diff --git a/src/cpp/cpp_constructor.cpp b/src/cpp/cpp_constructor.cpp
index bd85a6346fd..a203817ffbd 100644
--- a/src/cpp/cpp_constructor.cpp
+++ b/src/cpp/cpp_constructor.cpp
@@ -223,9 +223,9 @@ optionalt<codet> cpp_typecheckt::cpp_constructor(
 
     side_effect_expr_function_callt function_call(
       cpp_namet(constructor_name, source_location).as_expr(),
-      operands_tc);
-
-    function_call.add_source_location()=source_location;
+      operands_tc,
+      uninitialized_typet(),
+      source_location);
 
     typecheck_side_effect_function_call(function_call);
     assert(function_call.get(ID_statement)==ID_temporary_object);
diff --git a/src/cpp/cpp_destructor.cpp b/src/cpp/cpp_destructor.cpp
index 1eb60c08b89..f6e2ac0f500 100644
--- a/src/cpp/cpp_destructor.cpp
+++ b/src/cpp/cpp_destructor.cpp
@@ -106,9 +106,8 @@ optionalt<codet> cpp_typecheckt::cpp_destructor(
     member.add(ID_component_cpp_name) = cpp_name;
     member.copy_to_operands(object);
 
-    side_effect_expr_function_callt function_call;
-    function_call.add_source_location()=source_location;
-    function_call.function().swap(member);
+    side_effect_expr_function_callt function_call(
+      std::move(member), {}, uninitialized_typet{}, source_location);
 
     typecheck_side_effect_function_call(function_call);
     already_typechecked(function_call);
diff --git a/src/cpp/cpp_typecheck_code.cpp b/src/cpp/cpp_typecheck_code.cpp
index b42768fe60b..ae56300115d 100644
--- a/src/cpp/cpp_typecheck_code.cpp
+++ b/src/cpp/cpp_typecheck_code.cpp
@@ -203,10 +203,8 @@ void cpp_typecheckt::typecheck_member_initializer(codet &code)
     assert(code_type.parameters().size()>=1);
 
     // It's a parent. Call the constructor that we got.
-    side_effect_expr_function_callt function_call;
-
-    function_call.function()=symbol_expr;
-    function_call.add_source_location()=code.source_location();
+    side_effect_expr_function_callt function_call(
+      symbol_expr, {}, uninitialized_typet{}, code.source_location());
     function_call.arguments().reserve(code.operands().size()+1);
 
     // we have to add 'this'
diff --git a/src/cpp/cpp_typecheck_compound_type.cpp b/src/cpp/cpp_typecheck_compound_type.cpp
index 9d93d99ad53..432e33c5976 100644
--- a/src/cpp/cpp_typecheck_compound_type.cpp
+++ b/src/cpp/cpp_typecheck_compound_type.cpp
@@ -651,11 +651,12 @@ void cpp_typecheckt::typecheck_compound_declarator(
           lookup(args[0].get(ID_C_identifier)).symbol_expr(),
           to_code_type(component.type()).parameters()[0].type());
 
-        side_effect_expr_function_callt expr_call;
-        expr_call.function() =
-          symbol_exprt(component.get_name(), component.type());
+        side_effect_expr_function_callt expr_call(
+          symbol_exprt(component.get_name(), component.type()),
+          {late_cast},
+          uninitialized_typet{},
+          source_locationt{});
         expr_call.arguments().reserve(args.size());
-        expr_call.arguments().push_back(late_cast);
 
         for(const auto &arg : args)
         {
diff --git a/src/cpp/cpp_typecheck_conversions.cpp b/src/cpp/cpp_typecheck_conversions.cpp
index 9de46126993..3e56a156132 100644
--- a/src/cpp/cpp_typecheck_conversions.cpp
+++ b/src/cpp/cpp_typecheck_conversions.cpp
@@ -991,10 +991,11 @@ bool cpp_typecheckt::user_defined_conversion_sequence(
               }
 
