diff --git a/mps/code/arenavm.c b/mps/code/arenavm.c
index 65872d64bc3..9c50750ab1d 100644
--- a/mps/code/arenavm.c
+++ b/mps/code/arenavm.c
@@ -293,9 +293,9 @@ static Res VMChunkCreate(Chunk *chunkReturn, VMArena vmArena, Size size)
   arena = VMArena2Arena(vmArena);
   AVER(size > 0);
 
-  res = VMCreate(vm, size, ArenaGrainSize(arena), vmArena->vmParams);
+  res = VMInit(vm, size, ArenaGrainSize(arena), vmArena->vmParams);
   if (res != ResOK)
-    goto failVMCreate;
+    goto failVMInit;
 
   base = VMBase(vm);
   limit = VMLimit(vm);
@@ -318,7 +318,7 @@ static Res VMChunkCreate(Chunk *chunkReturn, VMArena vmArena, Size size)
   vmChunk->overheadMappedLimit = chunkStructLimit;
 
   /* Copy VM descriptor into its place in the chunk. */
-  (void)mps_lib_memcpy(VMChunkVM(vmChunk), vm, sizeof vmStruct);
+  VMCopy(VMChunkVM(vmChunk), vm);
   res = ChunkInit(VMChunk2Chunk(vmChunk), arena, base, limit, boot);
   if (res != ResOK)
     goto failChunkInit;
@@ -336,8 +336,8 @@ static Res VMChunkCreate(Chunk *chunkReturn, VMArena vmArena, Size size)
 failChunkMap:
 failChunkAlloc:
 failBootInit:
-  VMDestroy(vm);
-failVMCreate:
+  VMFinish(vm);
+failVMInit:
   return res;
 }
 
@@ -441,14 +441,14 @@ static void VMChunkFinish(Chunk chunk)
 
   /* Copy VM descriptor to stack-local storage so that we can continue
    * using the descriptor after the VM has been unmapped. */
-  (void)mps_lib_memcpy(vm, VMChunkVM(vmChunk), sizeof *vm);
+  VMCopy(vm, VMChunkVM(vmChunk));
 
   vmArenaUnmap(VMChunkVMArena(vmChunk), vm,
                VMBase(vm), vmChunk->overheadMappedLimit);
 
   /* No point in finishing the other fields, since they are unmapped. */
 
-  VMDestroy(vm);
+  VMFinish(vm);
 }
 
 
@@ -532,14 +532,14 @@ static Res VMArenaInit(Arena *arenaReturn, ArenaClass class, ArgList args)
      don't have anywhere else to put it. It gets copied later. */
   res = VMParamFromArgs(vmParams, sizeof(vmParams), args);
   if (res != ResOK)
-    goto failVMCreate;
+    goto failVMInit;
 
   /* Create a VM to hold the arena and map it. Store descriptor on the
      stack until we have the arena to put it in. */
   vmArenaSize = SizeAlignUp(sizeof(VMArenaStruct), MPS_PF_ALIGN);
-  res = VMCreate(vm, vmArenaSize, grainSize, vmParams);
+  res = VMInit(vm, vmArenaSize, grainSize, vmParams);
   if (res != ResOK)
-    goto failVMCreate;
+    goto failVMInit;
   res = VMMap(vm, VMBase(vm), VMLimit(vm));
   if (res != ResOK)
     goto failVMMap;
@@ -553,7 +553,7 @@ static Res VMArenaInit(Arena *arenaReturn, ArenaClass class, ArgList args)
   arena->committed = VMMapped(vm);
 
   /* Copy VM descriptor into its place in the arena. */
-  (void)mps_lib_memcpy(VMArenaVM(vmArena), vm, sizeof *vm);
+  VMCopy(VMArenaVM(vmArena), vm);
   vmArena->spareSize = 0;
   RingInit(&vmArena->spareRing);
 
@@ -601,8 +601,8 @@ static Res VMArenaInit(Arena *arenaReturn, ArenaClass class, ArgList args)
 failArenaInit:
   VMUnmap(vm, VMBase(vm), VMLimit(vm));
 failVMMap:
-  VMDestroy(vm);
-failVMCreate:
+  VMFinish(vm);
+failVMInit:
   return res;
 }
 
@@ -638,9 +638,9 @@ static void VMArenaFinish(Arena arena)
 
   /* Copy VM descriptor to stack-local storage so that we can continue
    * using the descriptor after the VM has been unmapped. */
-  (void)mps_lib_memcpy(vm, VMArenaVM(vmArena), sizeof *vm);
+  VMCopy(vm, VMArenaVM(vmArena));
   VMUnmap(vm, VMBase(vm), VMLimit(vm));
-  VMDestroy(vm);
+  VMFinish(vm);
 }
 
 
diff --git a/mps/code/eventdef.h b/mps/code/eventdef.h
index 7cf06e19401..081b45de7c2 100644
--- a/mps/code/eventdef.h
+++ b/mps/code/eventdef.h
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@
  */
 
