diff --git a/compiler/driver/compiler_driver.cc b/compiler/driver/compiler_driver.cc
index 5adb792..54397f5 100644
--- a/compiler/driver/compiler_driver.cc
+++ b/compiler/driver/compiler_driver.cc
@@ -447,13 +447,12 @@
 }
 
 static DexToDexCompilationLevel GetDexToDexCompilationlevel(
-    SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader>& class_loader, const DexFile& dex_file,
+    Thread* self, SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader>& class_loader, const DexFile& dex_file,
     const DexFile::ClassDef& class_def) SHARED_LOCKS_REQUIRED(Locks::mutator_lock_) {
   const char* descriptor = dex_file.GetClassDescriptor(class_def);
   ClassLinker* class_linker = Runtime::Current()->GetClassLinker();
-  mirror::Class* klass = class_linker->FindClass(descriptor, class_loader);
+  mirror::Class* klass = class_linker->FindClass(self, descriptor, class_loader);
   if (klass == NULL) {
-    Thread* self = Thread::Current();
     CHECK(self->IsExceptionPending());
     self->ClearException();
     return kDontDexToDexCompile;
@@ -515,7 +514,8 @@
     const DexFile::ClassDef& class_def = dex_file->GetClassDef(class_def_idx);
     SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader> class_loader(soa.Self(),
                                               soa.Decode<mirror::ClassLoader*>(jclass_loader));
-    dex_to_dex_compilation_level = GetDexToDexCompilationlevel(class_loader, *dex_file, class_def);
+    dex_to_dex_compilation_level = GetDexToDexCompilationlevel(self, class_loader, *dex_file,
+                                                               class_def);
   }
   CompileMethod(code_item, access_flags, invoke_type, class_def_idx, method_idx, jclass_loader,
                 *dex_file, dex_to_dex_compilation_level);
@@ -633,7 +633,7 @@
   ClassLinker* class_linker = Runtime::Current()->GetClassLinker();
   for (auto it = image_classes_->begin(), end = image_classes_->end(); it != end;) {
     const std::string& descriptor(*it);
-    SirtRef<mirror::Class> klass(self, class_linker->FindSystemClass(descriptor.c_str()));
+    SirtRef<mirror::Class> klass(self, class_linker->FindSystemClass(self, descriptor.c_str()));
     if (klass.get() == NULL) {
       VLOG(compiler) << "Failed to find class " << descriptor;
       image_classes_->erase(it++);
@@ -648,7 +648,7 @@
   // Do this here so that exception classes appear to have been specified image classes.
   std::set<std::pair<uint16_t, const DexFile*> > unresolved_exception_types;
   SirtRef<mirror::Class> java_lang_Throwable(self,
-                                     class_linker->FindSystemClass("Ljava/lang/Throwable;"));
+                                     class_linker->FindSystemClass(self, "Ljava/lang/Throwable;"));
   do {
     unresolved_exception_types.clear();
     class_linker->VisitClasses(ResolveCatchBlockExceptionsClassVisitor,
@@ -1661,7 +1661,8 @@
   jobject jclass_loader = manager->GetClassLoader();
   SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader> class_loader(
       soa.Self(), soa.Decode<mirror::ClassLoader*>(jclass_loader));
-  SirtRef<mirror::Class> klass(soa.Self(), class_linker->FindClass(descriptor, class_loader));
+  SirtRef<mirror::Class> klass(soa.Self(), class_linker->FindClass(soa.Self(), descriptor,
+                                                                   class_loader));
   if (klass.get() == nullptr) {
     CHECK(soa.Self()->IsExceptionPending());
     soa.Self()->ClearException();
@@ -1716,7 +1717,8 @@
   SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader> class_loader(soa.Self(),
                                             soa.Decode<mirror::ClassLoader*>(jclass_loader));
   SirtRef<mirror::Class> klass(soa.Self(),
-                               manager->GetClassLinker()->FindClass(descriptor, class_loader));
+                               manager->GetClassLinker()->FindClass(soa.Self(), descriptor,
+                                                                    class_loader));
 
   if (klass.get() != nullptr && !SkipClass(jclass_loader, dex_file, klass.get())) {
     // Only try to initialize classes that were successfully verified.
@@ -1861,7 +1863,8 @@
     ScopedObjectAccess soa(Thread::Current());
     SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader> class_loader(soa.Self(),
                                               soa.Decode<mirror::ClassLoader*>(jclass_loader));
-    dex_to_dex_compilation_level = GetDexToDexCompilationlevel(class_loader, dex_file, class_def);
+    dex_to_dex_compilation_level = GetDexToDexCompilationlevel(soa.Self(), class_loader, dex_file,
+                                                               class_def);
   }
   ClassDataItemIterator it(dex_file, class_data);
   // Skip fields
diff --git a/compiler/driver/compiler_driver_test.cc b/compiler/driver/compiler_driver_test.cc
index 0d0c204..ec0a8bd 100644
--- a/compiler/driver/compiler_driver_test.cc
+++ b/compiler/driver/compiler_driver_test.cc
@@ -79,9 +79,8 @@
       const DexFile::ClassDef& class_def = dex_file.GetClassDef(i);
       const char* descriptor = dex_file.GetClassDescriptor(class_def);
       ScopedObjectAccess soa(Thread::Current());
-      Thread* self = Thread::Current();
-      SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader> loader(self, soa.Decode<mirror::ClassLoader*>(class_loader));
-      mirror::Class* c = class_linker->FindClass(descriptor, loader);
+      SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader> loader(soa.Self(), soa.Decode<mirror::ClassLoader*>(class_loader));
+      mirror::Class* c = class_linker->FindClass(soa.Self(), descriptor, loader);
       CHECK(c != NULL);
       for (size_t i = 0; i < c->NumDirectMethods(); i++) {
         MakeExecutable(c->GetDirectMethod(i));
diff --git a/compiler/image_test.cc b/compiler/image_test.cc
index 3406fe6..49cabdc 100644
--- a/compiler/image_test.cc
+++ b/compiler/image_test.cc
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@
   for (size_t i = 0; i < dex->NumClassDefs(); ++i) {
     const DexFile::ClassDef& class_def = dex->GetClassDef(i);
     const char* descriptor = dex->GetClassDescriptor(class_def);
-    mirror::Class* klass = class_linker_->FindSystemClass(descriptor);
+    mirror::Class* klass = class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(), descriptor);
     EXPECT_TRUE(klass != nullptr) << descriptor;
     if (image_classes.find(descriptor) != image_classes.end()) {
       // Image classes should be located inside the image.
diff --git a/compiler/image_writer.cc b/compiler/image_writer.cc
index 58f66b9..c8447be 100644
--- a/compiler/image_writer.cc
+++ b/compiler/image_writer.cc
@@ -401,7 +401,8 @@
   Runtime* runtime = Runtime::Current();
   ClassLinker* class_linker = runtime->GetClassLinker();
   Thread* self = Thread::Current();
-  SirtRef<Class> object_array_class(self, class_linker->FindSystemClass("[Ljava/lang/Object;"));
+  SirtRef<Class> object_array_class(self, class_linker->FindSystemClass(self,
+                                                                        "[Ljava/lang/Object;"));
 
   // build an Object[] of all the DexCaches used in the source_space_
   ObjectArray<Object>* dex_caches = ObjectArray<Object>::Alloc(self, object_array_class.get(),
diff --git a/compiler/jni/jni_compiler_test.cc b/compiler/jni/jni_compiler_test.cc
index c77d319..1bdff37 100644
--- a/compiler/jni/jni_compiler_test.cc
+++ b/compiler/jni/jni_compiler_test.cc
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@
     ScopedObjectAccess soa(Thread::Current());
     SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader> loader(soa.Self(), soa.Decode<mirror::ClassLoader*>(class_loader));
     // Compile the native method before starting the runtime
-    mirror::Class* c = class_linker_->FindClass("LMyClassNatives;", loader);
+    mirror::Class* c = class_linker_->FindClass(soa.Self(), "LMyClassNatives;", loader);
     mirror::ArtMethod* method;
     if (direct) {
       method = c->FindDirectMethod(method_name, method_sig);
diff --git a/compiler/oat_test.cc b/compiler/oat_test.cc
index 10d2c5c..e9c77d1 100644
--- a/compiler/oat_test.cc
+++ b/compiler/oat_test.cc
@@ -150,8 +150,8 @@
       num_virtual_methods = it.NumVirtualMethods();
     }
     const char* descriptor = dex_file->GetClassDescriptor(class_def);
-    SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader> loader(Thread::Current(), nullptr);
-    mirror::Class* klass = class_linker->FindClass(descriptor, loader);
+    SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader> loader(soa.Self(), nullptr);
+    mirror::Class* klass = class_linker->FindClass(soa.Self(), descriptor, loader);
 
     UniquePtr<const OatFile::OatClass> oat_class(oat_dex_file->GetOatClass(i));
     CHECK_EQ(mirror::Class::Status::kStatusNotReady, oat_class->GetStatus()) << descriptor;
diff --git a/runtime/class_linker-inl.h b/runtime/class_linker-inl.h
index 66c24b5..6ef0082 100644
--- a/runtime/class_linker-inl.h
+++ b/runtime/class_linker-inl.h
@@ -23,10 +23,40 @@
 #include "mirror/dex_cache.h"
 #include "mirror/iftable.h"
 #include "mirror/object_array.h"
+#include "object_utils.h"
 #include "sirt_ref.h"
 
 namespace art {
 
+inline bool ClassLinker::IsInBootClassPath(const char* descriptor) {
+  DexFile::ClassPathEntry pair = DexFile::FindInClassPath(descriptor, boot_class_path_);
+  return pair.second != nullptr;
+}
+
+inline mirror::Class* ClassLinker::FindSystemClass(Thread* self, const char* descriptor) {
+  SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader> class_loader(self, nullptr);
+  return FindClass(self, descriptor, class_loader);
+}
+
+inline mirror::Class* ClassLinker::FindArrayClass(Thread* self, mirror::Class* element_class) {
+  for (size_t i = 0; i < kFindArrayCacheSize; ++i) {
+    // Read the cached the array class once to avoid races with other threads setting it.
+    mirror::Class* array_class = find_array_class_cache_[i];
+    if (array_class != nullptr && array_class->GetComponentType() == element_class) {
+      return array_class;
+    }
+  }
+  std::string descriptor("[");
+  descriptor += ClassHelper(element_class).GetDescriptor();
+  SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader> class_loader(self, element_class->GetClassLoader());
+  mirror::Class* array_class = FindClass(self, descriptor.c_str(), class_loader);
+  // Benign races in storing array class and incrementing index.
+  size_t victim_index = find_array_class_cache_next_victim_;
+  find_array_class_cache_[victim_index] = array_class;
+  find_array_class_cache_next_victim_ = (victim_index + 1) % kFindArrayCacheSize;
+  return array_class;
+}
+
 inline mirror::String* ClassLinker::ResolveString(uint32_t string_idx,
                                                   mirror::ArtMethod* referrer) {
   mirror::String* resolved_string = referrer->GetDexCacheStrings()->Get(string_idx);
diff --git a/runtime/class_linker.cc b/runtime/class_linker.cc
index 48ec5ab..a165a68 100644
--- a/runtime/class_linker.cc
+++ b/runtime/class_linker.cc
@@ -176,17 +176,19 @@
     : dex_lock_("ClassLinker dex lock", kDefaultMutexLevel),
       dex_cache_image_class_lookup_required_(false),
       failed_dex_cache_class_lookups_(0),
-      class_roots_(NULL),
-      array_iftable_(NULL),
+      class_roots_(nullptr),
+      array_iftable_(nullptr),
+      find_array_class_cache_next_victim_(0),
       init_done_(false),
       dex_caches_dirty_(false),
       class_table_dirty_(false),
       intern_table_(intern_table),
-      portable_resolution_trampoline_(NULL),
-      quick_resolution_trampoline_(NULL),
-      portable_imt_conflict_trampoline_(NULL),
-      quick_imt_conflict_trampoline_(NULL) {
+      portable_resolution_trampoline_(nullptr),
+      quick_resolution_trampoline_(nullptr),
+      portable_imt_conflict_trampoline_(nullptr),
+      quick_imt_conflict_trampoline_(nullptr) {
   CHECK_EQ(arraysize(class_roots_descriptors_), size_t(kClassRootsMax));
+  memset(find_array_class_cache_, 0, kFindArrayCacheSize * sizeof(mirror::Class*));
 }
 
 void ClassLinker::InitFromCompiler(const std::vector<const DexFile*>& boot_class_path) {
@@ -335,54 +337,54 @@
 
   // Object, String and DexCache need to be rerun through FindSystemClass to finish init
   java_lang_Object->SetStatus(mirror::Class::kStatusNotReady, self);
-  mirror::Class* Object_class = FindSystemClass("Ljava/lang/Object;");
+  mirror::Class* Object_class = FindSystemClass(self, "Ljava/lang/Object;");
   CHECK_EQ(java_lang_Object.get(), Object_class);
   CHECK_EQ(java_lang_Object->GetObjectSize(), sizeof(mirror::Object));
   java_lang_String->SetStatus(mirror::Class::kStatusNotReady, self);
-  mirror::Class* String_class = FindSystemClass("Ljava/lang/String;");
+  mirror::Class* String_class = FindSystemClass(self, "Ljava/lang/String;");
   CHECK_EQ(java_lang_String.get(), String_class);
   CHECK_EQ(java_lang_String->GetObjectSize(), sizeof(mirror::String));
   java_lang_DexCache->SetStatus(mirror::Class::kStatusNotReady, self);
-  mirror::Class* DexCache_class = FindSystemClass("Ljava/lang/DexCache;");
+  mirror::Class* DexCache_class = FindSystemClass(self, "Ljava/lang/DexCache;");
   CHECK_EQ(java_lang_String.get(), String_class);
   CHECK_EQ(java_lang_DexCache.get(), DexCache_class);
   CHECK_EQ(java_lang_DexCache->GetObjectSize(), sizeof(mirror::DexCache));
 
   // Setup the primitive array type classes - can't be done until Object has a vtable.
-  SetClassRoot(kBooleanArrayClass, FindSystemClass("[Z"));
+  SetClassRoot(kBooleanArrayClass, FindSystemClass(self, "[Z"));
   mirror::BooleanArray::SetArrayClass(GetClassRoot(kBooleanArrayClass));
 
-  SetClassRoot(kByteArrayClass, FindSystemClass("[B"));
+  SetClassRoot(kByteArrayClass, FindSystemClass(self, "[B"));
   mirror::ByteArray::SetArrayClass(GetClassRoot(kByteArrayClass));
 
-  mirror::Class* found_char_array_class = FindSystemClass("[C");
+  mirror::Class* found_char_array_class = FindSystemClass(self, "[C");
   CHECK_EQ(char_array_class.get(), found_char_array_class);
 
-  SetClassRoot(kShortArrayClass, FindSystemClass("[S"));
+  SetClassRoot(kShortArrayClass, FindSystemClass(self, "[S"));
   mirror::ShortArray::SetArrayClass(GetClassRoot(kShortArrayClass));
 
-  mirror::Class* found_int_array_class = FindSystemClass("[I");
+  mirror::Class* found_int_array_class = FindSystemClass(self, "[I");
   CHECK_EQ(int_array_class.get(), found_int_array_class);
 
-  SetClassRoot(kLongArrayClass, FindSystemClass("[J"));
+  SetClassRoot(kLongArrayClass, FindSystemClass(self, "[J"));
   mirror::LongArray::SetArrayClass(GetClassRoot(kLongArrayClass));
 
-  SetClassRoot(kFloatArrayClass, FindSystemClass("[F"));
+  SetClassRoot(kFloatArrayClass, FindSystemClass(self, "[F"));
   mirror::FloatArray::SetArrayClass(GetClassRoot(kFloatArrayClass));
 
