diff --git a/gtk/gtkentrycompletion.c b/gtk/gtkentrycompletion.c
index 96c4f5645b..aa63666571 100644
--- a/gtk/gtkentrycompletion.c
+++ b/gtk/gtkentrycompletion.c
@@ -652,8 +652,7 @@ gtk_entry_completion_set_property (GObject      *object,
         break;
 
       case PROP_TEXT_COLUMN:
-        gtk_entry_completion_set_text_column (completion,
-                                              g_value_get_int (value));
+        priv->text_column = g_value_get_int (value);
         break;
 
       case PROP_INLINE_COMPLETION: