diff --git a/js/ui/status/bluetooth.js b/js/ui/status/bluetooth.js
index 6282234ca..b1fda3356 100644
--- a/js/ui/status/bluetooth.js
+++ b/js/ui/status/bluetooth.js
@@ -118,9 +118,9 @@ var Indicator = class extends PanelMenu.SystemIndicator {
         // Remember if there were setup devices and show the menu
         // if we've seen setup devices and we're not hard blocked
         if (nDevices > 0)
-            this._item.actor.visible = !this._proxy.BluetoothHardwareAirplaneMode;
+            this._item.visible = !this._proxy.BluetoothHardwareAirplaneMode;
         else
-            this._item.actor.visible = this._proxy.BluetoothHasAirplaneMode && !this._proxy.BluetoothAirplaneMode;
+            this._item.visible = this._proxy.BluetoothHasAirplaneMode && !this._proxy.BluetoothAirplaneMode;
 
         if (nConnectedDevices > 0)
             /* Translators: this is the number of connected bluetooth devices */
diff --git a/js/ui/status/brightness.js b/js/ui/status/brightness.js
index 025f29908..7643274fb 100644
--- a/js/ui/status/brightness.js
+++ b/js/ui/status/brightness.js
@@ -37,12 +37,12 @@ var Indicator = class extends PanelMenu.SystemIndicator {
 
         let icon = new St.Icon({ icon_name: 'display-brightness-symbolic',
                                  style_class: 'popup-menu-icon' });
-        this._item.actor.add(icon);
-        this._item.actor.add(this._slider.actor, { expand: true });
-        this._item.actor.connect('button-press-event', (actor, event) => {
+        this._item.add(icon);
+        this._item.add(this._slider.actor, { expand: true });
+        this._item.connect('button-press-event', (actor, event) => {
             return this._slider.startDragging(event);
         });
-        this._item.actor.connect('key-press-event', (actor, event) => {
+        this._item.connect('key-press-event', (actor, event) => {
             return this._slider.onKeyPressEvent(actor, event);
         });
 
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ var Indicator = class extends PanelMenu.SystemIndicator {
 
     _sync() {
         let visible = this._proxy.Brightness >= 0;
-        this._item.actor.visible = visible;
+        this._item.visible = visible;
         if (visible)
             this._slider.setValue(this._proxy.Brightness / 100.0);
     }
diff --git a/js/ui/status/keyboard.js b/js/ui/status/keyboard.js
index 274147fe4..df8e9c2f1 100644
--- a/js/ui/status/keyboard.js
+++ b/js/ui/status/keyboard.js
@@ -15,17 +15,18 @@ const Util = imports.misc.util;
 const INPUT_SOURCE_TYPE_XKB = 'xkb';
 const INPUT_SOURCE_TYPE_IBUS = 'ibus';
 
-var LayoutMenuItem = class extends PopupMenu.PopupBaseMenuItem {
-    constructor(displayName, shortName) {
-        super();
+var LayoutMenuItem = GObject.registerClass(
+class LayoutMenuItem extends PopupMenu.PopupBaseMenuItem {
+    _init(displayName, shortName) {
+        super._init();
 
         this.label = new St.Label({ text: displayName });
         this.indicator = new St.Label({ text: shortName });
-        this.actor.add(this.label, { expand: true });
-        this.actor.add(this.indicator);
-        this.actor.label_actor = this.label;
+        this.add(this.label, { expand: true });
+        this.add(this.indicator);
+        this.label_actor = this.label;
     }
-};
+});
 
 var InputSource = class {
     constructor(type, id, displayName, shortName, index) {
@@ -857,7 +858,7 @@ class InputSourceIndicator extends PanelMenu.Button {
         // but at least for now it is used as "allow popping up windows
         // from shell menus"; we can always add a separate sessionMode
         // option if need arises.
-        this._showLayoutItem.actor.visible = Main.sessionMode.allowSettings;
+        this._showLayoutItem.visible = Main.sessionMode.allowSettings;
     }
 
     _sourcesChanged() {
diff --git a/js/ui/status/location.js b/js/ui/status/location.js
index f030ae81b..e565367bb 100644
--- a/js/ui/status/location.js
+++ b/js/ui/status/location.js
@@ -101,12 +101,12 @@ var Indicator = class extends PanelMenu.SystemIndicator {
     _syncIndicator() {
         if (this._managerProxy == null) {
             this._indicator.visible = false;
-            this._item.actor.visible = false;
+            this._item.visible = false;
             return;
         }
 
         this._indicator.visible = this._managerProxy.InUse;
-        this._item.actor.visible = this._indicator.visible;
+        this._item.visible = this._indicator.visible;
         this._updateMenuLabels();
     }
 
diff --git a/js/ui/status/network.js b/js/ui/status/network.js
index b24d608e4..8c5fb976b 100644
--- a/js/ui/status/network.js
+++ b/js/ui/status/network.js
@@ -389,8 +389,8 @@ var NMConnectionDevice = class NMConnectionDevice extends NMConnectionSection {
 