-  SetClassRoot(kDoubleArrayClass, FindSystemClass("[D"));
+  SetClassRoot(kDoubleArrayClass, FindSystemClass(self, "[D"));
   mirror::DoubleArray::SetArrayClass(GetClassRoot(kDoubleArrayClass));
 
-  mirror::Class* found_class_array_class = FindSystemClass("[Ljava/lang/Class;");
+  mirror::Class* found_class_array_class = FindSystemClass(self, "[Ljava/lang/Class;");
   CHECK_EQ(class_array_class.get(), found_class_array_class);
 
-  mirror::Class* found_object_array_class = FindSystemClass("[Ljava/lang/Object;");
+  mirror::Class* found_object_array_class = FindSystemClass(self, "[Ljava/lang/Object;");
   CHECK_EQ(object_array_class.get(), found_object_array_class);
 
   // Setup the single, global copy of "iftable".
-  mirror::Class* java_lang_Cloneable = FindSystemClass("Ljava/lang/Cloneable;");
+  mirror::Class* java_lang_Cloneable = FindSystemClass(self, "Ljava/lang/Cloneable;");
   CHECK(java_lang_Cloneable != NULL);
-  mirror::Class* java_io_Serializable = FindSystemClass("Ljava/io/Serializable;");
+  mirror::Class* java_io_Serializable = FindSystemClass(self, "Ljava/io/Serializable;");
   CHECK(java_io_Serializable != NULL);
   // We assume that Cloneable/Serializable don't have superinterfaces -- normally we'd have to
   // crawl up and explicitly list all of the supers as well.
@@ -398,73 +400,73 @@
   CHECK_EQ(java_io_Serializable, kh.GetDirectInterface(1));
   // Run Class, ArtField, and ArtMethod through FindSystemClass. This initializes their
   // dex_cache_ fields and register them in class_table_.
-  mirror::Class* Class_class = FindSystemClass("Ljava/lang/Class;");
+  mirror::Class* Class_class = FindSystemClass(self, "Ljava/lang/Class;");
   CHECK_EQ(java_lang_Class.get(), Class_class);
 
   java_lang_reflect_ArtMethod->SetStatus(mirror::Class::kStatusNotReady, self);
-  mirror::Class* Art_method_class = FindSystemClass("Ljava/lang/reflect/ArtMethod;");
+  mirror::Class* Art_method_class = FindSystemClass(self, "Ljava/lang/reflect/ArtMethod;");
   CHECK_EQ(java_lang_reflect_ArtMethod.get(), Art_method_class);
 
   java_lang_reflect_ArtField->SetStatus(mirror::Class::kStatusNotReady, self);
-  mirror::Class* Art_field_class = FindSystemClass("Ljava/lang/reflect/ArtField;");
+  mirror::Class* Art_field_class = FindSystemClass(self, "Ljava/lang/reflect/ArtField;");
   CHECK_EQ(java_lang_reflect_ArtField.get(), Art_field_class);
 
-  mirror::Class* String_array_class = FindSystemClass(class_roots_descriptors_[kJavaLangStringArrayClass]);
+  mirror::Class* String_array_class = FindSystemClass(self, class_roots_descriptors_[kJavaLangStringArrayClass]);
   CHECK_EQ(object_array_string.get(), String_array_class);
 
   mirror::Class* Art_method_array_class =
-      FindSystemClass(class_roots_descriptors_[kJavaLangReflectArtMethodArrayClass]);
+      FindSystemClass(self, class_roots_descriptors_[kJavaLangReflectArtMethodArrayClass]);
   CHECK_EQ(object_array_art_method.get(), Art_method_array_class);
 
   mirror::Class* Art_field_array_class =
-      FindSystemClass(class_roots_descriptors_[kJavaLangReflectArtFieldArrayClass]);
+      FindSystemClass(self, class_roots_descriptors_[kJavaLangReflectArtFieldArrayClass]);
   CHECK_EQ(object_array_art_field.get(), Art_field_array_class);
 
   // End of special init trickery, subsequent classes may be loaded via FindSystemClass.
 
   // Create java.lang.reflect.Proxy root.
-  mirror::Class* java_lang_reflect_Proxy = FindSystemClass("Ljava/lang/reflect/Proxy;");
+  mirror::Class* java_lang_reflect_Proxy = FindSystemClass(self, "Ljava/lang/reflect/Proxy;");
   SetClassRoot(kJavaLangReflectProxy, java_lang_reflect_Proxy);
 
   // java.lang.ref classes need to be specially flagged, but otherwise are normal classes
-  mirror::Class* java_lang_ref_Reference = FindSystemClass("Ljava/lang/ref/Reference;");
+  mirror::Class* java_lang_ref_Reference = FindSystemClass(self, "Ljava/lang/ref/Reference;");
   SetClassRoot(kJavaLangRefReference, java_lang_ref_Reference);
-  mirror::Class* java_lang_ref_FinalizerReference = FindSystemClass("Ljava/lang/ref/FinalizerReference;");
+  mirror::Class* java_lang_ref_FinalizerReference = FindSystemClass(self, "Ljava/lang/ref/FinalizerReference;");
   java_lang_ref_FinalizerReference->SetAccessFlags(
       java_lang_ref_FinalizerReference->GetAccessFlags() |
           kAccClassIsReference | kAccClassIsFinalizerReference);
-  mirror::Class* java_lang_ref_PhantomReference = FindSystemClass("Ljava/lang/ref/PhantomReference;");
+  mirror::Class* java_lang_ref_PhantomReference = FindSystemClass(self, "Ljava/lang/ref/PhantomReference;");
   java_lang_ref_PhantomReference->SetAccessFlags(
       java_lang_ref_PhantomReference->GetAccessFlags() |
           kAccClassIsReference | kAccClassIsPhantomReference);
-  mirror::Class* java_lang_ref_SoftReference = FindSystemClass("Ljava/lang/ref/SoftReference;");
+  mirror::Class* java_lang_ref_SoftReference = FindSystemClass(self, "Ljava/lang/ref/SoftReference;");
   java_lang_ref_SoftReference->SetAccessFlags(
       java_lang_ref_SoftReference->GetAccessFlags() | kAccClassIsReference);
-  mirror::Class* java_lang_ref_WeakReference = FindSystemClass("Ljava/lang/ref/WeakReference;");
+  mirror::Class* java_lang_ref_WeakReference = FindSystemClass(self, "Ljava/lang/ref/WeakReference;");
   java_lang_ref_WeakReference->SetAccessFlags(
       java_lang_ref_WeakReference->GetAccessFlags() |
           kAccClassIsReference | kAccClassIsWeakReference);
 
   // Setup the ClassLoader, verifying the object_size_.
-  mirror::Class* java_lang_ClassLoader = FindSystemClass("Ljava/lang/ClassLoader;");
+  mirror::Class* java_lang_ClassLoader = FindSystemClass(self, "Ljava/lang/ClassLoader;");
   CHECK_EQ(java_lang_ClassLoader->GetObjectSize(), sizeof(mirror::ClassLoader));
   SetClassRoot(kJavaLangClassLoader, java_lang_ClassLoader);
 
   // Set up java.lang.Throwable, java.lang.ClassNotFoundException, and
   // java.lang.StackTraceElement as a convenience.
-  SetClassRoot(kJavaLangThrowable, FindSystemClass("Ljava/lang/Throwable;"));
+  SetClassRoot(kJavaLangThrowable, FindSystemClass(self, "Ljava/lang/Throwable;"));
   mirror::Throwable::SetClass(GetClassRoot(kJavaLangThrowable));
-  SetClassRoot(kJavaLangClassNotFoundException, FindSystemClass("Ljava/lang/ClassNotFoundException;"));
-  SetClassRoot(kJavaLangStackTraceElement, FindSystemClass("Ljava/lang/StackTraceElement;"));
-  SetClassRoot(kJavaLangStackTraceElementArrayClass, FindSystemClass("[Ljava/lang/StackTraceElement;"));
+  SetClassRoot(kJavaLangClassNotFoundException, FindSystemClass(self, "Ljava/lang/ClassNotFoundException;"));
+  SetClassRoot(kJavaLangStackTraceElement, FindSystemClass(self, "Ljava/lang/StackTraceElement;"));
+  SetClassRoot(kJavaLangStackTraceElementArrayClass, FindSystemClass(self, "[Ljava/lang/StackTraceElement;"));
   mirror::StackTraceElement::SetClass(GetClassRoot(kJavaLangStackTraceElement));
 
-  FinishInit();
+  FinishInit(self);
 
   VLOG(startup) << "ClassLinker::InitFromCompiler exiting";
 }
 
-void ClassLinker::FinishInit() {
+void ClassLinker::FinishInit(Thread* self) {
   VLOG(startup) << "ClassLinker::FinishInit entering";
 
   // Let the heap know some key offsets into java.lang.ref instances
@@ -473,7 +475,7 @@
   // fully initialized
   mirror::Class* java_lang_ref_Reference = GetClassRoot(kJavaLangRefReference);
   mirror::Class* java_lang_ref_FinalizerReference =
-      FindSystemClass("Ljava/lang/ref/FinalizerReference;");
+      FindSystemClass(self, "Ljava/lang/ref/FinalizerReference;");
 
   mirror::ArtField* pendingNext = java_lang_ref_Reference->GetInstanceField(0);
   FieldHelper fh(pendingNext);
@@ -1111,7 +1113,7 @@
   mirror::Throwable::SetClass(GetClassRoot(kJavaLangThrowable));
   mirror::StackTraceElement::SetClass(GetClassRoot(kJavaLangStackTraceElement));
 
-  FinishInit();
+  FinishInit(self);
 
   VLOG(startup) << "ClassLinker::InitFromImage exiting";
 }
@@ -1150,6 +1152,13 @@
   }
   callback(reinterpret_cast<mirror::Object**>(&array_iftable_), arg, 0, kRootVMInternal);
   DCHECK(array_iftable_ != nullptr);
+  for (size_t i = 0; i < kFindArrayCacheSize; ++i) {
+    if (find_array_class_cache_[i] != nullptr) {
+      callback(reinterpret_cast<mirror::Object**>(&find_array_class_cache_[i]), arg, 0,
+               kRootVMInternal);
+      DCHECK(find_array_class_cache_[i] != nullptr);
+    }
+  }
 }
 
 void ClassLinker::VisitClasses(ClassVisitor* visitor, void* arg) {
@@ -1307,21 +1316,10 @@
   return klass;
 }
 
-bool ClassLinker::IsInBootClassPath(const char* descriptor) {
-  DexFile::ClassPathEntry pair = DexFile::FindInClassPath(descriptor, boot_class_path_);
-  return pair.second != NULL;
-}
-
-mirror::Class* ClassLinker::FindSystemClass(const char* descriptor) {
-  SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader> class_loader(Thread::Current(), nullptr);
-  return FindClass(descriptor, class_loader);
-}
-
-mirror::Class* ClassLinker::FindClass(const char* descriptor,
+mirror::Class* ClassLinker::FindClass(Thread* self, const char* descriptor,
                                       const SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader>& class_loader) {
   DCHECK_NE(*descriptor, '\0') << "descriptor is empty string";
-  Thread* self = Thread::Current();
-  DCHECK(self != NULL);
+  DCHECK(self != nullptr);
   self->AssertNoPendingException();
   if (descriptor[1] == '\0') {
     // only the descriptors of primitive types should be 1 character long, also avoid class lookup
@@ -1335,7 +1333,7 @@
   }
   // Class is not yet loaded.
   if (descriptor[0] == '[') {
-    return CreateArrayClass(descriptor, class_loader);
+    return CreateArrayClass(self, descriptor, class_loader);
   } else if (class_loader.get() == nullptr) {
     DexFile::ClassPathEntry pair = DexFile::FindInClassPath(descriptor, boot_class_path_);
     if (pair.second != NULL) {
@@ -1346,7 +1344,7 @@
     // First try the boot class path, we check the descriptor first to avoid an unnecessary
     // throw of a NoClassDefFoundError.
     if (IsInBootClassPath(descriptor)) {
-      mirror::Class* system_class = FindSystemClass(descriptor);
+      mirror::Class* system_class = FindSystemClass(self, descriptor);
       CHECK(system_class != NULL);
       return system_class;
     }
@@ -1365,7 +1363,7 @@
     }
 
   } else {
-    ScopedObjectAccessUnchecked soa(self->GetJniEnv());
+    ScopedObjectAccessUnchecked soa(self);
     ScopedLocalRef<jobject> class_loader_object(soa.Env(),
                                                 soa.AddLocalReference<jobject>(class_loader.get()));
     std::string class_name_string(DescriptorToDot(descriptor));
@@ -1382,7 +1380,7 @@
                                                WellKnownClasses::java_lang_ClassLoader_loadClass,
                                                class_name_object.get()));
     }
-    if (soa.Self()->IsExceptionPending()) {
+    if (self->IsExceptionPending()) {
       // If the ClassLoader threw, pass that exception up.
       return NULL;
     } else if (result.get() == NULL) {
@@ -2133,12 +2131,11 @@
 // array class; that always comes from the base element class.
 //
 // Returns NULL with an exception raised on failure.
-mirror::Class* ClassLinker::CreateArrayClass(const char* descriptor,
+mirror::Class* ClassLinker::CreateArrayClass(Thread* self, const char* descriptor,
                                              const SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader>& class_loader) {
   // Identify the underlying component type
   CHECK_EQ('[', descriptor[0]);
-  Thread* self = Thread::Current();
-  SirtRef<mirror::Class> component_type(self, FindClass(descriptor + 1, class_loader));
+  SirtRef<mirror::Class> component_type(self, FindClass(self, descriptor + 1, class_loader));
   if (component_type.get() == nullptr) {
     DCHECK(self->IsExceptionPending());
     return nullptr;
@@ -3242,7 +3239,7 @@
     for (int i = super->GetVTable()->GetLength() - 1; i >= 0; --i) {
       mirror::ArtMethod* method = klass->GetVTable()->Get(i);
       if (method != super->GetVTable()->Get(i) &&
-          !IsSameMethodSignatureInDifferentClassContexts(method, super.get(), klass.get())) {
+          !IsSameMethodSignatureInDifferentClassContexts(self, method, super.get(), klass.get())) {
         ThrowLinkageError(klass.get(), "Class %s method %s resolves differently in superclass %s",
                           PrettyDescriptor(klass.get()).c_str(), PrettyMethod(method).c_str(),
                           PrettyDescriptor(super.get()).c_str());
@@ -3255,7 +3252,7 @@
     if (klass->GetClassLoader() != interface->GetClassLoader()) {
       for (size_t j = 0; j < interface->NumVirtualMethods(); ++j) {
         mirror::ArtMethod* method = klass->GetIfTable()->GetMethodArray(i)->Get(j);
-        if (!IsSameMethodSignatureInDifferentClassContexts(method, interface.get(),
+        if (!IsSameMethodSignatureInDifferentClassContexts(self, method, interface.get(),
                                                            method->GetDeclaringClass())) {
           ThrowLinkageError(klass.get(), "Class %s method %s resolves differently in interface %s",
                             PrettyDescriptor(method->GetDeclaringClass()).c_str(),
@@ -3271,13 +3268,13 @@
 
 // Returns true if classes referenced by the signature of the method are the
 // same classes in klass1 as they are in klass2.
-bool ClassLinker::IsSameMethodSignatureInDifferentClassContexts(mirror::ArtMethod* method,
+bool ClassLinker::IsSameMethodSignatureInDifferentClassContexts(Thread* self,
+                                                                mirror::ArtMethod* method,
                                                                 mirror::Class* klass1,
                                                                 mirror::Class* klass2) {
   if (klass1 == klass2) {
     return true;
   }
-  Thread* self = Thread::Current();
   CHECK(klass1 != nullptr);
   CHECK(klass2 != nullptr);
   SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader> loader1(self, klass1->GetClassLoader());
@@ -3292,7 +3289,7 @@
     }
     if (descriptor[0] == 'L' || descriptor[0] == '[') {
       // Found a non-primitive type.
-      if (!IsSameDescriptorInDifferentClassContexts(descriptor, loader1, loader2)) {
+      if (!IsSameDescriptorInDifferentClassContexts(self, descriptor, loader1, loader2)) {
         return false;
       }
     }
@@ -3300,7 +3297,7 @@
   // Check the return type
   const char* descriptor = dex_file.GetReturnTypeDescriptor(proto_id);
   if (descriptor[0] == 'L' || descriptor[0] == '[') {
-    if (!IsSameDescriptorInDifferentClassContexts(descriptor, loader1, loader2)) {
+    if (!IsSameDescriptorInDifferentClassContexts(self, descriptor, loader1, loader2)) {
       return false;
     }
   }
@@ -3308,16 +3305,15 @@
 }
 
