diff --git a/gio/gsettings.c b/gio/gsettings.c
index 8d3893182..9130dafd5 100644
--- a/gio/gsettings.c
+++ b/gio/gsettings.c
@@ -343,8 +343,6 @@ struct _GSettingsPrivate
   GSettingsBackend *backend;
   GSettingsSchema *schema;
   gchar *path;
-
-  GDelayedSettingsBackend *delayed;
 };
 
 enum
@@ -604,11 +602,6 @@ g_settings_set_property (GObject      *object,
 
     case PROP_BACKEND:
       settings->priv->backend = g_value_dup_object (value);
-      if (G_IS_DELAYED_SETTINGS_BACKEND (settings->priv->backend))
-        {
-          g_assert (settings->priv->delayed == NULL);
-          settings->priv->delayed = G_DELAYED_SETTINGS_BACKEND (settings->priv->backend);
-        }
       break;
 
     default:
@@ -647,7 +640,7 @@ g_settings_get_property (GObject    *object,
       break;
 
      case PROP_DELAY_APPLY:
-      g_value_set_boolean (value, settings->priv->delayed != NULL);
+      g_value_set_boolean (value, G_IS_DELAYED_SETTINGS_BACKEND (settings->priv->backend));
       break;
 
      default:
@@ -685,13 +678,7 @@ g_settings_constructed (GObject *object)
     }
 
   if (settings->priv->backend == NULL)
-    {
-      settings->priv->backend = g_settings_backend_get_default ();
-
-      /* The default had better not be delayed, otherwise we also need to set
-       * settings->priv->delayed. */
-      g_assert (!G_IS_DELAYED_SETTINGS_BACKEND (settings->priv->backend));
-    }
+    settings->priv->backend = g_settings_backend_get_default ();
 
   g_settings_backend_watch (settings->priv->backend,
                             &listener_vtable, G_OBJECT (settings),
@@ -2267,19 +2254,20 @@ g_settings_set_strv (GSettings           *settings,
 void
 g_settings_delay (GSettings *settings)
 {
+  GDelayedSettingsBackend *delayed = NULL;
+
   g_return_if_fail (G_IS_SETTINGS (settings));
 
-  if (settings->priv->delayed)
+  if (G_IS_DELAYED_SETTINGS_BACKEND (settings->priv->backend))
     return;
 
-  settings->priv->delayed =
-    g_delayed_settings_backend_new (settings->priv->backend,
-                                    settings,
-                                    settings->priv->main_context);
+  delayed = g_delayed_settings_backend_new (settings->priv->backend,
+                                            settings,
+                                            settings->priv->main_context);
   g_settings_backend_unwatch (settings->priv->backend, G_OBJECT (settings));
   g_object_unref (settings->priv->backend);
 
-  settings->priv->backend = G_SETTINGS_BACKEND (settings->priv->delayed);
+  settings->priv->backend = G_SETTINGS_BACKEND (delayed);
   g_settings_backend_watch (settings->priv->backend,
                             &listener_vtable, G_OBJECT (settings),
                             settings->priv->main_context);
@@ -2299,7 +2287,7 @@ g_settings_delay (GSettings *settings)
 void
 g_settings_apply (GSettings *settings)
 {
-  if (settings->priv->delayed)
+  if (G_IS_DELAYED_SETTINGS_BACKEND (settings->priv->backend))
     {
       GDelayedSettingsBackend *delayed;
 
@@ -2322,7 +2310,7 @@ g_settings_apply (GSettings *settings)
 void
 g_settings_revert (GSettings *settings)
 {
-  if (settings->priv->delayed)
+  if (G_IS_DELAYED_SETTINGS_BACKEND (settings->priv->backend))
     {
       GDelayedSettingsBackend *delayed;
 
@@ -2347,7 +2335,7 @@ g_settings_get_has_unapplied (GSettings *settings)
 {
   g_return_val_if_fail (G_IS_SETTINGS (settings), FALSE);
 
-  return settings->priv->delayed &&
+  return G_IS_DELAYED_SETTINGS_BACKEND (settings->priv->backend) &&
          g_delayed_settings_backend_get_has_unapplied (
            G_DELAYED_SETTINGS_BACKEND (settings->priv->backend));
 }