--- old/src/hotspot/share/classfile/classLoaderData.cpp	2018-01-30 13:31:21.087603614 -0500
+++ new/src/hotspot/share/classfile/classLoaderData.cpp	2018-01-30 13:31:20.890697805 -0500
@@ -329,9 +329,11 @@
   ClassLoaderData * const from_cld = this;
   ClassLoaderData * const to_cld = k->class_loader_data();
 
-  // Dependency to the null class loader data doesn't need to be recorded
-  // because the null class loader data never goes away.
-  if (to_cld->is_the_null_class_loader_data()) {
+  // Do not need to record dependency if the class loader datas are the same or
+  // if the dependency is to a class whose class loader data is never freed.
+  // (i.e. the dependency's class loader is one of the three builtin class
+  // loaders and the dependency is not anonymous.)
+  if (from_cld == to_cld || to_cld->is_permanent_class_loader_data()) {
     return;
   }
 
@@ -341,24 +343,16 @@
     to = k->java_mirror();
   } else {
     to = to_cld->class_loader();
+    oop from = from_cld->class_loader();
 
-    // If from_cld is anonymous, even if it's class_loader is a parent of 'to'
-    // we still have to add it.  The class_loader won't keep from_cld alive.
-    if (!from_cld->is_anonymous()) {
-      // Check that this dependency isn't from the same or parent class_loader
-      oop from = from_cld->class_loader();
-
-      oop curr = from;
-      while (curr != NULL) {
-        if (curr == to) {
-          return; // this class loader is in the parent list, no need to add it.
-        }
-        curr = java_lang_ClassLoader::parent(curr);
-      }
+    assert(from != to || from_cld->is_anonymous(), "sanity check");
+    // Just return if this dependency is from the same or a parent class_loader.
+    if (from == to || java_lang_ClassLoader::isAncestor(from, to)) {
+      return; // this class loader is in the parent list, no need to add it.
     }
   }
 
-  // It's a dependency we won't find through GC, add it. This is relatively rare
+  // It's a dependency we won't find through GC, add it. This is relatively rare.
   // Must handle over GC point.
   Handle dependency(THREAD, to);
   from_cld->_dependencies.add(dependency, CHECK);
@@ -704,14 +698,23 @@
 }
 
 // Returns true if this class loader data is one of the 3 builtin
-// (boot, application/system or platform) class loaders. Note, the
-// builtin loaders are not freed by a GC.
+// (boot, application/system or platform) class loaders.  Note that
+// if the class loader data is for an anonymous class then it may get
+// freed by a GC even if its class loader is one of the 3 builtin
+// loaders.
 bool ClassLoaderData::is_builtin_class_loader_data() const {
   return (is_the_null_class_loader_data() ||
           SystemDictionary::is_system_class_loader(class_loader()) ||
           SystemDictionary::is_platform_class_loader(class_loader()));
 }
 
+// Returns true if this class loader data is a class loader data
+// that is not ever freed by a GC.  It must be one of the builtin
+// class loaders and not anonymous.
+bool ClassLoaderData::is_permanent_class_loader_data() const {
+  return is_builtin_class_loader_data() && !is_anonymous();
+}
+
 Metaspace* ClassLoaderData::metaspace_non_null() {
   // If the metaspace has not been allocated, create a new one.  Might want
   // to create smaller arena for Reflection class loaders also.
--- old/src/hotspot/share/classfile/classLoaderData.hpp	2018-01-30 13:31:21.590518545 -0500
+++ new/src/hotspot/share/classfile/classLoaderData.hpp	2018-01-30 13:31:21.397243349 -0500
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 /*
- * Copyright (c) 2012, 2017, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
+ * Copyright (c) 2012, 2018, Oracle and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved.
  * DO NOT ALTER OR REMOVE COPYRIGHT NOTICES OR THIS FILE HEADER.
  *
  * This code is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it
@@ -346,6 +346,7 @@
   bool is_system_class_loader_data() const;
   bool is_platform_class_loader_data() const;
   bool is_builtin_class_loader_data() const;
+  bool is_permanent_class_loader_data() const;
 
   // The Metaspace is created lazily so may be NULL.  This
   // method will allocate a Metaspace if needed.