diff --git a/src/backends/meta-crtc.c b/src/backends/meta-crtc.c
index 815823b14..1b546a751 100644
--- a/src/backends/meta-crtc.c
+++ b/src/backends/meta-crtc.c
@@ -43,6 +43,8 @@ typedef struct _MetaCrtcPrivate
   MetaGpu *gpu;
 
   MetaMonitorTransform all_transforms;
+
+  MetaCrtcConfig *config;
 } MetaCrtcPrivate;
 
 G_DEFINE_TYPE_WITH_PRIVATE (MetaCrtc, meta_crtc, G_TYPE_OBJECT)
@@ -79,6 +81,7 @@ meta_crtc_set_config (MetaCrtc             *crtc,
                       MetaCrtcMode         *mode,
                       MetaMonitorTransform  transform)
 {
+  MetaCrtcPrivate *priv = meta_crtc_get_instance_private (crtc);
   MetaCrtcConfig *config;
 
   meta_crtc_unset_config (crtc);
@@ -88,13 +91,23 @@ meta_crtc_set_config (MetaCrtc             *crtc,
   config->mode = mode;
   config->transform = transform;
 
-  crtc->config = config;
+  priv->config = config;
 }
 
 void
 meta_crtc_unset_config (MetaCrtc *crtc)
 {
-  g_clear_pointer (&crtc->config, g_free);
+  MetaCrtcPrivate *priv = meta_crtc_get_instance_private (crtc);
+
+  g_clear_pointer (&priv->config, g_free);
+}
+
+const MetaCrtcConfig *
+meta_crtc_get_config (MetaCrtc *crtc)
+{
+  MetaCrtcPrivate *priv = meta_crtc_get_instance_private (crtc);
+
+  return priv->config;
 }
 
 static void
@@ -151,11 +164,12 @@ static void
 meta_crtc_finalize (GObject *object)
 {
   MetaCrtc *crtc = META_CRTC (object);
+  MetaCrtcPrivate *priv = meta_crtc_get_instance_private (crtc);
 
   if (crtc->driver_notify)
     crtc->driver_notify (crtc);
 
-  g_clear_pointer (&crtc->config, g_free);
+  g_clear_pointer (&priv->config, g_free);
 
   G_OBJECT_CLASS (meta_crtc_parent_class)->finalize (object);
 }
diff --git a/src/backends/meta-crtc.h b/src/backends/meta-crtc.h
index e5737c446..77ae677d7 100644
--- a/src/backends/meta-crtc.h
+++ b/src/backends/meta-crtc.h
@@ -60,8 +60,6 @@ struct _MetaCrtc
 {
   GObject parent;
 
-  MetaCrtcConfig *config;
-
   gpointer driver_private;
   GDestroyNotify driver_notify;
 };
@@ -106,4 +104,7 @@ void meta_crtc_set_config (MetaCrtc             *crtc,
 META_EXPORT_TEST
 void meta_crtc_unset_config (MetaCrtc *crtc);
 
+META_EXPORT_TEST
+const MetaCrtcConfig * meta_crtc_get_config (MetaCrtc *crtc);
+
 #endif /* META_CRTC_H */
diff --git a/src/backends/meta-logical-monitor.c b/src/backends/meta-logical-monitor.c
index 52f4833fc..b562e5acb 100644
--- a/src/backends/meta-logical-monitor.c
+++ b/src/backends/meta-logical-monitor.c
@@ -119,10 +119,14 @@ static MetaMonitorTransform
 derive_monitor_transform (MetaMonitor *monitor)
 {
   MetaOutput *main_output;
+  MetaCrtc *crtc;
+  const MetaCrtcConfig *crtc_config;
   MetaMonitorTransform transform;
 
   main_output = meta_monitor_get_main_output (monitor);
-  transform = meta_output_get_assigned_crtc (main_output)->config->transform;
+  crtc = meta_output_get_assigned_crtc (main_output);
+  crtc_config = meta_crtc_get_config (crtc);
+  transform = crtc_config->transform;
 
   return meta_monitor_crtc_to_logical_transform (monitor, transform);
 }
diff --git a/src/backends/meta-monitor-manager.c b/src/backends/meta-monitor-manager.c
index ebe763cb3..95bb92d83 100644
--- a/src/backends/meta-monitor-manager.c
+++ b/src/backends/meta-monitor-manager.c
@@ -1017,7 +1017,7 @@ meta_monitor_manager_handle_get_resources (MetaDBusDisplayConfig *skeleton,
     {
       MetaCrtc *crtc = l->data;
       GVariantBuilder transforms;
-      MetaCrtcConfig *crtc_config;
+      const MetaCrtcConfig *crtc_config;
 
       g_variant_builder_init (&transforms, G_VARIANT_TYPE ("au"));
       for (j = 0; j <= META_MONITOR_TRANSFORM_FLIPPED_270; j++)
@@ -1026,8 +1026,7 @@ meta_monitor_manager_handle_get_resources (MetaDBusDisplayConfig *skeleton,
             g_variant_builder_add (&transforms, "u", j);
         }
 
