src/java.base/share/classes/java/lang/ref/Reference.java

@@ -305,10 +305,14 @@
          handler.setDaemon(true);
          handler.start();
      }
  
      static {
+         runtimeSetup();
+     }
+ 
+     private static void runtimeSetup() {
          // provide access in SharedSecrets
          SharedSecrets.setJavaLangRefAccess(new JavaLangRefAccess() {
              @Override
              public void startThreads() {
                  ThreadGroup tg = Thread.currentThread().getThreadGroup();