In a multitasking computer system, data is preloaded into cache memory upon the occurrence of a context switch. To this end, processing circuitry stops executing a computer program during a first context switch in response to a first context switch command. Later, the processing circuitry resumes executing the computer program during a second context switch in response to a second context switch command. The memory control circuitry, in response to the second context switch command, identifies an address of computer memory that is storing a data value previously used to execute an instruction of the computer program prior to the first context switch. The memory control circuitry then retrieves the data value from the computer memory and stores the retrieved data value in the cache memory. Accordingly, the retrieved data value is available to the processing circuitry for use in executing instructions of the computer program after the second context switch without the processing circuitry having to request retrieval of the foregoing data value.