diff --git a/src/mono/mono/metadata/assembly-load-context.c b/src/mono/mono/metadata/assembly-load-context.c
index 6550920e15306..85c9b3313bf75 100644
--- a/src/mono/mono/metadata/assembly-load-context.c
+++ b/src/mono/mono/metadata/assembly-load-context.c
@@ -72,6 +72,7 @@ mono_alcs_init (void)
 	mono_coop_mutex_init (&alc_list_lock);
 
 	default_alc = mono_alc_create (FALSE);
+	default_alc->gchandle = mono_gchandle_new_internal (NULL, FALSE);
 }
 
 MonoAssemblyLoadContext *
@@ -237,8 +238,10 @@ ves_icall_System_Runtime_Loader_AssemblyLoadContext_InternalInitializeNativeALC
 	if (is_default_alc) {
 		alc = default_alc;
 		g_assert (alc);
-		if (!alc->gchandle)
-			alc->gchandle = this_gchandle;
+
+		// Change target of the existing GCHandle
+		mono_gchandle_set_target (alc->gchandle, mono_gchandle_get_target_internal (this_gchandle));
+		mono_gchandle_free_internal (this_gchandle);
 	} else {
 		alc = mono_alc_create_individual (this_gchandle, collectible, error);
 	}
@@ -416,6 +419,9 @@ mono_alc_is_default (MonoAssemblyLoadContext *alc)
 MonoAssemblyLoadContext *
 mono_alc_from_gchandle (MonoGCHandle alc_gchandle)
 {
+	if (alc_gchandle == default_alc->gchandle)
+		return default_alc;
+
 	HANDLE_FUNCTION_ENTER ();
 	MonoManagedAssemblyLoadContextHandle managed_alc = MONO_HANDLE_CAST (MonoManagedAssemblyLoadContext, mono_gchandle_get_target_handle (alc_gchandle));
 	MonoAssemblyLoadContext *alc = MONO_HANDLE_GETVAL (managed_alc, native_assembly_load_context);
@@ -438,6 +444,9 @@ invoke_resolve_method (MonoMethod *resolve_method, MonoAssemblyLoadContext *alc,
 	if (mono_runtime_get_no_exec ())
 		return NULL;
 
+	if (!mono_gchandle_get_target_internal (alc->gchandle))
+		return NULL;
+
 	HANDLE_FUNCTION_ENTER ();
 
 	aname_str = mono_stringify_assembly_name (aname);
diff --git a/src/mono/mono/metadata/mono-private-unstable.h b/src/mono/mono/metadata/mono-private-unstable.h
index 6585c2e575aed..4618c8fe08bc9 100644
--- a/src/mono/mono/metadata/mono-private-unstable.h
+++ b/src/mono/mono/metadata/mono-private-unstable.h
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@ typedef MonoAssembly * (*MonoAssemblyPreLoadFuncV3) (MonoAssemblyLoadContextGCHa
 MONO_API MONO_RT_EXTERNAL_ONLY void
 mono_install_assembly_preload_hook_v3 (MonoAssemblyPreLoadFuncV3 func, void *user_data, mono_bool append);
 
+// This can point at NULL before the default ALC is initialized
 MONO_API MONO_RT_EXTERNAL_ONLY MonoAssemblyLoadContextGCHandle
 mono_alc_get_default_gchandle (void);
 
diff --git a/src/mono/mono/metadata/native-library.c b/src/mono/mono/metadata/native-library.c
index 252f6d32f8a38..10808d2144b13 100644
--- a/src/mono/mono/metadata/native-library.c
+++ b/src/mono/mono/metadata/native-library.c
@@ -630,6 +630,9 @@ netcore_resolve_with_load (MonoAssemblyLoadContext *alc, const char *scope, Mono
 	if (mono_runtime_get_no_exec ())
 		return NULL;
 
+	if (!mono_gchandle_get_target_internal (alc->gchandle))
+		return NULL;
+
 	HANDLE_FUNCTION_ENTER ();
 
 	MonoStringHandle scope_handle;
@@ -693,6 +696,9 @@ netcore_resolve_with_resolving_event (MonoAssemblyLoadContext *alc, MonoAssembly
 	if (mono_runtime_get_no_exec ())
 		return NULL;
 
+	if (!mono_gchandle_get_target_internal (alc->gchandle))
+		return NULL;
+
 	HANDLE_FUNCTION_ENTER ();
 
 	MonoStringHandle scope_handle;