 // Returns true if the descriptor resolves to the same class in the context of loader1 and loader2.
-bool ClassLinker::IsSameDescriptorInDifferentClassContexts(const char* descriptor,
+bool ClassLinker::IsSameDescriptorInDifferentClassContexts(Thread* self, const char* descriptor,
                                                            SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader>& loader1,
                                                            SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader>& loader2) {
   CHECK(descriptor != nullptr);
-  Thread* self = Thread::Current();
-  SirtRef<mirror::Class> found1(self, FindClass(descriptor, loader1));
+  SirtRef<mirror::Class> found1(self, FindClass(self, descriptor, loader1));
   if (found1.get() == nullptr) {
     self->ClearException();
   }
-  mirror::Class* found2 = FindClass(descriptor, loader2);
+  mirror::Class* found2 = FindClass(self, descriptor, loader2);
   if (found2 == nullptr) {
     self->ClearException();
   }
@@ -4117,22 +4113,22 @@
   DCHECK(dex_cache.get() != NULL);
   mirror::Class* resolved = dex_cache->GetResolvedType(type_idx);
   if (resolved == NULL) {
+    Thread* self = Thread::Current();
     const char* descriptor = dex_file.StringByTypeIdx(type_idx);
-    resolved = FindClass(descriptor, class_loader);
+    resolved = FindClass(self, descriptor, class_loader);
     if (resolved != NULL) {
       // TODO: we used to throw here if resolved's class loader was not the
       //       boot class loader. This was to permit different classes with the
       //       same name to be loaded simultaneously by different loaders
       dex_cache->SetResolvedType(type_idx, resolved);
     } else {
-      Thread* self = Thread::Current();
       CHECK(self->IsExceptionPending())
           << "Expected pending exception for failed resolution of: " << descriptor;
       // Convert a ClassNotFoundException to a NoClassDefFoundError.
       SirtRef<mirror::Throwable> cause(self, self->GetException(NULL));
       if (cause->InstanceOf(GetClassRoot(kJavaLangClassNotFoundException))) {
         DCHECK(resolved == NULL);  // No SirtRef needed to preserve resolved.
-        Thread::Current()->ClearException();
+        self->ClearException();
         ThrowNoClassDefFoundError("Failed resolution of: %s", descriptor);
         self->GetException(NULL)->SetCause(cause.get());
       }
diff --git a/runtime/class_linker.h b/runtime/class_linker.h
index 0745ee2..f346102 100644
--- a/runtime/class_linker.h
+++ b/runtime/class_linker.h
@@ -72,10 +72,17 @@
 
   // Finds a class by its descriptor, loading it if necessary.
   // If class_loader is null, searches boot_class_path_.
-  mirror::Class* FindClass(const char* descriptor, const SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader>& class_loader)
+  mirror::Class* FindClass(Thread* self, const char* descriptor,
+                           const SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader>& class_loader)
       SHARED_LOCKS_REQUIRED(Locks::mutator_lock_);
 
-  mirror::Class* FindSystemClass(const char* descriptor)
+  // Finds a class by its descriptor using the "system" class loader, ie by searching the
+  // boot_class_path_.
+  mirror::Class* FindSystemClass(Thread* self, const char* descriptor)
+      SHARED_LOCKS_REQUIRED(Locks::mutator_lock_);
+
+  // Finds the array class given for the element class.
+  mirror::Class* FindArrayClass(Thread* self, mirror::Class* element_class)
       SHARED_LOCKS_REQUIRED(Locks::mutator_lock_);
 
   // Reutrns true if the class linker is initialized.
@@ -378,7 +385,7 @@
       LOCKS_EXCLUDED(dex_lock_)
       SHARED_LOCKS_REQUIRED(Locks::mutator_lock_);
 
-  void FinishInit() SHARED_LOCKS_REQUIRED(Locks::mutator_lock_);
+  void FinishInit(Thread* self) SHARED_LOCKS_REQUIRED(Locks::mutator_lock_);
 
   // For early bootstrapping by Init
   mirror::Class* AllocClass(Thread* self, mirror::Class* java_lang_Class, size_t class_size)
@@ -399,7 +406,7 @@
       SHARED_LOCKS_REQUIRED(Locks::mutator_lock_);
 
 
-  mirror::Class* CreateArrayClass(const char* descriptor,
+  mirror::Class* CreateArrayClass(Thread* self, const char* descriptor,
                                   const SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader>& class_loader)
       SHARED_LOCKS_REQUIRED(Locks::mutator_lock_);
 
@@ -449,12 +456,12 @@
   bool ValidateSuperClassDescriptors(const SirtRef<mirror::Class>& klass)
       SHARED_LOCKS_REQUIRED(Locks::mutator_lock_);
 
-  bool IsSameDescriptorInDifferentClassContexts(const char* descriptor,
+  bool IsSameDescriptorInDifferentClassContexts(Thread* self, const char* descriptor,
                                                 SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader>& class_loader1,
                                                 SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader>& class_loader2)
       SHARED_LOCKS_REQUIRED(Locks::mutator_lock_);
 
-  bool IsSameMethodSignatureInDifferentClassContexts(mirror::ArtMethod* method,
+  bool IsSameMethodSignatureInDifferentClassContexts(Thread* self, mirror::ArtMethod* method,
                                                      mirror::Class* klass1,
                                                      mirror::Class* klass2)
       SHARED_LOCKS_REQUIRED(Locks::mutator_lock_);
@@ -617,8 +624,15 @@
     return descriptor;
   }
 
+  // The interface table used by all arrays.
   mirror::IfTable* array_iftable_;
 
+  // A cache of the last FindArrayClass results. The cache serves to avoid creating array class
+  // descriptors for the sake of performing FindClass.
+  static constexpr size_t kFindArrayCacheSize = 16;
+  mirror::Class* find_array_class_cache_[kFindArrayCacheSize];
+  size_t find_array_class_cache_next_victim_;
+
   bool init_done_;
   bool dex_caches_dirty_ GUARDED_BY(dex_lock_);
   bool class_table_dirty_ GUARDED_BY(Locks::classlinker_classes_lock_);
diff --git a/runtime/class_linker_test.cc b/runtime/class_linker_test.cc
index ebf02fe..d6a67cc 100644
--- a/runtime/class_linker_test.cc
+++ b/runtime/class_linker_test.cc
@@ -41,18 +41,20 @@
  protected:
   void AssertNonExistentClass(const std::string& descriptor)
       SHARED_LOCKS_REQUIRED(Locks::mutator_lock_) {
-    EXPECT_TRUE(class_linker_->FindSystemClass(descriptor.c_str()) == NULL);
     Thread* self = Thread::Current();
+    EXPECT_TRUE(class_linker_->FindSystemClass(self, descriptor.c_str()) == NULL);
     EXPECT_TRUE(self->IsExceptionPending());
     mirror::Object* exception = self->GetException(NULL);
     self->ClearException();
-    mirror::Class* exception_class = class_linker_->FindSystemClass("Ljava/lang/NoClassDefFoundError;");
+    mirror::Class* exception_class =
+        class_linker_->FindSystemClass(self, "Ljava/lang/NoClassDefFoundError;");
     EXPECT_TRUE(exception->InstanceOf(exception_class));
   }
 
   void AssertPrimitiveClass(const std::string& descriptor)
       SHARED_LOCKS_REQUIRED(Locks::mutator_lock_) {
-    AssertPrimitiveClass(descriptor, class_linker_->FindSystemClass(descriptor.c_str()));
+    Thread* self = Thread::Current();
+    AssertPrimitiveClass(descriptor, class_linker_->FindSystemClass(self, descriptor.c_str()));
   }
 
   void AssertPrimitiveClass(const std::string& descriptor, mirror::Class* primitive)
@@ -98,7 +100,7 @@
     Thread* self = Thread::Current();
     SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader> loader(self, class_loader);
     SirtRef<mirror::Class> array(self,
-                                 class_linker_->FindClass(array_descriptor.c_str(), loader));
+                                 class_linker_->FindClass(self, array_descriptor.c_str(), loader));
     ClassHelper array_component_ch(array->GetComponentType());
     EXPECT_STREQ(component_type.c_str(), array_component_ch.GetDescriptor());
     EXPECT_EQ(class_loader, array->GetClassLoader());
@@ -115,7 +117,8 @@
     EXPECT_TRUE(array->GetClass()->GetSuperClass() != NULL);
     ASSERT_STREQ(array_descriptor.c_str(), kh.GetDescriptor());
     EXPECT_TRUE(array->GetSuperClass() != NULL);
-    EXPECT_EQ(class_linker_->FindSystemClass("Ljava/lang/Object;"), array->GetSuperClass());
+    Thread* self = Thread::Current();
+    EXPECT_EQ(class_linker_->FindSystemClass(self, "Ljava/lang/Object;"), array->GetSuperClass());
     EXPECT_TRUE(array->HasSuperClass());
     ASSERT_TRUE(array->GetComponentType() != NULL);
     kh.ChangeClass(array->GetComponentType());
@@ -147,6 +150,7 @@
     kh.ChangeClass(array.get());
     kh.ChangeClass(kh.GetDirectInterface(1));
     EXPECT_STREQ(kh.GetDescriptor(), "Ljava/io/Serializable;");
+    EXPECT_EQ(class_linker_->FindArrayClass(self, array->GetComponentType()), array.get());
   }
 
   void AssertMethod(mirror::ArtMethod* method) SHARED_LOCKS_REQUIRED(Locks::mutator_lock_) {
@@ -300,8 +304,8 @@
   void AssertDexFileClass(mirror::ClassLoader* class_loader, const std::string& descriptor)
       SHARED_LOCKS_REQUIRED(Locks::mutator_lock_) {
     ASSERT_TRUE(descriptor != NULL);
-    SirtRef<mirror::Class> klass(Thread::Current(),
-                                 class_linker_->FindSystemClass(descriptor.c_str()));
+    Thread* self = Thread::Current();
+    SirtRef<mirror::Class> klass(self, class_linker_->FindSystemClass(self, descriptor.c_str()));
     ASSERT_TRUE(klass.get() != nullptr);
     EXPECT_STREQ(descriptor.c_str(), ClassHelper(klass.get()).GetDescriptor());
     EXPECT_EQ(class_loader, klass->GetClassLoader());
@@ -359,7 +363,9 @@
   std::vector<CheckOffset> offsets;
 
   bool Check() SHARED_LOCKS_REQUIRED(Locks::mutator_lock_) {
-    mirror::Class* klass = Runtime::Current()->GetClassLinker()->FindSystemClass(class_descriptor.c_str());
+    Thread* self = Thread::Current();
+    mirror::Class* klass =
+        Runtime::Current()->GetClassLinker()->FindSystemClass(self, class_descriptor.c_str());
     CHECK(klass != NULL) << class_descriptor;
 
     bool error = false;
@@ -646,12 +652,12 @@
   ScopedObjectAccess soa(Thread::Current());
   SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader> class_loader(soa.Self(), soa.Decode<mirror::ClassLoader*>(LoadDex("Nested")));
 
-  mirror::Class* outer = class_linker_->FindClass("LNested;", class_loader);
+  mirror::Class* outer = class_linker_->FindClass(soa.Self(), "LNested;", class_loader);
   ASSERT_TRUE(outer != NULL);
   EXPECT_EQ(0U, outer->NumVirtualMethods());
   EXPECT_EQ(1U, outer->NumDirectMethods());
 
-  mirror::Class* inner = class_linker_->FindClass("LNested$Inner;", class_loader);
+  mirror::Class* inner = class_linker_->FindClass(soa.Self(), "LNested$Inner;", class_loader);
   ASSERT_TRUE(inner != NULL);
   EXPECT_EQ(0U, inner->NumVirtualMethods());
   EXPECT_EQ(1U, inner->NumDirectMethods());
@@ -673,7 +679,7 @@
 
 TEST_F(ClassLinkerTest, FindClass) {
   ScopedObjectAccess soa(Thread::Current());
-  mirror::Class* JavaLangObject = class_linker_->FindSystemClass("Ljava/lang/Object;");
+  mirror::Class* JavaLangObject = class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(), "Ljava/lang/Object;");
   ClassHelper kh(JavaLangObject);
   ASSERT_TRUE(JavaLangObject != NULL);
   ASSERT_TRUE(JavaLangObject->GetClass() != NULL);
@@ -710,7 +716,7 @@
 
   SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader> class_loader(soa.Self(), soa.Decode<mirror::ClassLoader*>(LoadDex("MyClass")));
   AssertNonExistentClass("LMyClass;");
-  mirror::Class* MyClass = class_linker_->FindClass("LMyClass;", class_loader);
+  mirror::Class* MyClass = class_linker_->FindClass(soa.Self(), "LMyClass;", class_loader);
   kh.ChangeClass(MyClass);
   ASSERT_TRUE(MyClass != NULL);
   ASSERT_TRUE(MyClass->GetClass() != NULL);
@@ -761,7 +767,7 @@
 // start of the object
 TEST_F(ClassLinkerTest, ValidateObjectArrayElementsOffset) {
   ScopedObjectAccess soa(Thread::Current());
-  mirror::Class* array_class = class_linker_->FindSystemClass("[Ljava/lang/String;");
+  mirror::Class* array_class = class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(), "[Ljava/lang/String;");
   mirror::ObjectArray<mirror::String>* array =
       mirror::ObjectArray<mirror::String>::Alloc(soa.Self(), array_class, 0);
   uintptr_t data_offset =
@@ -777,27 +783,27 @@
 TEST_F(ClassLinkerTest, ValidatePrimitiveArrayElementsOffset) {
   ScopedObjectAccess soa(Thread::Current());
   SirtRef<mirror::LongArray> long_array(soa.Self(), mirror::LongArray::Alloc(soa.Self(), 0));
-  EXPECT_EQ(class_linker_->FindSystemClass("[J"), long_array->GetClass());
+  EXPECT_EQ(class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(), "[J"), long_array->GetClass());
   uintptr_t data_offset = reinterpret_cast<uintptr_t>(long_array->GetData());
   EXPECT_TRUE(IsAligned<8>(data_offset));  // Longs require 8 byte alignment
 
   SirtRef<mirror::DoubleArray> double_array(soa.Self(), mirror::DoubleArray::Alloc(soa.Self(), 0));
-  EXPECT_EQ(class_linker_->FindSystemClass("[D"), double_array->GetClass());
+  EXPECT_EQ(class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(), "[D"), double_array->GetClass());
   data_offset = reinterpret_cast<uintptr_t>(double_array->GetData());
   EXPECT_TRUE(IsAligned<8>(data_offset));  // Doubles require 8 byte alignment
 
   SirtRef<mirror::IntArray> int_array(soa.Self(), mirror::IntArray::Alloc(soa.Self(), 0));
-  EXPECT_EQ(class_linker_->FindSystemClass("[I"), int_array->GetClass());
+  EXPECT_EQ(class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(), "[I"), int_array->GetClass());
   data_offset = reinterpret_cast<uintptr_t>(int_array->GetData());
   EXPECT_TRUE(IsAligned<4>(data_offset));  // Ints require 4 byte alignment
 
