diff --git a/src/emu/device.c b/src/emu/device.c
index ad29e267f35..faf57fbf7b4 100644
--- a/src/emu/device.c
+++ b/src/emu/device.c
@@ -201,7 +201,24 @@ memory_region *device_t::memregion(const char *_tag) const
 
 
 //-------------------------------------------------
-//  memregion - return a pointer to the memory
+//  memshare - return a pointer to the memory share
+//  info for a given share
+//-------------------------------------------------
+
+memory_share *device_t::memshare(const char *_tag) const
+{
+	// safety first
+	if (this == NULL)
+		return NULL;
+
+	// build a fully-qualified name and look it up
+	astring fullpath;
+	return machine().memory().shared(subtag(fullpath, _tag));
+}
+
+
+//-------------------------------------------------
+//  membank - return a pointer to the memory
 //  bank info for a given bank
 //-------------------------------------------------
 
@@ -883,7 +900,7 @@ device_t::finder_base::~finder_base()
 void *device_t::finder_base::find_memory(UINT8 width, size_t &bytes, bool required)
 {
 	// look up the share and return NULL if not found
-	memory_share *share = m_base.machine().memory().shared(m_base, m_tag);
+	memory_share *share = m_base.memshare(m_tag);
 	if (share == NULL)
 		return NULL;
 	
diff --git a/src/emu/device.h b/src/emu/device.h
index e436cb4c1e8..84acfd14fb6 100644
--- a/src/emu/device.h
+++ b/src/emu/device.h
@@ -184,6 +184,7 @@ public:
 	astring &subtag(astring &dest, const char *tag) const;
 	astring &siblingtag(astring &dest, const char *tag) const { return (this != NULL && m_owner != NULL) ? m_owner->subtag(dest, tag) : dest.cpy(tag); }
 	memory_region *memregion(const char *tag) const;
+	memory_share *memshare(const char *tag) const;
 	memory_bank *membank(const char *tag) const;
 	device_t *subdevice(const char *tag) const;
 	device_t *siblingdevice(const char *tag) const;
diff --git a/src/emu/machine/nvram.c b/src/emu/machine/nvram.c
index fed1c07a192..4bacf3047d9 100644
--- a/src/emu/machine/nvram.c
+++ b/src/emu/machine/nvram.c
@@ -187,7 +187,7 @@ void nvram_device::determine_final_base()
 	// find our shared pointer with the target RAM
 	if (m_base == NULL)
 	{
-		memory_share *share = machine().memory().shared(*owner(), tag());
+		memory_share *share = owner()->memshare(tag());
 		if (share == NULL)
 			throw emu_fatalerror("NVRAM device '%s' has no corresponding AM_SHARE region", tag());
 		m_base = share->ptr();
diff --git a/src/emu/memory.c b/src/emu/memory.c
index 4157aa9fa7b..4d00811fe00 100644
--- a/src/emu/memory.c
+++ b/src/emu/memory.c
@@ -1560,23 +1560,6 @@ void memory_manager::initialize()
 }
 
 
-//-------------------------------------------------
-//  shared - get a pointer to a shared memory
-//  region by tag
-//-------------------------------------------------
-
-memory_share *memory_manager::shared(const char *tag)
-{
-	return shared(machine().root_device(), tag);
-}
-
-memory_share *memory_manager::shared(device_t &device, const char *tag)
-{
-	astring fulltag;
-	return m_sharelist.find(device.subtag(fulltag, tag).cstr());
-}
-
-
 //-------------------------------------------------
 //  dump - dump the internal memory tables to the
 //  given file
diff --git a/src/emu/memory.h b/src/emu/memory.h
index b40f378bffc..23e19d37c9f 100644
--- a/src/emu/memory.h
+++ b/src/emu/memory.h
@@ -816,10 +816,6 @@ public:
 	address_space *first_space() const { return m_spacelist.first(); }
 	memory_region *first_region() const { return m_regionlist.first(); }
 
-	// get a pointer to a shared memory region by tag
-	memory_share *shared(const char *tag);
-	memory_share *shared(device_t &device, const char *tag);
-
 	// dump the internal memory tables to the given file
 	void dump(FILE *file);
 
@@ -835,6 +831,7 @@ private:
 	memory_bank *first_bank() const { return m_banklist.first(); }
 	memory_bank *bank(const char *tag) const { return m_bankmap.find(tag); }
 	memory_region *region(const char *tag) { return m_regionlist.find(tag); }
+	memory_share *shared(const char *tag) { return m_sharelist.find(tag); }
 	void bank_reattach();
 
