diff --git a/gtk/gtklistitem.c b/gtk/gtklistitem.c
index 79d3e12e78..01db2cdac4 100644
--- a/gtk/gtklistitem.c
+++ b/gtk/gtklistitem.c
@@ -98,11 +98,15 @@ gtk_list_item_get_property (GObject    *object,
       break;
 
     case PROP_ITEM:
-      g_value_set_object (value, self->item);
+      if (self->owner)
+        g_value_set_object (value, gtk_list_item_widget_get_item (self->owner));
       break;
 
     case PROP_POSITION:
-      g_value_set_uint (value, self->position);
+      if (self->owner)
+        g_value_set_uint (value, gtk_list_item_widget_get_position (self->owner));
+      else
+        g_value_set_uint (value, GTK_INVALID_LIST_POSITION);
       break;
 
     case PROP_SELECTABLE:
@@ -110,7 +114,10 @@ gtk_list_item_get_property (GObject    *object,
       break;
 
     case PROP_SELECTED:
-      g_value_set_boolean (value, self->selected);
+      if (self->owner)
+        g_value_set_boolean (value, gtk_list_item_widget_get_selected (self->owner));
+      else
+        g_value_set_boolean (value, FALSE);
       break;
 
     default:
@@ -259,7 +266,10 @@ gtk_list_item_get_item (GtkListItem *self)
 {
   g_return_val_if_fail (GTK_IS_LIST_ITEM (self), NULL);
 
-  return self->item;
+  if (self->owner == NULL)
+    return NULL;
+
+  return gtk_list_item_widget_get_item (self->owner);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -316,23 +326,6 @@ gtk_list_item_set_child (GtkListItem *self,
   g_object_notify_by_pspec (G_OBJECT (self), properties[PROP_ITEM]);
 }
 
-void
-gtk_list_item_set_item (GtkListItem *self,
-                        gpointer     item)
-{
-  g_return_if_fail (GTK_IS_LIST_ITEM (self));
-  g_return_if_fail (item == NULL || G_IS_OBJECT (item));
-
-  if (self->item == item)
-    return;
-
-  g_clear_object (&self->item);
-  if (item)
-    self->item = g_object_ref (item);
-
-  g_object_notify_by_pspec (G_OBJECT (self), properties[PROP_ITEM]);
-}
-
 /**
  * gtk_list_item_get_position:
  * @self: a #GtkListItem
@@ -345,23 +338,12 @@ gtk_list_item_set_item (GtkListItem *self,
 guint
 gtk_list_item_get_position (GtkListItem *self)
 {
-  g_return_val_if_fail (GTK_IS_LIST_ITEM (self), 0);
+  g_return_val_if_fail (GTK_IS_LIST_ITEM (self), GTK_INVALID_LIST_POSITION);
 
-  return self->position;
-}
+  if (self->owner == NULL)
+    return GTK_INVALID_LIST_POSITION;
 
-void
-gtk_list_item_set_position (GtkListItem *self,
-                            guint        position)
-{
-  g_return_if_fail (GTK_IS_LIST_ITEM (self));
-
-  if (self->position == position)
-    return;
-
-  self->position = position;
-
-  g_object_notify_by_pspec (G_OBJECT (self), properties[PROP_POSITION]);
+  return gtk_list_item_widget_get_position (self->owner);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -379,21 +361,10 @@ gtk_list_item_get_selected (GtkListItem *self)
 {
   g_return_val_if_fail (GTK_IS_LIST_ITEM (self), FALSE);
 
-  return self->selected;
-}
+  if (self->owner == NULL)
+    return FALSE;
 
-void
-gtk_list_item_set_selected (GtkListItem *self,
-                            gboolean     selected)
-{
-  g_return_if_fail (GTK_IS_LIST_ITEM (self));
-
-  if (self->selected == selected)
-    return;
-
-  self->selected = selected;
-
-  g_object_notify_by_pspec (G_OBJECT (self), properties[PROP_SELECTED]);
+  return gtk_list_item_widget_get_selected (self->owner);
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/gtk/gtklistitemprivate.h b/gtk/gtklistitemprivate.h
index b84057f838..d8f8833313 100644
--- a/gtk/gtklistitemprivate.h
+++ b/gtk/gtklistitemprivate.h
@@ -32,23 +32,14 @@ struct _GtkListItem
 
