diff --git a/configs/common/FSConfig.py b/configs/common/FSConfig.py
index 0d46dcde2..422de971e 100644
--- a/configs/common/FSConfig.py
+++ b/configs/common/FSConfig.py
@@ -180,10 +180,8 @@ def makeSparcSystem(mem_mode, MemClass, mdesc = None):
     self.t1000 = T1000()
     self.t1000.attachOnChipIO(self.membus)
     self.t1000.attachIO(self.iobus)
-    self.physmem = MemClass(range = AddrRange(Addr('1MB'), size = '64MB'),
-                            zero = True)
-    self.physmem2 = MemClass(range = AddrRange(Addr('2GB'), size ='256MB'),
-                             zero = True)
+    self.physmem = MemClass(range = AddrRange(Addr('1MB'), size = '64MB'))
+    self.physmem2 = MemClass(range = AddrRange(Addr('2GB'), size ='256MB'))
     self.mem_ranges = [self.physmem.range, self.physmem2.range]
     self.bridge.master = self.iobus.slave
     self.bridge.slave = self.membus.master
@@ -275,8 +273,7 @@ def makeArmSystem(mem_mode, machine_type, MemClass, mdesc = None,
     if bare_metal:
         # EOT character on UART will end the simulation
         self.realview.uart.end_on_eot = True
-        self.physmem = MemClass(range = AddrRange(Addr(mdesc.mem())),
-                                zero = True)
+        self.physmem = MemClass(range = AddrRange(Addr(mdesc.mem())))
         self.mem_ranges = [self.physmem.range]
     else:
         self.kernel = binary('vmlinux.arm.smp.fb.2.6.38.8')
diff --git a/src/dev/arm/RealView.py b/src/dev/arm/RealView.py
index b5d41ce93..ab994b6f0 100644
--- a/src/dev/arm/RealView.py
+++ b/src/dev/arm/RealView.py
@@ -162,8 +162,7 @@ class RealView(Platform):
 
     def setupBootLoader(self, mem_bus, cur_sys, loc):
         self.nvmem = SimpleMemory(range = AddrRange(Addr('2GB'),
-                                                    size = '64MB'),
-                                  zero = True)
+                                                    size = '64MB'))
         self.nvmem.port = mem_bus.master
         cur_sys.boot_loader = loc('boot.arm')
 
@@ -360,8 +359,7 @@ class VExpress_EMM(RealView):
                         InterruptLine=2, InterruptPin=2)
 
 
-    vram           = SimpleMemory(range = AddrRange(0x18000000, size='32MB'),
-                                  zero = True)
+    vram           = SimpleMemory(range = AddrRange(0x18000000, size='32MB'))
     rtc            = PL031(pio_addr=0x1C170000, int_num=36)
 
     l2x0_fake      = IsaFake(pio_addr=0x2C100000, pio_size=0xfff)
@@ -376,8 +374,7 @@ class VExpress_EMM(RealView):
     mmc_fake       = AmbaFake(pio_addr=0x1c050000)
 
     def setupBootLoader(self, mem_bus, cur_sys, loc):
-        self.nvmem = SimpleMemory(range = AddrRange(0, size = '64MB'),
-                                  zero = True)
+        self.nvmem = SimpleMemory(range = AddrRange(0, size = '64MB'))
         self.nvmem.port = mem_bus.master
         cur_sys.boot_loader = loc('boot_emm.arm')
         cur_sys.atags_addr = 0x80000100
diff --git a/src/mem/AbstractMemory.py b/src/mem/AbstractMemory.py
index f96ca5b78..22a4a1893 100644
--- a/src/mem/AbstractMemory.py
+++ b/src/mem/AbstractMemory.py
@@ -48,7 +48,6 @@ class AbstractMemory(MemObject):
     cxx_header = "mem/abstract_mem.hh"
     range = Param.AddrRange(AddrRange('128MB'), "Address range")
     null = Param.Bool(False, "Do not store data, always return zero")
-    zero = Param.Bool(False, "Initialize memory with zeros")
 
     # All memories are passed to the global physical memory, and
     # certain memories may be excluded from the global address map,
diff --git a/src/mem/abstract_mem.hh b/src/mem/abstract_mem.hh
index c1ecbdba4..57a47e390 100644
--- a/src/mem/abstract_mem.hh
+++ b/src/mem/abstract_mem.hh
@@ -202,13 +202,6 @@ class AbstractMemory : public MemObject
      */
     bool isNull() const { return params()->null; }
 
-    /**
-     * See if this memory should be initialized to zero or not.
-     *
-     * @return true if zero
-     */
-    bool initToZero() const { return params()->zero; }
-
     /**
      * Set the host memory backing store to be used by this memory
      * controller.
diff --git a/src/mem/physical.cc b/src/mem/physical.cc
index 4b7001eb5..10176bba0 100644
--- a/src/mem/physical.cc
+++ b/src/mem/physical.cc
@@ -162,10 +162,6 @@ PhysicalMemory::createBackingStore(AddrRange range,
     // it appropriately
     backingStore.push_back(make_pair(range, pmem));
 
-    // count how many of the memories are to be zero initialized so we
-    // can see if some but not all have this parameter set
-    uint32_t init_to_zero = 0;
-
     // point the memories to their backing store, and if requested,
     // initialize the memory range to 0
     for (vector<AbstractMemory*>::const_iterator m = _memories.begin();
@@ -173,19 +169,6 @@ PhysicalMemory::createBackingStore(AddrRange range,
         DPRINTF(BusAddrRanges, "Mapping memory %s to backing store\n",
                 (*m)->name());
         (*m)->setBackingStore(pmem);
-
-        // if it should be zero, then go and make it so
-        if ((*m)->initToZero()) {
-            ++init_to_zero;
-        }
-    }
-
-    if (init_to_zero != 0) {
-        if (init_to_zero != _memories.size())
-            fatal("Some, but not all memories in range %s are set zero\n",
-                  range.to_string());
-
-        memset(pmem, 0, range.size());
     }
 }