 	// internal state
diff --git a/src/emu/sound/spu.c b/src/emu/sound/spu.c
index fd8fa159373..6deaf8d1fca 100644
--- a/src/emu/sound/spu.c
+++ b/src/emu/sound/spu.c
@@ -3090,14 +3090,14 @@ void spu_device::flush_cdda(const unsigned int sector)
 
 void spu_device::dma_read( UINT32 n_address, INT32 n_size )
 {
-	UINT8 *psxram = (UINT8 *)machine().memory().shared("share1")->ptr();
+	UINT8 *psxram = (UINT8 *)machine().root_device().memshare("share1")->ptr();
 
 	start_dma(psxram + n_address, false, n_size*4);
 }
 
 void spu_device::dma_write( UINT32 n_address, INT32 n_size )
 {
-	UINT8 *psxram = (UINT8 *)machine().memory().shared("share1")->ptr();
+	UINT8 *psxram = (UINT8 *)machine().root_device().memshare("share1")->ptr();
 
 //  printf("SPU DMA write from %x, size %x\n", n_address, n_size);
 
diff --git a/src/mame/audio/dcs.c b/src/mame/audio/dcs.c
index 0d2e15a0867..bd6326ba136 100644
--- a/src/mame/audio/dcs.c
+++ b/src/mame/audio/dcs.c
@@ -943,8 +943,8 @@ void dcs_init(running_machine &machine)
 	memset(&dcs, 0, sizeof(dcs));
 	dcs.sram = NULL;
 
-	dcs.internal_program_ram = (UINT32 *)machine.memory().shared("dcsint")->ptr();
-	dcs.external_program_ram = (UINT32 *)machine.memory().shared("dcsext")->ptr();
+	dcs.internal_program_ram = (UINT32 *)machine.root_device().memshare("dcsint")->ptr();
+	dcs.external_program_ram = (UINT32 *)machine.root_device().memshare("dcsext")->ptr();
 
 	/* find the DCS CPU and the sound ROMs */
 	dcs.cpu = machine.device<adsp21xx_device>("dcs");
@@ -982,8 +982,8 @@ void dcs2_init(running_machine &machine, int dram_in_mb, offs_t polling_offset)
 	int soundbank_words;
 
 	memset(&dcs, 0, sizeof(dcs));
-	dcs.internal_program_ram = (UINT32 *)machine.memory().shared("dcsint")->ptr();
-	dcs.external_program_ram = (UINT32 *)machine.memory().shared("dcsext")->ptr();
+	dcs.internal_program_ram = (UINT32 *)machine.root_device().memshare("dcsint")->ptr();
+	dcs.external_program_ram = (UINT32 *)machine.root_device().memshare("dcsext")->ptr();
 
 	/* find the DCS CPU and the sound ROMs */
 	dcs.cpu = machine.device<adsp21xx_device>("dcs2");
diff --git a/src/mame/audio/segasnd.c b/src/mame/audio/segasnd.c
index 710363a1d15..563944a10ec 100644
--- a/src/mame/audio/segasnd.c
+++ b/src/mame/audio/segasnd.c
@@ -736,7 +736,7 @@ static DEVICE_START( usb_sound )
 	assert(usb->cpu != NULL);
 
 	/* allocate RAM */
-	usb->program_ram = (UINT8 *)machine.memory().shared("pgmram")->ptr();
+	usb->program_ram = (UINT8 *)machine.root_device().memshare("pgmram")->ptr();
 	usb->work_ram = auto_alloc_array(machine, UINT8, 0x400);
 
 	/* create a sound stream */
diff --git a/src/mame/audio/taito_en.c b/src/mame/audio/taito_en.c
index 737e2818467..e40a96be858 100644
--- a/src/mame/audio/taito_en.c
+++ b/src/mame/audio/taito_en.c
@@ -305,7 +305,7 @@ SOUND_RESET( taito_f3_soundsystem_reset )
 {
 	/* Sound cpu program loads to 0xc00000 so we use a bank */
 	UINT16 *ROM = (UINT16 *)machine.root_device().memregion("audiocpu")->base();
-	UINT16 *sound_ram = (UINT16 *)machine.memory().shared("share1")->ptr();
+	UINT16 *sound_ram = (UINT16 *)machine.root_device().memshare("share1")->ptr();
 	machine.root_device().membank("bank1")->set_base(&ROM[0x80000]);
 	machine.root_device().membank("bank2")->set_base(&ROM[0x90000]);
 	machine.root_device().membank("bank3")->set_base(&ROM[0xa0000]);
@@ -319,7 +319,7 @@ SOUND_RESET( taito_f3_soundsystem_reset )
 	machine.device("audiocpu")->reset();
 	//cputag_set_input_line(machine, "audiocpu", INPUT_LINE_RESET, ASSERT_LINE);
 
-	f3_shared_ram = (UINT32 *)machine.memory().shared("f3_shared")->ptr();
+	f3_shared_ram = (UINT32 *)machine.root_device().memshare("f3_shared")->ptr();
 }
 
 static const es5505_interface es5505_taito_f3_config =
diff --git a/src/mame/drivers/actfancr.c b/src/mame/drivers/actfancr.c
index 9ef7fa68196..9751a205fd3 100644
--- a/src/mame/drivers/actfancr.c
+++ b/src/mame/drivers/actfancr.c
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ WRITE8_MEMBER(actfancr_state::actfancr_sound_w)
 WRITE8_MEMBER(actfancr_state::actfancr_buffer_spriteram_w)
 {
 