   GtkListItemWidget *owner; /* has a reference */
 
-  GObject *item;
   GtkWidget *child;
-  guint position;
 
   guint activatable : 1;
   guint selectable : 1;
-  guint selected : 1;
 };
 
 GtkListItem *   gtk_list_item_new                               (void);
 
-void            gtk_list_item_set_item                          (GtkListItem            *self,
-                                                                 gpointer                item);
-void            gtk_list_item_set_position                      (GtkListItem            *self,
-                                                                 guint                   position);
-void            gtk_list_item_set_selected                      (GtkListItem            *self,
-                                                                 gboolean                selected);
 
 G_END_DECLS
 
diff --git a/gtk/gtklistitemwidget.c b/gtk/gtklistitemwidget.c
index fe314db13a..54f1eb0c96 100644
--- a/gtk/gtklistitemwidget.c
+++ b/gtk/gtklistitemwidget.c
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
 #include "gtklistitemfactoryprivate.h"
 #include "gtklistitemprivate.h"
 #include "gtkmain.h"
+#include "gtkselectionmodel.h"
 #include "gtkwidget.h"
 #include "gtkwidgetprivate.h"
 
@@ -38,6 +39,10 @@ struct _GtkListItemWidgetPrivate
 {
   GtkListItemFactory *factory;
   GtkListItem *list_item;
+
+  GObject *item;
+  guint position;
+  gboolean selected;
 };
 
 enum
@@ -55,13 +60,13 @@ gtk_list_item_widget_activate_signal (GtkListItemWidget *self)
 {
   GtkListItemWidgetPrivate *priv = gtk_list_item_widget_get_instance_private (self);
 
-  if (!priv->list_item->activatable)
+  if (priv->list_item && !priv->list_item->activatable)
     return;
 
   gtk_widget_activate_action (GTK_WIDGET (self),
                               "list.activate-item",
                               "u",
-                              priv->list_item->position);
+                              priv->position);
 }
 
 static gboolean
@@ -122,6 +127,7 @@ gtk_list_item_widget_dispose (GObject *object)
       gtk_list_item_factory_teardown (priv->factory, self);
       g_assert (priv->list_item == NULL);
     }
+  g_clear_object (&priv->item);
   g_clear_object (&priv->factory);
 
   G_OBJECT_CLASS (gtk_list_item_widget_parent_class)->dispose (object);
@@ -136,7 +142,7 @@ gtk_list_item_widget_select_action (GtkWidget  *widget,
   GtkListItemWidgetPrivate *priv = gtk_list_item_widget_get_instance_private (self);
   gboolean modify, extend;
 
-  if (!priv->list_item->selectable)
+  if (priv->list_item && !priv->list_item->selectable)
     return;
 
   g_variant_get (parameter, "(bb)", &modify, &extend);
@@ -144,7 +150,7 @@ gtk_list_item_widget_select_action (GtkWidget  *widget,
   gtk_widget_activate_action (GTK_WIDGET (self),
                               "list.select-item",
                               "(ubb)",
-                              priv->list_item->position, modify, extend);
+                              priv->position, modify, extend);
 }
 
 static void
@@ -233,13 +239,13 @@ gtk_list_item_widget_click_gesture_pressed (GtkGestureClick   *gesture,
   GtkListItemWidgetPrivate *priv = gtk_list_item_widget_get_instance_private (self);
   GtkWidget *widget = GTK_WIDGET (self);
 
-  if (!priv->list_item->selectable && !priv->list_item->activatable)
+  if (priv->list_item && !priv->list_item->selectable && !priv->list_item->activatable)
     {
       gtk_gesture_set_state (GTK_GESTURE (gesture), GTK_EVENT_SEQUENCE_DENIED);
       return;
     }
 
