diff --git a/include/wx/apptrait.h b/include/wx/apptrait.h
index 7d81b46bee..164f042bd7 100644
--- a/include/wx/apptrait.h
+++ b/include/wx/apptrait.h
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@ class WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE wxLog;
 class WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE wxMessageOutput;
 class WXDLLEXPORT wxRendererNative;
 class WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE wxString;
-struct WXDLLIMPEXP_BASE wxToolkitInfo;
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 // toolkit information
@@ -114,7 +113,7 @@ public:
     //    and in the latter -- about the OS, so we need to virtualize it
     //  - wxDynamicLibrary::CanonicalizePluginName() must embed toolkit
     //    signature in DLL name
-    virtual wxToolkitInfo *GetToolkitInfo() = 0;
+    virtual wxToolkitInfo& GetToolkitInfo() = 0;
 };
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/include/wx/mac/apptrait.h b/include/wx/mac/apptrait.h
index 7cae381e37..9fb81de3ff 100644
--- a/include/wx/mac/apptrait.h
+++ b/include/wx/mac/apptrait.h
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ public:
     // other miscellaneous helpers
     // ---------------------------
 
-    virtual wxToolkitInfo *GetToolkitInfo();
+    virtual owxToolkitInfo& GetToolkitInfo();
 };
 
 #if wxUSE_GUI
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ public:
     // other miscellaneous helpers
     // ---------------------------
 
-    virtual wxToolkitInfo *GetToolkitInfo();
+    virtual wxToolkitInfo& GetToolkitInfo();
 };
 
 #endif // wxUSE_GUI
diff --git a/include/wx/msw/apptbase.h b/include/wx/msw/apptbase.h
index ef8db45012..d6843d738d 100644
--- a/include/wx/msw/apptbase.h
+++ b/include/wx/msw/apptbase.h
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ public:
     // under MSW this function returns same version for both console and GUI
     // applications so we can implement it directly in the base class and only
     // override it wxGUIAppTraits to fill in toolkit information
-    virtual wxToolkitInfo *GetToolkitInfo();
+    virtual wxToolkitInfo& GetToolkitInfo();
 };
 
 #endif // _WX_MSW_APPTBASE_H_
diff --git a/include/wx/msw/apptrait.h b/include/wx/msw/apptrait.h
index 41789eda05..8d01b30662 100644
--- a/include/wx/msw/apptrait.h
+++ b/include/wx/msw/apptrait.h
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ public:
     virtual void AfterChildWaitLoop(void *data);
 
     virtual bool DoMessageFromThreadWait();
-    virtual wxToolkitInfo *GetToolkitInfo();
+    virtual wxToolkitInfo& GetToolkitInfo();
 };
 
 #endif // wxUSE_GUI
diff --git a/include/wx/unix/apptrait.h b/include/wx/unix/apptrait.h
index 598b4b4d80..c0524a2e24 100644
--- a/include/wx/unix/apptrait.h
+++ b/include/wx/unix/apptrait.h
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ public:
     virtual void DetachWriteFDOfEndProcessPipe(wxExecuteData& execData);
     virtual int WaitForChild(wxExecuteData& execData);
 
-    virtual wxToolkitInfo *GetToolkitInfo();
+    virtual wxToolkitInfo& GetToolkitInfo();
 };
 
 #if wxUSE_GUI
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ public:
     virtual void DetachWriteFDOfEndProcessPipe(wxExecuteData& execData);
     virtual int WaitForChild(wxExecuteData& execData);
 
-    virtual wxToolkitInfo *GetToolkitInfo();
+    virtual wxToolkitInfo& GetToolkitInfo();
 };
 
 #endif // wxUSE_GUI
diff --git a/src/common/dynlib.cpp b/src/common/dynlib.cpp
index 1ba9660c9f..234406e898 100644
--- a/src/common/dynlib.cpp
+++ b/src/common/dynlib.cpp
@@ -415,7 +415,7 @@ wxString wxDynamicLibrary::CanonicalizePluginName(const wxString& name,
                               wxAppConsole::GetInstance()->GetTraits() : NULL;
         wxASSERT_MSG( traits, 
                _("can't query for GUI plugins name in console applications") );
-        suffix = traits->GetToolkitInfo()->shortName;
+        suffix = traits->GetToolkitInfo().shortName;
     }
 #if wxUSE_UNICODE
     suffix << _T('u');
diff --git a/src/common/utilscmn.cpp b/src/common/utilscmn.cpp
index f6195cfeb2..4d111eaf53 100644
--- a/src/common/utilscmn.cpp
+++ b/src/common/utilscmn.cpp
@@ -293,12 +293,12 @@ int wxGetOsVersion(int *verMaj, int *verMin)
     if ( ! traits )
         traits = &traitsConsole;
 