     _sync() {
         let nItems = this._connectionItems.size;
-        this._autoConnectItem.actor.visible = (nItems == 0);
-        this._deactivateItem.actor.visible = this._device.state > NM.DeviceState.DISCONNECTED;
+        this._autoConnectItem.visible = (nItems == 0);
+        this._deactivateItem.visible = this._device.state > NM.DeviceState.DISCONNECTED;
 
         if (this._activeConnection == null) {
             let activeConnection = this._device.active_connection;
@@ -477,7 +477,7 @@ var NMDeviceWired = class extends NMConnectionDevice {
     }
 
     _sync() {
-        this.item.actor.visible = this._hasCarrier();
+        this.item.visible = this._hasCarrier();
         super._sync();
     }
 
@@ -1076,7 +1076,7 @@ var NMWirelessDialog = class extends ModalDialog.ModalDialog {
 
             let newPos = Util.insertSorted(this._networks, network, this._networkSortFunction);
             this._createNetworkItem(network);
-            this._itemBox.insert_child_at_index(network.item.actor, newPos);
+            this._itemBox.insert_child_at_index(network.item, newPos);
         }
 
         this._syncView();
@@ -1094,7 +1094,7 @@ var NMWirelessDialog = class extends ModalDialog.ModalDialog {
         network.accessPoints.splice(res.ap, 1);
 
         if (network.accessPoints.length == 0) {
-            network.item.actor.destroy();
+            network.item.destroy();
             this._networks.splice(res.network, 1);
         } else {
             network.item.updateBestAP(network.accessPoints[0]);
@@ -1110,7 +1110,7 @@ var NMWirelessDialog = class extends ModalDialog.ModalDialog {
 
         this._itemBox.remove_all_children();
         this._networks.forEach(network => {
-            this._itemBox.add_child(network.item.actor);
+            this._itemBox.add_child(network.item);
         });
 
         adjustment.value = scrollValue;
@@ -1118,25 +1118,25 @@ var NMWirelessDialog = class extends ModalDialog.ModalDialog {
 
     _selectNetwork(network) {
         if (this._selectedNetwork)
-            this._selectedNetwork.item.actor.remove_style_pseudo_class('selected');
+            this._selectedNetwork.item.remove_style_pseudo_class('selected');
 
         this._selectedNetwork = network;
         this._updateSensitivity();
 
         if (this._selectedNetwork)
-            this._selectedNetwork.item.actor.add_style_pseudo_class('selected');
+            this._selectedNetwork.item.add_style_pseudo_class('selected');
     }
 
     _createNetworkItem(network) {
         network.item = new NMWirelessDialogItem(network);
         network.item.setActive(network == this._selectedNetwork);
         network.item.connect('selected', () => {
-            Util.ensureActorVisibleInScrollView(this._scrollView, network.item.actor);
+            Util.ensureActorVisibleInScrollView(this._scrollView, network.item);
             this._selectNetwork(network);
         });
-        network.item.actor.connect('destroy', () => {
+        network.item.connect('destroy', () => {
             let keyFocus = global.stage.key_focus;
-            if (keyFocus && keyFocus.contains(network.item.actor))
+            if (keyFocus && keyFocus.contains(network.item))
                 this._itemBox.grab_key_focus();
         });
     }
@@ -1262,7 +1262,7 @@ var NMDeviceWireless = class {
 
     _sync() {
         this._toggleItem.label.text = this._client.wireless_enabled ? _("Turn Off") : _("Turn On");
-        this._toggleItem.actor.visible = this._client.wireless_hardware_enabled;
+        this._toggleItem.visible = this._client.wireless_hardware_enabled;
 
         this.item.icon.icon_name = this._getMenuIcon();
         this.item.label.text = this._getStatus();
@@ -1452,7 +1452,7 @@ var NMVpnSection = class extends NMConnectionSection {
 
     _sync() {
         let nItems = this._connectionItems.size;
-        this.item.actor.visible = (nItems > 0);
+        this.item.visible = (nItems > 0);
 
         super._sync();
     }
@@ -1535,7 +1535,7 @@ var DeviceCategory = class extends PopupMenu.PopupMenuSection {
 
         this._summaryItem.menu.addSettingsAction(_('Network Settings'),
                                                  'gnome-network-panel.desktop');
-        this._summaryItem.actor.hide();
+        this._summaryItem.hide();
 
