diff --git a/src/cpu/thread_context.cc b/src/cpu/thread_context.cc
index 1a78693753..00afe7c383 100644
--- a/src/cpu/thread_context.cc
+++ b/src/cpu/thread_context.cc
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@
 #include "cpu/base.hh"
 #include "debug/Context.hh"
 #include "debug/Quiesce.hh"
+#include "mem/port.hh"
 #include "params/BaseCPU.hh"
 #include "sim/full_system.hh"
 
@@ -127,6 +128,15 @@ ThreadContext::compare(ThreadContext *one, ThreadContext *two)
 
 }
 
+void
+ThreadContext::sendFunctional(PacketPtr pkt)
+{
+    const auto *port =
+        dynamic_cast<const RequestPort *>(&getCpuPtr()->getDataPort());
+    assert(port);
+    port->sendFunctional(pkt);
+}
+
 void
 ThreadContext::quiesce()
 {
diff --git a/src/cpu/thread_context.hh b/src/cpu/thread_context.hh
index 145be587bc..921135c0f4 100644
--- a/src/cpu/thread_context.hh
+++ b/src/cpu/thread_context.hh
@@ -68,6 +68,8 @@ class Checkpoint;
 class PortProxy;
 class Process;
 class System;
+class Packet;
+using PacketPtr = Packet *;
 
 /**
  * ThreadContext is the external interface to all thread state for
@@ -146,6 +148,8 @@ class ThreadContext : public PCEventScope
 
     virtual PortProxy &getVirtProxy() = 0;
 
+    virtual void sendFunctional(PacketPtr pkt);
+
     /**
      * Initialise the physical and virtual port proxies and tie them to
      * the data port of the CPU.