   SirtRef<mirror::CharArray> char_array(soa.Self(), mirror::CharArray::Alloc(soa.Self(), 0));
-  EXPECT_EQ(class_linker_->FindSystemClass("[C"), char_array->GetClass());
+  EXPECT_EQ(class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(), "[C"), char_array->GetClass());
   data_offset = reinterpret_cast<uintptr_t>(char_array->GetData());
   EXPECT_TRUE(IsAligned<2>(data_offset));  // Chars require 2 byte alignment
 
   SirtRef<mirror::ShortArray> short_array(soa.Self(), mirror::ShortArray::Alloc(soa.Self(), 0));
-  EXPECT_EQ(class_linker_->FindSystemClass("[S"), short_array->GetClass());
+  EXPECT_EQ(class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(), "[S"), short_array->GetClass());
   data_offset = reinterpret_cast<uintptr_t>(short_array->GetData());
   EXPECT_TRUE(IsAligned<2>(data_offset));  // Shorts require 2 byte alignment
 
@@ -810,28 +816,28 @@
   ScopedObjectAccess soa(Thread::Current());
   SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader> class_loader(soa.Self(), nullptr);
   mirror::Class* c;
-  c = class_linker_->FindClass("Ljava/lang/Boolean;", class_loader);
+  c = class_linker_->FindClass(soa.Self(), "Ljava/lang/Boolean;", class_loader);
   FieldHelper fh(c->GetIFields()->Get(0));
   EXPECT_STREQ("value", fh.GetName());
-  c = class_linker_->FindClass("Ljava/lang/Byte;", class_loader);
+  c = class_linker_->FindClass(soa.Self(), "Ljava/lang/Byte;", class_loader);
   fh.ChangeField(c->GetIFields()->Get(0));
   EXPECT_STREQ("value", fh.GetName());
-  c = class_linker_->FindClass("Ljava/lang/Character;", class_loader);
+  c = class_linker_->FindClass(soa.Self(), "Ljava/lang/Character;", class_loader);
   fh.ChangeField(c->GetIFields()->Get(0));
   EXPECT_STREQ("value", fh.GetName());
-  c = class_linker_->FindClass("Ljava/lang/Double;", class_loader);
+  c = class_linker_->FindClass(soa.Self(), "Ljava/lang/Double;", class_loader);
   fh.ChangeField(c->GetIFields()->Get(0));
   EXPECT_STREQ("value", fh.GetName());
-  c = class_linker_->FindClass("Ljava/lang/Float;", class_loader);
+  c = class_linker_->FindClass(soa.Self(), "Ljava/lang/Float;", class_loader);
   fh.ChangeField(c->GetIFields()->Get(0));
   EXPECT_STREQ("value", fh.GetName());
-  c = class_linker_->FindClass("Ljava/lang/Integer;", class_loader);
+  c = class_linker_->FindClass(soa.Self(), "Ljava/lang/Integer;", class_loader);
   fh.ChangeField(c->GetIFields()->Get(0));
   EXPECT_STREQ("value", fh.GetName());
-  c = class_linker_->FindClass("Ljava/lang/Long;", class_loader);
+  c = class_linker_->FindClass(soa.Self(), "Ljava/lang/Long;", class_loader);
   fh.ChangeField(c->GetIFields()->Get(0));
   EXPECT_STREQ("value", fh.GetName());
-  c = class_linker_->FindClass("Ljava/lang/Short;", class_loader);
+  c = class_linker_->FindClass(soa.Self(), "Ljava/lang/Short;", class_loader);
   fh.ChangeField(c->GetIFields()->Get(0));
   EXPECT_STREQ("value", fh.GetName());
 }
@@ -840,8 +846,8 @@
   ScopedObjectAccess soa(Thread::Current());
   SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader> class_loader_1(soa.Self(), soa.Decode<mirror::ClassLoader*>(LoadDex("MyClass")));
   SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader> class_loader_2(soa.Self(), soa.Decode<mirror::ClassLoader*>(LoadDex("MyClass")));
-  mirror::Class* MyClass_1 = class_linker_->FindClass("LMyClass;", class_loader_1);
-  mirror::Class* MyClass_2 = class_linker_->FindClass("LMyClass;", class_loader_2);
+  mirror::Class* MyClass_1 = class_linker_->FindClass(soa.Self(), "LMyClass;", class_loader_1);
+  mirror::Class* MyClass_2 = class_linker_->FindClass(soa.Self(), "LMyClass;", class_loader_2);
   EXPECT_TRUE(MyClass_1 != NULL);
   EXPECT_TRUE(MyClass_2 != NULL);
   EXPECT_NE(MyClass_1, MyClass_2);
@@ -849,8 +855,10 @@
 
 TEST_F(ClassLinkerTest, StaticFields) {
   ScopedObjectAccess soa(Thread::Current());
-  SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader> class_loader(soa.Self(), soa.Decode<mirror::ClassLoader*>(LoadDex("Statics")));
-  SirtRef<mirror::Class> statics(soa.Self(), class_linker_->FindClass("LStatics;", class_loader));
+  SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader> class_loader(soa.Self(),
+                                            soa.Decode<mirror::ClassLoader*>(LoadDex("Statics")));
+  SirtRef<mirror::Class> statics(soa.Self(), class_linker_->FindClass(soa.Self(), "LStatics;",
+                                                                      class_loader));
   class_linker_->EnsureInitialized(statics, true, true);
 
   // Static final primitives that are initialized by a compile-time constant
@@ -933,11 +941,11 @@
 TEST_F(ClassLinkerTest, Interfaces) {
   ScopedObjectAccess soa(Thread::Current());
   SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader> class_loader(soa.Self(), soa.Decode<mirror::ClassLoader*>(LoadDex("Interfaces")));
-  mirror::Class* I = class_linker_->FindClass("LInterfaces$I;", class_loader);
-  mirror::Class* J = class_linker_->FindClass("LInterfaces$J;", class_loader);
-  mirror::Class* K = class_linker_->FindClass("LInterfaces$K;", class_loader);
-  mirror::Class* A = class_linker_->FindClass("LInterfaces$A;", class_loader);
-  mirror::Class* B = class_linker_->FindClass("LInterfaces$B;", class_loader);
+  mirror::Class* I = class_linker_->FindClass(soa.Self(), "LInterfaces$I;", class_loader);
+  mirror::Class* J = class_linker_->FindClass(soa.Self(), "LInterfaces$J;", class_loader);
+  mirror::Class* K = class_linker_->FindClass(soa.Self(), "LInterfaces$K;", class_loader);
+  mirror::Class* A = class_linker_->FindClass(soa.Self(), "LInterfaces$A;", class_loader);
+  mirror::Class* B = class_linker_->FindClass(soa.Self(), "LInterfaces$B;", class_loader);
   EXPECT_TRUE(I->IsAssignableFrom(A));
   EXPECT_TRUE(J->IsAssignableFrom(A));
   EXPECT_TRUE(J->IsAssignableFrom(K));
@@ -996,7 +1004,7 @@
   SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader> class_loader(soa.Self(), soa.Decode<mirror::ClassLoader*>(jclass_loader));
   const DexFile* dex_file = Runtime::Current()->GetCompileTimeClassPath(jclass_loader)[0];
   CHECK(dex_file != NULL);
-  mirror::Class* klass = class_linker_->FindClass("LStaticsFromCode;", class_loader);
+  mirror::Class* klass = class_linker_->FindClass(soa.Self(), "LStaticsFromCode;", class_loader);
   mirror::ArtMethod* clinit = klass->FindClassInitializer();
   mirror::ArtMethod* getS0 = klass->FindDirectMethod("getS0", "()Ljava/lang/Object;");
   const DexFile::StringId* string_id = dex_file->FindStringId("LStaticsFromCode;");
@@ -1017,32 +1025,32 @@
   mirror::Class* c;
 
   // Object has a finalize method, but we know it's empty.
-  c = class_linker_->FindSystemClass("Ljava/lang/Object;");
+  c = class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(), "Ljava/lang/Object;");
   EXPECT_FALSE(c->IsFinalizable());
 
   // Enum has a finalize method to prevent its subclasses from implementing one.
-  c = class_linker_->FindSystemClass("Ljava/lang/Enum;");
+  c = class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(), "Ljava/lang/Enum;");
   EXPECT_FALSE(c->IsFinalizable());
 
   // RoundingMode is an enum.
-  c = class_linker_->FindSystemClass("Ljava/math/RoundingMode;");
+  c = class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(), "Ljava/math/RoundingMode;");
   EXPECT_FALSE(c->IsFinalizable());
 
   // RandomAccessFile extends Object and overrides finalize.
-  c = class_linker_->FindSystemClass("Ljava/io/RandomAccessFile;");
+  c = class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(), "Ljava/io/RandomAccessFile;");
   EXPECT_TRUE(c->IsFinalizable());
 
   // FileInputStream is finalizable and extends InputStream which isn't.
-  c = class_linker_->FindSystemClass("Ljava/io/InputStream;");
+  c = class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(), "Ljava/io/InputStream;");
   EXPECT_FALSE(c->IsFinalizable());
-  c = class_linker_->FindSystemClass("Ljava/io/FileInputStream;");
+  c = class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(), "Ljava/io/FileInputStream;");
   EXPECT_TRUE(c->IsFinalizable());
 
   // ScheduledThreadPoolExecutor doesn't have a finalize method but
   // extends ThreadPoolExecutor which does.
-  c = class_linker_->FindSystemClass("Ljava/util/concurrent/ThreadPoolExecutor;");
+  c = class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(), "Ljava/util/concurrent/ThreadPoolExecutor;");
   EXPECT_TRUE(c->IsFinalizable());
-  c = class_linker_->FindSystemClass("Ljava/util/concurrent/ScheduledThreadPoolExecutor;");
+  c = class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(), "Ljava/util/concurrent/ScheduledThreadPoolExecutor;");
   EXPECT_TRUE(c->IsFinalizable());
 }
 
diff --git a/runtime/common_test.h b/runtime/common_test.h
index 7f9b6b1..215b642 100644
--- a/runtime/common_test.h
+++ b/runtime/common_test.h
@@ -418,8 +418,9 @@
   void MakeExecutable(mirror::ClassLoader* class_loader, const char* class_name)
       SHARED_LOCKS_REQUIRED(Locks::mutator_lock_) {
     std::string class_descriptor(DotToDescriptor(class_name));
-    SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader> loader(Thread::Current(), class_loader);
-    mirror::Class* klass = class_linker_->FindClass(class_descriptor.c_str(), loader);
+    Thread* self = Thread::Current();
+    SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader> loader(self, class_loader);
+    mirror::Class* klass = class_linker_->FindClass(self, class_descriptor.c_str(), loader);
     CHECK(klass != NULL) << "Class not found " << class_name;
     for (size_t i = 0; i < klass->NumDirectMethods(); i++) {
       MakeExecutable(klass->GetDirectMethod(i));
@@ -632,8 +633,9 @@
   void CompileClass(mirror::ClassLoader* class_loader, const char* class_name)
       SHARED_LOCKS_REQUIRED(Locks::mutator_lock_) {
     std::string class_descriptor(DotToDescriptor(class_name));
-    SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader> loader(Thread::Current(), class_loader);
-    mirror::Class* klass = class_linker_->FindClass(class_descriptor.c_str(), loader);
+    Thread* self = Thread::Current();
+    SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader> loader(self, class_loader);
+    mirror::Class* klass = class_linker_->FindClass(self, class_descriptor.c_str(), loader);
     CHECK(klass != NULL) << "Class not found " << class_name;
     for (size_t i = 0; i < klass->NumDirectMethods(); i++) {
       CompileMethod(klass->GetDirectMethod(i));
@@ -656,7 +658,8 @@
                            const char* method_name, const char* signature)
       SHARED_LOCKS_REQUIRED(Locks::mutator_lock_) {
     std::string class_descriptor(DotToDescriptor(class_name));
-    mirror::Class* klass = class_linker_->FindClass(class_descriptor.c_str(), class_loader);
+    Thread* self = Thread::Current();
+    mirror::Class* klass = class_linker_->FindClass(self, class_descriptor.c_str(), class_loader);
     CHECK(klass != NULL) << "Class not found " << class_name;
     mirror::ArtMethod* method = klass->FindDirectMethod(method_name, signature);
     CHECK(method != NULL) << "Direct method not found: "
@@ -668,7 +671,8 @@
                             const char* method_name, const char* signature)
       SHARED_LOCKS_REQUIRED(Locks::mutator_lock_) {
     std::string class_descriptor(DotToDescriptor(class_name));
-    mirror::Class* klass = class_linker_->FindClass(class_descriptor.c_str(), class_loader);
+    Thread* self = Thread::Current();
+    mirror::Class* klass = class_linker_->FindClass(self, class_descriptor.c_str(), class_loader);
     CHECK(klass != NULL) << "Class not found " << class_name;
     mirror::ArtMethod* method = klass->FindVirtualMethod(method_name, signature);
     CHECK(method != NULL) << "Virtual method not found: "
diff --git a/runtime/debugger.cc b/runtime/debugger.cc
index 89f841e..d3f684d 100644
--- a/runtime/debugger.cc
+++ b/runtime/debugger.cc
@@ -289,27 +289,39 @@
   return static_cast<JDWP::JdwpTag>(descriptor[0]);
 }
 
-static JDWP::JdwpTag TagFromClass(mirror::Class* c)
+static JDWP::JdwpTag TagFromClass(const ScopedObjectAccessUnchecked& soa, mirror::Class* c)
     SHARED_LOCKS_REQUIRED(Locks::mutator_lock_) {
   CHECK(c != NULL);
   if (c->IsArrayClass()) {
     return JDWP::JT_ARRAY;
   }
-
-  ClassLinker* class_linker = Runtime::Current()->GetClassLinker();
   if (c->IsStringClass()) {
     return JDWP::JT_STRING;
-  } else if (c->IsClassClass()) {
-    return JDWP::JT_CLASS_OBJECT;
-  } else if (class_linker->FindSystemClass("Ljava/lang/Thread;")->IsAssignableFrom(c)) {
-    return JDWP::JT_THREAD;
-  } else if (class_linker->FindSystemClass("Ljava/lang/ThreadGroup;")->IsAssignableFrom(c)) {
-    return JDWP::JT_THREAD_GROUP;
-  } else if (class_linker->FindSystemClass("Ljava/lang/ClassLoader;")->IsAssignableFrom(c)) {
-    return JDWP::JT_CLASS_LOADER;
-  } else {
-    return JDWP::JT_OBJECT;
   }
+  if (c->IsClassClass()) {
+    return JDWP::JT_CLASS_OBJECT;
+  }
+  {
+    mirror::Class* thread_class = soa.Decode<mirror::Class*>(WellKnownClasses::java_lang_Thread);
+    if (thread_class->IsAssignableFrom(c)) {
+      return JDWP::JT_THREAD;
+    }
+  }
+  {
+    mirror::Class* thread_group_class =
+        soa.Decode<mirror::Class*>(WellKnownClasses::java_lang_ThreadGroup);
+    if (thread_group_class->IsAssignableFrom(c)) {
+      return JDWP::JT_THREAD_GROUP;
+    }
+  }
+  {
+    mirror::Class* class_loader_class =
+        soa.Decode<mirror::Class*>(WellKnownClasses::java_lang_ClassLoader);
+    if (class_loader_class->IsAssignableFrom(c)) {
+      return JDWP::JT_CLASS_LOADER;
+    }
+  }
+  return JDWP::JT_OBJECT;
 }
 
