Embodiments relate to runtime management of table of contents (TOC) pointer save and restore commands. An aspect includes receiving, by a computer system, application object code comprising a first function call. Another aspect includes determining, at runtime of the application object code, that the first function call comprises an external function call from a calling function in the application object code to a callee function that is external to the application object code. Yet another aspect includes, based on determining that the first function call comprises the external function call, inserting a TOC save command and a TOC restore command corresponding to the first function call into the application object code.