
     mirror::Class* declaring_class = m->GetDeclaringClass();
     Handle<mirror::DexCache> h_dex_cache(hs.NewHandle(declaring_class->GetDexCache()));
     Handle<mirror::ClassLoader> h_class_loader(hs.NewHandle(declaring_class->GetClassLoader()));
+    Handle<mirror::ArtMethod> h_method(hs.NewHandle(m));
     verifier::MethodVerifier verifier(h_dex_cache->GetDexFile(), &h_dex_cache, &h_class_loader,
-                                      &m->GetClassDef(), code_item, m->GetDexMethodIndex(), m,
+                                      &m->GetClassDef(), code_item, m->GetDexMethodIndex(), h_method,
                                       m->GetAccessFlags(), false, true, true);
     verifier.Verify();
     const std::vector<int32_t> kinds(verifier.DescribeVRegs(dex_pc));
diff --git a/runtime/verifier/method_verifier.cc b/runtime/verifier/method_verifier.cc
index 69627f5..e2a3335 100644
--- a/runtime/verifier/method_verifier.cc
+++ b/runtime/verifier/method_verifier.cc
@@ -138,6 +138,7 @@
   while (it.HasNextStaticField() || it.HasNextInstanceField()) {
     it.Next();
   }
+  Thread* self = Thread::Current();
   size_t error_count = 0;
   bool hard_fail = false;
   ClassLinker* linker = Runtime::Current()->GetClassLinker();
@@ -156,17 +157,19 @@
         linker->ResolveMethod(*dex_file, method_idx, dex_cache, class_loader,
                               NullHandle<mirror::ArtMethod>(), type);
     if (method == NULL) {
-      DCHECK(Thread::Current()->IsExceptionPending());
+      DCHECK(self->IsExceptionPending());
       // We couldn't resolve the method, but continue regardless.
-      Thread::Current()->ClearException();
+      self->ClearException();
     }
+    StackHandleScope<1> hs(self);
+    Handle<mirror::ArtMethod> h_method(hs.NewHandle(method));
     MethodVerifier::FailureKind result = VerifyMethod(method_idx,
                                                       dex_file,
                                                       dex_cache,
                                                       class_loader,
                                                       class_def,
                                                       it.GetMethodCodeItem(),
-                                                      method,
+                                                      h_method,
                                                       it.GetMemberAccessFlags(),
                                                       allow_soft_failures,
                                                       false);
@@ -200,17 +203,19 @@
         linker->ResolveMethod(*dex_file, method_idx, dex_cache, class_loader,
                               NullHandle<mirror::ArtMethod>(), type);
     if (method == NULL) {
-      DCHECK(Thread::Current()->IsExceptionPending());
+      DCHECK(self->IsExceptionPending());
       // We couldn't resolve the method, but continue regardless.
-      Thread::Current()->ClearException();
+      self->ClearException();
     }
+    StackHandleScope<1> hs(self);
+    Handle<mirror::ArtMethod> h_method(hs.NewHandle(method));
     MethodVerifier::FailureKind result = VerifyMethod(method_idx,
                                                       dex_file,
                                                       dex_cache,
                                                       class_loader,
                                                       class_def,
                                                       it.GetMethodCodeItem(),
-                                                      method,
+                                                      h_method,
                                                       it.GetMemberAccessFlags(),
                                                       allow_soft_failures,
                                                       false);
@@ -242,7 +247,7 @@
                                                          Handle<mirror::ClassLoader> class_loader,
                                                          const DexFile::ClassDef* class_def,
                                                          const DexFile::CodeItem* code_item,
-                                                         mirror::ArtMethod* method,
+                                                         Handle<mirror::ArtMethod> method,
                                                          uint32_t method_access_flags,
                                                          bool allow_soft_failures,
                                                          bool need_precise_constants) {
@@ -250,8 +255,8 @@
   uint64_t start_ns = NanoTime();
 
