diff --git a/gio/gsettings.c b/gio/gsettings.c
index 8f77c8f86..5b894e62e 100644
--- a/gio/gsettings.c
+++ b/gio/gsettings.c
@@ -1449,7 +1449,6 @@ g_settings_writable_binding_free (gpointer data)
 
   g_signal_handler_disconnect (binding->settings, binding->handler_id);
   g_object_unref (binding->settings);
-  g_free (binding->key);
   g_slice_free (GSettingsWritableBinding, binding);
 }
 
@@ -1531,7 +1530,7 @@ g_settings_bind_writable (GSettings   *settings,
   binding = g_slice_new (GSettingsWritableBinding);
   binding->settings = g_object_ref (settings);
   binding->object = object;
-  binding->key = g_strdup (key);
+  binding->key = g_intern_string (key);
   binding->property = g_intern_string (property);
   binding->inverted = inverted;