               // create temporary object
-              side_effect_expr_function_callt ctor_expr;
-              ctor_expr.add_source_location()=expr.source_location();
-              ctor_expr.function().swap(func_symb);
-              ctor_expr.arguments().push_back(tmp_expr);
+              side_effect_expr_function_callt ctor_expr(
+                std::move(func_symb),
+                {tmp_expr},
+                uninitialized_typet{},
+                expr.source_location());
               typecheck_side_effect_function_call(ctor_expr);
 
               new_expr.swap(ctor_expr);
@@ -1041,10 +1042,11 @@ bool cpp_typecheckt::user_defined_conversion_sequence(
                 func_symb.swap(func_symb);
               }
 
-              side_effect_expr_function_callt ctor_expr;
-              ctor_expr.add_source_location()=expr.source_location();
-              ctor_expr.function().swap(func_symb);
-              ctor_expr.arguments().push_back(expr_deref);
+              side_effect_expr_function_callt ctor_expr(
+                std::move(func_symb),
+                {expr_deref},
+                uninitialized_typet{},
+                expr.source_location());
               typecheck_side_effect_function_call(ctor_expr);
 
               new_expr.swap(ctor_expr);
@@ -1101,9 +1103,11 @@ bool cpp_typecheckt::user_defined_conversion_sequence(
         ac.copy_to_operands(expr);
         member_func.copy_to_operands(ac);
 
-        side_effect_expr_function_callt func_expr;
-        func_expr.add_source_location()=expr.source_location();
-        func_expr.function().swap(member_func);
+        side_effect_expr_function_callt func_expr(
+          std::move(member_func),
+          {},
+          uninitialized_typet{},
+          expr.source_location());
         typecheck_side_effect_function_call(func_expr);
 
         if(standard_conversion_sequence(func_expr, type, tmp_expr, tmp_rank))
@@ -1328,9 +1332,11 @@ bool cpp_typecheckt::reference_binding(
         ac.copy_to_operands(expr);
         member_func.copy_to_operands(ac);
 
-        side_effect_expr_function_callt func_expr;
-        func_expr.add_source_location()=expr.source_location();
-        func_expr.function().swap(member_func);
+        side_effect_expr_function_callt func_expr(
+          std::move(member_func),
+          {},
+          uninitialized_typet{},
+          expr.source_location());
         typecheck_side_effect_function_call(func_expr);
 
         // let's check if the returned value binds directly
diff --git a/src/cpp/cpp_typecheck_expr.cpp b/src/cpp/cpp_typecheck_expr.cpp
index cb3a46d607a..1ee9fdf6276 100644
--- a/src/cpp/cpp_typecheck_expr.cpp
+++ b/src/cpp/cpp_typecheck_expr.cpp
@@ -381,17 +381,16 @@ void cpp_typecheckt::typecheck_function_expr(
       std::string op_name="operator->";
 
       // turn this into a function call
-      side_effect_expr_function_callt function_call;
-      function_call.arguments().reserve(expr.operands().size());
-      function_call.add_source_location()=expr.source_location();
-
       // first do function/operator
       const cpp_namet cpp_name(op_name, expr.source_location());
 
-      function_call.function() = cpp_name.as_expr();
+      side_effect_expr_function_callt function_call(
+        cpp_name.as_expr(),
+        {expr.op0()},
+        uninitialized_typet{},
+        expr.source_location());
+      function_call.arguments().reserve(expr.operands().size());
 
-      // now do the argument
-      function_call.arguments().push_back(expr.op0());
       typecheck_side_effect_function_call(function_call);
 
       exprt tmp(ID_already_typechecked);
@@ -487,10 +486,6 @@ bool cpp_typecheckt::operator_is_overloaded(exprt &expr)
     std::string op_name=std::string("operator")+"("+cpp_type2name(t)+")";
 
     // turn this into a function call
-    side_effect_expr_function_callt function_call;
-    function_call.arguments().reserve(expr.operands().size());
-    function_call.add_source_location()=expr.source_location();
-
     const cpp_namet cpp_name(op_name, expr.source_location());
 
