diff --git a/hw/pci-host/pnv_phb4_pec.c b/hw/pci-host/pnv_phb4_pec.c
index a7dd4173d5..dfed2af0f7 100644
--- a/hw/pci-host/pnv_phb4_pec.c
+++ b/hw/pci-host/pnv_phb4_pec.c
@@ -124,7 +124,7 @@ static uint64_t pnv_pec_stk_nest_xscom_read(void *opaque, hwaddr addr,
 static void pnv_pec_stk_update_map(PnvPhb4PecStack *stack)
 {
     PnvPhb4PecState *pec = stack->pec;
-    MemoryRegion *sysmem = pec->system_memory;
+    MemoryRegion *sysmem = get_system_memory();
     uint64_t bar_en = stack->nest_regs[PEC_NEST_STK_BAR_EN];
     uint64_t bar, mask, size;
     char name[64];
@@ -394,8 +394,6 @@ static void pnv_pec_realize(DeviceState *dev, Error **errp)
     char name[64];
     int i;
 
-    assert(pec->system_memory);
-
     if (pec->index >= PNV_CHIP_GET_CLASS(pec->chip)->num_pecs) {
         error_setg(errp, "invalid PEC index: %d", pec->index);
         return;
@@ -486,8 +484,6 @@ static Property pnv_pec_properties[] = {
         DEFINE_PROP_UINT32("chip-id", PnvPhb4PecState, chip_id, 0),
         DEFINE_PROP_LINK("chip", PnvPhb4PecState, chip, TYPE_PNV_CHIP,
                          PnvChip *),
-        DEFINE_PROP_LINK("system-memory", PnvPhb4PecState, system_memory,
-                     TYPE_MEMORY_REGION, MemoryRegion *),
         DEFINE_PROP_END_OF_LIST(),
 };
 
diff --git a/hw/ppc/pnv.c b/hw/ppc/pnv.c
index 712200264b..57a5180bcc 100644
--- a/hw/ppc/pnv.c
+++ b/hw/ppc/pnv.c
@@ -1396,8 +1396,6 @@ static void pnv_chip_power9_phb_realize(PnvChip *chip, Error **errp)
                                 &error_fatal);
         object_property_set_link(OBJECT(pec), "chip", OBJECT(chip),
                                  &error_fatal);
-        object_property_set_link(OBJECT(pec), "system-memory",
-                                 OBJECT(get_system_memory()), &error_abort);
         if (!qdev_realize(DEVICE(pec), NULL, errp)) {
             return;
         }