-      crtc_config = crtc->config;
-
+      crtc_config = meta_crtc_get_config (crtc);
       if (crtc_config)
         {
           int current_mode_index;
diff --git a/src/backends/meta-monitor.c b/src/backends/meta-monitor.c
index 5887b6e16..63ff64b0f 100644
--- a/src/backends/meta-monitor.c
+++ b/src/backends/meta-monitor.c
@@ -642,8 +642,14 @@ meta_monitor_normal_generate_modes (MetaMonitorNormal *monitor_normal)
         monitor_priv->preferred_mode = mode;
 
       crtc = meta_output_get_assigned_crtc (output);
-      if (crtc && crtc->config && crtc_mode == crtc->config->mode)
-        monitor_priv->current_mode = mode;
+      if (crtc)
+        {
+          const MetaCrtcConfig *crtc_config;
+
+          crtc_config = meta_crtc_get_config (crtc);
+          if (crtc_config && crtc_mode == crtc_config->mode)
+            monitor_priv->current_mode = mode;
+        }
     }
 }
 
@@ -689,11 +695,11 @@ meta_monitor_normal_derive_layout (MetaMonitor   *monitor,
 {
   MetaOutput *output;
   MetaCrtc *crtc;
-  MetaCrtcConfig *crtc_config;
+  const MetaCrtcConfig *crtc_config;
 
   output = meta_monitor_get_main_output (monitor);
   crtc = meta_output_get_assigned_crtc (output);
-  crtc_config = crtc->config;
+  crtc_config = meta_crtc_get_config (crtc);
 
   g_return_if_fail (crtc_config);
 
@@ -910,11 +916,14 @@ is_monitor_mode_assigned (MetaMonitor     *monitor,
       MetaOutput *output = l->data;
       MetaMonitorCrtcMode *monitor_crtc_mode = &mode->crtc_modes[i];
       MetaCrtc *crtc;
+      const MetaCrtcConfig *crtc_config;
 
       crtc = meta_output_get_assigned_crtc (output);
+      crtc_config = crtc ? meta_crtc_get_config (crtc) : NULL;
+
       if (monitor_crtc_mode->crtc_mode &&
-          (!crtc || !crtc->config ||
-           crtc->config->mode != monitor_crtc_mode->crtc_mode))
+          (!crtc || !crtc_config ||
+           crtc_config->mode != monitor_crtc_mode->crtc_mode))
         return FALSE;
       else if (!monitor_crtc_mode->crtc_mode && crtc)
         return FALSE;
@@ -1379,14 +1388,14 @@ meta_monitor_tiled_derive_layout (MetaMonitor   *monitor,
     {
       MetaOutput *output = l->data;
       MetaCrtc *crtc;
-      MetaCrtcConfig *crtc_config;
-      graphene_rect_t *crtc_layout;
+      const MetaCrtcConfig *crtc_config;
+      const graphene_rect_t *crtc_layout;
 
       crtc = meta_output_get_assigned_crtc (output);
       if (!crtc)
         continue;
 
-      crtc_config = crtc->config;
+      crtc_config = meta_crtc_get_config (crtc);
       g_return_if_fail (crtc_config);
 
       crtc_layout = &crtc_config->layout;
@@ -1553,7 +1562,8 @@ is_current_mode_known (MetaMonitor *monitor)
   output = meta_monitor_get_main_output (monitor);
   crtc = meta_output_get_assigned_crtc (output);
 
-  return meta_monitor_is_active (monitor) == (crtc && crtc->config);
+  return (meta_monitor_is_active (monitor) ==
+          (crtc && meta_crtc_get_config (crtc)));
 }
 
 void
diff --git a/src/backends/native/meta-crtc-kms.c b/src/backends/native/meta-crtc-kms.c
index f8be55736..ac5e0bf55 100644
--- a/src/backends/native/meta-crtc-kms.c
+++ b/src/backends/native/meta-crtc-kms.c
@@ -80,9 +80,12 @@ meta_crtc_kms_apply_transform (MetaCrtc               *crtc,
                                MetaKmsPlaneAssignment *kms_plane_assignment)
 {
   MetaCrtcKms *crtc_kms = crtc->driver_private;
+  const MetaCrtcConfig *crtc_config;
   MetaMonitorTransform hw_transform;
 