-    wxToolkitInfo *info = traits->GetToolkitInfo();
+    wxToolkitInfo& info = traits->GetToolkitInfo();
     if ( verMaj )
-        *verMaj = info->versionMajor;
+        *verMaj = info.versionMajor;
     if ( verMin )
-        *verMin = info->versionMinor;
-    return info->os;
+        *verMin = info.versionMinor;
+    return info.os;
 }
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/src/gtk/utilsgtk.cpp b/src/gtk/utilsgtk.cpp
index 1e0d4dccc1..89dfaec185 100644
--- a/src/gtk/utilsgtk.cpp
+++ b/src/gtk/utilsgtk.cpp
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ int wxDisplayDepth()
     return gdk_window_get_visual( wxGetRootWindow()->window )->depth;
 }
 
-wxToolkitInfo *wxGUIAppTraits::GetToolkitInfo()
+wxToolkitInfo& wxGUIAppTraits::GetToolkitInfo()
 {
     static wxToolkitInfo info;
 #ifdef __WXGTK20__
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ wxToolkitInfo *wxGUIAppTraits::GetToolkitInfo()
     info.versionMajor = GTK_MAJOR_VERSION;
     info.versionMinor = GTK_MINOR_VERSION;
     info.os = wxGTK;
-    return &info;
+    return info;
 }
 
 wxWindow* wxFindWindowAtPoint(const wxPoint& pt)
diff --git a/src/gtk1/utilsgtk.cpp b/src/gtk1/utilsgtk.cpp
index 1e0d4dccc1..89dfaec185 100644
--- a/src/gtk1/utilsgtk.cpp
+++ b/src/gtk1/utilsgtk.cpp
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ int wxDisplayDepth()
     return gdk_window_get_visual( wxGetRootWindow()->window )->depth;
 }
 
-wxToolkitInfo *wxGUIAppTraits::GetToolkitInfo()
+wxToolkitInfo& wxGUIAppTraits::GetToolkitInfo()
 {
     static wxToolkitInfo info;
 #ifdef __WXGTK20__
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ wxToolkitInfo *wxGUIAppTraits::GetToolkitInfo()
     info.versionMajor = GTK_MAJOR_VERSION;
     info.versionMinor = GTK_MINOR_VERSION;
     info.os = wxGTK;
-    return &info;
+    return info;
 }
 
 wxWindow* wxFindWindowAtPoint(const wxPoint& pt)
diff --git a/src/mac/carbon/utils.cpp b/src/mac/carbon/utils.cpp
index 6e1bd0d1b4..24ebec8676 100644
--- a/src/mac/carbon/utils.cpp
+++ b/src/mac/carbon/utils.cpp
@@ -218,19 +218,19 @@ static int DoGetOSVersion(int *majorVsn, int *minorVsn)
 #endif
 }
 
-wxToolkitInfo *wxConsoleAppTraits::GetToolkitInfo()
+wxToolkitInfo& wxConsoleAppTraits::GetToolkitInfo()
 {
     static wxToolkitInfo info;
     info.os = DoGetOSVersion(&info.majorVersion, &info.minorVersion);
     info.name = _T("wxBase");
-    return &info;
+    return info;
 }
 
 #endif // wxUSE_BASE
 
 #if wxUSE_GUI
 
-wxToolkitInfo *wxGUIAppTraits::GetToolkitInfo()
+wxToolkitInfo& wxGUIAppTraits::GetToolkitInfo()
 {
     static wxToolkitInfo info;
     info.os = DoGetOSVersion(&info.majorVersion, &info.minorVersion);
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ wxToolkitInfo *wxGUIAppTraits::GetToolkitInfo()
     info.shortName << _T("univ");
     info.name << _T("/wxUniversal");
 #endif
-    return &info;
+    return info;
 }
 
 // Reading and writing resources (eg WIN.INI, .Xdefaults)
diff --git a/src/mac/utils.cpp b/src/mac/utils.cpp
index 6e1bd0d1b4..24ebec8676 100644
--- a/src/mac/utils.cpp
+++ b/src/mac/utils.cpp
@@ -218,19 +218,19 @@ static int DoGetOSVersion(int *majorVsn, int *minorVsn)
 #endif
 }
 
-wxToolkitInfo *wxConsoleAppTraits::GetToolkitInfo()
+wxToolkitInfo& wxConsoleAppTraits::GetToolkitInfo()
 {
     static wxToolkitInfo info;
     info.os = DoGetOSVersion(&info.majorVersion, &info.minorVersion);
     info.name = _T("wxBase");
-    return &info;
+    return info;
 }
 
 #endif // wxUSE_BASE
 
 #if wxUSE_GUI
 
-wxToolkitInfo *wxGUIAppTraits::GetToolkitInfo()
+wxToolkitInfo& wxGUIAppTraits::GetToolkitInfo()
 {
     static wxToolkitInfo info;
     info.os = DoGetOSVersion(&info.majorVersion, &info.minorVersion);
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ wxToolkitInfo *wxGUIAppTraits::GetToolkitInfo()
     info.shortName << _T("univ");
     info.name << _T("/wxUniversal");
 #endif
-    return &info;
+    return info;
 }
 
