diff --git a/arch/sim/src/sim/sim_heap.c b/arch/sim/src/sim/sim_heap.c
index 1fd215a8260..825d14eb8a5 100644
--- a/arch/sim/src/sim/sim_heap.c
+++ b/arch/sim/src/sim/sim_heap.c
@@ -198,31 +198,44 @@ static void mm_delayfree(struct mm_heap_s *heap, void *mem, bool delay)
  ****************************************************************************/
 
 /****************************************************************************
- * Name: mm_initialize
+ * Name: mm_initialize_heap
  *
  * Description:
  *   Initialize the selected heap data structures, providing the initial
  *   heap region.
  *
  * Input Parameters:
- *   heap      - The selected heap
+ *   heap      - If heap is NULL, will use heapstart initialize heap context,
+ *               otherwise, will use heap alloc a heap context, caller need
+ *               free it after mm_uninitialize.
+ *   name      - The heap procfs name
  *   heapstart - Start of the initial heap region
  *   heapsize  - Size of the initial heap region
  *
  * Returned Value:
- *   None
+ *   Return the address of a new heap instance.
  *
  * Assumptions:
  *
  ****************************************************************************/
 
-struct mm_heap_s *mm_initialize(const char *name,
-                                void *heap_start, size_t heap_size)
+struct mm_heap_s *
+mm_initialize_heap(struct mm_heap_s *heap, const char *name,
+                   void *heapstart, size_t heapsize)
 {
-  struct mm_heap_s *heap;
+  if (heap == NULL)
+    {
+      heap = host_memalign(sizeof(void *), sizeof(*heap));
+    }
+  else
+    {
+      heap = mm_memalign(heap, MM_ALIGN, sizeof(struct mm_heap_s));
+    }
 
-  heap = host_memalign(sizeof(void *), sizeof(*heap));
-  DEBUGASSERT(heap);
+  if (heap == NULL)
+    {
+      return NULL;
+    }
 
   memset(heap, 0, sizeof(struct mm_heap_s));
 
diff --git a/include/nuttx/mm/mm.h b/include/nuttx/mm/mm.h
index 1cfcfe048a0..cc2f3f47e86 100644
--- a/include/nuttx/mm/mm.h
+++ b/include/nuttx/mm/mm.h
@@ -133,8 +133,10 @@
 #endif
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_MM_KERNEL_HEAP
+#  define KRN_HEAP               g_kmmheap
 #  define MM_INTERNAL_HEAP(heap) ((heap) == USR_HEAP || (heap) == g_kmmheap)
 #else
+#  define KRN_HEAP               USR_HEAP
 #  define MM_INTERNAL_HEAP(heap) ((heap) == USR_HEAP)
 #endif
 
@@ -250,18 +252,21 @@ EXTERN FAR struct mm_heap_s *g_kmmheap;
 
 /* Functions contained in mm_initialize.c ***********************************/
 
-FAR struct mm_heap_s *mm_initialize(FAR const char *name,
-                                    FAR void *heap_start, size_t heap_size);
-
+FAR struct mm_heap_s *
+mm_initialize_heap(FAR struct mm_heap_s *heap, FAR const char *name,
+                   FAR void *heapstart, size_t heapsize);
+#define mm_initialize(name, heapstart, heapsize) \
+        mm_initialize_heap(NULL, name, heapstart, heapsize)
 #ifdef CONFIG_MM_HEAP_MEMPOOL
 FAR struct mm_heap_s *
-mm_initialize_pool(FAR const char *name,
+mm_initialize_pool(FAR struct mm_heap_s *heap,
+                   FAR const char *name,
                    FAR void *heap_start, size_t heap_size,
                    FAR const struct mempool_init_s *init);
 
 #else
-#  define mm_initialize_pool(name, heap_start, heap_size, init) \
-          mm_initialize(name, heap_start, heap_size)
+#  define mm_initialize_pool(heap, name, heap_start, heap_size, init) \
+          mm_initialize_heap(heap, name, heap_start, heap_size)
 #endif
 
 void mm_addregion(FAR struct mm_heap_s *heap, FAR void *heapstart,
diff --git a/mm/kmm_heap/kmm_initialize.c b/mm/kmm_heap/kmm_initialize.c
index 96115f00dea..c34a6073fd1 100644
--- a/mm/kmm_heap/kmm_initialize.c
+++ b/mm/kmm_heap/kmm_initialize.c
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ FAR struct mm_heap_s *g_kmmheap;
 
 void kmm_initialize(FAR void *heap_start, size_t heap_size)
 {
-  g_kmmheap = mm_initialize_pool("Kmem", heap_start, heap_size, NULL);
+  g_kmmheap = mm_initialize_pool(NULL, "Kmem", heap_start, heap_size, NULL);
 }
 
