diff --git a/src/sql/compat/removed_api.cpp b/src/sql/compat/removed_api.cpp
index 1ada26407a..cab5d5b528 100644
--- a/src/sql/compat/removed_api.cpp
+++ b/src/sql/compat/removed_api.cpp
@@ -17,6 +17,18 @@ QT_USE_NAMESPACE
 
 #if QT_SQL_REMOVED_SINCE(6, 5)
 
+#if QT_CONFIG(sqlmodel)
+
+#include "qsqlquerymodel.h"
+#include "qsqlquery.h"
+
+QSqlQuery QSqlQueryModel::query() const
+{
+    QT_IGNORE_DEPRECATIONS(return query(QT6_CALL_NEW_OVERLOAD);)
+}
+
+#endif // QT_CONFIG(sqlmodel)
+
 // #include <qotherheader.h>
 // // implement removed functions from qotherheader.h
 // order sections alphabetically to reduce chances of merge conflicts
diff --git a/src/sql/models/qsqlquerymodel.cpp b/src/sql/models/qsqlquerymodel.cpp
index 61620f81d4..fee99bd8ea 100644
--- a/src/sql/models/qsqlquerymodel.cpp
+++ b/src/sql/models/qsqlquerymodel.cpp
@@ -522,18 +522,15 @@ bool QSqlQueryModel::setHeaderData(int section, Qt::Orientation orientation,
 }
 
 /*!
-    Returns the QSqlQuery associated with this model.
+    Returns a reference to the const QSqlQuery object associated with this model.
 
     \sa setQuery()
 */
-QT_WARNING_PUSH
-QT_WARNING_DISABLE_DEPRECATED
-QSqlQuery QSqlQueryModel::query() const
+const QSqlQuery &QSqlQueryModel::query(QT6_IMPL_NEW_OVERLOAD) const
 {
     Q_D(const QSqlQueryModel);
     return d->query;
 }
-QT_WARNING_POP
 
 /*!
     Returns information about the last error that occurred on the
diff --git a/src/sql/models/qsqlquerymodel.h b/src/sql/models/qsqlquerymodel.h
index ede97b04fb..73308b79e8 100644
--- a/src/sql/models/qsqlquerymodel.h
+++ b/src/sql/models/qsqlquerymodel.h
@@ -46,7 +46,10 @@ public:
 #endif
     void setQuery(QSqlQuery &&query);
     void setQuery(const QString &query, const QSqlDatabase &db = QSqlDatabase());
+#if QT_SQL_REMOVED_SINCE(6, 5)
     QSqlQuery query() const;
+#endif
+    const QSqlQuery &query(QT6_DECL_NEW_OVERLOAD) const;
 
     virtual void clear();