An apparatus, comprising: a device including at least one memory adapted to store run-time data for the device, and at least one processor that is adapted to execute processor-executable code that, in response to execution, enables the device to perform actions, including: providing a fixed number of logical patch slots (291, 292) for patch images for hot patching an executing binary; receiving (381, 491), at separate times, a plurality of hot patch requests, wherein each hot patch request of the plurality of hot patch requests includes a corresponding hot patch to hot patch the executing binary, and wherein a cardinality of the plurality of hot patch requests is greater than the fixed number of logical patch slots (291, 292); and with the executing binary continuing to execute, each time a request to apply a hot patch to the executing binary is received: assigning the corresponding hot patch to an inactive logical patch slot (291, 292) of the fixed number of logical patch slots (291, 292); executing (383, 493) the corresponding hot patch from the assigned logical patch slot to hot patch the executing binary based on the corresponding hot patch; responsive to the execution (383, 493) of the corresponding hot patch, setting a reference counter associated with the corresponding hot patch to correspond to a cardinality of a plurality of threads that are running the current image of the executing binary; signaling the plurality of threads to unwind and rewind; each time a thread of the plurality of threads completes the rewind, decrementing the reference counter associated with the hot patch; in response to the reference counter reaching zero, de-assigning the logical patch slot of the corresponding hot patch; and responsive to de-assigning the logical patch slot, reclaiming resources associated with the logical patch slot. a device including at least one memory adapted to store run-time data for the device, and at least one processor that is adapted to execute processor-executable code that, in response to execution, enables the device to perform actions, including: providing a fixed number of logical patch slots (291, 292) for patch images for hot patching an executing binary; receiving (381, 491), at separate times, a plurality of hot patch requests, wherein each hot patch request of the plurality of hot patch requests includes a corresponding hot patch to hot patch the executing binary, and wherein a cardinality of the plurality of hot patch requests is greater than the fixed number of logical patch slots (291, 292); and providing a fixed number of logical patch slots (291, 292) for patch images for hot patching an executing binary; receiving (381, 491), at separate times, a plurality of hot patch requests, wherein each hot patch request of the plurality of hot patch requests includes a corresponding hot patch to hot patch the executing binary, and wherein a cardinality of the plurality of hot patch requests is greater than the fixed number of logical patch slots (291, 292); and with the executing binary continuing to execute, each time a request to apply a hot patch to the executing binary is received: assigning the corresponding hot patch to an inactive logical patch slot (291, 292) of the fixed number of logical patch slots (291, 292); executing (383, 493) the corresponding hot patch from the assigned logical patch slot to hot patch the executing binary based on the corresponding hot patch; responsive to the execution (383, 493) of the corresponding hot patch, setting a reference counter associated with the corresponding hot patch to correspond to a cardinality of a plurality of threads that are running the current image of the executing binary; signaling the plurality of threads to unwind and rewind; each time a thread of the plurality of threads completes the rewind, decrementing the reference counter associated with the hot patch; in response to the reference counter reaching zero, de-assigning the logical patch slot of the corresponding hot patch; and responsive to de-assigning the logical patch slot, reclaiming resources associated with the logical patch slot. assigning the corresponding hot patch to an inactive logical patch slot (291, 292) of the fixed number of logical patch slots (291, 292); executing (383, 493) the corresponding hot patch from the assigned logical patch slot to hot patch the executing binary based on the corresponding hot patch; responsive to the execution (383, 493) of the corresponding hot patch, setting a reference counter associated with the corresponding hot patch to correspond to a cardinality of a plurality of threads that are running the current image of the executing binary; signaling the plurality of threads to unwind and rewind; each time a thread of the plurality of threads completes the rewind, decrementing the reference counter associated with the hot patch; in response to the reference counter reaching zero, de-assigning the logical patch slot of the corresponding hot patch; and responsive to de-assigning the logical patch slot, reclaiming resources associated with the logical patch slot.