 /*
@@ -320,9 +332,9 @@
  *
  * Null objects are tagged JT_OBJECT.
  */
-static JDWP::JdwpTag TagFromObject(mirror::Object* o)
+static JDWP::JdwpTag TagFromObject(const ScopedObjectAccessUnchecked& soa, mirror::Object* o)
     SHARED_LOCKS_REQUIRED(Locks::mutator_lock_) {
-  return (o == NULL) ? JDWP::JT_OBJECT : TagFromClass(o->GetClass());
+  return (o == NULL) ? JDWP::JT_OBJECT : TagFromClass(soa, o->GetClass());
 }
 
 static bool IsPrimitiveTag(JDWP::JdwpTag tag) {
@@ -1011,11 +1023,12 @@
 }
 
 JDWP::JdwpError Dbg::GetObjectTag(JDWP::ObjectId object_id, uint8_t& tag) {
+  ScopedObjectAccessUnchecked soa(Thread::Current());
   mirror::Object* o = gRegistry->Get<mirror::Object*>(object_id);
   if (o == ObjectRegistry::kInvalidObject) {
     return JDWP::ERR_INVALID_OBJECT;
   }
-  tag = TagFromObject(o);
+  tag = TagFromObject(soa, o);
   return JDWP::ERR_NONE;
 }
 
@@ -1062,7 +1075,7 @@
 JDWP::JdwpError Dbg::OutputArray(JDWP::ObjectId array_id, int offset, int count, JDWP::ExpandBuf* pReply) {
   JDWP::JdwpError status;
   mirror::Array* a = DecodeArray(array_id, status);
-  if (a == NULL) {
+  if (a == nullptr) {
     return status;
   }
 
@@ -1093,10 +1106,12 @@
       memcpy(dst, &src[offset * width], count * width);
     }
   } else {
+    ScopedObjectAccessUnchecked soa(Thread::Current());
     mirror::ObjectArray<mirror::Object>* oa = a->AsObjectArray<mirror::Object>();
     for (int i = 0; i < count; ++i) {
       mirror::Object* element = oa->Get(offset + i);
-      JDWP::JdwpTag specific_tag = (element != NULL) ? TagFromObject(element) : tag;
+      JDWP::JdwpTag specific_tag = (element != nullptr) ? TagFromObject(soa, element)
+                                                        : tag;
       expandBufAdd1(pReply, specific_tag);
       expandBufAddObjectId(pReply, gRegistry->Add(element));
     }
@@ -1639,8 +1654,9 @@
       CHECK_EQ(tag, JDWP::JT_VOID);
     }
   } else {
+    ScopedObjectAccessUnchecked soa(Thread::Current());
     mirror::Object* value = return_value->GetL();
-    expandBufAdd1(pReply, TagFromObject(value));
+    expandBufAdd1(pReply, TagFromObject(soa, value));
     expandBufAddObjectId(pReply, gRegistry->Add(value));
   }
 }
@@ -1672,7 +1688,7 @@
   if (thread_object == ObjectRegistry::kInvalidObject) {
     return JDWP::ERR_INVALID_OBJECT;
   }
-
+  const char* old_cause = soa.Self()->StartAssertNoThreadSuspension("Debugger: GetThreadGroup");
   // Okay, so it's an object, but is it actually a thread?
   MutexLock mu(soa.Self(), *Locks::thread_list_lock_);
   Thread* thread;
@@ -1685,14 +1701,14 @@
   if (error != JDWP::ERR_NONE) {
     return error;
   }
-
-  mirror::Class* c = Runtime::Current()->GetClassLinker()->FindSystemClass("Ljava/lang/Thread;");
-  CHECK(c != NULL);
+  mirror::Class* c = soa.Decode<mirror::Class*>(WellKnownClasses::java_lang_Thread);
+  CHECK(c != nullptr);
   mirror::ArtField* f = c->FindInstanceField("group", "Ljava/lang/ThreadGroup;");
   CHECK(f != NULL);
   mirror::Object* group = f->GetObject(thread_object);
   CHECK(group != NULL);
   JDWP::ObjectId thread_group_id = gRegistry->Add(group);
+  soa.Self()->EndAssertNoThreadSuspension(old_cause);
 
   expandBufAddObjectId(pReply, thread_group_id);
   return JDWP::ERR_NONE;
@@ -1701,25 +1717,28 @@
 std::string Dbg::GetThreadGroupName(JDWP::ObjectId thread_group_id) {
   ScopedObjectAccess soa(Thread::Current());
   mirror::Object* thread_group = gRegistry->Get<mirror::Object*>(thread_group_id);
-  CHECK(thread_group != NULL);
-
-  mirror::Class* c = Runtime::Current()->GetClassLinker()->FindSystemClass("Ljava/lang/ThreadGroup;");
-  CHECK(c != NULL);
+  CHECK(thread_group != nullptr);
+  const char* old_cause = soa.Self()->StartAssertNoThreadSuspension("Debugger: GetThreadGroupName");
+  mirror::Class* c = soa.Decode<mirror::Class*>(WellKnownClasses::java_lang_ThreadGroup);
+  CHECK(c != nullptr);
   mirror::ArtField* f = c->FindInstanceField("name", "Ljava/lang/String;");
   CHECK(f != NULL);
   mirror::String* s = reinterpret_cast<mirror::String*>(f->GetObject(thread_group));
+  soa.Self()->EndAssertNoThreadSuspension(old_cause);
   return s->ToModifiedUtf8();
 }
 
 JDWP::ObjectId Dbg::GetThreadGroupParent(JDWP::ObjectId thread_group_id) {
+  ScopedObjectAccessUnchecked soa(Thread::Current());
   mirror::Object* thread_group = gRegistry->Get<mirror::Object*>(thread_group_id);
-  CHECK(thread_group != NULL);
-
-  mirror::Class* c = Runtime::Current()->GetClassLinker()->FindSystemClass("Ljava/lang/ThreadGroup;");
-  CHECK(c != NULL);
+  CHECK(thread_group != nullptr);
+  const char* old_cause = soa.Self()->StartAssertNoThreadSuspension("Debugger: GetThreadGroupParent");
+  mirror::Class* c = soa.Decode<mirror::Class*>(WellKnownClasses::java_lang_ThreadGroup);
+  CHECK(c != nullptr);
   mirror::ArtField* f = c->FindInstanceField("parent", "Ljava/lang/ThreadGroup;");
   CHECK(f != NULL);
   mirror::Object* parent = f->GetObject(thread_group);
+  soa.Self()->EndAssertNoThreadSuspension(old_cause);
   return gRegistry->Add(parent);
 }
 
@@ -2090,13 +2109,13 @@
   return JDWP::ERR_NONE;
 }
 
-void Dbg::GetLocalValue(JDWP::ObjectId thread_id, JDWP::FrameId frame_id, int slot, JDWP::JdwpTag tag,
-                        uint8_t* buf, size_t width) {
+void Dbg::GetLocalValue(JDWP::ObjectId thread_id, JDWP::FrameId frame_id, int slot,
+                        JDWP::JdwpTag tag, uint8_t* buf, size_t width) {
   struct GetLocalVisitor : public StackVisitor {
-    GetLocalVisitor(Thread* thread, Context* context, JDWP::FrameId frame_id, int slot,
-                    JDWP::JdwpTag tag, uint8_t* buf, size_t width)
+    GetLocalVisitor(const ScopedObjectAccessUnchecked& soa, Thread* thread, Context* context,
+                    JDWP::FrameId frame_id, int slot, JDWP::JdwpTag tag, uint8_t* buf, size_t width)
         SHARED_LOCKS_REQUIRED(Locks::mutator_lock_)
-        : StackVisitor(thread, context), frame_id_(frame_id), slot_(slot), tag_(tag),
+        : StackVisitor(thread, context), soa_(soa), frame_id_(frame_id), slot_(slot), tag_(tag),
           buf_(buf), width_(width) {}
 
     // TODO: Enable annotalysis. We know lock is held in constructor, but abstraction confuses
@@ -2175,7 +2194,7 @@
           if (!Runtime::Current()->GetHeap()->IsValidObjectAddress(o)) {
             LOG(FATAL) << "Register " << reg << " expected to hold object: " << o;
           }
-          tag_ = TagFromObject(o);
+          tag_ = TagFromObject(soa_, o);
           JDWP::SetObjectId(buf_+1, gRegistry->Add(o));
         }
         break;
@@ -2208,7 +2227,7 @@
       JDWP::Set1(buf_, tag_);
       return false;
     }
-
+    const ScopedObjectAccessUnchecked& soa_;
     const JDWP::FrameId frame_id_;
     const int slot_;
     JDWP::JdwpTag tag_;
@@ -2224,7 +2243,7 @@
     return;
   }
   UniquePtr<Context> context(Context::Create());
-  GetLocalVisitor visitor(thread, context.get(), frame_id, slot, tag, buf, width);
+  GetLocalVisitor visitor(soa, thread, context.get(), frame_id, slot, tag, buf, width);
   visitor.WalkStack();
 }
 
@@ -3037,7 +3056,7 @@
     pReq->result_value.SetJ(0);
   } else if (pReq->result_tag == JDWP::JT_OBJECT) {
     /* if no exception thrown, examine object result more closely */
-    JDWP::JdwpTag new_tag = TagFromObject(pReq->result_value.GetL());
+    JDWP::JdwpTag new_tag = TagFromObject(soa, pReq->result_value.GetL());
     if (new_tag != pReq->result_tag) {
       VLOG(jdwp) << "  JDWP promoted result from " << pReq->result_tag << " to " << new_tag;
       pReq->result_tag = new_tag;
diff --git a/runtime/entrypoints/entrypoint_utils.h b/runtime/entrypoints/entrypoint_utils.h
index 8b94b5a..2c08351 100644
--- a/runtime/entrypoints/entrypoint_utils.h
+++ b/runtime/entrypoints/entrypoint_utils.h
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@
 #define ART_RUNTIME_ENTRYPOINTS_ENTRYPOINT_UTILS_H_
 
 #include "base/macros.h"
-#include "class_linker.h"
+#include "class_linker-inl.h"
 #include "common_throws.h"
 #include "dex_file.h"
 #include "indirect_reference_table.h"
diff --git a/runtime/exception_test.cc b/runtime/exception_test.cc
index f7b621f..c7f537a 100644
--- a/runtime/exception_test.cc
+++ b/runtime/exception_test.cc
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@
     ScopedObjectAccess soa(Thread::Current());
     SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader> class_loader(
         soa.Self(), soa.Decode<mirror::ClassLoader*>(LoadDex("ExceptionHandle")));
-    my_klass_ = class_linker_->FindClass("LExceptionHandle;", class_loader);
+    my_klass_ = class_linker_->FindClass(soa.Self(), "LExceptionHandle;", class_loader);
     ASSERT_TRUE(my_klass_ != NULL);
     SirtRef<mirror::Class> sirt_klass(soa.Self(), my_klass_);
     class_linker_->EnsureInitialized(sirt_klass, true, true);
diff --git a/runtime/gc/heap_test.cc b/runtime/gc/heap_test.cc
index b02b8bb..4b86339 100644
--- a/runtime/gc/heap_test.cc
+++ b/runtime/gc/heap_test.cc
@@ -43,7 +43,8 @@
     ScopedObjectAccess soa(Thread::Current());
     // garbage is created during ClassLinker::Init
 
-    SirtRef<mirror::Class> c(soa.Self(), class_linker_->FindSystemClass("[Ljava/lang/Object;"));
+    SirtRef<mirror::Class> c(soa.Self(), class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(),
+                                                                        "[Ljava/lang/Object;"));
     for (size_t i = 0; i < 1024; ++i) {
       SirtRef<mirror::ObjectArray<mirror::Object> > array(soa.Self(),
           mirror::ObjectArray<mirror::Object>::Alloc(soa.Self(), c.get(), 2048));
diff --git a/runtime/gc/space/space_test.h b/runtime/gc/space/space_test.h
index d01bf2c..093967e 100644
--- a/runtime/gc/space/space_test.h
+++ b/runtime/gc/space/space_test.h
@@ -43,8 +43,9 @@
       SHARED_LOCKS_REQUIRED(Locks::mutator_lock_) {
     // Note the minimum size, which is the size of a zero-length byte array.
     EXPECT_GE(size, SizeOfZeroLengthByteArray());
-    SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader> null_loader(Thread::Current(), nullptr);
-    mirror::Class* byte_array_class = Runtime::Current()->GetClassLinker()->FindClass("[B",
+    Thread* self = Thread::Current();
+    SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader> null_loader(self, nullptr);
+    mirror::Class* byte_array_class = Runtime::Current()->GetClassLinker()->FindClass(self, "[B",
                                                                                       null_loader);
     EXPECT_TRUE(byte_array_class != nullptr);
     o->SetClass(byte_array_class);
diff --git a/runtime/indirect_reference_table_test.cc b/runtime/indirect_reference_table_test.cc
index b6c6cb4..78e1992 100644
--- a/runtime/indirect_reference_table_test.cc
+++ b/runtime/indirect_reference_table_test.cc
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@
   static const size_t kTableMax = 20;
   IndirectReferenceTable irt(kTableInitial, kTableMax, kGlobal);
 
-  mirror::Class* c = class_linker_->FindSystemClass("Ljava/lang/Object;");
+  mirror::Class* c = class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(), "Ljava/lang/Object;");
   ASSERT_TRUE(c != NULL);
   mirror::Object* obj0 = c->AllocObject(soa.Self());
   ASSERT_TRUE(obj0 != NULL);
diff --git a/runtime/interpreter/interpreter_common.cc b/runtime/interpreter/interpreter_common.cc
index 9e1d915..83a1fbc 100644
--- a/runtime/interpreter/interpreter_common.cc
+++ b/runtime/interpreter/interpreter_common.cc
@@ -280,7 +280,7 @@
     std::string descriptor(DotToDescriptor(shadow_frame->GetVRegReference(arg_offset)->AsString()->ToModifiedUtf8().c_str()));
 
     SirtRef<ClassLoader> class_loader(self, nullptr);  // shadow_frame.GetMethod()->GetDeclaringClass()->GetClassLoader();
-    Class* found = Runtime::Current()->GetClassLinker()->FindClass(descriptor.c_str(),
+    Class* found = Runtime::Current()->GetClassLinker()->FindClass(self, descriptor.c_str(),
                                                                    class_loader);
     CHECK(found != NULL) << "Class.forName failed in un-started runtime for class: "
         << PrettyDescriptor(descriptor);
@@ -289,7 +289,7 @@
     SirtRef<ClassLoader> class_loader(self, down_cast<mirror::ClassLoader*>(shadow_frame->GetVRegReference(arg_offset)));
     std::string descriptor(DotToDescriptor(shadow_frame->GetVRegReference(arg_offset + 1)->AsString()->ToModifiedUtf8().c_str()));
 
-    Class* found = Runtime::Current()->GetClassLinker()->FindClass(descriptor.c_str(),
+    Class* found = Runtime::Current()->GetClassLinker()->FindClass(self, descriptor.c_str(),
                                                                    class_loader);
     result->SetL(found);
   } else if (name == "java.lang.Object java.lang.Class.newInstance()") {
diff --git a/runtime/jni_internal.cc b/runtime/jni_internal.cc
index a0665b5..76aa734 100644
--- a/runtime/jni_internal.cc
+++ b/runtime/jni_internal.cc
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@
 #include "base/mutex.h"
 #include "base/stl_util.h"
 #include "base/stringpiece.h"
-#include "class_linker.h"
+#include "class_linker-inl.h"
 #include "dex_file-inl.h"
 #include "gc/accounting/card_table-inl.h"
 #include "interpreter/interpreter.h"
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@
   ClassLinker* class_linker = Runtime::Current()->GetClassLinker();
   if (sig[1] != '\0') {
     SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader> class_loader(soa.Self(), c->GetClassLoader());
-    field_type = class_linker->FindClass(sig, class_loader);
+    field_type = class_linker->FindClass(soa.Self(), sig, class_loader);
   } else {
     field_type = class_linker->FindPrimitiveClass(*sig);
   }
@@ -651,9 +651,9 @@
     mirror::Class* c = nullptr;
     if (runtime->IsStarted()) {
       SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader> class_loader(soa.Self(), GetClassLoader(soa));
-      c = class_linker->FindClass(descriptor.c_str(), class_loader);
+      c = class_linker->FindClass(soa.Self(), descriptor.c_str(), class_loader);
     } else {
-      c = class_linker->FindSystemClass(descriptor.c_str());
+      c = class_linker->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(), descriptor.c_str());
     }
     return soa.AddLocalReference<jclass>(c);
   }
@@ -2140,13 +2140,8 @@
                   PrettyDescriptor(element_class).c_str());
         return nullptr;
       }
-      std::string descriptor("[");
-      descriptor += ClassHelper(element_class).GetDescriptor();
-
-      // Find the class.
       ClassLinker* class_linker = Runtime::Current()->GetClassLinker();
-      SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader> class_loader(soa.Self(), element_class->GetClassLoader());
-      array_class = class_linker->FindClass(descriptor.c_str(), class_loader);
+      array_class = class_linker->FindArrayClass(soa.Self(), element_class);
       if (UNLIKELY(array_class == nullptr)) {
         return nullptr;
       }
diff --git a/runtime/jni_internal_test.cc b/runtime/jni_internal_test.cc
index 2dd7d96..63bc45c 100644
--- a/runtime/jni_internal_test.cc
+++ b/runtime/jni_internal_test.cc
@@ -107,7 +107,8 @@
                      class_name);
     }
 
