Short pointer mode applications are able to execute in long pointer mode environments. A plurality of actions is performed to prepare a short pointer mode application for execution in the long pointer mode environment. These actions include allocating memory for one or more in-memory short pointers of the application. The memory being allocated for an in-memory short pointer is of a size corresponding to a size of the in-memory short pointer. Further, a register is allocated for an in-register short pointer of the application. The register is allocated at a size corresponding to a long pointer mode. The size corresponding to the long pointer mode is different from the size of the in-memory short pointer.