diff --git a/src/emu/devcb.c b/src/emu/devcb.c
index 3b308284550..ac80e63cf36 100644
--- a/src/emu/devcb.c
+++ b/src/emu/devcb.c
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ void devcb_resolve_read_line(devcb_resolved_read_line *resolved, const devcb_rea
 		const device_config *cpu;
 
 		if (device->owner != NULL)
-			cpu = device_find_child_by_tag(device->owner, config->tag);
+			cpu = device->owner->subdevice(config->tag);
 		else
 			cpu = device->machine->device(config->tag);
 
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ void devcb_resolve_read_line(devcb_resolved_read_line *resolved, const devcb_rea
 		if (config->type == DEVCB_TYPE_SELF)
 			resolved->target = device;
 		else if (device->owner != NULL)
-			resolved->target = device_find_child_by_tag(device->owner, config->tag);
+			resolved->target = device->owner->subdevice(config->tag);
 		else
 			resolved->target = device->machine->device(config->tag);
 
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ void devcb_resolve_write_line(devcb_resolved_write_line *resolved, const devcb_w
 		const device_config *cpu;
 
 		if (device->owner != NULL)
-			cpu = device_find_child_by_tag(device->owner, config->tag);
+			cpu = device->owner->subdevice(config->tag);
 		else
 			cpu = device->machine->device(config->tag);
 
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ void devcb_resolve_write_line(devcb_resolved_write_line *resolved, const devcb_w
 		const device_config *cpu;
 
 		if (device->owner != NULL)
-			cpu = device_find_child_by_tag(device->owner, config->tag);
+			cpu = device->owner->subdevice(config->tag);
 		else
 			cpu = device->machine->device(config->tag);
 
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ void devcb_resolve_write_line(devcb_resolved_write_line *resolved, const devcb_w
 		if (config->type == DEVCB_TYPE_SELF)
 			resolved->target = device;
 		else if (device->owner != NULL)
-			resolved->target = device_find_child_by_tag(device->owner, config->tag);
+			resolved->target = device->owner->subdevice(config->tag);
 		else
 			resolved->target = device->machine->device(config->tag);
 
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ void devcb_resolve_read8(devcb_resolved_read8 *resolved, const devcb_read8 *conf
 		const device_config *cpu;
 
 		if (device->owner != NULL)
-			cpu = device_find_child_by_tag(device->owner, config->tag);
+			cpu = device->owner->subdevice(config->tag);
 		else
 			cpu = device->machine->device(config->tag);
 
@@ -312,7 +312,7 @@ void devcb_resolve_write8(devcb_resolved_write8 *resolved, const devcb_write8 *c
 		const device_config *cpu;
 
 		if (device->owner != NULL)
-			cpu = device_find_child_by_tag(device->owner, config->tag);
+			cpu = device->owner->subdevice(config->tag);
 		else
 			cpu = device->machine->device(config->tag);
 
diff --git a/src/emu/devintrf.c b/src/emu/devintrf.c
index 6d0c89bdea5..59925ece500 100644
--- a/src/emu/devintrf.c
+++ b/src/emu/devintrf.c
@@ -324,22 +324,6 @@ device_config *device_list::find(device_class devclass, int index) const
 
 
 
-/*-------------------------------------------------
-    device_find_child_by_tag - retrieve a child
-    device configuration based on a tag
--------------------------------------------------*/
-
-const device_config *device_find_child_by_tag(const device_config *owner, const char *tag)
-{
-	assert(owner != NULL);
-	assert(tag != NULL);
-
-	astring tempstring;
-	return owner->machine->config->devicelist.find(device_build_tag(tempstring, owner, tag));
-}
-
-
-
 /***************************************************************************
     LIVE DEVICE MANAGEMENT
 ***************************************************************************/
diff --git a/src/emu/devintrf.h b/src/emu/devintrf.h
index 972abfeb021..f74a427fd6a 100644
--- a/src/emu/devintrf.h
+++ b/src/emu/devintrf.h
@@ -414,13 +414,6 @@ const device_contract *device_get_contract(const device_config *device, const ch
 
 
 
-/* ----- type-based device access ----- */
-
-/* retrieve a child device configuration based on a tag */
-const device_config *device_find_child_by_tag(const device_config *owner, const char *tag);
-
-
-
 /* ----- live device management ----- */
 
 /* "attach" a running_machine to its list of devices */