diff --git a/src/corelib/kernel/qproperty.cpp b/src/corelib/kernel/qproperty.cpp
index 0e51226b34..e249dcfb44 100644
--- a/src/corelib/kernel/qproperty.cpp
+++ b/src/corelib/kernel/qproperty.cpp
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ QUntypedPropertyBinding QPropertyBase::setBinding(const QUntypedPropertyBinding
 
     if (auto *existingBinding = d.bindingPtr()) {
         if (existingBinding == newBinding.data())
-            return QUntypedPropertyBinding(oldBinding);
+            return QUntypedPropertyBinding(oldBinding.data());
         oldBinding = QPropertyBindingPrivatePtr(existingBinding);
         oldBinding->unlinkAndDeref();
         d_ptr &= FlagMask;
@@ -119,15 +119,15 @@ QUntypedPropertyBinding QPropertyBase::setBinding(const QUntypedPropertyBinding
         d_ptr &= ~BindingBit;
     }
 
-    return QUntypedPropertyBinding(oldBinding);
+    return QUntypedPropertyBinding(oldBinding.data());
 }
 
-QPropertyBindingPrivatePtr QPropertyBase::binding()
+QPropertyBindingPrivate *QPropertyBase::binding()
 {
     QPropertyBasePointer d{this};
     if (auto binding = d.bindingPtr())
-        return QPropertyBindingPrivatePtr(binding);
-    return QPropertyBindingPrivatePtr();
+        return binding;
+    return nullptr;
 }
 
 QPropertyBindingPrivate *QPropertyBasePointer::bindingPtr() const
diff --git a/src/corelib/kernel/qproperty.h b/src/corelib/kernel/qproperty.h
index 609bb85221..8f050327d5 100644
--- a/src/corelib/kernel/qproperty.h
+++ b/src/corelib/kernel/qproperty.h
@@ -137,7 +137,7 @@ public:
 
     QMetaType valueMetaType() const;
 
-    explicit QUntypedPropertyBinding(const QPropertyBindingPrivatePtr &priv);
+    explicit QUntypedPropertyBinding(QPropertyBindingPrivate *priv);
 private:
     friend class QtPrivate::QPropertyBase;
     friend class QPropertyBindingPrivate;
diff --git a/src/corelib/kernel/qpropertybinding.cpp b/src/corelib/kernel/qpropertybinding.cpp
index 8fdf770d18..358977e63e 100644
--- a/src/corelib/kernel/qpropertybinding.cpp
+++ b/src/corelib/kernel/qpropertybinding.cpp
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ QUntypedPropertyBinding &QUntypedPropertyBinding::operator=(QUntypedPropertyBind
     return *this;
 }
 
-QUntypedPropertyBinding::QUntypedPropertyBinding(const QPropertyBindingPrivatePtr &priv)
+QUntypedPropertyBinding::QUntypedPropertyBinding(QPropertyBindingPrivate *priv)
     : d(priv)
 {
 }
diff --git a/src/corelib/kernel/qpropertyprivate.h b/src/corelib/kernel/qpropertyprivate.h
index 1329ec6682..4b0b09d9db 100644
--- a/src/corelib/kernel/qpropertyprivate.h
+++ b/src/corelib/kernel/qpropertyprivate.h
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ public:
     bool hasBinding() const { return d_ptr & BindingBit; }
 
     QUntypedPropertyBinding setBinding(const QUntypedPropertyBinding &newBinding, void *propertyDataPtr);
-    QPropertyBindingPrivatePtr binding();
+    QPropertyBindingPrivate *binding();
 
     void evaluateIfDirty();
     void removeBinding();