     // See if the struct declares the cast operator as a member
@@ -513,16 +508,16 @@ bool cpp_typecheckt::operator_is_overloaded(exprt &expr)
     if(!found_in_struct)
       return false;
 
-    {
-      exprt member(ID_member);
-      member.add(ID_component_cpp_name)= cpp_name;
+    exprt member(ID_member);
+    member.add(ID_component_cpp_name) = cpp_name;
 
-      exprt tmp(ID_already_typechecked);
-      tmp.copy_to_operands(expr.op0());
-      member.copy_to_operands(tmp);
+    exprt tmp(ID_already_typechecked);
+    tmp.copy_to_operands(expr.op0());
+    member.copy_to_operands(tmp);
 
-      function_call.function()=member;
-    }
+    side_effect_expr_function_callt function_call(
+      std::move(member), {}, uninitialized_typet{}, expr.source_location());
+    function_call.arguments().reserve(expr.operands().size());
 
     if(expr.operands().size()>1)
     {
@@ -563,10 +558,6 @@ bool cpp_typecheckt::operator_is_overloaded(exprt &expr)
       const cpp_namet cpp_name(op_name, expr.source_location());
 
       // turn this into a function call
-      side_effect_expr_function_callt function_call;
-      function_call.arguments().reserve(expr.operands().size());
-      function_call.add_source_location()=expr.source_location();
-
       // There are two options to overload an operator:
       //
       // 1. In the scope of a as a.operator(b, ...)
@@ -603,16 +594,19 @@ bool cpp_typecheckt::operator_is_overloaded(exprt &expr)
         if(resolve_result.is_not_nil())
         {
           // Found! We turn op(a, b, ...) into a.op(b, ...)
-          {
-            exprt member(ID_member);
-            member.add(ID_component_cpp_name)=cpp_name;
+          exprt member(ID_member);
+          member.add(ID_component_cpp_name) = cpp_name;
 
-            exprt tmp(ID_already_typechecked);
-            tmp.copy_to_operands(expr.op0());
-            member.copy_to_operands(tmp);
+          exprt tmp(ID_already_typechecked);
+          tmp.copy_to_operands(expr.op0());
+          member.copy_to_operands(tmp);
 
-            function_call.function()=member;
-          }
+          side_effect_expr_function_callt function_call(
+            std::move(member),
+            {},
+            uninitialized_typet{},
+            expr.source_location());
+          function_call.arguments().reserve(expr.operands().size());
 
           if(expr.operands().size()>1)
           {
@@ -645,9 +639,12 @@ bool cpp_typecheckt::operator_is_overloaded(exprt &expr)
         if(resolve_result.is_not_nil())
         {
           // found!
-          function_call.function()=
-            static_cast<const exprt &>(
-              static_cast<const irept &>(cpp_name));
+          side_effect_expr_function_callt function_call(
+            cpp_name.as_expr(),
+            {},
+            uninitialized_typet{},
+            expr.source_location());
+          function_call.arguments().reserve(expr.operands().size());
 
           // now do arguments
           forall_operands(it, expr)
@@ -904,11 +901,11 @@ void cpp_typecheckt::typecheck_expr_explicit_typecast(exprt &expr)
       {
         // It's really a function call. Note that multiple arguments
         // become a comma expression, and that these are already typechecked.
-        side_effect_expr_function_callt f_call;
-
-        f_call.add_source_location()=expr.source_location();
-        f_call.function().swap(expr.type());
-        f_call.arguments()=collect_comma_expression(expr.op0()).operands();
+        side_effect_expr_function_callt f_call(
+          static_cast<const exprt &>(static_cast<const irept &>(expr.type())),
+          collect_comma_expression(expr.op0()).operands(),
+          uninitialized_typet{},
+          expr.source_location());
 
         typecheck_side_effect_function_call(f_call);
 
