diff --git a/src/sim/clock_domain.cc b/src/sim/clock_domain.cc
index 60c688b1a..1ccee7f1d 100644
--- a/src/sim/clock_domain.cc
+++ b/src/sim/clock_domain.cc
@@ -147,6 +147,11 @@ SrcClockDomain::perfLevel(PerfLevel perf_level)
 
     _perfLevel = perf_level;
 
+    signalPerfLevelUpdate();
+}
+
+void SrcClockDomain::signalPerfLevelUpdate()
+{
     // Signal the voltage domain that we have changed our perf level so that the
     // voltage domain can recompute its performance level
     voltageDomain()->sanitiseVoltages();
@@ -174,7 +179,7 @@ SrcClockDomain::startup()
 {
     // Perform proper clock update when all related components have been
     // created (i.e. after unserialization / object creation)
-    perfLevel(_perfLevel);
+    signalPerfLevelUpdate();
 }
 
 SrcClockDomain *
diff --git a/src/sim/clock_domain.hh b/src/sim/clock_domain.hh
index 71627434a..6ba8b6396 100644
--- a/src/sim/clock_domain.hh
+++ b/src/sim/clock_domain.hh
@@ -243,6 +243,11 @@ class SrcClockDomain : public ClockDomain
     void unserialize(CheckpointIn &cp) override;
 
   private:
+    /**
+     * Inform other components about the changed performance level
+     */
+    void signalPerfLevelUpdate();
+
     /**
       * List of possible frequency operational points, should be in
       * descending order