-    mirror::Class* c = class_linker_->FindClass(DotToDescriptor(class_name).c_str(), class_loader);
+    mirror::Class* c = class_linker_->FindClass(self, DotToDescriptor(class_name).c_str(),
+                                                class_loader);
     CHECK(c != NULL);
 
     *method = is_static ? c->FindDirectMethod(method_name, method_signature)
@@ -1778,7 +1779,7 @@
       class_loader(soa.Self(), soa.Decode<mirror::ClassLoader*>(jclass_loader));
   CompileDirectMethod(class_loader, "Main", "main", "([Ljava/lang/String;)V");
 
-  mirror::Class* klass = class_linker_->FindClass("LMain;", class_loader);
+  mirror::Class* klass = class_linker_->FindClass(soa.Self(), "LMain;", class_loader);
   ASSERT_TRUE(klass != NULL);
 
   mirror::ArtMethod* method = klass->FindDirectMethod("main", "([Ljava/lang/String;)V");
diff --git a/runtime/mirror/array.cc b/runtime/mirror/array.cc
index 2180857..715f072 100644
--- a/runtime/mirror/array.cc
+++ b/runtime/mirror/array.cc
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 
 #include "class.h"
 #include "class-inl.h"
+#include "class_linker-inl.h"
 #include "common_throws.h"
 #include "dex_file-inl.h"
 #include "gc/accounting/card_table-inl.h"
@@ -85,20 +86,22 @@
     }
   }
 
-  // Generate the full name of the array class.
-  std::string descriptor(num_dimensions, '[');
-  descriptor += ClassHelper(element_class.get()).GetDescriptor();
-
   // Find/generate the array class.
   ClassLinker* class_linker = Runtime::Current()->GetClassLinker();
-  SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader> class_loader(self, element_class->GetClassLoader());
   SirtRef<mirror::Class> array_class(self,
-                                     class_linker->FindClass(descriptor.c_str(), class_loader));
+                                     class_linker->FindArrayClass(self, element_class.get()));
   if (UNLIKELY(array_class.get() == nullptr)) {
     CHECK(self->IsExceptionPending());
     return nullptr;
   }
-  // create the array
+  for (int32_t i = 1; i < dimensions->GetLength(); ++i) {
+    array_class.reset(class_linker->FindArrayClass(self, array_class.get()));
+    if (UNLIKELY(array_class.get() == nullptr)) {
+      CHECK(self->IsExceptionPending());
+      return nullptr;
+    }
+  }
+  // Create the array.
   Array* new_array = RecursiveCreateMultiArray(self, array_class, 0, dimensions);
   if (UNLIKELY(new_array == nullptr)) {
     CHECK(self->IsExceptionPending());
diff --git a/runtime/mirror/class.cc b/runtime/mirror/class.cc
index 3208de9..6dbb29d 100644
--- a/runtime/mirror/class.cc
+++ b/runtime/mirror/class.cc
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@
             << PrettyClass(this) << " " << old_status << " -> " << new_status;
     }
   }
-  if (new_status == kStatusError) {
+  if (UNLIKELY(new_status == kStatusError)) {
     CHECK_NE(GetStatus(), kStatusError)
         << "Attempt to set as erroneous an already erroneous class " << PrettyClass(this);
 
@@ -95,7 +95,8 @@
     // clear exception to call FindSystemClass
     self->ClearException();
     ClassLinker* class_linker = Runtime::Current()->GetClassLinker();
-    Class* eiie_class = class_linker->FindSystemClass("Ljava/lang/ExceptionInInitializerError;");
+    Class* eiie_class = class_linker->FindSystemClass(self,
+                                                      "Ljava/lang/ExceptionInInitializerError;");
     CHECK(!self->IsExceptionPending());
 
     // Only verification errors, not initialization problems, should set a verify error.
diff --git a/runtime/mirror/object_test.cc b/runtime/mirror/object_test.cc
index 40c3748..34fb15e 100644
--- a/runtime/mirror/object_test.cc
+++ b/runtime/mirror/object_test.cc
@@ -123,7 +123,8 @@
   EXPECT_TRUE(oa->Get(0) == oa.get());
   EXPECT_TRUE(oa->Get(1) == oa.get());
 
-  Class* aioobe = class_linker_->FindSystemClass("Ljava/lang/ArrayIndexOutOfBoundsException;");
+  Class* aioobe = class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(),
+                                                 "Ljava/lang/ArrayIndexOutOfBoundsException;");
 
   EXPECT_TRUE(oa->Get(-1) == NULL);
   EXPECT_TRUE(soa.Self()->IsExceptionPending());
@@ -138,21 +139,23 @@
   ASSERT_TRUE(oa->GetClass() != NULL);
   ClassHelper oa_ch(oa->GetClass());
   ASSERT_EQ(2U, oa_ch.NumDirectInterfaces());
-  EXPECT_EQ(class_linker_->FindSystemClass("Ljava/lang/Cloneable;"), oa_ch.GetDirectInterface(0));
-  EXPECT_EQ(class_linker_->FindSystemClass("Ljava/io/Serializable;"), oa_ch.GetDirectInterface(1));
+  EXPECT_EQ(class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(), "Ljava/lang/Cloneable;"),
+            oa_ch.GetDirectInterface(0));
+  EXPECT_EQ(class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(), "Ljava/io/Serializable;"),
+            oa_ch.GetDirectInterface(1));
 }
 
 TEST_F(ObjectTest, AllocArray) {
   ScopedObjectAccess soa(Thread::Current());
-  Class* c = class_linker_->FindSystemClass("[I");
+  Class* c = class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(), "[I");
   SirtRef<Array> a(soa.Self(), Array::Alloc<true>(soa.Self(), c, 1));
   ASSERT_TRUE(c == a->GetClass());
 
-  c = class_linker_->FindSystemClass("[Ljava/lang/Object;");
+  c = class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(), "[Ljava/lang/Object;");
   a.reset(Array::Alloc<true>(soa.Self(), c, 1));
   ASSERT_TRUE(c == a->GetClass());
 
-  c = class_linker_->FindSystemClass("[[Ljava/lang/Object;");
+  c = class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(), "[[Ljava/lang/Object;");
   a.reset(Array::Alloc<true>(soa.Self(), c, 1));
   ASSERT_TRUE(c == a->GetClass());
 }
@@ -173,7 +176,7 @@
   EXPECT_EQ(T(123), a->Get(0));
   EXPECT_EQ(T(321), a->Get(1));
 
-  Class* aioobe = cl->FindSystemClass("Ljava/lang/ArrayIndexOutOfBoundsException;");
+  Class* aioobe = cl->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(), "Ljava/lang/ArrayIndexOutOfBoundsException;");
 
   EXPECT_EQ(0, a->Get(-1));
   EXPECT_TRUE(soa.Self()->IsExceptionPending());
@@ -214,7 +217,7 @@
 TEST_F(ObjectTest, CheckAndAllocArrayFromCode) {
   // pretend we are trying to call 'new char[3]' from String.toCharArray
   ScopedObjectAccess soa(Thread::Current());
-  Class* java_util_Arrays = class_linker_->FindSystemClass("Ljava/util/Arrays;");
+  Class* java_util_Arrays = class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(), "Ljava/util/Arrays;");
   ArtMethod* sort = java_util_Arrays->FindDirectMethod("sort", "([I)V");
   const DexFile::StringId* string_id = java_lang_dex_file_->FindStringId("[I");
   ASSERT_TRUE(string_id != NULL);
@@ -233,11 +236,11 @@
 TEST_F(ObjectTest, CreateMultiArray) {
   ScopedObjectAccess soa(Thread::Current());
 
-  SirtRef<Class> c(soa.Self(), class_linker_->FindSystemClass("I"));
+  SirtRef<Class> c(soa.Self(), class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(), "I"));
   SirtRef<IntArray> dims(soa.Self(), IntArray::Alloc(soa.Self(), 1));
   dims->Set<false>(0, 1);
   Array* multi = Array::CreateMultiArray(soa.Self(), c, dims);
-  EXPECT_TRUE(multi->GetClass() == class_linker_->FindSystemClass("[I"));
+  EXPECT_TRUE(multi->GetClass() == class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(), "[I"));
   EXPECT_EQ(1, multi->GetLength());
 
   dims->Set<false>(0, -1);
@@ -253,11 +256,11 @@
       dims->Set<false>(0, i);
       dims->Set<false>(1, j);
       multi = Array::CreateMultiArray(soa.Self(), c, dims);
-      EXPECT_TRUE(multi->GetClass() == class_linker_->FindSystemClass("[[I"));
+      EXPECT_TRUE(multi->GetClass() == class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(), "[[I"));
       EXPECT_EQ(i, multi->GetLength());
       for (int k = 0; k < i; ++k) {
         Array* outer = multi->AsObjectArray<Array>()->Get(k);
-        EXPECT_TRUE(outer->GetClass() == class_linker_->FindSystemClass("[I"));
+        EXPECT_TRUE(outer->GetClass() == class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(), "[I"));
         EXPECT_EQ(j, outer->GetLength());
       }
     }
@@ -272,8 +275,7 @@
   CHECK(dex_file != NULL);
 
   SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader> loader(soa.Self(), soa.Decode<ClassLoader*>(class_loader));
-  Class* klass =
-      class_linker_->FindClass("LStaticsFromCode;", loader);
+  Class* klass = class_linker_->FindClass(soa.Self(), "LStaticsFromCode;", loader);
   ArtMethod* clinit = klass->FindClassInitializer();
   const DexFile::StringId* klass_string_id = dex_file->FindStringId("LStaticsFromCode;");
   ASSERT_TRUE(klass_string_id != NULL);
@@ -404,9 +406,9 @@
   SirtRef<ClassLoader> class_loader_1(soa.Self(), soa.Decode<ClassLoader*>(jclass_loader_1));
   SirtRef<ClassLoader> class_loader_2(soa.Self(), soa.Decode<ClassLoader*>(jclass_loader_2));
 
-  Class* klass1 = linker->FindClass("LProtoCompare;", class_loader_1);
+  Class* klass1 = linker->FindClass(soa.Self(), "LProtoCompare;", class_loader_1);
   ASSERT_TRUE(klass1 != NULL);
-  Class* klass2 = linker->FindClass("LProtoCompare2;", class_loader_2);
+  Class* klass2 = linker->FindClass(soa.Self(), "LProtoCompare2;", class_loader_2);
   ASSERT_TRUE(klass2 != NULL);
 
   ArtMethod* m1_1 = klass1->GetVirtualMethod(0);
@@ -472,8 +474,8 @@
   jobject jclass_loader = LoadDex("XandY");
   SirtRef<ClassLoader> class_loader(soa.Self(), soa.Decode<ClassLoader*>(jclass_loader));
 
-  Class* X = class_linker_->FindClass("LX;", class_loader);
-  Class* Y = class_linker_->FindClass("LY;", class_loader);
+  Class* X = class_linker_->FindClass(soa.Self(), "LX;", class_loader);
+  Class* Y = class_linker_->FindClass(soa.Self(), "LY;", class_loader);
   ASSERT_TRUE(X != NULL);
   ASSERT_TRUE(Y != NULL);
 
@@ -487,16 +489,16 @@
   EXPECT_TRUE(y->InstanceOf(X));
   EXPECT_TRUE(y->InstanceOf(Y));
 
-  Class* java_lang_Class = class_linker_->FindSystemClass("Ljava/lang/Class;");
-  Class* Object_array_class = class_linker_->FindSystemClass("[Ljava/lang/Object;");
+  Class* java_lang_Class = class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(), "Ljava/lang/Class;");
+  Class* Object_array_class = class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(), "[Ljava/lang/Object;");
 
   EXPECT_FALSE(java_lang_Class->InstanceOf(Object_array_class));
   EXPECT_TRUE(Object_array_class->InstanceOf(java_lang_Class));
 
   // All array classes implement Cloneable and Serializable.
   Object* array = ObjectArray<Object>::Alloc(soa.Self(), Object_array_class, 1);
-  Class* java_lang_Cloneable = class_linker_->FindSystemClass("Ljava/lang/Cloneable;");
-  Class* java_io_Serializable = class_linker_->FindSystemClass("Ljava/io/Serializable;");
+  Class* java_lang_Cloneable = class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(), "Ljava/lang/Cloneable;");
+  Class* java_io_Serializable = class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(), "Ljava/io/Serializable;");
   EXPECT_TRUE(array->InstanceOf(java_lang_Cloneable));
   EXPECT_TRUE(array->InstanceOf(java_io_Serializable));
 }
@@ -505,8 +507,8 @@
   ScopedObjectAccess soa(Thread::Current());
   jobject jclass_loader = LoadDex("XandY");
   SirtRef<ClassLoader> class_loader(soa.Self(), soa.Decode<ClassLoader*>(jclass_loader));
-  Class* X = class_linker_->FindClass("LX;", class_loader);
-  Class* Y = class_linker_->FindClass("LY;", class_loader);
+  Class* X = class_linker_->FindClass(soa.Self(), "LX;", class_loader);
+  Class* Y = class_linker_->FindClass(soa.Self(), "LY;", class_loader);
 
   EXPECT_TRUE(X->IsAssignableFrom(X));
   EXPECT_TRUE(X->IsAssignableFrom(Y));
@@ -514,8 +516,8 @@
   EXPECT_TRUE(Y->IsAssignableFrom(Y));
 
   // class final String implements CharSequence, ..
-  Class* string = class_linker_->FindSystemClass("Ljava/lang/String;");
-  Class* charseq = class_linker_->FindSystemClass("Ljava/lang/CharSequence;");
+  Class* string = class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(), "Ljava/lang/String;");
+  Class* charseq = class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(), "Ljava/lang/CharSequence;");
   // Can String be assigned to CharSequence without a cast?
   EXPECT_TRUE(charseq->IsAssignableFrom(string));
   // Can CharSequence be assigned to String without a cast?
@@ -542,36 +544,36 @@
   ScopedObjectAccess soa(Thread::Current());
   jobject jclass_loader = LoadDex("XandY");
   SirtRef<ClassLoader> class_loader(soa.Self(), soa.Decode<ClassLoader*>(jclass_loader));
-  Class* X = class_linker_->FindClass("LX;", class_loader);
-  Class* Y = class_linker_->FindClass("LY;", class_loader);
+  Class* X = class_linker_->FindClass(soa.Self(), "LX;", class_loader);
+  Class* Y = class_linker_->FindClass(soa.Self(), "LY;", class_loader);
   ASSERT_TRUE(X != NULL);
   ASSERT_TRUE(Y != NULL);
 
-  Class* YA = class_linker_->FindClass("[LY;", class_loader);
-  Class* YAA = class_linker_->FindClass("[[LY;", class_loader);
+  Class* YA = class_linker_->FindClass(soa.Self(), "[LY;", class_loader);
+  Class* YAA = class_linker_->FindClass(soa.Self(), "[[LY;", class_loader);
   ASSERT_TRUE(YA != NULL);
   ASSERT_TRUE(YAA != NULL);
 
-  Class* XAA = class_linker_->FindClass("[[LX;", class_loader);
+  Class* XAA = class_linker_->FindClass(soa.Self(), "[[LX;", class_loader);
   ASSERT_TRUE(XAA != NULL);
 
-  Class* O = class_linker_->FindSystemClass("Ljava/lang/Object;");
-  Class* OA = class_linker_->FindSystemClass("[Ljava/lang/Object;");
-  Class* OAA = class_linker_->FindSystemClass("[[Ljava/lang/Object;");
-  Class* OAAA = class_linker_->FindSystemClass("[[[Ljava/lang/Object;");
+  Class* O = class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(), "Ljava/lang/Object;");
+  Class* OA = class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(), "[Ljava/lang/Object;");
+  Class* OAA = class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(), "[[Ljava/lang/Object;");
+  Class* OAAA = class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(), "[[[Ljava/lang/Object;");
   ASSERT_TRUE(O != NULL);
   ASSERT_TRUE(OA != NULL);
   ASSERT_TRUE(OAA != NULL);
   ASSERT_TRUE(OAAA != NULL);
 
-  Class* S = class_linker_->FindSystemClass("Ljava/io/Serializable;");
-  Class* SA = class_linker_->FindSystemClass("[Ljava/io/Serializable;");
-  Class* SAA = class_linker_->FindSystemClass("[[Ljava/io/Serializable;");
+  Class* S = class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(), "Ljava/io/Serializable;");
+  Class* SA = class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(), "[Ljava/io/Serializable;");
+  Class* SAA = class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(), "[[Ljava/io/Serializable;");
   ASSERT_TRUE(S != NULL);
   ASSERT_TRUE(SA != NULL);
   ASSERT_TRUE(SAA != NULL);
 
-  Class* IA = class_linker_->FindSystemClass("[I");
+  Class* IA = class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(), "[I");
   ASSERT_TRUE(IA != NULL);
 
   EXPECT_TRUE(YAA->IsAssignableFrom(YAA));  // identity
@@ -616,7 +618,7 @@
   // TODO: check that s.count == 3.
 