 #define EVENT_VERSION_MAJOR  ((unsigned)1)
-#define EVENT_VERSION_MEDIAN ((unsigned)3)
+#define EVENT_VERSION_MEDIAN ((unsigned)4)
 #define EVENT_VERSION_MINOR  ((unsigned)0)
 
 
@@ -115,8 +115,8 @@
   /* TraceScanArea{Tagged} abuses kind, see .kind.abuse */ \
   EVENT(X, TraceScanArea      , 0x0029,  TRUE, Seg) \
   EVENT(X, TraceScanAreaTagged, 0x002a,  TRUE, Seg) \
-  EVENT(X, VMCreate           , 0x002b,  TRUE, Arena) \
-  EVENT(X, VMDestroy          , 0x002c,  TRUE, Arena) \
+  EVENT(X, VMInit             , 0x002b,  TRUE, Arena) \
+  EVENT(X, VMFinish           , 0x002c,  TRUE, Arena) \
   EVENT(X, VMMap              , 0x002d,  TRUE, Seg) \
   EVENT(X, VMUnmap            , 0x002e,  TRUE, Seg) \
   EVENT(X, ArenaExtend        , 0x002f,  TRUE, Arena) \
@@ -368,12 +368,12 @@
   PARAM(X,  1, P, base) \
   PARAM(X,  2, P, limit)
 
-#define EVENT_VMCreate_PARAMS(PARAM, X) \
+#define EVENT_VMInit_PARAMS(PARAM, X) \
   PARAM(X,  0, P, vm) \
   PARAM(X,  1, A, base) \
   PARAM(X,  2, A, limit)
 
-#define EVENT_VMDestroy_PARAMS(PARAM, X) \
+#define EVENT_VMFinish_PARAMS(PARAM, X) \
   PARAM(X,  0, P, vm)
 
 #define EVENT_VMMap_PARAMS(PARAM, X) \
diff --git a/mps/code/eventrep.c b/mps/code/eventrep.c
index 969d8adcb67..e60d81334dc 100644
--- a/mps/code/eventrep.c
+++ b/mps/code/eventrep.c
@@ -565,7 +565,7 @@ void EventReplay(Event event, Word etime)
     mps_reservoir_limit_set((mps_arena_t)entry, (size_t)event->pw.w1);
   } break;
   case EventVMMap: case EventVMUnmap:
-  case EventVMCreate: case EventVMDestroy:
+  case EventVMInit: case EventVMFinish:
   case EventArenaWriteFaults:
   case EventArenaAlloc: case EventArenaAllocFail: case EventArenaFree:
   case EventSegAlloc: case EventSegAllocFail: case EventSegFree:
diff --git a/mps/code/vm.c b/mps/code/vm.c
index 2cbd24e9428..867db9e74ff 100644
--- a/mps/code/vm.c
+++ b/mps/code/vm.c
@@ -80,6 +80,17 @@ Size (VMMapped)(VM vm)
 }
 
 
+/* VMCopy -- copy VM descriptor */
+
+void VMCopy(VM dest, VM src)
+{
+  AVER(dest != NULL);
+  AVERT(VM, src);
+
+  (void)mps_lib_memcpy(dest, src, sizeof(VMStruct));
+}
+
+
 /* C. COPYRIGHT AND LICENSE
  *
  * Copyright (C) 2014 Ravenbrook Limited <http://www.ravenbrook.com/>.
diff --git a/mps/code/vm.h b/mps/code/vm.h
index 5a44dd3bb98..992c318298b 100644
--- a/mps/code/vm.h
+++ b/mps/code/vm.h
@@ -10,7 +10,12 @@
 #include "mpmtypes.h"
 
 
-/* VMStruct -- virtual memory structure */
+/* VMStruct -- virtual memory structure
+ *
+ * Unlike most other datatypes we permit this structure to be moved
+ * around in memory, and in particular, allocated temporarily on the
+ * stack, to help with bootstrapping. Look for uses of VMCopy.
+ */
 
 #define VMSig           ((Sig)0x519B3999) /* SIGnature VM */
 
@@ -34,14 +39,15 @@ extern Size PageSize(void);
 extern Size (VMPageSize)(VM vm);
 extern Bool VMCheck(VM vm);
 extern Res VMParamFromArgs(void *params, size_t paramSize, ArgList args);
-extern Res VMCreate(VM vmReturn, Size size, Size grainSize, void *params);
-extern void VMDestroy(VM vm);
+extern Res VMInit(VM vmReturn, Size size, Size grainSize, void *params);
+extern void VMFinish(VM vm);
 extern Addr (VMBase)(VM vm);
 extern Addr (VMLimit)(VM vm);
 extern Res VMMap(VM vm, Addr base, Addr limit);
 extern void VMUnmap(VM vm, Addr base, Addr limit);
 extern Size (VMReserved)(VM vm);
 extern Size (VMMapped)(VM vm);
+extern void VMCopy(VM dest, VM src);
 
 
 #endif /* vm_h */
diff --git a/mps/code/vman.c b/mps/code/vman.c
index c04ced10358..7fe30609763 100644
--- a/mps/code/vman.c
+++ b/mps/code/vman.c
@@ -29,9 +29,9 @@ Res VMParamFromArgs(void *params, size_t paramSize, ArgList args)
 }
 