 #endif /* CONFIG_MM_KERNEL_HEAP */
diff --git a/mm/mm_heap/mm_initialize.c b/mm/mm_heap/mm_initialize.c
index 61b1b91a6c4..e45cada33e5 100644
--- a/mm/mm_heap/mm_initialize.c
+++ b/mm/mm_heap/mm_initialize.c
@@ -212,13 +212,16 @@ void mm_addregion(FAR struct mm_heap_s *heap, FAR void *heapstart,
 }
 
 /****************************************************************************
- * Name: mm_initialize
+ * Name: mm_initialize_heap
  *
  * Description:
  *   Initialize the selected heap data structures, providing the initial
  *   heap region.
  *
  * Input Parameters:
+ *   heap      - If heap is NULL, will use heapstart initialize heap context,
+ *               otherwise, will use heap alloc a heap context, caller need
+ *               free it after mm_uninitialize.
  *   name      - The heap procfs name
  *   heapstart - Start of the initial heap region
  *   heapsize  - Size of the initial heap region
@@ -230,28 +233,37 @@ void mm_addregion(FAR struct mm_heap_s *heap, FAR void *heapstart,
  *
  ****************************************************************************/
 
-FAR struct mm_heap_s *mm_initialize(FAR const char *name,
-                                    FAR void *heapstart, size_t heapsize)
+FAR struct mm_heap_s *
+mm_initialize_heap(FAR struct mm_heap_s *heap, FAR const char *name,
+                   FAR void *heapstart, size_t heapsize)
 {
-  FAR struct mm_heap_s *heap;
-  uintptr_t             heap_adj;
-  int                   i;
+  int i;
 
   minfo("Heap: name=%s, start=%p size=%zu\n", name, heapstart, heapsize);
+  if (heap == NULL)
+    {
+      /* First ensure the memory to be used is aligned */
 
-  /* First ensure the memory to be used is aligned */
+      uintptr_t heap_adj = MM_ALIGN_UP((uintptr_t)heapstart);
+      heapsize -= heap_adj - (uintptr_t)heapstart;
 
-  heap_adj  = MM_ALIGN_UP((uintptr_t)heapstart);
-  heapsize -= heap_adj - (uintptr_t)heapstart;
+      /* Reserve a block space for mm_heap_s context */
 
-  /* Reserve a block space for mm_heap_s context */
+      DEBUGASSERT(heapsize > sizeof(struct mm_heap_s));
+      heap = (FAR struct mm_heap_s *)heap_adj;
+      heapsize -= sizeof(struct mm_heap_s);
+      heapstart = (FAR char *)heap_adj + sizeof(struct mm_heap_s);
 
-  DEBUGASSERT(heapsize > sizeof(struct mm_heap_s));
-  heap = (FAR struct mm_heap_s *)heap_adj;
-  heapsize -= sizeof(struct mm_heap_s);
-  heapstart = (FAR char *)heap_adj + sizeof(struct mm_heap_s);
-
-  DEBUGASSERT(MM_MIN_CHUNK >= MM_SIZEOF_ALLOCNODE);
+      DEBUGASSERT(MM_MIN_CHUNK >= MM_SIZEOF_ALLOCNODE);
+    }
+  else
+    {
+      heap = mm_memalign(heap, MM_ALIGN, sizeof(struct mm_heap_s));
+      if (heap == NULL)
+        {
+          return NULL;
+        }
+    }
 
   /* Set up global variables */
 
@@ -297,12 +309,11 @@ FAR struct mm_heap_s *mm_initialize(FAR const char *name,
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_MM_HEAP_MEMPOOL
 FAR struct mm_heap_s *
-mm_initialize_pool(FAR const char *name,
+mm_initialize_pool(FAR struct mm_heap_s *heap,
+                   FAR const char *name,
                    FAR void *heap_start, size_t heap_size,
                    FAR const struct mempool_init_s *init)
 {
-  FAR struct mm_heap_s *heap;
-
 #if CONFIG_MM_HEAP_MEMPOOL_THRESHOLD > 0
   size_t poolsize[MEMPOOL_NPOOLS];
   struct mempool_init_s def;
@@ -333,7 +344,7 @@ mm_initialize_pool(FAR const char *name,
     }
 #endif
 
-  heap = mm_initialize(name, heap_start, heap_size);
+  heap = mm_initialize_heap(heap, name, heap_start, heap_size);
 