 // Reading and writing resources (eg WIN.INI, .Xdefaults)
diff --git a/src/motif/utils.cpp b/src/motif/utils.cpp
index ab645457b2..413b8266fb 100644
--- a/src/motif/utils.cpp
+++ b/src/motif/utils.cpp
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ void wxBell()
     XBell (wxGlobalDisplay(), 0);
 }
 
-wxToolkitInfo *wxGUIAppTraits::GetToolkitInfo()
+wxToolkitInfo& wxGUIAppTraits::GetToolkitInfo()
 {
     wxToolkitInfo info;
     info.shortName = _T("motif");
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ wxToolkitInfo *wxGUIAppTraits::GetToolkitInfo()
     info.versionMajor = ProtocolVersion (display);
     info.versionMinor = ProtocolRevision (display);
     info.os = wxMOTIF_X;
-    return &info;
+    return info;
 }
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/src/msw/app.cpp b/src/msw/app.cpp
index 8d2c220f95..007b5241e4 100644
--- a/src/msw/app.cpp
+++ b/src/msw/app.cpp
@@ -229,20 +229,20 @@ bool wxGUIAppTraits::DoMessageFromThreadWait()
     return !wxTheApp || wxTheApp->DoMessage();
 }
 
-wxToolkitInfo *wxGUIAppTraits::GetToolkitInfo()
+wxToolkitInfo& wxGUIAppTraits::GetToolkitInfo()
 {
     static wxToolkitInfo info;    
-    wxToolkitInfo *baseInfo = wxAppTraits::GetToolkitInfo();
-    info.versionMajor = baseInfo->versionMajor;
-    info.versionMinor = baseInfo->versionMinor;
-    info.os = baseInfo->os;
+    wxToolkitInfo& baseInfo = wxAppTraits::GetToolkitInfo();
+    info.versionMajor = baseInfo.versionMajor;
+    info.versionMinor = baseInfo.versionMinor;
+    info.os = baseInfo.os;
     info.shortName = _T("msw");
     info.name = _T("wxMSW");
 #ifdef __WXUNIVERSAL__
     info.shortName << _T("univ");
     info.name << _T("/wxUniversal");
 #endif
-    return &info;
+    return info;
 }
 
 // ===========================================================================
diff --git a/src/msw/utils.cpp b/src/msw/utils.cpp
index 3a3f03a76c..fae0cb322d 100644
--- a/src/msw/utils.cpp
+++ b/src/msw/utils.cpp
@@ -1012,7 +1012,7 @@ wxString wxGetOsDescription()
 #endif // Win32/16
 }
 
-wxToolkitInfo *wxAppTraits::GetToolkitInfo()
+wxToolkitInfo& wxAppTraits::GetToolkitInfo()
 {
     // cache the version info, it's not going to change
     //
@@ -1061,7 +1061,7 @@ wxToolkitInfo *wxAppTraits::GetToolkitInfo()
     info.versionMinor = s_minor;
     info.os = s_ver;
     info.name = _T("wxBase");
-    return &info;
+    return info;
 }
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/src/unix/baseunix.cpp b/src/unix/baseunix.cpp
index 630ad555a0..bd40653d6f 100644
--- a/src/unix/baseunix.cpp
+++ b/src/unix/baseunix.cpp
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ wxConsoleAppTraits::WaitForChild(wxExecuteData& execData)
 // this is in mac/utils.cpp under Mac
 #ifndef __WXMAC__
 
-wxToolkitInfo *wxConsoleAppTraits::GetToolkitInfo()
+wxToolkitInfo& wxConsoleAppTraits::GetToolkitInfo()
 {
     static wxToolkitInfo info;
     int major, minor;
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ wxToolkitInfo *wxConsoleAppTraits::GetToolkitInfo()
     info.name = _T("wxBase");
     info.os = wxUNIX;
 
-    return &info;
+    return info;
 }
 
 #endif // __WXMAC__
diff --git a/src/x11/utils.cpp b/src/x11/utils.cpp
index 0bdd4ed3dc..22d3476ac8 100644
--- a/src/x11/utils.cpp
+++ b/src/x11/utils.cpp
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ void wxBell()
     XBell ((Display*) wxGetDisplay(), 0);
 }
 
-wxToolkitInfo *wxGUIAppTraits::GetToolkitInfo()
+wxToolkitInfo& wxGUIAppTraits::GetToolkitInfo()
 {
     static wxToolkitInfo info;
     info.shortName = _T("x11univ");
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ wxToolkitInfo *wxGUIAppTraits::GetToolkitInfo()
     info.versionMajor = 0;
     info.versionMinor = 0;
     info.os = wxX11;
-    return &info;
+    return info;
 }
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------