diff --git a/hw/hppa/machine.c b/hw/hppa/machine.c
index 7e23675429..953d454f48 100644
--- a/hw/hppa/machine.c
+++ b/hw/hppa/machine.c
@@ -161,9 +161,8 @@ static void machine_hppa_init(MachineState *machine)
     g_free(firmware_filename);
 
     rom_region = g_new(MemoryRegion, 1);
-    memory_region_allocate_system_memory(rom_region, OBJECT(machine),
-                                         "firmware",
-                                         (FIRMWARE_END - FIRMWARE_START));
+    memory_region_init_ram(rom_region, NULL, "firmware",
+                           (FIRMWARE_END - FIRMWARE_START), &error_fatal);
     memory_region_add_subregion(addr_space, FIRMWARE_START, rom_region);
 
     /* Load kernel */