diff --git a/src/python/m5/params.py b/src/python/m5/params.py
index c8d0d8f46..938278541 100644
--- a/src/python/m5/params.py
+++ b/src/python/m5/params.py
@@ -892,7 +892,7 @@ class NetworkBandwidth(float,ParamValue):
 
 class MemoryBandwidth(float,ParamValue):
     cxx_type = 'float'
-    def __new__(self, value):
+    def __new__(cls, value):
         # we want the number of ticks per byte of data
         val = convert.toMemoryBandwidth(value)
         return super(cls, MemoryBandwidth).__new__(cls, val)