-  if (priv->list_item->selectable)
+  if (!priv->list_item || priv->list_item->selectable)
     {
       GdkModifierType state;
       GdkModifierType mask;
@@ -258,17 +264,17 @@ gtk_list_item_widget_click_gesture_pressed (GtkGestureClick   *gesture,
       gtk_widget_activate_action (GTK_WIDGET (self),
                                   "list.select-item",
                                   "(ubb)",
-                                  priv->list_item->position, modify, extend);
+                                  priv->position, modify, extend);
     }
 
-  if (priv->list_item->activatable)
+  if (!priv->list_item || priv->list_item->activatable)
     {
       if (n_press == 2)
         {
           gtk_widget_activate_action (GTK_WIDGET (self),
                                       "list.activate-item",
                                       "u",
-                                      priv->list_item->position);
+                                      priv->position);
         }
     }
 
@@ -291,7 +297,7 @@ gtk_list_item_widget_focus_changed_cb (GtkEventControllerKey *controller,
       gtk_widget_activate_action (widget,
                                   "list.scroll-to-item",
                                   "u",
-                                  priv->list_item->position);
+                                  priv->position);
     }
 }
 
@@ -393,6 +399,13 @@ gtk_list_item_widget_default_setup (GtkListItemWidget *self,
 
   if (list_item->child)
     gtk_list_item_widget_add_child (self, list_item->child);
+
+  if (priv->item)
+    g_object_notify (G_OBJECT (list_item), "item");
+  if (priv->position != GTK_INVALID_LIST_POSITION)
+    g_object_notify (G_OBJECT (list_item), "position");
+  if (priv->selected)
+    g_object_notify (G_OBJECT (list_item), "selected");
 }
 
 void
@@ -408,6 +421,13 @@ gtk_list_item_widget_default_teardown (GtkListItemWidget *self,
 
   if (list_item->child)
     gtk_list_item_widget_remove_child (self, list_item->child);
+
+  if (priv->item)
+    g_object_notify (G_OBJECT (list_item), "item");
+  if (priv->position != GTK_INVALID_LIST_POSITION)
+    g_object_notify (G_OBJECT (list_item), "position");
+  if (priv->selected)
+    g_object_notify (G_OBJECT (list_item), "selected");
 }
 
 void
@@ -417,9 +437,24 @@ gtk_list_item_widget_default_update (GtkListItemWidget *self,
                                      gpointer           item,
                                      gboolean           selected)
 {
-  gtk_list_item_set_item (list_item, item);
-  gtk_list_item_set_position (list_item, position);
-  gtk_list_item_set_selected (list_item, selected);
+  GtkListItemWidgetPrivate *priv = gtk_list_item_widget_get_instance_private (self);
+
+  /* FIXME: It's kinda evil to notify external objects from here... */
+  
+  if (g_set_object (&priv->item, item))
+    g_object_notify (G_OBJECT (list_item), "item");
+
+  if (priv->position != position)
+    {
+      priv->position = position;
+      g_object_notify (G_OBJECT (list_item), "position");
+    }
+
+  if (priv->selected != selected)
+    {
+      priv->selected = selected;
+      g_object_notify (G_OBJECT (list_item), "selected");
+    }
 }
 
 void
@@ -449,7 +484,7 @@ gtk_list_item_widget_get_position (GtkListItemWidget *self)
 {
   GtkListItemWidgetPrivate *priv = gtk_list_item_widget_get_instance_private (self);
 
-  return priv->list_item->position;
+  return priv->position;
 }
 
 gpointer
@@ -457,7 +492,7 @@ gtk_list_item_widget_get_item (GtkListItemWidget *self)
 {
   GtkListItemWidgetPrivate *priv = gtk_list_item_widget_get_instance_private (self);
 
-  return priv->list_item->item;
+  return priv->item;
 }
 
 gboolean
@@ -465,6 +500,6 @@ gtk_list_item_widget_get_selected (GtkListItemWidget *self)
 {
   GtkListItemWidgetPrivate *priv = gtk_list_item_widget_get_instance_private (self);
 
-  return priv->list_item->selected;
+  return priv->selected;
 }