   // Ensure that we handle superclass fields correctly...
-  c = class_linker_->FindSystemClass("Ljava/lang/StringBuilder;");
+  c = class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(), "Ljava/lang/StringBuilder;");
   ASSERT_TRUE(c != NULL);
   // No StringBuilder.count...
   EXPECT_TRUE(c->FindDeclaredInstanceField("count", "I") == NULL);
diff --git a/runtime/native/dalvik_system_VMRuntime.cc b/runtime/native/dalvik_system_VMRuntime.cc
index def3292..5779442 100644
--- a/runtime/native/dalvik_system_VMRuntime.cc
+++ b/runtime/native/dalvik_system_VMRuntime.cc
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 
 #include <limits.h>
 
-#include "class_linker.h"
+#include "class_linker-inl.h"
 #include "common_throws.h"
 #include "debugger.h"
 #include "dex_file-inl.h"
@@ -57,22 +57,22 @@
                                             jint length) {
   ScopedFastNativeObjectAccess soa(env);
   mirror::Class* element_class = soa.Decode<mirror::Class*>(javaElementClass);
-  if (element_class == NULL) {
+  if (UNLIKELY(element_class == nullptr)) {
     ThrowNullPointerException(NULL, "element class == null");
-    return NULL;
+    return nullptr;
   }
-  if (length < 0) {
+  if (UNLIKELY(length < 0)) {
     ThrowNegativeArraySizeException(length);
-    return NULL;
+    return nullptr;
   }
-  ClassLinker* class_linker = Runtime::Current()->GetClassLinker();
-  std::string descriptor;
-  descriptor += "[";
-  descriptor += ClassHelper(element_class).GetDescriptor();
-  SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader> class_loader(soa.Self(), nullptr);
-  mirror::Class* array_class = class_linker->FindClass(descriptor.c_str(), class_loader);
+  Runtime* runtime = Runtime::Current();
+  mirror::Class* array_class = runtime->GetClassLinker()->FindArrayClass(soa.Self(), element_class);
+  if (UNLIKELY(array_class == nullptr)) {
+    return nullptr;
+  }
+  gc::AllocatorType allocator = runtime->GetHeap()->GetCurrentNonMovingAllocator();
   mirror::Array* result = mirror::Array::Alloc<true>(soa.Self(), array_class, length,
-                                                     Runtime::Current()->GetHeap()->GetCurrentNonMovingAllocator());
+                                                     allocator);
   return soa.AddLocalReference<jobject>(result);
 }
 
diff --git a/runtime/native/java_lang_Class.cc b/runtime/native/java_lang_Class.cc
index 3e3f608..8bf36e7 100644
--- a/runtime/native/java_lang_Class.cc
+++ b/runtime/native/java_lang_Class.cc
@@ -43,7 +43,8 @@
 }
 
 // "name" is in "binary name" format, e.g. "dalvik.system.Debug$1".
-static jclass Class_classForName(JNIEnv* env, jclass, jstring javaName, jboolean initialize, jobject javaLoader) {
+static jclass Class_classForName(JNIEnv* env, jclass, jstring javaName, jboolean initialize,
+                                 jobject javaLoader) {
   ScopedObjectAccess soa(env);
   ScopedUtfChars name(env, javaName);
   if (name.c_str() == nullptr) {
@@ -64,7 +65,8 @@
   SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader> class_loader(soa.Self(),
                                             soa.Decode<mirror::ClassLoader*>(javaLoader));
   ClassLinker* class_linker = Runtime::Current()->GetClassLinker();
-  SirtRef<mirror::Class> c(soa.Self(), class_linker->FindClass(descriptor.c_str(), class_loader));
+  SirtRef<mirror::Class> c(soa.Self(), class_linker->FindClass(soa.Self(), descriptor.c_str(),
+                                                               class_loader));
   if (c.get() == nullptr) {
     ScopedLocalRef<jthrowable> cause(env, env->ExceptionOccurred());
     env->ExceptionClear();
diff --git a/runtime/native/java_lang_reflect_Array.cc b/runtime/native/java_lang_reflect_Array.cc
index 2197597..fc30aa6 100644
--- a/runtime/native/java_lang_reflect_Array.cc
+++ b/runtime/native/java_lang_reflect_Array.cc
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  */
 
-#include "class_linker.h"
+#include "class_linker-inl.h"
 #include "common_throws.h"
 #include "dex_file-inl.h"
 #include "jni_internal.h"
@@ -50,12 +50,8 @@
     ThrowNegativeArraySizeException(length);
     return NULL;
   }
-  std::string descriptor("[");
-  descriptor += ClassHelper(element_class).GetDescriptor();
-
   ClassLinker* class_linker = Runtime::Current()->GetClassLinker();
-  SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader> class_loader(soa.Self(), element_class->GetClassLoader());
-  mirror::Class* array_class = class_linker->FindClass(descriptor.c_str(), class_loader);
+  mirror::Class* array_class = class_linker->FindArrayClass(soa.Self(), element_class);
   if (UNLIKELY(array_class == NULL)) {
     CHECK(soa.Self()->IsExceptionPending());
     return NULL;
diff --git a/runtime/object_utils.h b/runtime/object_utils.h
index a981fab..4eac291 100644
--- a/runtime/object_utils.h
+++ b/runtime/object_utils.h
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 #ifndef ART_RUNTIME_OBJECT_UTILS_H_
 #define ART_RUNTIME_OBJECT_UTILS_H_
 
-#include "class_linker-inl.h"
+#include "class_linker.h"
 #include "dex_file.h"
 #include "monitor.h"
 #include "mirror/art_field.h"
@@ -158,10 +158,10 @@
     DCHECK(!klass_->IsPrimitive());
     if (klass_->IsArrayClass()) {
       if (idx == 0) {
-        return GetClassLinker()->FindSystemClass("Ljava/lang/Cloneable;");
+        return GetClassLinker()->FindSystemClass(Thread::Current(), "Ljava/lang/Cloneable;");
       } else {
         DCHECK_EQ(1U, idx);
-        return GetClassLinker()->FindSystemClass("Ljava/io/Serializable;");
+        return GetClassLinker()->FindSystemClass(Thread::Current(), "Ljava/io/Serializable;");
       }
     } else if (klass_->IsProxyClass()) {
       return klass_->GetIfTable()->GetInterface(idx);
@@ -251,7 +251,7 @@
   mirror::Class* GetType(bool resolve = true) SHARED_LOCKS_REQUIRED(Locks::mutator_lock_) {
     uint32_t field_index = field_->GetDexFieldIndex();
     if (UNLIKELY(field_->GetDeclaringClass()->IsProxyClass())) {
-      return GetClassLinker()->FindSystemClass(GetTypeDescriptor());
+      return GetClassLinker()->FindSystemClass(Thread::Current(), GetTypeDescriptor());
     }
     const DexFile& dex_file = GetDexFile();
     const DexFile::FieldId& field_id = dex_file.GetFieldId(field_index);
diff --git a/runtime/scoped_thread_state_change.h b/runtime/scoped_thread_state_change.h
index 2f959db..f0f5ed2 100644
--- a/runtime/scoped_thread_state_change.h
+++ b/runtime/scoped_thread_state_change.h
@@ -122,6 +122,7 @@
       : ScopedThreadStateChange(ThreadForEnv(env), kRunnable),
         env_(down_cast<JNIEnvExt*>(env)), vm_(env_->vm) {
     self_->VerifyStack();
+    Locks::mutator_lock_->AssertSharedHeld(self_);
   }
 
   explicit ScopedObjectAccessUnchecked(Thread* self)
@@ -130,6 +131,7 @@
         env_(down_cast<JNIEnvExt*>(self->GetJniEnv())),
         vm_(env_ != NULL ? env_->vm : NULL) {
     self_->VerifyStack();
+    Locks::mutator_lock_->AssertSharedHeld(self_);
   }
 
   // Used when we want a scoped JNI thread state but have no thread/JNIEnv. Consequently doesn't
@@ -139,6 +141,7 @@
 
   // Here purely to force inlining.
   ~ScopedObjectAccessUnchecked() ALWAYS_INLINE {
+    Locks::mutator_lock_->AssertSharedHeld(self_);
   }
 
   JNIEnvExt* Env() const {
@@ -250,14 +253,12 @@
       LOCKS_EXCLUDED(Locks::thread_suspend_count_lock_)
       SHARED_LOCK_FUNCTION(Locks::mutator_lock_) ALWAYS_INLINE
       : ScopedObjectAccessUnchecked(env) {
-    Locks::mutator_lock_->AssertSharedHeld(Self());
   }
 
   explicit ScopedObjectAccess(Thread* self)
       LOCKS_EXCLUDED(Locks::thread_suspend_count_lock_)
       SHARED_LOCK_FUNCTION(Locks::mutator_lock_)
       : ScopedObjectAccessUnchecked(self) {
-    Locks::mutator_lock_->AssertSharedHeld(Self());
   }
 
   ~ScopedObjectAccess() UNLOCK_FUNCTION(Locks::mutator_lock_) ALWAYS_INLINE {
diff --git a/runtime/thread.cc b/runtime/thread.cc
index 8949a5b..8b93b91 100644
--- a/runtime/thread.cc
+++ b/runtime/thread.cc
@@ -1529,7 +1529,7 @@
   }
   SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader> class_loader(this, cl);
   SirtRef<mirror::Class>
-      exception_class(this, runtime->GetClassLinker()->FindClass(exception_class_descriptor,
+      exception_class(this, runtime->GetClassLinker()->FindClass(this, exception_class_descriptor,
                                                                  class_loader));
   if (UNLIKELY(exception_class.get() == nullptr)) {
     CHECK(IsExceptionPending());
diff --git a/runtime/transaction_test.cc b/runtime/transaction_test.cc
index dcfa24b..9dc7b44 100644
--- a/runtime/transaction_test.cc
+++ b/runtime/transaction_test.cc
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@
 TEST_F(TransactionTest, Object_class) {
   ScopedObjectAccess soa(Thread::Current());
   SirtRef<mirror::Class> sirt_klass(soa.Self(),
-                                    class_linker_->FindSystemClass("Ljava/lang/Object;"));
+                                    class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(), "Ljava/lang/Object;"));
   ASSERT_TRUE(sirt_klass.get() != nullptr);
 
   Transaction transaction;
@@ -47,7 +47,8 @@
 TEST_F(TransactionTest, Object_monitor) {
   ScopedObjectAccess soa(Thread::Current());
   SirtRef<mirror::Class> sirt_klass(soa.Self(),
-                                    class_linker_->FindSystemClass("Ljava/lang/Object;"));
+                                    class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(),
+                                                                   "Ljava/lang/Object;"));
   ASSERT_TRUE(sirt_klass.get() != nullptr);
   SirtRef<mirror::Object> sirt_obj(soa.Self(), sirt_klass->AllocObject(soa.Self()));
   ASSERT_TRUE(sirt_obj.get() != nullptr);
@@ -74,7 +75,8 @@
 TEST_F(TransactionTest, Array_length) {
   ScopedObjectAccess soa(Thread::Current());
   SirtRef<mirror::Class> sirt_klass(soa.Self(),
-                                    class_linker_->FindSystemClass("[Ljava/lang/Object;"));
+                                    class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(),
+                                                                   "[Ljava/lang/Object;"));
   ASSERT_TRUE(sirt_klass.get() != nullptr);
 
   constexpr int32_t kArraySize = 2;
@@ -101,7 +103,8 @@
   ASSERT_TRUE(class_loader.get() != nullptr);
 
   SirtRef<mirror::Class> sirt_klass(soa.Self(),
-                                    class_linker_->FindClass("LStaticFieldsTest;", class_loader));
+                                    class_linker_->FindClass(soa.Self(), "LStaticFieldsTest;",
+                                                             class_loader));
   ASSERT_TRUE(sirt_klass.get() != nullptr);
   class_linker_->EnsureInitialized(sirt_klass, true, true);
   ASSERT_TRUE(sirt_klass->IsInitialized());
@@ -147,13 +150,16 @@
   ASSERT_EQ(FieldHelper(doubleField).GetTypeAsPrimitiveType(), Primitive::kPrimDouble);
   ASSERT_EQ(doubleField->GetDouble(sirt_klass.get()), static_cast<double>(0.0));
 
-  mirror::ArtField* objectField = sirt_klass->FindDeclaredStaticField("objectField", "Ljava/lang/Object;");
+  mirror::ArtField* objectField = sirt_klass->FindDeclaredStaticField("objectField",
+                                                                      "Ljava/lang/Object;");
   ASSERT_TRUE(objectField != nullptr);
   ASSERT_EQ(FieldHelper(objectField).GetTypeAsPrimitiveType(), Primitive::kPrimNot);
   ASSERT_EQ(objectField->GetObject(sirt_klass.get()), nullptr);
 
   // Create a java.lang.Object instance to set objectField.
-  SirtRef<mirror::Class> object_klass(soa.Self(), class_linker_->FindSystemClass("Ljava/lang/Object;"));
+  SirtRef<mirror::Class> object_klass(soa.Self(),
+                                      class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(),
+                                                                     "Ljava/lang/Object;"));
   ASSERT_TRUE(object_klass.get() != nullptr);
   SirtRef<mirror::Object> sirt_obj(soa.Self(), sirt_klass->AllocObject(soa.Self()));
   ASSERT_TRUE(sirt_obj.get() != nullptr);
@@ -193,7 +199,8 @@
   ASSERT_TRUE(class_loader.get() != nullptr);
 
