diff --git a/src/devices/cpu/apexc/apexc.cpp b/src/devices/cpu/apexc/apexc.cpp
index 4278d5b2d48af..9f74a019fff9e 100644
--- a/src/devices/cpu/apexc/apexc.cpp
+++ b/src/devices/cpu/apexc/apexc.cpp
@@ -341,7 +341,8 @@ DEFINE_DEVICE_TYPE(APEXC, apexc_cpu_device, "apexc_cpu", "APEXC")
 apexc_cpu_device::apexc_cpu_device(const machine_config &mconfig, const char *tag, device_t *owner, uint32_t clock)
 	: cpu_device(mconfig, APEXC, tag, owner, clock)
 	, m_program_config("program", ENDIANNESS_BIG, 32, 15, 0)
-	, m_io_config("io", ENDIANNESS_BIG, 8, 1, 0)
+	, m_tape_read_cb(*this)
+	, m_tape_punch_cb(*this)
 	, m_a(0)
 	, m_r(0)
 	, m_cr(0)
@@ -355,8 +356,7 @@ apexc_cpu_device::apexc_cpu_device(const machine_config &mconfig, const char *ta
 device_memory_interface::space_config_vector apexc_cpu_device::memory_space_config() const
 {
 	return space_config_vector {
-		std::make_pair(AS_PROGRAM, &m_program_config),
-		std::make_pair(AS_IO,      &m_io_config)
+		std::make_pair(AS_PROGRAM, &m_program_config)
 	};
 }
 
@@ -440,12 +440,12 @@ void apexc_cpu_device::word_write(uint32_t address, uint32_t data, uint32_t mask
 
 uint8_t apexc_cpu_device::papertape_read()
 {
-	return m_io->read_byte(0) & 0x1f;
+	return m_tape_read_cb() & 0x1f;
 }
 
 void apexc_cpu_device::papertape_punch(uint8_t data)
 {
-	m_io->write_byte(0, data);
+	m_tape_punch_cb(data);
 }
 
 /*
@@ -764,8 +764,10 @@ void apexc_cpu_device::execute()
 
 void apexc_cpu_device::device_start()
 {
+	m_tape_read_cb.resolve_safe(0);
+	m_tape_punch_cb.resolve_safe();
+
 	m_program = &space(AS_PROGRAM);
-	m_io = &space(AS_IO);
 
 	save_item(NAME(m_a));
 	save_item(NAME(m_r));
diff --git a/src/devices/cpu/apexc/apexc.h b/src/devices/cpu/apexc/apexc.h
index 92cc60d7f09ab..46b45e7bc2c5d 100644
--- a/src/devices/cpu/apexc/apexc.h
+++ b/src/devices/cpu/apexc/apexc.h
@@ -6,6 +6,12 @@
 
 #pragma once
 
+#define MCFG_APEXC_TAPE_READ_CB(_devcb) \
+	devcb = &apexc_cpu_device::set_tape_read_cb(*device, DEVCB_##_devcb);
+
+#define MCFG_APEXC_TAPE_PUNCH_CB(_devcb) \
+	devcb = &apexc_cpu_device::set_tape_punch_cb(*device, DEVCB_##_devcb);
+
 enum
 {
 	APEXC_CR =1,    /* control register */
@@ -22,6 +28,18 @@ class apexc_cpu_device : public cpu_device
 	// construction/destruction
 	apexc_cpu_device(const machine_config &mconfig, const char *tag, device_t *owner, uint32_t clock);
 
+	// static configuration
+	template<class Object>
+	static devcb_base &set_tape_read_cb(device_t &device, Object &&object)
+	{
+		return downcast<apexc_cpu_device &>(device).m_tape_read_cb.set_callback(std::forward<Object>(object));
+	}
+	template<class Object>
+	static devcb_base &set_tape_punch_cb(device_t &device, Object &&object)
+	{
+		return downcast<apexc_cpu_device &>(device).m_tape_punch_cb.set_callback(std::forward<Object>(object));
+	}
+
 protected:
 	// device-level overrides
 	virtual void device_start() override;
@@ -56,7 +74,9 @@ class apexc_cpu_device : public cpu_device
 	void execute();
 
 	address_space_config m_program_config;
-	address_space_config m_io_config;
+
+	devcb_read8 m_tape_read_cb;
+	devcb_write8 m_tape_punch_cb;
 
 	uint32_t m_a;   /* accumulator */
 	uint32_t m_r;   /* register */
@@ -70,7 +90,6 @@ class apexc_cpu_device : public cpu_device
 	uint32_t m_pc;  /* address of next instruction for the disassembler */
 
 	address_space *m_program;
-	address_space *m_io;
 	int m_icount;
 
 	// For state
diff --git a/src/mame/drivers/apexc.cpp b/src/mame/drivers/apexc.cpp
index fb4c5f6ca9ec9..4335bad4df087 100644
--- a/src/mame/drivers/apexc.cpp
+++ b/src/mame/drivers/apexc.cpp
@@ -852,11 +852,6 @@ static ADDRESS_MAP_START(apexc_mem_map, AS_PROGRAM, 32, apexc_state )
 #endif
 ADDRESS_MAP_END
 
-static ADDRESS_MAP_START(apexc_io_map, AS_IO, 8, apexc_state )
-	AM_RANGE(0x00, 0x00) AM_READ(tape_read)
-	AM_RANGE(0x00, 0x00) AM_WRITE(tape_write)
-ADDRESS_MAP_END
-
 
 static MACHINE_CONFIG_START( apexc )
 
@@ -864,7 +859,8 @@ static MACHINE_CONFIG_START( apexc )
 	/* APEXC CPU @ 2.0 kHz (memory word clock frequency) */
 	MCFG_CPU_ADD("maincpu", APEXC, 2000)
 	MCFG_CPU_PROGRAM_MAP(apexc_mem_map)
-	MCFG_CPU_IO_MAP(apexc_io_map)
+	MCFG_APEXC_TAPE_READ_CB(READ8(apexc_state, tape_read))
+	MCFG_APEXC_TAPE_PUNCH_CB(WRITE8(apexc_state, tape_write))
 	/* dummy interrupt: handles the control panel */
 	MCFG_CPU_VBLANK_INT_DRIVER("screen", apexc_state,  apexc_interrupt)