   MethodVerifier verifier(dex_file, &dex_cache, &class_loader, class_def, code_item,
-                           method_idx, method, method_access_flags, true, allow_soft_failures,
-                           need_precise_constants);
+                          method_idx, method, method_access_flags, true, allow_soft_failures,
+                          need_precise_constants);
   if (verifier.Verify()) {
     // Verification completed, however failures may be pending that didn't cause the verification
     // to hard fail.
@@ -289,7 +294,7 @@
                                          Handle<mirror::ClassLoader> class_loader,
                                          const DexFile::ClassDef* class_def,
                                          const DexFile::CodeItem* code_item,
-                                         mirror::ArtMethod* method,
+                                         Handle<mirror::ArtMethod> method,
                                          uint32_t method_access_flags) {
   MethodVerifier verifier(dex_file, &dex_cache, &class_loader, class_def, code_item,
                           dex_method_idx, method, method_access_flags, true, true, true);
@@ -303,7 +308,7 @@
                                Handle<mirror::ClassLoader>* class_loader,
                                const DexFile::ClassDef* class_def,
                                const DexFile::CodeItem* code_item, uint32_t dex_method_idx,
-                               mirror::ArtMethod* method, uint32_t method_access_flags,
+                               Handle<mirror::ArtMethod> method, uint32_t method_access_flags,
                                bool can_load_classes, bool allow_soft_failures,
                                bool need_precise_constants)
     : reg_types_(can_load_classes),
@@ -340,12 +345,13 @@
 
 void MethodVerifier::FindLocksAtDexPc(mirror::ArtMethod* m, uint32_t dex_pc,
                                       std::vector<uint32_t>* monitor_enter_dex_pcs) {
-  StackHandleScope<2> hs(Thread::Current());
+  StackHandleScope<3> hs(Thread::Current());
   Handle<mirror::DexCache> dex_cache(hs.NewHandle(m->GetDexCache()));
   Handle<mirror::ClassLoader> class_loader(hs.NewHandle(m->GetClassLoader()));
+  Handle<mirror::ArtMethod> method(hs.NewHandle(m));
   MethodVerifier verifier(m->GetDexFile(), &dex_cache, &class_loader, &m->GetClassDef(),
-                          m->GetCodeItem(), m->GetDexMethodIndex(), m, m->GetAccessFlags(), false,
-                          true, false);
+                          m->GetCodeItem(), m->GetDexMethodIndex(), method, m->GetAccessFlags(),
+                          false, true, false);
   verifier.interesting_dex_pc_ = dex_pc;
   verifier.monitor_enter_dex_pcs_ = monitor_enter_dex_pcs;
   verifier.FindLocksAtDexPc();
@@ -364,12 +370,13 @@
 
 mirror::ArtField* MethodVerifier::FindAccessedFieldAtDexPc(mirror::ArtMethod* m,
                                                            uint32_t dex_pc) {
-  StackHandleScope<2> hs(Thread::Current());
+  StackHandleScope<3> hs(Thread::Current());
   Handle<mirror::DexCache> dex_cache(hs.NewHandle(m->GetDexCache()));
   Handle<mirror::ClassLoader> class_loader(hs.NewHandle(m->GetClassLoader()));
+  Handle<mirror::ArtMethod> method(hs.NewHandle(m));
   MethodVerifier verifier(m->GetDexFile(), &dex_cache, &class_loader, &m->GetClassDef(),
-                          m->GetCodeItem(), m->GetDexMethodIndex(), m, m->GetAccessFlags(), true,
-                          true, false);
+                          m->GetCodeItem(), m->GetDexMethodIndex(), method, m->GetAccessFlags(),
+                          true, true, false);
   return verifier.FindAccessedFieldAtDexPc(dex_pc);
 }
 
@@ -394,12 +401,13 @@
 
 mirror::ArtMethod* MethodVerifier::FindInvokedMethodAtDexPc(mirror::ArtMethod* m,
                                                             uint32_t dex_pc) {
-  StackHandleScope<2> hs(Thread::Current());
+  StackHandleScope<3> hs(Thread::Current());
   Handle<mirror::DexCache> dex_cache(hs.NewHandle(m->GetDexCache()));
   Handle<mirror::ClassLoader> class_loader(hs.NewHandle(m->GetClassLoader()));
+  Handle<mirror::ArtMethod> method(hs.NewHandle(m));
   MethodVerifier verifier(m->GetDexFile(), &dex_cache, &class_loader, &m->GetClassDef(),
-                          m->GetCodeItem(), m->GetDexMethodIndex(), m, m->GetAccessFlags(), true,
-                          true, false);
+                          m->GetCodeItem(), m->GetDexMethodIndex(), method, m->GetAccessFlags(),
+                          true, true, false);
   return verifier.FindInvokedMethodAtDexPc(dex_pc);
 }
 