     }
 
@@ -1544,7 +1544,7 @@ var DeviceCategory = class extends PopupMenu.PopupMenuSection {
             (prev, child) => prev + (child.visible ? 1 : 0), 0);
         this._summaryItem.label.text = this._getSummaryLabel(nDevices);
         let shouldSummarize = nDevices > MAX_DEVICE_ITEMS;
-        this._summaryItem.actor.visible = shouldSummarize;
+        this._summaryItem.visible = shouldSummarize;
         this.section.actor.visible = !shouldSummarize;
     }
 
diff --git a/js/ui/status/nightLight.js b/js/ui/status/nightLight.js
index 353db92c3..089a5cdf2 100644
--- a/js/ui/status/nightLight.js
+++ b/js/ui/status/nightLight.js
@@ -61,6 +61,6 @@ var Indicator = class extends PanelMenu.SystemIndicator {
                                          : _("Night Light On");
         this._disableItem.label.text = disabled ? _("Resume")
                                                 : _("Disable Until Tomorrow");
-        this._item.actor.visible = this._indicator.visible = visible;
+        this._item.visible = this._indicator.visible = visible;
     }
 };
diff --git a/js/ui/status/power.js b/js/ui/status/power.js
index 3279811da..252b0dc4e 100644
--- a/js/ui/status/power.js
+++ b/js/ui/status/power.js
@@ -96,11 +96,11 @@ var Indicator = class extends PanelMenu.SystemIndicator {
         // Do we have batteries or a UPS?
         let visible = this._proxy.IsPresent;
         if (visible) {
-            this._item.actor.show();
+            this._item.show();
             this._percentageLabel.visible = this._desktopSettings.get_boolean(SHOW_BATTERY_PERCENTAGE);
         } else {
             // If there's no battery, then we use the power icon.
-            this._item.actor.hide();
+            this._item.hide();
             this._indicator.icon_name = 'system-shutdown-symbolic';
             this._percentageLabel.hide();
             return;
diff --git a/js/ui/status/remoteAccess.js b/js/ui/status/remoteAccess.js
index ab0b55f28..26851d219 100644
--- a/js/ui/status/remoteAccess.js
+++ b/js/ui/status/remoteAccess.js
@@ -53,10 +53,10 @@ var RemoteAccessApplet = class extends PanelMenu.SystemIndicator {
     _sync() {
         if (this._handles.size == 0) {
             this._indicator.visible = false;
-            this._item.actor.visible = false;
+            this._item.visible = false;
         } else {
             this._indicator.visible = true;
-            this._item.actor.visible = true;
+            this._item.visible = true;
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/js/ui/status/rfkill.js b/js/ui/status/rfkill.js
index e818e8788..8cf4d157d 100644
--- a/js/ui/status/rfkill.js
+++ b/js/ui/status/rfkill.js
@@ -97,7 +97,7 @@ var Indicator = class extends PanelMenu.SystemIndicator {
         let showAirplaneMode = this._manager.shouldShowAirplaneMode;
 
         this._indicator.visible = (airplaneMode && showAirplaneMode);
-        this._item.actor.visible = (airplaneMode && showAirplaneMode);
+        this._item.visible = (airplaneMode && showAirplaneMode);
         this._offItem.setSensitive(!hwAirplaneMode);
 
         if (hwAirplaneMode)
diff --git a/js/ui/status/system.js b/js/ui/status/system.js
index 1b0d10d8c..b7eaef72b 100644
--- a/js/ui/status/system.js
+++ b/js/ui/status/system.js
@@ -116,10 +116,10 @@ var Indicator = class extends PanelMenu.SystemIndicator {
 
         this._createSubMenu();
 
-        this._loginScreenItem.actor.connect('notify::visible',
-                                            () => { this._updateMultiUser(); });
-        this._logoutItem.actor.connect('notify::visible',
-                                       () => { this._updateMultiUser(); });
+        this._loginScreenItem.connect('notify::visible',
+                                      () => { this._updateMultiUser(); });
+        this._logoutItem.connect('notify::visible',
+                                 () => { this._updateMultiUser(); });
         // Whether shutdown is available or not depends on both lockdown
         // settings (disable-log-out) and Polkit policy - the latter doesn't
         // notify, so we update the menu item each time the menu opens or
@@ -142,7 +142,7 @@ var Indicator = class extends PanelMenu.SystemIndicator {
                        this._lockScreenAction.visible ||
                        this._altSwitcher.actor.visible);
 
-        this._actionsItem.actor.visible = visible;
+        this._actionsItem.visible = visible;
     }
 
     _sessionUpdated() {
@@ -150,10 +150,10 @@ var Indicator = class extends PanelMenu.SystemIndicator {
     }
 
