diff --git a/src/dev/net/etherint.cc b/src/dev/net/etherint.cc
index 0c5e6b8..b55e625 100644
--- a/src/dev/net/etherint.cc
+++ b/src/dev/net/etherint.cc
@@ -34,6 +34,25 @@
 #include "sim/sim_object.hh"
 
 void
+EtherInt::bind(Port &peer)
+{
+    EtherInt *p = dynamic_cast<EtherInt *>(&peer);
+    if (!p) {
+        fatal("Attempt to bind port %s to non-ethernet port %s.",
+                name(), peer.name());
+    }
+    setPeer(p);
+    _connected = true;
+}
+
+void
+EtherInt::unbind()
+{
+    peer = nullptr;
+    _connected = false;
+}
+
+void
 EtherInt::setPeer(EtherInt *p)
 {
     if (peer && peer != p)
diff --git a/src/dev/net/etherint.hh b/src/dev/net/etherint.hh
index 7703220..0486631 100644
--- a/src/dev/net/etherint.hh
+++ b/src/dev/net/etherint.hh
@@ -60,6 +60,9 @@
     /** Return port name (for DPRINTF). */
     const std::string &name() const { return portName; }
 
+    void bind(Port &peer) override;
+    void unbind() override;
+
     void setPeer(EtherInt *p);
     EtherInt* getPeer() { return peer; }
 
diff --git a/src/mem/port.cc b/src/mem/port.cc
index 6f72bbd..001576f 100644
--- a/src/mem/port.cc
+++ b/src/mem/port.cc
@@ -70,12 +70,6 @@
     return *_baseSlavePort;
 }
 
-bool
-BaseMasterPort::isConnected() const
-{
-    return _baseSlavePort != NULL;
-}
-
 BaseSlavePort::BaseSlavePort(const std::string &name, PortID _id)
     : Port(name, _id), _baseMasterPort(NULL)
 {
@@ -95,12 +89,6 @@
     return *_baseMasterPort;
 }
 
-bool
-BaseSlavePort::isConnected() const
-{
-    return _baseMasterPort != NULL;
-}
-
 /**
  * Master port
  */
@@ -114,24 +102,21 @@
 }
 
 void
-MasterPort::bind(BaseSlavePort& slave_port)
+MasterPort::bind(Port &peer)
 {
-    // bind on the level of the base ports
-    _baseSlavePort = &slave_port;
-
-    // also attempt to base the slave to the appropriate type
-    SlavePort* cast_slave_port = dynamic_cast<SlavePort*>(&slave_port);
-
-    // if this port is compatible, then proceed with the binding
-    if (cast_slave_port != NULL) {
-        // master port keeps track of the slave port
-        _slavePort = cast_slave_port;
-        // slave port also keeps track of master port
-        _slavePort->bind(*this);
-    } else {
-        fatal("Master port %s cannot bind to %s\n", name(),
-              slave_port.name());
+    auto *slave_port = dynamic_cast<SlavePort *>(&peer);
+    if (!slave_port) {
+        fatal("Attempt to bind port %s to non-slave port %s.",
+                name(), peer.name());
     }
+    // bind on the level of the base ports
+    _baseSlavePort = slave_port;
+
+    // master port keeps track of the slave port
+    _slavePort = slave_port;
+    _connected = true;
+    // slave port also keeps track of master port
+    _slavePort->slaveBind(*this);
 }
 
 void
@@ -140,8 +125,9 @@
     if (_slavePort == NULL)
         panic("Attempting to unbind master port %s that is not connected\n",
               name());
-    _slavePort->unbind();
+    _slavePort->slaveUnbind();
     _slavePort = NULL;
+    _connected = false;
     _baseSlavePort = NULL;
 }
 
@@ -218,17 +204,19 @@
 }
 
 void
-SlavePort::unbind()
+SlavePort::slaveUnbind()
 {
     _baseMasterPort = NULL;
     _masterPort = NULL;
+    _connected = false;
 }
 
 void
-SlavePort::bind(MasterPort& master_port)
+SlavePort::slaveBind(MasterPort& master_port)
 {
     _baseMasterPort = &master_port;
     _masterPort = &master_port;
+    _connected = true;
 }
 
 Tick
diff --git a/src/mem/port.hh b/src/mem/port.hh
index 77081db..2154da0 100644
--- a/src/mem/port.hh
+++ b/src/mem/port.hh
@@ -77,10 +77,7 @@
 
   public:
 
-    virtual void bind(BaseSlavePort& slave_port) = 0;
-    virtual void unbind() = 0;
     BaseSlavePort& getSlavePort() const;
-    bool isConnected() const;
 
 };
 
@@ -101,7 +98,6 @@
   public:
 
     BaseMasterPort& getMasterPort() const;
-    bool isConnected() const;
 
 };
 
@@ -138,12 +134,12 @@
      * Bind this master port to a slave port. This also does the
      * mirror action and binds the slave port to the master port.
      */
-    void bind(BaseSlavePort& slave_port);
+    void bind(Port &peer) override;
 
     /**
      * Unbind this master port and the associated slave port.
      */
-    void unbind();
+    void unbind() override;
 
     /**
      * Send an atomic request packet, where the data is moved and the
@@ -394,19 +390,25 @@
      */
     virtual AddrRangeList getAddrRanges() const = 0;
 
+    /**
+     * We let the master port do the work, so these don't do anything.
+     */
+    void unbind() override {}
+    void bind(Port &peer) override {}
+
   protected:
 
     /**
      * Called by the master port to unbind. Should never be called
      * directly.
      */
-    void unbind();
+    void slaveUnbind();
 
     /**
      * Called by the master port to bind. Should never be called
      * directly.
      */
-    void bind(MasterPort& master_port);
+    void slaveBind(MasterPort& master_port);
 
     /**
      * Receive an atomic request packet from the master port.
diff --git a/src/sim/port.cc b/src/sim/port.cc
index 551785b..b3139a6 100644
--- a/src/sim/port.cc
+++ b/src/sim/port.cc
@@ -49,5 +49,7 @@
 
 #include "sim/port.hh"
 
-Port::Port(const std::string& _name, PortID _id) : portName(_name), id(_id) {}
+Port::Port(const std::string& _name, PortID _id) :
+    portName(_name), id(_id), _connected(false)
+{}
 Port::~Port() {}
diff --git a/src/sim/port.hh b/src/sim/port.hh
index 368f467..e181164 100644
--- a/src/sim/port.hh
+++ b/src/sim/port.hh
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@
   private:
 
     /** Descriptive name (for DPRINTF output) */
-    std::string portName;
+    const std::string portName;
 
   protected:
 
@@ -72,6 +72,10 @@
      * to InvalidPortID in case this port is not part of a vector.
      */
     const PortID id;
+    /**
+     * Whether this port is currently connected to a peer port.
+     */
+    bool _connected;
 
     /**
      * Abstract base class for ports
@@ -94,6 +98,14 @@
     /** Get the port id. */
     PortID getId() const { return id; }
 
+    /** Attach to a peer port. */
+    virtual void bind(Port &peer) = 0;
+
+    /** Dettach from a peer port. */
+    virtual void unbind() = 0;
+
+    /** Is this port currently connected to a peer? */
+    bool isConnected() const { return _connected; }
 };
 
 #endif //__SIM_PORT_HH__