diff --git a/src/mem/port.cc b/src/mem/port.cc
index 18793d487b..e36323fb74 100644
--- a/src/mem/port.cc
+++ b/src/mem/port.cc
@@ -120,9 +120,23 @@ DefaultResponsePort defaultResponsePort;
 /**
  * Request port
  */
-RequestPort::RequestPort(const std::string& name, SimObject* _owner,
-    PortID _id) : Port(name, _id), _responsePort(&defaultResponsePort),
-    owner(*_owner)
+[[deprecated]]
+RequestPort::RequestPort(const std::string& name,
+                         SimObject* _owner,
+                         PortID _id):
+    Port(name, _id), _responsePort(&defaultResponsePort), owner{*_owner}
+{
+}
+
+/*** FIXME:
+ * The owner reference member is going through a deprecation path. In the
+ * meantime, it must be initialized but no valid reference is available here.
+ * Using 1 instead of nullptr prevents warning upon dereference. It should be
+ * OK until definitive removal of owner.
+ */
+RequestPort::RequestPort(const std::string& name, PortID _id) :
+    Port(name, _id), _responsePort(&defaultResponsePort),
+    owner{*reinterpret_cast<SimObject*>(1)}
 {
 }
 
@@ -175,9 +189,30 @@ RequestPort::printAddr(Addr a)
 /**
  * Response port
  */
-ResponsePort::ResponsePort(const std::string& name, SimObject* _owner,
-    PortID id) : Port(name, id), _requestPort(&defaultRequestPort),
-    defaultBackdoorWarned(false), owner(*_owner)
+
+[[deprecated]]
+ResponsePort::ResponsePort(const std::string& name,
+                           SimObject* _owner,
+                           PortID _id):
+    Port(name, _id),
+    _requestPort(&defaultRequestPort),
+    defaultBackdoorWarned(false),
+    owner{*_owner}
+{
+}
+
+
+/*** FIXME:
+ * The owner reference member is going through a deprecation path. In the
+ * meantime, it must be initialized but no valid reference is available here.
+ * Using 1 instead of nullptr prevents warning upon dereference. It should be
+ * OK until definitive removal of owner.
+ */
+ResponsePort::ResponsePort(const std::string& name, PortID id) :
+    Port(name, id),
+    _requestPort(&defaultRequestPort),
+    defaultBackdoorWarned(false),
+    owner{*reinterpret_cast<SimObject*>(1)}
 {
 }
 
diff --git a/src/mem/port.hh b/src/mem/port.hh
index fb0f4b8812..0d61787f62 100644
--- a/src/mem/port.hh
+++ b/src/mem/port.hh
@@ -86,8 +86,13 @@ class RequestPort: public Port, public AtomicRequestProtocol,
     SimObject &owner;
 
   public:
+    [[deprecated("RequestPort ownership is deprecated. "
+                 "Owner should now be registered in derived classes.")]]
     RequestPort(const std::string& name, SimObject* _owner,
-               PortID id=InvalidPortID);
+                PortID id=InvalidPortID);
+
+    RequestPort(const std::string& name, PortID id=InvalidPortID);
+
     virtual ~RequestPort();
 
     /**
@@ -266,9 +271,7 @@ class RequestPort: public Port, public AtomicRequestProtocol,
 class [[deprecated]] MasterPort : public RequestPort
 {
   public:
-    MasterPort(const std::string& name, SimObject* _owner,
-               PortID id=InvalidPortID) : RequestPort(name, _owner, id)
-               {}
+    using RequestPort::RequestPort;
 };
 
 /**
@@ -294,8 +297,13 @@ class ResponsePort : public Port, public AtomicResponseProtocol,
     SimObject& owner;
 
   public:
+    [[deprecated("ResponsePort ownership is deprecated. "
+                 "Owner should now be registered in derived classes.")]]
     ResponsePort(const std::string& name, SimObject* _owner,
-              PortID id=InvalidPortID);
+                 PortID id=InvalidPortID);
+
+    ResponsePort(const std::string& name, PortID id=InvalidPortID);
+
     virtual ~ResponsePort();
 
     /**