     _updateMultiUser() {
-        let hasSwitchUser = this._loginScreenItem.actor.visible;
-        let hasLogout = this._logoutItem.actor.visible;
+        let hasSwitchUser = this._loginScreenItem.visible;
+        let hasLogout = this._logoutItem.visible;
 
-        this._switchUserSubMenu.actor.visible = hasSwitchUser || hasLogout;
+        this._switchUserSubMenu.visible = hasSwitchUser || hasLogout;
     }
 
     _updateSwitchUserSubMenu() {
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ var Indicator = class extends PanelMenu.SystemIndicator {
         this._switchUserSubMenu.menu.addMenuItem(item);
         this._loginScreenItem = item;
         this._systemActions.bind_property('can-switch-user',
-                                          this._loginScreenItem.actor,
+                                          this._loginScreenItem,
                                           'visible',
                                           bindFlags);
 
@@ -220,7 +220,7 @@ var Indicator = class extends PanelMenu.SystemIndicator {
         this._switchUserSubMenu.menu.addMenuItem(item);
         this._logoutItem = item;
         this._systemActions.bind_property('can-logout',
-                                          this._logoutItem.actor,
+                                          this._logoutItem,
                                           'visible',
                                           bindFlags);
 
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ var Indicator = class extends PanelMenu.SystemIndicator {
 
         item = new PopupMenu.PopupBaseMenuItem({ reactive: false,
                                                  can_focus: false });
-        this.buttonGroup = item.actor;
+        this.buttonGroup = item;
 
         let app = this._settingsApp = Shell.AppSystem.get_default().lookup_app(
             'gnome-control-center.desktop'
@@ -251,14 +251,14 @@ var Indicator = class extends PanelMenu.SystemIndicator {
             log('Missing required core component Settings, expect trouble…');
             this._settingsAction = new St.Widget();
         }
-        item.actor.add(this._settingsAction, { expand: true, x_fill: false });
+        item.add(this._settingsAction, { expand: true, x_fill: false });
 
         this._orientationLockAction = this._createActionButton('', _("Orientation Lock"));
         this._orientationLockAction.connect('clicked', () => {
             this.menu.itemActivated(BoxPointer.PopupAnimation.NONE),
             this._systemActions.activateLockOrientation();
         });
-        item.actor.add(this._orientationLockAction, { expand: true, x_fill: false });
+        item.add(this._orientationLockAction, { expand: true, x_fill: false });
         this._systemActions.bind_property('can-lock-orientation',
                                           this._orientationLockAction,
                                           'visible',
@@ -273,7 +273,7 @@ var Indicator = class extends PanelMenu.SystemIndicator {
             this.menu.itemActivated(BoxPointer.PopupAnimation.NONE);
             this._systemActions.activateLockScreen();
         });
-        item.actor.add(this._lockScreenAction, { expand: true, x_fill: false });
+        item.add(this._lockScreenAction, { expand: true, x_fill: false });
         this._systemActions.bind_property('can-lock-screen',
                                           this._lockScreenAction,
                                           'visible',
@@ -300,7 +300,7 @@ var Indicator = class extends PanelMenu.SystemIndicator {
                                           bindFlags);
 
         this._altSwitcher = new AltSwitcher(this._powerOffAction, this._suspendAction);
-        item.actor.add(this._altSwitcher.actor, { expand: true, x_fill: false });
+        item.add(this._altSwitcher.actor, { expand: true, x_fill: false });
 
         this._actionsItem = item;
         this.menu.addMenuItem(item);
diff --git a/js/ui/status/volume.js b/js/ui/status/volume.js
index d555b426e..ae2497a93 100644
--- a/js/ui/status/volume.js
+++ b/js/ui/status/volume.js
@@ -41,12 +41,12 @@ var StreamSlider = class {
         this._slider.connect('drag-end', this._notifyVolumeChange.bind(this));
 
         this._icon = new St.Icon({ style_class: 'popup-menu-icon' });
-        this.item.actor.add(this._icon);
-        this.item.actor.add(this._slider.actor, { expand: true });
-        this.item.actor.connect('button-press-event', (actor, event) => {
+        this.item.add(this._icon);
+        this.item.add(this._slider.actor, { expand: true });
+        this.item.connect('button-press-event', (actor, event) => {
             return this._slider.startDragging(event);
         });
-        this.item.actor.connect('key-press-event', (actor, event) => {
+        this.item.connect('key-press-event', (actor, event) => {
             return this._slider.onKeyPressEvent(actor, event);
         });
 
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ var StreamSlider = class {
 
     _updateVisibility() {
         let visible = this._shouldBeVisible();
-        this.item.actor.visible = visible;
+        this.item.visible = visible;
     }
 
     scroll(event) {