-  hw_transform = crtc->config->transform;
+  crtc_config = meta_crtc_get_config (crtc);
+
+  hw_transform = crtc_config->transform;
   if (!meta_crtc_kms_is_transform_handled (crtc, hw_transform))
     hw_transform = META_MONITOR_TRANSFORM_NORMAL;
   if (!meta_crtc_kms_is_transform_handled (crtc, hw_transform))
@@ -98,7 +101,7 @@ meta_crtc_kms_assign_primary_plane (MetaCrtc      *crtc,
                                     uint32_t       fb_id,
                                     MetaKmsUpdate *kms_update)
 {
-  MetaCrtcConfig *crtc_config;
+  const MetaCrtcConfig *crtc_config;
   MetaFixed16Rectangle src_rect;
   MetaFixed16Rectangle dst_rect;
   MetaKmsAssignPlaneFlag flags;
@@ -107,8 +110,7 @@ meta_crtc_kms_assign_primary_plane (MetaCrtc      *crtc,
   MetaKmsPlane *primary_kms_plane;
   MetaKmsPlaneAssignment *plane_assignment;
 
-  crtc_config = crtc->config;
-
+  crtc_config = meta_crtc_get_config (crtc);
 
   src_rect = (MetaFixed16Rectangle) {
     .x = meta_fixed_16_from_int (0),
@@ -168,7 +170,6 @@ void
 meta_crtc_kms_set_mode (MetaCrtc      *crtc,
                         MetaKmsUpdate *kms_update)
 {
-  MetaCrtcConfig *crtc_config = crtc->config;
   MetaGpu *gpu = meta_crtc_get_gpu (crtc);
   GList *connectors;
   drmModeModeInfo *mode;
@@ -177,6 +178,8 @@ meta_crtc_kms_set_mode (MetaCrtc      *crtc,
 
   if (connectors)
     {
+      const MetaCrtcConfig *crtc_config = meta_crtc_get_config (crtc);
+
       mode = crtc_config->mode->driver_private;
 
       g_debug ("Setting CRTC (%ld) mode to %s",
diff --git a/src/backends/native/meta-output-kms.c b/src/backends/native/meta-output-kms.c
index 61665b0bd..2617cba98 100644
--- a/src/backends/native/meta-output-kms.c
+++ b/src/backends/native/meta-output-kms.c
@@ -65,11 +65,11 @@ meta_output_kms_set_underscan (MetaOutput    *output,
   if (meta_output_is_underscanning (output))
     {
       MetaCrtc *crtc;
-      MetaCrtcConfig *crtc_config;
+      const MetaCrtcConfig *crtc_config;
       uint64_t hborder, vborder;
 
       crtc = meta_output_get_assigned_crtc (output);
-      crtc_config = crtc->config;
+      crtc_config = meta_crtc_get_config (crtc);
       hborder = MIN (128, (uint64_t) round (crtc_config->mode->width * 0.05));
       vborder = MIN (128, (uint64_t) round (crtc_config->mode->height * 0.05));
 
diff --git a/src/backends/native/meta-renderer-native.c b/src/backends/native/meta-renderer-native.c
index 8ba6fb495..ac629867f 100644
--- a/src/backends/native/meta-renderer-native.c
+++ b/src/backends/native/meta-renderer-native.c
@@ -1127,6 +1127,7 @@ notify_view_crtc_presented (MetaRendererView *view,
   MetaGpuKms *render_gpu = onscreen_native->render_gpu;
   CoglFrameInfo *frame_info;
   MetaCrtc *crtc;
+  const MetaCrtcConfig *crtc_config;
   float refresh_rate;
   MetaGpuKms *gpu_kms;
 