   /* Initialize the multiple mempool in heap */
 
diff --git a/mm/tlsf/mm_tlsf.c b/mm/tlsf/mm_tlsf.c
index c5cdfc572d8..4d2412a50b6 100644
--- a/mm/tlsf/mm_tlsf.c
+++ b/mm/tlsf/mm_tlsf.c
@@ -991,38 +991,51 @@ bool mm_heapmember(FAR struct mm_heap_s *heap, FAR void *mem)
 }
 
 /****************************************************************************
- * Name: mm_initialize
+ * Name: mm_initialize_heap
  *
  * Description:
  *   Initialize the selected heap data structures, providing the initial
  *   heap region.
  *
  * Input Parameters:
- *   heap      - The selected heap
+ *   heap      - If heap is NULL, will use heapstart initialize heap context,
+ *               otherwise, will use heap alloc a heap context, caller need
+ *               free it after mm_uninitialize.
+ *   name      - The heap procfs name
  *   heapstart - Start of the initial heap region
  *   heapsize  - Size of the initial heap region
  *
  * Returned Value:
- *   None
+ *   Return the address of a new heap instance.
  *
  * Assumptions:
  *
  ****************************************************************************/
 
-FAR struct mm_heap_s *mm_initialize(FAR const char *name,
-                                    FAR void *heapstart, size_t heapsize)
+FAR struct mm_heap_s *
+mm_initialize_heap(FAR struct mm_heap_s *heap, FAR const char *name,
+                   FAR void *heapstart, size_t heapsize)
 {
-  FAR struct mm_heap_s *heap;
-
   minfo("Heap: name=%s start=%p size=%zu\n", name, heapstart, heapsize);
+  if (heap == NULL)
+    {
+      /* Reserve a block space for mm_heap_s context */
 
-  /* Reserve a block space for mm_heap_s context */
+      DEBUGASSERT(heapsize > sizeof(struct mm_heap_s));
+      heap = (FAR struct mm_heap_s *)heapstart;
+      heapstart += sizeof(struct mm_heap_s);
+      heapsize -= sizeof(struct mm_heap_s);
+    }
+  else
+    {
+      heap = mm_memalign(heap, MM_ALIGN, sizeof(struct mm_heap_s));
+      if (heap == NULL)
+        {
+          return NULL;
+        }
+    }
 
-  DEBUGASSERT(heapsize > sizeof(struct mm_heap_s));
-  heap = (FAR struct mm_heap_s *)heapstart;
   memset(heap, 0, sizeof(struct mm_heap_s));
-  heapstart += sizeof(struct mm_heap_s);
-  heapsize -= sizeof(struct mm_heap_s);
 
   /* Allocate and create TLSF context */
 
@@ -1057,12 +1070,11 @@ FAR struct mm_heap_s *mm_initialize(FAR const char *name,
 
 #ifdef CONFIG_MM_HEAP_MEMPOOL
 FAR struct mm_heap_s *
-mm_initialize_pool(FAR const char *name,
+mm_initialize_pool(FAR struct mm_heap_s *heap,
+                   FAR const char *name,
                    FAR void *heap_start, size_t heap_size,
                    FAR const struct mempool_init_s *init)
 {
-  FAR struct mm_heap_s *heap;
-
 #if CONFIG_MM_HEAP_MEMPOOL_THRESHOLD > 0
   size_t poolsize[MEMPOOL_NPOOLS];
   struct mempool_init_s def;
@@ -1093,7 +1105,7 @@ mm_initialize_pool(FAR const char *name,
     }
 #endif
 
-  heap = mm_initialize(name, heap_start, heap_size);
+  heap = mm_initialize_heap(heap, name, heap_start, heap_size);
 
   /* Initialize the multiple mempool in heap */
 
diff --git a/mm/umm_heap/umm_initialize.c b/mm/umm_heap/umm_initialize.c
index f38db4a852c..0a225ff66d8 100644
--- a/mm/umm_heap/umm_initialize.c
+++ b/mm/umm_heap/umm_initialize.c
@@ -87,9 +87,9 @@
 void umm_initialize(FAR void *heap_start, size_t heap_size)
 {
 #ifdef CONFIG_BUILD_KERNEL
-  USR_HEAP = mm_initialize_pool(NULL, heap_start, heap_size, NULL);
+  USR_HEAP = mm_initialize_pool(NULL, NULL, heap_start, heap_size, NULL);
 #else
-  USR_HEAP = mm_initialize_pool("Umem", heap_start, heap_size, NULL);
+  USR_HEAP = mm_initialize_pool(NULL, "Umem", heap_start, heap_size, NULL);
 #endif
 }