   SirtRef<mirror::Class> sirt_klass(soa.Self(),
-                                    class_linker_->FindClass("LInstanceFieldsTest;", class_loader));
+                                    class_linker_->FindClass(soa.Self(), "LInstanceFieldsTest;",
+                                                             class_loader));
   ASSERT_TRUE(sirt_klass.get() != nullptr);
   class_linker_->EnsureInitialized(sirt_klass, true, true);
   ASSERT_TRUE(sirt_klass->IsInitialized());
@@ -243,13 +250,16 @@
   ASSERT_EQ(FieldHelper(doubleField).GetTypeAsPrimitiveType(), Primitive::kPrimDouble);
   ASSERT_EQ(doubleField->GetDouble(sirt_instance.get()), static_cast<double>(0.0));
 
-  mirror::ArtField* objectField = sirt_klass->FindDeclaredInstanceField("objectField", "Ljava/lang/Object;");
+  mirror::ArtField* objectField = sirt_klass->FindDeclaredInstanceField("objectField",
+                                                                        "Ljava/lang/Object;");
   ASSERT_TRUE(objectField != nullptr);
   ASSERT_EQ(FieldHelper(objectField).GetTypeAsPrimitiveType(), Primitive::kPrimNot);
   ASSERT_EQ(objectField->GetObject(sirt_instance.get()), nullptr);
 
   // Create a java.lang.Object instance to set objectField.
-  SirtRef<mirror::Class> object_klass(soa.Self(), class_linker_->FindSystemClass("Ljava/lang/Object;"));
+  SirtRef<mirror::Class> object_klass(soa.Self(),
+                                      class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(),
+                                                                     "Ljava/lang/Object;"));
   ASSERT_TRUE(object_klass.get() != nullptr);
   SirtRef<mirror::Object> sirt_obj(soa.Self(), sirt_klass->AllocObject(soa.Self()));
   ASSERT_TRUE(sirt_obj.get() != nullptr);
@@ -290,7 +300,8 @@
   ASSERT_TRUE(class_loader.get() != nullptr);
 
   SirtRef<mirror::Class> sirt_klass(soa.Self(),
-                                    class_linker_->FindClass("LStaticArrayFieldsTest;", class_loader));
+                                    class_linker_->FindClass(soa.Self(), "LStaticArrayFieldsTest;",
+                                                             class_loader));
   ASSERT_TRUE(sirt_klass.get() != nullptr);
   class_linker_->EnsureInitialized(sirt_klass, true, true);
   ASSERT_TRUE(sirt_klass->IsInitialized());
@@ -352,15 +363,19 @@
   ASSERT_EQ(doubleArray->GetLength(), 1);
   ASSERT_EQ(doubleArray->GetWithoutChecks(0), static_cast<double>(0.0f));
 
-  mirror::ArtField* objectArrayField = sirt_klass->FindDeclaredStaticField("objectArrayField", "[Ljava/lang/Object;");
+  mirror::ArtField* objectArrayField = sirt_klass->FindDeclaredStaticField("objectArrayField",
+                                                                           "[Ljava/lang/Object;");
   ASSERT_TRUE(objectArrayField != nullptr);
-  mirror::ObjectArray<mirror::Object>* objectArray = objectArrayField->GetObject(sirt_klass.get())->AsObjectArray<mirror::Object>();
+  mirror::ObjectArray<mirror::Object>* objectArray =
+      objectArrayField->GetObject(sirt_klass.get())->AsObjectArray<mirror::Object>();
   ASSERT_TRUE(objectArray != nullptr);
   ASSERT_EQ(objectArray->GetLength(), 1);
   ASSERT_EQ(objectArray->GetWithoutChecks(0), nullptr);
 
   // Create a java.lang.Object instance to set objectField.
-  SirtRef<mirror::Class> object_klass(soa.Self(), class_linker_->FindSystemClass("Ljava/lang/Object;"));
+  SirtRef<mirror::Class> object_klass(soa.Self(),
+                                      class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(),
+                                                                     "Ljava/lang/Object;"));
   ASSERT_TRUE(object_klass.get() != nullptr);
   SirtRef<mirror::Object> sirt_obj(soa.Self(), sirt_klass->AllocObject(soa.Self()));
   ASSERT_TRUE(sirt_obj.get() != nullptr);
@@ -400,7 +415,9 @@
   ASSERT_TRUE(class_loader.get() != nullptr);
 
   SirtRef<mirror::Class> sirt_klass(soa.Self(),
-                                    class_linker_->FindClass("LTransaction$EmptyStatic;", class_loader));
+                                    class_linker_->FindClass(soa.Self(),
+                                                             "LTransaction$EmptyStatic;",
+                                                             class_loader));
   ASSERT_TRUE(sirt_klass.get() != nullptr);
   class_linker_->VerifyClass(sirt_klass);
   ASSERT_TRUE(sirt_klass->IsVerified());
@@ -419,7 +436,9 @@
   ASSERT_TRUE(class_loader.get() != nullptr);
 
   SirtRef<mirror::Class> sirt_klass(soa.Self(),
-                                    class_linker_->FindClass("LTransaction$StaticFieldClass;", class_loader));
+                                    class_linker_->FindClass(soa.Self(),
+                                                             "LTransaction$StaticFieldClass;",
+                                                             class_loader));
   ASSERT_TRUE(sirt_klass.get() != nullptr);
   class_linker_->VerifyClass(sirt_klass);
   ASSERT_TRUE(sirt_klass->IsVerified());
@@ -441,22 +460,25 @@
   // Load and verify java.lang.ExceptionInInitializerError and java.lang.InternalError which will
   // be thrown by class initialization due to native call.
   SirtRef<mirror::Class> sirt_klass(soa.Self(),
-                                    class_linker_->FindSystemClass("Ljava/lang/ExceptionInInitializerError;"));
+                                    class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(),
+                                                                   "Ljava/lang/ExceptionInInitializerError;"));
   ASSERT_TRUE(sirt_klass.get() != nullptr);
   class_linker_->VerifyClass(sirt_klass);
   ASSERT_TRUE(sirt_klass->IsVerified());
-  sirt_klass.reset(class_linker_->FindSystemClass("Ljava/lang/InternalError;"));
+  sirt_klass.reset(class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(), "Ljava/lang/InternalError;"));
   ASSERT_TRUE(sirt_klass.get() != nullptr);
   class_linker_->VerifyClass(sirt_klass);
   ASSERT_TRUE(sirt_klass->IsVerified());
 
   // Load and verify Transaction$NativeSupport used in class initialization.
-  sirt_klass.reset(class_linker_->FindClass("LTransaction$NativeSupport;", class_loader));
+  sirt_klass.reset(class_linker_->FindClass(soa.Self(), "LTransaction$NativeSupport;",
+                                            class_loader));
   ASSERT_TRUE(sirt_klass.get() != nullptr);
   class_linker_->VerifyClass(sirt_klass);
   ASSERT_TRUE(sirt_klass->IsVerified());
 
-  sirt_klass.reset(class_linker_->FindClass("LTransaction$BlacklistedClass;", class_loader));
+  sirt_klass.reset(class_linker_->FindClass(soa.Self(), "LTransaction$BlacklistedClass;",
+                                            class_loader));
   ASSERT_TRUE(sirt_klass.get() != nullptr);
   class_linker_->VerifyClass(sirt_klass);
   ASSERT_TRUE(sirt_klass->IsVerified());
diff --git a/runtime/utils_test.cc b/runtime/utils_test.cc
index b43177b..150695b 100644
--- a/runtime/utils_test.cc
+++ b/runtime/utils_test.cc
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@
   SirtRef<mirror::ShortArray> a(soa.Self(), mirror::ShortArray::Alloc(soa.Self(), 2));
   EXPECT_EQ("short[]", PrettyTypeOf(a.get()));
 
-  mirror::Class* c = class_linker_->FindSystemClass("[Ljava/lang/String;");
+  mirror::Class* c = class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(), "[Ljava/lang/String;");
   ASSERT_TRUE(c != NULL);
   mirror::Object* o = mirror::ObjectArray<mirror::String>::Alloc(soa.Self(), c, 0);
   EXPECT_EQ("java.lang.String[]", PrettyTypeOf(o));
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@
 TEST_F(UtilsTest, PrettyClass) {
   ScopedObjectAccess soa(Thread::Current());
   EXPECT_EQ("null", PrettyClass(NULL));
-  mirror::Class* c = class_linker_->FindSystemClass("[Ljava/lang/String;");
+  mirror::Class* c = class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(), "[Ljava/lang/String;");
   ASSERT_TRUE(c != NULL);
   mirror::Object* o = mirror::ObjectArray<mirror::String>::Alloc(soa.Self(), c, 0);
   EXPECT_EQ("java.lang.Class<java.lang.String[]>", PrettyClass(o->GetClass()));
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@
 TEST_F(UtilsTest, PrettyClassAndClassLoader) {
   ScopedObjectAccess soa(Thread::Current());
   EXPECT_EQ("null", PrettyClassAndClassLoader(NULL));
-  mirror::Class* c = class_linker_->FindSystemClass("[Ljava/lang/String;");
+  mirror::Class* c = class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(), "[Ljava/lang/String;");
   ASSERT_TRUE(c != NULL);
   mirror::Object* o = mirror::ObjectArray<mirror::String>::Alloc(soa.Self(), c, 0);
   EXPECT_EQ("java.lang.Class<java.lang.String[],null>", PrettyClassAndClassLoader(o->GetClass()));
@@ -128,7 +128,8 @@
   ScopedObjectAccess soa(Thread::Current());
   EXPECT_EQ("null", PrettyField(NULL));
 
-  mirror::Class* java_lang_String = class_linker_->FindSystemClass("Ljava/lang/String;");
+  mirror::Class* java_lang_String = class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(),
+                                                                   "Ljava/lang/String;");
 
   mirror::ArtField* f;
   f = java_lang_String->FindDeclaredInstanceField("count", "I");
@@ -197,7 +198,7 @@
 
 TEST_F(UtilsTest, JniShortName_JniLongName) {
   ScopedObjectAccess soa(Thread::Current());
-  mirror::Class* c = class_linker_->FindSystemClass("Ljava/lang/String;");
+  mirror::Class* c = class_linker_->FindSystemClass(soa.Self(), "Ljava/lang/String;");
   ASSERT_TRUE(c != NULL);
   mirror::ArtMethod* m;
 
diff --git a/runtime/verifier/method_verifier.cc b/runtime/verifier/method_verifier.cc
index ab943a6..ffa8b9e 100644
--- a/runtime/verifier/method_verifier.cc
+++ b/runtime/verifier/method_verifier.cc
@@ -3129,14 +3129,15 @@
     this_class = actual_arg_type.GetClass();
   } else {
     const std::string& descriptor(actual_arg_type.GetDescriptor());
+    Thread* self = Thread::Current();
     ClassLinker* class_linker = Runtime::Current()->GetClassLinker();
-    this_class = class_linker->FindClass(descriptor.c_str(), *class_loader_);
+    this_class = class_linker->FindClass(self, descriptor.c_str(), *class_loader_);
     if (this_class == NULL) {
       Thread* self = Thread::Current();
       self->ClearException();
       // Look for a system class
       SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader> null_class_loader(self, nullptr);
-      this_class = class_linker->FindClass(descriptor.c_str(), null_class_loader);
+      this_class = class_linker->FindClass(self, descriptor.c_str(), null_class_loader);
     }
   }
   if (this_class == NULL) {
@@ -3638,7 +3639,7 @@
 // Returns the access field of a quick field access (iget/iput-quick) or NULL
 // if it cannot be found.
 mirror::ArtField* MethodVerifier::GetQuickFieldAccess(const Instruction* inst,
-                                                   RegisterLine* reg_line) {
+                                                      RegisterLine* reg_line) {
   DCHECK(inst->Opcode() == Instruction::IGET_QUICK ||
          inst->Opcode() == Instruction::IGET_WIDE_QUICK ||
          inst->Opcode() == Instruction::IGET_OBJECT_QUICK ||
@@ -3654,12 +3655,12 @@
     const std::string& descriptor(object_type.GetDescriptor());
     ClassLinker* class_linker = Runtime::Current()->GetClassLinker();
     Thread* self = Thread::Current();
-    object_class = class_linker->FindClass(descriptor.c_str(), *class_loader_);
+    object_class = class_linker->FindClass(self, descriptor.c_str(), *class_loader_);
     if (object_class == NULL) {
       self->ClearException();
       // Look for a system class
       SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader> null_class_loader(self, nullptr);
-      object_class = class_linker->FindClass(descriptor.c_str(), null_class_loader);
+      object_class = class_linker->FindClass(self, descriptor.c_str(), null_class_loader);
     }
   }
   if (object_class == NULL) {
diff --git a/runtime/verifier/method_verifier_test.cc b/runtime/verifier/method_verifier_test.cc
index a56abba..ffa2455 100644
--- a/runtime/verifier/method_verifier_test.cc
+++ b/runtime/verifier/method_verifier_test.cc
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@
   void VerifyClass(const std::string& descriptor)
       SHARED_LOCKS_REQUIRED(Locks::mutator_lock_) {
     ASSERT_TRUE(descriptor != NULL);
-    mirror::Class* klass = class_linker_->FindSystemClass(descriptor.c_str());
+    mirror::Class* klass = class_linker_->FindSystemClass(Thread::Current(), descriptor.c_str());
 
     // Verify the class
     std::string error_msg;
diff --git a/runtime/verifier/reg_type.cc b/runtime/verifier/reg_type.cc
index 630ef8a..63f0ff4 100644
--- a/runtime/verifier/reg_type.cc
+++ b/runtime/verifier/reg_type.cc
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 
 
 #include "base/casts.h"
+#include "class_linker-inl.h"
 #include "dex_file-inl.h"
 #include "mirror/class.h"
 #include "mirror/class-inl.h"
@@ -928,11 +929,7 @@
     }
     mirror::Class* common_elem = ClassJoin(s_ct, t_ct);
     ClassLinker* class_linker = Runtime::Current()->GetClassLinker();
-    Thread* self = Thread::Current();
-    SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader> class_loader(self, s->GetClassLoader());
-    std::string descriptor("[");
-    descriptor += ClassHelper(common_elem).GetDescriptor();
-    mirror::Class* array_class = class_linker->FindClass(descriptor.c_str(), class_loader);
+    mirror::Class* array_class = class_linker->FindArrayClass(Thread::Current(), common_elem);
     DCHECK(array_class != NULL);
     return array_class;
   } else {
diff --git a/runtime/verifier/reg_type_cache.cc b/runtime/verifier/reg_type_cache.cc
index 5e894ed..9dd57b8 100644
--- a/runtime/verifier/reg_type_cache.cc
+++ b/runtime/verifier/reg_type_cache.cc
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 #include "reg_type_cache-inl.h"
 
 #include "base/casts.h"
+#include "class_linker-inl.h"
 #include "dex_file-inl.h"
 #include "mirror/class-inl.h"
 #include "mirror/object-inl.h"
@@ -140,10 +141,11 @@
   // Class was not found, must create new type.
   // Try resolving class
   ClassLinker* class_linker = Runtime::Current()->GetClassLinker();
-  SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader> class_loader(Thread::Current(), loader);
+  Thread* self = Thread::Current();
+  SirtRef<mirror::ClassLoader> class_loader(self, loader);
   mirror::Class* klass = NULL;
   if (can_load_classes_) {
-    klass = class_linker->FindClass(descriptor, class_loader);
+    klass = class_linker->FindClass(self, descriptor, class_loader);
   } else {
     klass = class_linker->LookupClass(descriptor, loader);
     if (klass != NULL && !klass->IsLoaded()) {
@@ -277,7 +279,8 @@
   mirror::Class* klass = NULL;
   // Try loading the class from linker.
   if (!descriptor.empty()) {
-    klass = art::Runtime::Current()->GetClassLinker()->FindSystemClass(descriptor.c_str());
+    klass = art::Runtime::Current()->GetClassLinker()->FindSystemClass(Thread::Current(),
+                                                                       descriptor.c_str());
   }
   Type* entry = Type::CreateInstance(klass, descriptor, RegTypeCache::primitive_count_);
   RegTypeCache::primitive_count_++;