@@ -1138,9 +1139,8 @@ notify_view_crtc_presented (MetaRendererView *view,
   frame_info = g_queue_peek_tail (&onscreen->pending_frame_infos);
 
   crtc = meta_crtc_kms_from_kms_crtc (kms_crtc);
-  refresh_rate = crtc && crtc->config ?
-                 crtc->config->mode->refresh_rate :
-                 0.0f;
+  crtc_config = crtc ? meta_crtc_get_config (crtc) : NULL;
+  refresh_rate = crtc_config ? crtc_config->mode->refresh_rate : 0.0f;
   if (refresh_rate >= frame_info->refresh_rate)
     {
       frame_info->presentation_time = time_ns;
@@ -2240,10 +2240,12 @@ meta_onscreen_native_is_buffer_scanout_compatible (CoglOnscreen *onscreen,
 {
   CoglOnscreenEGL *onscreen_egl = onscreen->winsys;
   MetaOnscreenNative *onscreen_native = onscreen_egl->platform;
+  const MetaCrtcConfig *crtc_config;
   MetaDrmBuffer *fb;
   struct gbm_bo *gbm_bo;
 
-  if (onscreen_native->crtc->config->transform != META_MONITOR_TRANSFORM_NORMAL)
+  crtc_config = meta_crtc_get_config (onscreen_native->crtc);
+  if (crtc_config->transform != META_MONITOR_TRANSFORM_NORMAL)
     return FALSE;
 
   if (onscreen_native->secondary_gpu_state)
@@ -3155,7 +3157,7 @@ meta_renderer_native_create_view (MetaRenderer       *renderer,
   CoglDisplay *cogl_display = cogl_context_get_display (cogl_context);
   CoglDisplayEGL *cogl_display_egl;
   CoglOnscreenEGL *onscreen_egl;
-  MetaCrtcConfig *crtc_config;
+  const MetaCrtcConfig *crtc_config;
   MetaMonitorTransform view_transform;
   CoglOnscreen *onscreen = NULL;
   CoglOffscreen *offscreen = NULL;
@@ -3167,7 +3169,7 @@ meta_renderer_native_create_view (MetaRenderer       *renderer,
   MetaRendererView *view;
   GError *error = NULL;
 
-  crtc_config = crtc->config;
+  crtc_config = meta_crtc_get_config (crtc);
   onscreen_width = crtc_config->mode->width;
   onscreen_height = crtc_config->mode->height;
 
@@ -3219,7 +3221,7 @@ meta_renderer_native_create_view (MetaRenderer       *renderer,
   else
     scale = 1.0;
 
-  meta_rectangle_from_graphene_rect (&crtc->config->layout,
+  meta_rectangle_from_graphene_rect (&crtc_config->layout,
                                      META_ROUNDING_STRATEGY_ROUND,
                                      &view_layout);
   view = g_object_new (META_TYPE_RENDERER_VIEW,
@@ -3297,7 +3299,7 @@ meta_renderer_native_finish_frame (MetaRendererNative *renderer_native)
             {
               MetaCrtc *crtc = k->data;
 
-              if (crtc->config)
+              if (meta_crtc_get_config (crtc))
                 continue;
 
               kms_update = meta_kms_ensure_pending_update (kms);
diff --git a/src/backends/x11/meta-monitor-manager-xrandr.c b/src/backends/x11/meta-monitor-manager-xrandr.c
index b4873aa30..af7e62fa2 100644
--- a/src/backends/x11/meta-monitor-manager-xrandr.c
+++ b/src/backends/x11/meta-monitor-manager-xrandr.c
@@ -408,10 +408,10 @@ apply_crtc_assignments (MetaMonitorManager    *manager,
     {
       MetaCrtcAssignment *crtc_assignment = crtcs[i];
       MetaCrtc *crtc = crtc_assignment->crtc;
-      MetaCrtcConfig *crtc_config;
+      const MetaCrtcConfig *crtc_config;
       int x2, y2;
 
-      crtc_config = crtc->config;
+      crtc_config = meta_crtc_get_config (crtc);
       if (!crtc_config)
         continue;
 
@@ -439,7 +439,7 @@ apply_crtc_assignments (MetaMonitorManager    *manager,
     {
       MetaCrtc *crtc = l->data;
 
-      if (!crtc->config)
+      if (!meta_crtc_get_config (crtc))
         continue;
 
       xrandr_set_crtc_config (manager_xrandr,
diff --git a/src/backends/x11/meta-output-xrandr.c b/src/backends/x11/meta-output-xrandr.c
index 588fac220..80e108ccc 100644
--- a/src/backends/x11/meta-output-xrandr.c
+++ b/src/backends/x11/meta-output-xrandr.c
@@ -106,11 +106,11 @@ output_set_underscanning_xrandr (MetaOutput *output,
   if (underscanning)
     {
       MetaCrtc *crtc;
-      MetaCrtcConfig *crtc_config;
+      const MetaCrtcConfig *crtc_config;
       uint32_t border_value;
 