@@ -4017,14 +4025,10 @@
 
 RegType& MethodVerifier::GetMethodReturnType() {
   if (return_type_ == nullptr) {
-    if (mirror_method_ != NULL) {
+    if (mirror_method_.Get() != nullptr) {
       Thread* self = Thread::Current();
-      StackHandleScope<1> hs(self);
       mirror::Class* return_type_class;
-      {
-        HandleWrapper<mirror::ArtMethod> h_mirror_method(hs.NewHandleWrapper(&mirror_method_));
-        return_type_class = MethodHelper(h_mirror_method).GetReturnType(can_load_classes_);
-      }
+      return_type_class = MethodHelper(mirror_method_).GetReturnType(can_load_classes_);
       if (return_type_class != nullptr) {
         return_type_ = &reg_types_.FromClass(mirror_method_->GetReturnTypeDescriptor(),
                                              return_type_class,
@@ -4050,7 +4054,7 @@
     const DexFile::MethodId& method_id = dex_file_->GetMethodId(dex_method_idx_);
     const char* descriptor
         = dex_file_->GetTypeDescriptor(dex_file_->GetTypeId(method_id.class_idx_));
-    if (mirror_method_ != NULL) {
+    if (mirror_method_.Get() != nullptr) {
       mirror::Class* klass = mirror_method_->GetDeclaringClass();
       declaring_class_ = &reg_types_.FromClass(descriptor, klass,
                                                klass->CannotBeAssignedFromOtherTypes());
diff --git a/runtime/verifier/method_verifier.h b/runtime/verifier/method_verifier.h
index e63a90c..78cbe06 100644
--- a/runtime/verifier/method_verifier.h
+++ b/runtime/verifier/method_verifier.h
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 #include "class_reference.h"
 #include "dex_file.h"
 #include "dex_instruction.h"
+#include "handle.h"
 #include "instruction_flags.h"
 #include "method_reference.h"
 #include "reg_type.h"
@@ -152,7 +153,7 @@
                                   Handle<mirror::ClassLoader> class_loader,
                                   const DexFile::ClassDef* class_def,
                                   const DexFile::CodeItem* code_item,
-                                  mirror::ArtMethod* method, uint32_t method_access_flags)
+                                  Handle<mirror::ArtMethod> method, uint32_t method_access_flags)
       SHARED_LOCKS_REQUIRED(Locks::mutator_lock_);
 
   uint8_t EncodePcToReferenceMapData() const;
@@ -203,7 +204,7 @@
 
   MethodVerifier(const DexFile* dex_file, Handle<mirror::DexCache>* dex_cache,
                  Handle<mirror::ClassLoader>* class_loader, const DexFile::ClassDef* class_def,
-                 const DexFile::CodeItem* code_item, uint32_t method_idx, mirror::ArtMethod* method,
+                 const DexFile::CodeItem* code_item, uint32_t method_idx, Handle<mirror::ArtMethod> method,
                  uint32_t access_flags, bool can_load_classes, bool allow_soft_failures,
                  bool need_precise_constants)
           SHARED_LOCKS_REQUIRED(Locks::mutator_lock_);
@@ -256,7 +257,7 @@
                                   Handle<mirror::ClassLoader> class_loader,
                                   const DexFile::ClassDef* class_def_idx,
                                   const DexFile::CodeItem* code_item,
-                                  mirror::ArtMethod* method, uint32_t method_access_flags,
+                                  Handle<mirror::ArtMethod> method, uint32_t method_access_flags,
                                   bool allow_soft_failures, bool need_precise_constants)
           SHARED_LOCKS_REQUIRED(Locks::mutator_lock_);
 
@@ -639,7 +640,7 @@
 
   const uint32_t dex_method_idx_;  // The method we're working on.
   // Its object representation if known.
-  mirror::ArtMethod* mirror_method_ GUARDED_BY(Locks::mutator_lock_);
+  Handle<mirror::ArtMethod> mirror_method_ GUARDED_BY(Locks::mutator_lock_);
   const uint32_t method_access_flags_;  // Method's access flags.
   RegType* return_type_;  // Lazily computed return type of the method.
   const DexFile* const dex_file_;  // The dex file containing the method.