diff --git a/hw/s390x/s390-virtio-ccw.c b/hw/s390x/s390-virtio-ccw.c
index 84221f4f57..5a52ff26eb 100644
--- a/hw/s390x/s390-virtio-ccw.c
+++ b/hw/s390x/s390-virtio-ccw.c
@@ -104,8 +104,7 @@ void s390_memory_init(ram_addr_t mem_size)
     MemoryRegion *ram = g_new(MemoryRegion, 1);
 
     /* allocate RAM for core */
-    memory_region_init_ram(ram, NULL, "s390.ram", mem_size, &error_fatal);
-    vmstate_register_ram_global(ram);
+    memory_region_allocate_system_memory(ram, NULL, "s390.ram", mem_size);
     memory_region_add_subregion(sysmem, 0, ram);
 
     /* Initialize storage key device */