-	UINT8 *src = reinterpret_cast<UINT8 *>(machine().memory().shared("spriteram")->ptr());
+	UINT8 *src = reinterpret_cast<UINT8 *>(memshare("spriteram")->ptr());
 	// copy to a 16-bit region for our sprite draw code too
 	for (int i=0;i<0x800/2;i++)
 	{
diff --git a/src/mame/drivers/segac2.c b/src/mame/drivers/segac2.c
index 17c1f5308c1..ba9a31e3cac 100644
--- a/src/mame/drivers/segac2.c
+++ b/src/mame/drivers/segac2.c
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ static MACHINE_START( segac2 )
 static MACHINE_RESET( segac2 )
 {
 	segac2_state *state = machine.driver_data<segac2_state>();
-	megadrive_ram = reinterpret_cast<UINT16 *>(machine.memory().shared("nvram")->ptr());
+	megadrive_ram = reinterpret_cast<UINT16 *>(state->memshare("nvram")->ptr());
 
 	/* set up interrupts and such */
 	MACHINE_RESET_CALL(megadriv);
diff --git a/src/mame/machine/leland.c b/src/mame/machine/leland.c
index b29579d62f3..594f67126dd 100644
--- a/src/mame/machine/leland.c
+++ b/src/mame/machine/leland.c
@@ -320,7 +320,7 @@ MACHINE_START( leland )
 {
 	leland_state *state = machine.driver_data<leland_state>();
 	/* allocate extra stuff */
-	state->m_battery_ram = reinterpret_cast<UINT8 *>(machine.memory().shared("battery")->ptr());
+	state->m_battery_ram = reinterpret_cast<UINT8 *>(state->memshare("battery")->ptr());
 
 	/* start scanline interrupts going */
 	state->m_master_int_timer = machine.scheduler().timer_alloc(FUNC(leland_interrupt_callback));
@@ -370,7 +370,7 @@ MACHINE_START( ataxx )
 {
 	leland_state *state = machine.driver_data<leland_state>();
 	/* set the odd data banks */
-	state->m_battery_ram = reinterpret_cast<UINT8 *>(machine.memory().shared("battery")->ptr());
+	state->m_battery_ram = reinterpret_cast<UINT8 *>(state->memshare("battery")->ptr());
 	state->m_extra_tram = auto_alloc_array(machine, UINT8, ATAXX_EXTRA_TRAM_SIZE);
 
 	/* start scanline interrupts going */
diff --git a/src/mame/machine/psx.c b/src/mame/machine/psx.c
index 510f94260bb..402d35dcb49 100644
--- a/src/mame/machine/psx.c
+++ b/src/mame/machine/psx.c
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ void psx_driver_init( running_machine &machine )
 {
 	psx_state *p_psx = machine.driver_data<psx_state>();
 
-	memory_share *share = machine.memory().shared("share1");
+	memory_share *share = machine.root_device().memshare("share1");
 	p_psx->m_p_n_psxram = (UINT32 *)share->ptr();
 	p_psx->m_n_psxramsize = share->bytes();
 }
diff --git a/src/mame/machine/s24fd.c b/src/mame/machine/s24fd.c
index 627ad8f9fd1..5fad6367414 100644
--- a/src/mame/machine/s24fd.c
+++ b/src/mame/machine/s24fd.c
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ void s24_fd1094_driver_init(running_machine &machine)
 {
 	int i;
 
-	s24_fd1094_cpuregion = (UINT16*)machine.memory().shared("share2")->ptr();
+	s24_fd1094_cpuregion = (UINT16*)machine.root_device().memshare("share2")->ptr();
 	s24_fd1094_cpuregionsize = 0x40000;
 	s24_fd1094_key = machine.root_device().memregion("fd1094key")->base();
 
diff --git a/src/mame/video/sei_crtc.c b/src/mame/video/sei_crtc.c
index 97b40afca23..1504981b1a1 100644
--- a/src/mame/video/sei_crtc.c
+++ b/src/mame/video/sei_crtc.c
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ static TILE_GET_INFO( seibucrtc_sc3_tile_info )
 
 static void draw_sprites(running_machine &machine, bitmap_ind16 &bitmap,const rectangle &cliprect,int pri)
 {
-	UINT16 *spriteram16 = reinterpret_cast<UINT16 *>(machine.memory().shared("spriteram")->ptr());
+	UINT16 *spriteram16 = reinterpret_cast<UINT16 *>(machine.root_device().memshare("spriteram")->ptr());
 	int offs,fx,fy,x,y,color,sprite;
 	int dx,dy,ax,ay;