 
-/* VMCreate -- reserve some virtual address space, and create a VM structure */
+/* VMInit -- reserve some virtual address space, and create a VM structure */
 
-Res VMCreate(VM vm, Size size, Size grainSize, void *params)
+Res VMInit(VM vm, Size size, Size grainSize, void *params)
 {
   void *vbase;
   Size pageSize, reserved;
@@ -75,14 +75,14 @@ Res VMCreate(VM vm, Size size, Size grainSize, void *params)
   vm->sig = VMSig;
   AVERT(VM, vm);
  
-  EVENT3(VMCreate, vm, VMBase(vm), VMLimit(vm));
+  EVENT3(VMInit, vm, VMBase(vm), VMLimit(vm));
   return ResOK;
 }
 
 
-/* VMDestroy -- release all address space and finish VM structure */
+/* VMFinish -- release all address space and finish VM structure */
 
-void VMDestroy(VM vm)
+void VMFinish(VM vm)
 {
   AVERT(VM, vm);
   /* Descriptor must not be stored inside its own VM at this point. */
@@ -91,7 +91,7 @@ void VMDestroy(VM vm)
   /* All address space must have been unmapped. */
   AVER(VMMapped(vm) == (Size)0);
 
-  EVENT1(VMDestroy, vm);
+  EVENT1(VMFinish, vm);
 
   vm->sig = SigInvalid;
 
diff --git a/mps/code/vmix.c b/mps/code/vmix.c
index 5ec355a74bc..61e093a02e8 100644
--- a/mps/code/vmix.c
+++ b/mps/code/vmix.c
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@
  * a definition of MAP_ANON requires a _BSD_SOURCE to be defined prior
  * to <sys/mman.h>; see config.h.
  *
- * .assume.not-last: The implementation of VMCreate assumes that
+ * .assume.not-last: The implementation of VMInit assumes that
  * mmap() will not choose a region which contains the last page
  * in the address space, so that the limit of the mapped area
  * is representable.
@@ -84,9 +84,9 @@ Res VMParamFromArgs(void *params, size_t paramSize, ArgList args)
 }
 
 
-/* VMCreate -- reserve some virtual address space, and create a VM structure */
+/* VMInit -- reserve some virtual address space, and create a VM structure */
 
-Res VMCreate(VM vm, Size size, Size grainSize, void *params)
+Res VMInit(VM vm, Size size, Size grainSize, void *params)
 {
   Size pageSize, reserved;
   void *vbase;
@@ -134,14 +134,14 @@ Res VMCreate(VM vm, Size size, Size grainSize, void *params)
   vm->sig = VMSig;
   AVERT(VM, vm);
 
-  EVENT3(VMCreate, vm, VMBase(vm), VMLimit(vm));
+  EVENT3(VMInit, vm, VMBase(vm), VMLimit(vm));
   return ResOK;
 }
 
 
-/* VMDestroy -- release all address space and finish VM structure */
+/* VMFinish -- release all address space and finish VM structure */
 
-void VMDestroy(VM vm)
+void VMFinish(VM vm)
 {
   int r;
 
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ void VMDestroy(VM vm)
   /* All address space must have been unmapped. */
   AVER(VMMapped(vm) == (Size)0);
 
-  EVENT1(VMDestroy, vm);
+  EVENT1(VMFinish, vm);
 
   vm->sig = SigInvalid;
 
diff --git a/mps/code/vmw3.c b/mps/code/vmw3.c
index d79661bd3be..13c62b17c7e 100644
--- a/mps/code/vmw3.c
+++ b/mps/code/vmw3.c
@@ -90,9 +90,9 @@ Res VMParamFromArgs(void *params, size_t paramSize, ArgList args)
 }
 
 
-/* VMCreate -- reserve some virtual address space, and create a VM structure */
+/* VMInit -- reserve some virtual address space, and create a VM structure */
 
-Res VMCreate(VM vm, Size size, Size grainSize, void *params)
+Res VMInit(VM vm, Size size, Size grainSize, void *params)
 {
   LPVOID vbase;
   Size pageSize, reserved;
@@ -144,14 +144,14 @@ Res VMCreate(VM vm, Size size, Size grainSize, void *params)
   vm->sig = VMSig;
   AVERT(VM, vm);
 
-  EVENT3(VMCreate, vm, VMBase(vm), VMLimit(vm));
+  EVENT3(VMInit, vm, VMBase(vm), VMLimit(vm));
   return ResOK;
 }
 
 
-/* VMDestroy -- release address space and finish the VM structure */
+/* VMFinish -- release address space and finish the VM structure */
 
-void VMDestroy(VM vm)
+void VMFinish(VM vm)
 {
   BOOL b;
 
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ void VMDestroy(VM vm)
   /* All address space must have been unmapped. */
   AVER(VMMapped(vm) == (Size)0);
 
-  EVENT1(VMDestroy, vm);
+  EVENT1(VMFinish, vm);
 
   vm->sig = SigInvalid;