diff --git a/src/kernel/apps/rld/rldelf.c b/src/kernel/apps/rld/rldelf.c
index e97c7aef78..0bb30e753e 100644
--- a/src/kernel/apps/rld/rldelf.c
+++ b/src/kernel/apps/rld/rldelf.c
@@ -50,6 +50,8 @@
 #define	PAGE_BASE(x) ((x) & ~(PAGE_MASK))
 #define TO_PAGE_SIZE(x) ((x + (PAGE_MASK)) & ~(PAGE_MASK))
 
+#define RLD_PROGRAM_BASE 0x00200000
+	/* keep in sync with app ldscript */
 
 enum {
 	RFLAG_RW				= 0x0001,
@@ -563,23 +565,17 @@ map_image(int fd, char const *path, image_t *image, bool fixed)
 			baseName, i, (image->regions[i].flags & RFLAG_RW) ? "rw" : "ro");
 
 		if (image->dynamic_ptr && !fixed) {
-			/*
-			 * relocatable image... we can afford to place wherever
-			 */
+			// relocatable image... we can afford to place wherever
 			if (i == 0) {
-				/*
-				 * but only the first segment gets a free ride
-				 */
-				loadAddress = 0;
-				addressSpecifier = B_ANY_ADDRESS;
+				// but only the first segment gets a free ride
+				loadAddress = RLD_PROGRAM_BASE;
+				addressSpecifier = B_BASE_ADDRESS;
 			} else {
 				loadAddress = image->regions[i].vmstart + image->regions[i-1].delta;
 				addressSpecifier = B_EXACT_ADDRESS;
 			}
 		} else {
-			/*
-			 * not relocatable, put it where it asks or die trying
-			 */
+			// not relocatable, put it where it asks or die trying
 			loadAddress = image->regions[i].vmstart;
 			addressSpecifier = B_EXACT_ADDRESS;
 		}
@@ -608,9 +604,7 @@ map_image(int fd, char const *path, image_t *image, bool fixed)
 			image->regions[i].delta = loadAddress - image->regions[i].vmstart;
 			image->regions[i].vmstart = loadAddress;
 
-			/*
-			 * handle trailer bits in data segment
-			 */
+			// handle trailer bits in data segment
 			if (image->regions[i].flags & RFLAG_RW) {
 				addr_t startClearing;
 				addr_t toClear;
diff --git a/src/kernel/apps/rld/rldheap.c b/src/kernel/apps/rld/rldheap.c
index e2a4949e1d..8b066ddaa6 100644
--- a/src/kernel/apps/rld/rldheap.c
+++ b/src/kernel/apps/rld/rldheap.c
@@ -10,13 +10,10 @@
 
 
 #define RLD_SCRATCH_SIZE 65536
-#define RLD_PROGRAM_BASE 0x00200000	/* keep in sync with app ldscript */
 
 
 static area_id rld_region;
-static area_id rld_region_2;
 static char *rld_base;
-static char *rld_base_2;
 static char *rld_ptr;
 
 
@@ -27,18 +24,6 @@ rldheap_init(void)
 		(void **)&rld_base, B_ANY_ADDRESS, RLD_SCRATCH_SIZE,
 		B_NO_LOCK, B_READ_AREA | B_WRITE_AREA);
 
-	/*
-	 * Fill in the gap upto RLD_PROGRAM_BASE,
-	 * 
-	 * NOTE: this will be required only untile the vm finally
-	 * support REGION_ADDR_ANY_ABOVE and REGION_ADDR_ANY_BELOW.
-	 * Not doing these leads to some funny troubles with some
-	 * libraries.
-	 */
-	rld_region_2 = _kern_create_area("RLD_padding", (void **)&rld_base_2,
-		B_ANY_ADDRESS, RLD_PROGRAM_BASE - (uint32)(rld_base + RLD_SCRATCH_SIZE),
-		B_NO_LOCK, B_READ_AREA | B_WRITE_AREA);
-
 	rld_ptr = rld_base;
 }