diff --git a/src/shell-app-monitor.c b/src/shell-app-monitor.c
index 2a5f439ef..9573cde82 100644
--- a/src/shell-app-monitor.c
+++ b/src/shell-app-monitor.c
@@ -260,6 +260,22 @@ shell_app_monitor_finalize (GObject *object)
   G_OBJECT_CLASS (shell_app_monitor_parent_class)->finalize(object);
 }
 
+/**
+ * shell_app_monitor_get_default:
+ *
+ * Return Value: (transfer none): The global #ShellAppMonitor singleton
+ */
+ShellAppMonitor *
+shell_app_monitor_get_default ()
+{
+  static ShellAppMonitor *instance = NULL;
+
+  if (instance == NULL)
+    instance = g_object_new (SHELL_TYPE_APP_Monitor, NULL);
+
+  return instance;
+}
+
 /**
  * shell_app_monitor_get_most_used_apps:
  *
diff --git a/src/shell-app-monitor.h b/src/shell-app-monitor.h
index 7a808f1a0..f0cf8917e 100644
--- a/src/shell-app-monitor.h
+++ b/src/shell-app-monitor.h
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ struct _ShellAppMonitorClass
 
 GType shell_app_monitor_get_type (void) G_GNUC_CONST;
 
-ShellAppMonitor* shell_app_monitor_new(void);
+ShellAppMonitor* shell_app_monitor_get_default(void);
 
 /* Get the most popular applications for a given activity */
 GSList *shell_app_monitor_get_most_used_apps (ShellAppMonitor *monitor,
diff --git a/src/shell-app-system.c b/src/shell-app-system.c
index 882938922..6ba92fb8e 100644
--- a/src/shell-app-system.c
+++ b/src/shell-app-system.c
@@ -115,6 +115,22 @@ shell_app_system_finalize (GObject *object)
   G_OBJECT_CLASS (shell_app_system_parent_class)->finalize(object);
 }
 
+/**
+ * shell_app_system_get_default:
+ *
+ * Return Value: (transfer none): The global #ShellAppSystem singleton
+ */
+ShellAppSystem *
+shell_app_system_get_default ()
+{
+  static ShellAppSystem *instance = NULL;
+
+  if (instance == NULL)
+    instance = g_object_new (SHELL_TYPE_APP_SYSTEM, NULL);
+
+  return instance;
+}
+
 static void
 reread_directories (ShellAppSystem *self, GSList **cache, GMenuTree *tree)
 {
diff --git a/src/shell-app-system.h b/src/shell-app-system.h
index cbd2d2e37..2bdd5971d 100644
--- a/src/shell-app-system.h
+++ b/src/shell-app-system.h
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ struct _ShellAppSystemClass
 };
 
 GType shell_app_system_get_type (void) G_GNUC_CONST;
-ShellAppSystem* shell_app_system_new(void);
+ShellAppSystem* shell_app_system_get_default(void);
 
 GSList *shell_app_system_get_applications_for_menu (ShellAppSystem *system, const char *menu);