@@ -2495,10 +2492,11 @@ void cpp_typecheckt::typecheck_side_effect_assignment(side_effect_exprt &expr)
   member.set(ID_component_cpp_name, cpp_name);
   member.add_to_operands(std::move(already_typechecked));
 
-  side_effect_expr_function_callt new_expr;
-  new_expr.function().swap(member);
-  new_expr.arguments().push_back(expr.op1());
-  new_expr.add_source_location()=expr.source_location();
+  side_effect_expr_function_callt new_expr(
+    std::move(member),
+    {expr.op1()},
+    uninitialized_typet{},
+    expr.source_location());
 
   typecheck_side_effect_function_call(new_expr);
 
@@ -2565,9 +2563,8 @@ void cpp_typecheckt::typecheck_side_effect_inc_dec(
   member.set(ID_component_cpp_name, cpp_name);
   member.add_to_operands(std::move(already_typechecked));
 
-  side_effect_expr_function_callt new_expr;
-  new_expr.function().swap(member);
-  new_expr.add_source_location()=expr.source_location();
+  side_effect_expr_function_callt new_expr(
+    std::move(member), {}, uninitialized_typet{}, expr.source_location());
 
   // the odd C++ way to denote the post-inc/dec operator
   if(post)
diff --git a/src/goto-instrument/goto_program2code.cpp b/src/goto-instrument/goto_program2code.cpp
index 93c2e4f23df..ec22532502c 100644
--- a/src/goto-instrument/goto_program2code.cpp
+++ b/src/goto-instrument/goto_program2code.cpp
@@ -342,9 +342,13 @@ goto_programt::const_targett goto_program2codet::convert_assign_varargs(
       {this_va_list_expr});
     f.arguments().back().type().id(ID_gcc_builtin_va_list);
 
-    side_effect_expr_function_callt type_of;
-    type_of.function() =
-      symbol_exprt("__typeof__", code_typet({}, empty_typet()));
+    // we do not bother to set the correct types here, they are not relevant for
+    // generating the correct dumped output
+    side_effect_expr_function_callt type_of(
+      symbol_exprt("__typeof__", code_typet({}, empty_typet())),
+      {},
+      typet{},
+      source_locationt{});
 
     // if the return value is used, the next instruction will be assign
     goto_programt::const_targett next=target;
@@ -486,9 +490,8 @@ goto_programt::const_targett goto_program2codet::convert_decl(
       {
         // could hack this by just erasing the first operand
         const code_function_callt &f=to_code_function_call(next->code);
-        side_effect_expr_function_callt call;
-        call.function()=f.function();
-        call.arguments()=f.arguments();
+        side_effect_expr_function_callt call(
+          f.function(), f.arguments(), typet{}, source_locationt{});
         d.copy_to_operands(call);
       }
 
@@ -1919,10 +1922,8 @@ void goto_program2codet::cleanup_expr(exprt &expr, bool no_typecast)
       symbol_exprt symbol_expr(symbol.name, symbol.type);
       symbol_expr.add_source_location()=expr.source_location();
 
-      side_effect_expr_function_callt call;
-      call.add_source_location()=expr.source_location();
-      call.function()=symbol_expr;
-      call.type()=expr.type();
+      side_effect_expr_function_callt call(
+        symbol_expr, {}, expr.type(), expr.source_location());
 
       expr.swap(call);
     }
diff --git a/src/jsil/parser.y b/src/jsil/parser.y
index 9d15cf76624..7461e378873 100644
--- a/src/jsil/parser.y
+++ b/src/jsil/parser.y
@@ -260,8 +260,7 @@ instruction: TOK_LABEL TOK_IDENTIFIER
 rhs: expression
    | proc_ident_expr '(' expressions_opt ')' with_opt
    {
-     side_effect_expr_function_callt f;
-     f.function().swap(stack($1));
+     side_effect_expr_function_callt f(stack($1), {}, typet{}, {});
      if(stack($3).is_not_nil())
        f.arguments().swap(stack($3).operands());