An embedded system includes a program to be executed. The program is divided into overlays. The embedded system includes a processor configured to request one of the overlays. The requested overlay includes a segment of the program to be executed by the processor. The embedded system also includes a first level memory device coupled to the processor. The first level memory device stores less than all of the overlays of the program. The embedded system further includes a memory management unit coupled to the processor and the first level memory device. The memory management unit is configured to determine, based on a logical address provided by the processor, whether the requested overlay is stored in the first level memory device. The memory management unit is additionally configured to convert the logical address to a physical address when the requested overlay is stored in the first level memory device. The physical address points to the requested overlay.