Method and apparatus for loading new code in the initial program load (IPL) path to reduce system restarts may be provided by receiving a new component for an operating system (OS) running on a computing device; identifying a given component of the OS that is currently running as corresponding to the new component; updating a header of the given component to indicate that the given component is to-be-updated a filepath for the new component; upon initializing the operating system during a subsequent boot of the computing device, checking the header of the given component when loading the given component from an IPL path for the OS to determine that the given component is to-be-updated, and in response: loading the new component into the IPL path according to the filepath within the header of the given component; removing the given component from the IPL path; and executing the new component.