diff --git a/src/lib/netlist/devices/nld_system.cpp b/src/lib/netlist/devices/nld_system.cpp
index 77317f778e4..98c3a5b47ec 100644
--- a/src/lib/netlist/devices/nld_system.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/netlist/devices/nld_system.cpp
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ void nld_d_to_a_proxy::start()
 	register_output("_Q", m_Q);
 	register_subalias("Q", m_RV.m_P);
 
-	connect_direct(m_RV.m_N, m_Q);
+	connect_late(m_RV.m_N, m_Q);
 
 	save(NLNAME(m_last_state));
 }
diff --git a/src/lib/netlist/nl_base.cpp b/src/lib/netlist/nl_base.cpp
index d79355b5de2..125d1733b57 100644
--- a/src/lib/netlist/nl_base.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/netlist/nl_base.cpp
@@ -542,7 +542,10 @@ ATTR_COLD void device_t::connect_late(const pstring &t1, const pstring &t2)
 	setup().register_link_fqn(name() + "." + t1, name() + "." + t2);
 }
 
-ATTR_COLD void device_t::connect_direct(core_terminal_t &t1, core_terminal_t &t2)
+/* FIXME: this is only used by solver code since matrix solvers are started in
+ *        post_start.
+ */
+ATTR_COLD void device_t::connect_post_start(core_terminal_t &t1, core_terminal_t &t2)
 {
 	if (!setup().connect(t1, t2))
 		netlist().log().fatal("Error connecting {1} to {2}\n", t1.name(), t2.name());
diff --git a/src/lib/netlist/nl_base.h b/src/lib/netlist/nl_base.h
index 46cfab1d953..933ea963a58 100644
--- a/src/lib/netlist/nl_base.h
+++ b/src/lib/netlist/nl_base.h
@@ -1138,7 +1138,7 @@ namespace netlist
 
 		ATTR_COLD void connect_late(const pstring &t1, const pstring &t2);
 		ATTR_COLD void connect_late(core_terminal_t &t1, core_terminal_t &t2);
-		ATTR_COLD void connect_direct(core_terminal_t &t1, core_terminal_t &t2);
+		ATTR_COLD void connect_post_start(core_terminal_t &t1, core_terminal_t &t2);
 
 		pvector_t<pstring> m_terminals;
 
diff --git a/src/lib/netlist/solver/nld_solver.cpp b/src/lib/netlist/solver/nld_solver.cpp
index 525cce76eee..811bdab2c0b 100644
--- a/src/lib/netlist/solver/nld_solver.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/netlist/solver/nld_solver.cpp
@@ -407,7 +407,7 @@ ATTR_COLD void matrix_solver_t::start()
 {
 	register_output("Q_sync", m_Q_sync);
 	register_input("FB_sync", m_fb_sync);
-	connect_direct(m_fb_sync, m_Q_sync);
+	connect_post_start(m_fb_sync, m_Q_sync);
 
 	save(NLNAME(m_last_step));
 	save(NLNAME(m_cur_ts));