diff --git a/src/python/m5/SimObject.py b/src/python/m5/SimObject.py
index a0d66e643..716f584b0 100644
--- a/src/python/m5/SimObject.py
+++ b/src/python/m5/SimObject.py
@@ -726,7 +726,12 @@ class SimObject(object):
             child.resume()
 
     def changeTiming(self, mode):
-        if isinstance(self, System):
+        if isinstance(self, m5.objects.System):
+            # i don't know if there's a better way to do this - calling
+            # setMemoryMode directly from self._ccObject results in calling
+            # SimObject::setMemoryMode, not the System::setMemoryMode
+##            system_ptr = cc_main.convertToSystemPtr(self._ccObject)
+##            system_ptr.setMemoryMode(mode)
             self._ccObject.setMemoryMode(mode)
         for child in self._children.itervalues():
             child.changeTiming(mode)
diff --git a/src/sim/main.cc b/src/sim/main.cc
index 874d0ac85..8bb0d7aaa 100644
--- a/src/sim/main.cc
+++ b/src/sim/main.cc
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@
 #include "sim/sim_events.hh"
 #include "sim/sim_exit.hh"
 #include "sim/sim_object.hh"
+#include "sim/system.hh"
 #include "sim/stat_control.hh"
 #include "sim/stats.hh"
 #include "sim/root.hh"
@@ -440,6 +441,17 @@ convertToBaseCPUPtr(SimObject *obj)
     return ptr;
 }
 
+System *
+convertToSystemPtr(SimObject *obj)
+{
+    System *ptr = dynamic_cast<System *>(obj);
+
+    if (ptr == NULL)
+        warn("Casting to System pointer failed");
+    return ptr;
+}
+
+
 /**
  * Do C++ simulator exit processing.  Exported to SWIG to be invoked
  * when simulator terminates via Python's atexit mechanism.
diff --git a/src/sim/sim_object.hh b/src/sim/sim_object.hh
index 38f2bdd23..32807b69d 100644
--- a/src/sim/sim_object.hh
+++ b/src/sim/sim_object.hh
@@ -64,6 +64,13 @@ class SimObject : public Serializable, protected StartupCallback
         Draining,
         Drained
     };
+
+    enum MemoryMode {
+        Invalid=0,
+        Atomic,
+        Timing
+    };
+
   private:
     State state;
 
diff --git a/src/sim/system.hh b/src/sim/system.hh
index 3ab1d81f2..827fe5c78 100644
--- a/src/sim/system.hh
+++ b/src/sim/system.hh
@@ -62,22 +62,16 @@ class RemoteGDB;
 class System : public SimObject
 {
   public:
-    enum MemoryMode {
-        Invalid=0,
-        Atomic,
-        Timing
-    };
 
     static const char *MemoryModeStrings[3];
 
-
-    MemoryMode getMemoryMode() { assert(memoryMode); return memoryMode; }
+    SimObject::MemoryMode getMemoryMode() { assert(memoryMode); return memoryMode; }
 
     /** Change the memory mode of the system. This should only be called by the
      * python!!
      * @param mode Mode to change to (atomic/timing)
      */
-    void setMemoryMode(MemoryMode mode);
+    void setMemoryMode(SimObject::MemoryMode mode);
 
     PhysicalMemory *physmem;
     PCEventQueue pcEventQueue;
@@ -126,7 +120,7 @@ class System : public SimObject
 
   protected:
 
-    MemoryMode memoryMode;
+    SimObject::MemoryMode memoryMode;
 
 #if FULL_SYSTEM
     /**
@@ -173,7 +167,7 @@ class System : public SimObject
     {
         std::string name;
         PhysicalMemory *physmem;
-        MemoryMode mem_mode;
+        SimObject::MemoryMode mem_mode;
 
 #if FULL_SYSTEM
         Tick boot_cpu_frequency;