A method and apparatus for reducing runtime memory requirements of a virtual machine. The invention involves analyzing object code compiled from source code. The object code includes at least two load-units that each contain a load-unit specific constant pool. Each load-unit is analyzed to determine which constants are actual constants and then those actual constants are analyzed to determine where commonality exists among the load-units. If a constant is determined to be redundant it is rewritten to a global constant pool. The references to the constant in the load-unit specific constant pool are rewritten to point to the value in the global constant pool. The memory allocated to the constant in the individual load-unit is then reallocated, either by a programmed routine or by memory management tools.