       crtc = meta_output_get_assigned_crtc (output);
-      crtc_config = crtc->config;
+      crtc_config = meta_crtc_get_config (crtc);
 
       prop = XInternAtom (xdisplay, "underscan hborder", False);
       border_value = crtc_config->mode->width * 0.05;
diff --git a/src/backends/x11/nested/meta-renderer-x11-nested.c b/src/backends/x11/nested/meta-renderer-x11-nested.c
index e5ac8ae4b..b4ad3ce8f 100644
--- a/src/backends/x11/nested/meta-renderer-x11-nested.c
+++ b/src/backends/x11/nested/meta-renderer-x11-nested.c
@@ -185,6 +185,7 @@ meta_renderer_x11_nested_create_view (MetaRenderer       *renderer,
   CoglContext *cogl_context = clutter_backend_get_cogl_context (clutter_backend);
   MetaMonitorTransform view_transform;
   float view_scale;
+  const MetaCrtcConfig *crtc_config;
   int width, height;
   CoglOffscreen *fake_onscreen;
   CoglOffscreen *offscreen;
@@ -198,8 +199,9 @@ meta_renderer_x11_nested_create_view (MetaRenderer       *renderer,
   else
     view_scale = 1.0;
 
-  width = roundf (crtc->config->layout.size.width * view_scale);
-  height = roundf (crtc->config->layout.size.height * view_scale);
+  crtc_config = meta_crtc_get_config (crtc);
+  width = roundf (crtc_config->layout.size.width * view_scale);
+  height = roundf (crtc_config->layout.size.height * view_scale);
 
   fake_onscreen = create_offscreen (cogl_context, width, height);
 
@@ -208,7 +210,7 @@ meta_renderer_x11_nested_create_view (MetaRenderer       *renderer,
   else
     offscreen = NULL;
 
-  meta_rectangle_from_graphene_rect (&crtc->config->layout,
+  meta_rectangle_from_graphene_rect (&crtc_config->layout,
                                      META_ROUNDING_STRATEGY_ROUND,
                                      &view_layout);
 
diff --git a/src/backends/x11/nested/meta-stage-x11-nested.c b/src/backends/x11/nested/meta-stage-x11-nested.c
index 361f905ed..2d9c2ea55 100644
--- a/src/backends/x11/nested/meta-stage-x11-nested.c
+++ b/src/backends/x11/nested/meta-stage-x11-nested.c
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ draw_view (MetaStageX11Nested *stage_nested,
   CoglFramebuffer *onscreen = COGL_FRAMEBUFFER (stage_x11->onscreen);
   ClutterStageView *stage_view = CLUTTER_STAGE_VIEW (renderer_view);
   MetaCrtc *crtc;
-  MetaCrtcConfig *crtc_config;
+  const MetaCrtcConfig *crtc_config;
   CoglMatrix projection_matrix;
   CoglMatrix transform;
   float texture_width, texture_height;
@@ -120,7 +120,7 @@ draw_view (MetaStageX11Nested *stage_nested,
   texture_height = cogl_texture_get_height (texture);
 
   crtc = g_object_get_data (G_OBJECT (renderer_view), "crtc");
-  crtc_config = crtc->config;
+  crtc_config = meta_crtc_get_config (crtc);
 
   sample_x = 0;
   sample_y = 0;
diff --git a/src/tests/monitor-test-utils.c b/src/tests/monitor-test-utils.c
index 3253a04c0..b799e6adc 100644
--- a/src/tests/monitor-test-utils.c
+++ b/src/tests/monitor-test-utils.c
@@ -185,12 +185,12 @@ check_current_monitor_mode (MetaMonitor         *monitor,
     }
   else
     {
-      MetaCrtcConfig *crtc_config;
+      const MetaCrtcConfig *crtc_config;
       MetaLogicalMonitor *logical_monitor;
 
       g_assert_nonnull (crtc);
 
-      crtc_config  = crtc->config;
+      crtc_config = meta_crtc_get_config (crtc);
       g_assert_nonnull (crtc_config);
 
       g_assert (monitor_crtc_mode->crtc_mode == crtc_config->mode);
@@ -498,7 +498,7 @@ check_monitor_configuration (MonitorTestCaseExpect *expect)
   for (l = crtcs, i = 0; l; l = l->next, i++)
     {
       MetaCrtc *crtc = l->data;
-      MetaCrtcConfig *crtc_config = crtc->config;
+      const MetaCrtcConfig *crtc_config = meta_crtc_get_config (crtc);
 
       if (expect->crtcs[i].current_mode == -1)
         {