diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-actor-meta.c b/clutter/clutter/clutter-actor-meta.c
index f8811bea8..02bbc0135 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-actor-meta.c
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-actor-meta.c
@@ -81,38 +81,47 @@ static void
 on_actor_destroy (ClutterActor     *actor,
                   ClutterActorMeta *meta)
 {
-  meta->priv->actor = NULL;
+  ClutterActorMetaPrivate *priv =
+    clutter_actor_meta_get_instance_private (meta);
+
+  priv->actor = NULL;
 }
 
 static void
 clutter_actor_meta_real_set_actor (ClutterActorMeta *meta,
                                    ClutterActor     *actor)
 {
-  g_warn_if_fail (!meta->priv->actor ||
-                  !CLUTTER_ACTOR_IN_PAINT (meta->priv->actor));
+  ClutterActorMetaPrivate *priv =
+    clutter_actor_meta_get_instance_private (meta);
+
+  g_warn_if_fail (!priv->actor ||
+                  !CLUTTER_ACTOR_IN_PAINT (priv->actor));
   g_warn_if_fail (!actor || !CLUTTER_ACTOR_IN_PAINT (actor));
 
-  if (meta->priv->actor == actor)
+  if (priv->actor == actor)
     return;
 
-  g_clear_signal_handler (&meta->priv->destroy_id, meta->priv->actor);
+  g_clear_signal_handler (&priv->destroy_id, priv->actor);
 
-  meta->priv->actor = actor;
+  priv->actor = actor;
 
-  if (meta->priv->actor != NULL)
-    meta->priv->destroy_id = g_signal_connect (meta->priv->actor, "destroy",
-                                               G_CALLBACK (on_actor_destroy),
-                                               meta);
+  if (priv->actor != NULL)
+    priv->destroy_id = g_signal_connect (priv->actor, "destroy",
+                                         G_CALLBACK (on_actor_destroy),
+                                         meta);
 }
 
 static void
 clutter_actor_meta_real_set_enabled (ClutterActorMeta *meta,
                                      gboolean          is_enabled)
 {
-  g_warn_if_fail (!meta->priv->actor ||
-                  !CLUTTER_ACTOR_IN_PAINT (meta->priv->actor));
+  ClutterActorMetaPrivate *priv =
+    clutter_actor_meta_get_instance_private (meta);
 
-  meta->priv->is_enabled = is_enabled;
+  g_warn_if_fail (!priv->actor ||
+                  !CLUTTER_ACTOR_IN_PAINT (priv->actor));
+
+  priv->is_enabled = is_enabled;
 
   g_object_notify_by_pspec (G_OBJECT (meta), obj_props[PROP_ENABLED]);
 }
@@ -147,20 +156,21 @@ clutter_actor_meta_get_property (GObject    *gobject,
                                  GValue     *value,
                                  GParamSpec *pspec)
 {
-  ClutterActorMeta *meta = CLUTTER_ACTOR_META (gobject);
+  ClutterActorMetaPrivate *priv =
+    clutter_actor_meta_get_instance_private (CLUTTER_ACTOR_META (gobject));
 
   switch (prop_id)
     {
     case PROP_ACTOR:
-      g_value_set_object (value, meta->priv->actor);
+      g_value_set_object (value, priv->actor);
       break;
 
     case PROP_NAME:
-      g_value_set_string (value, meta->priv->name);
+      g_value_set_string (value, priv->name);
       break;
 
     case PROP_ENABLED:
-      g_value_set_boolean (value, meta->priv->is_enabled);
+      g_value_set_boolean (value, priv->is_enabled);
       break;
 
     default:
@@ -172,7 +182,8 @@ clutter_actor_meta_get_property (GObject    *gobject,
 static void
 clutter_actor_meta_finalize (GObject *gobject)
 {
-  ClutterActorMetaPrivate *priv = CLUTTER_ACTOR_META (gobject)->priv;
+  ClutterActorMetaPrivate *priv =
+    clutter_actor_meta_get_instance_private (CLUTTER_ACTOR_META (gobject));
 
   if (priv->actor != NULL)
     g_clear_signal_handler (&priv->destroy_id, priv->actor);
@@ -243,9 +254,11 @@ clutter_actor_meta_class_init (ClutterActorMetaClass *klass)
 void
 clutter_actor_meta_init (ClutterActorMeta *self)
 {
-  self->priv = clutter_actor_meta_get_instance_private (self);
-  self->priv->is_enabled = TRUE;
-  self->priv->priority = CLUTTER_ACTOR_META_PRIORITY_DEFAULT;
+  ClutterActorMetaPrivate *priv =
+    clutter_actor_meta_get_instance_private (self);
+
+  priv->is_enabled = TRUE;
+  priv->priority = CLUTTER_ACTOR_META_PRIORITY_DEFAULT;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -263,13 +276,17 @@ void
 clutter_actor_meta_set_name (ClutterActorMeta *meta,
                              const gchar      *name)
 {
+  ClutterActorMetaPrivate *priv;
+
   g_return_if_fail (CLUTTER_IS_ACTOR_META (meta));
 
-  if (g_strcmp0 (meta->priv->name, name) == 0)
+  priv = clutter_actor_meta_get_instance_private (meta);
+
+  if (g_strcmp0 (priv->name, name) == 0)
     return;
 
-  g_free (meta->priv->name);
-  meta->priv->name = g_strdup (name);
+  g_free (priv->name);
+  priv->name = g_strdup (name);
 
   g_object_notify_by_pspec (G_OBJECT (meta), obj_props[PROP_NAME]);
 }
@@ -290,9 +307,13 @@ clutter_actor_meta_set_name (ClutterActorMeta *meta,
 const gchar *
 clutter_actor_meta_get_name (ClutterActorMeta *meta)
 {
+  ClutterActorMetaPrivate *priv;
+
   g_return_val_if_fail (CLUTTER_IS_ACTOR_META (meta), NULL);
 
-  return meta->priv->name;
+  priv = clutter_actor_meta_get_instance_private (meta);
+
+  return priv->name;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -308,11 +329,14 @@ void
 clutter_actor_meta_set_enabled (ClutterActorMeta *meta,
                                 gboolean          is_enabled)
 {
+  ClutterActorMetaPrivate *priv;
+
   g_return_if_fail (CLUTTER_IS_ACTOR_META (meta));
 
+  priv = clutter_actor_meta_get_instance_private (meta);
   is_enabled = !!is_enabled;
 
-  if (meta->priv->is_enabled == is_enabled)
+  if (priv->is_enabled == is_enabled)
     return;
 
   CLUTTER_ACTOR_META_GET_CLASS (meta)->set_enabled (meta, is_enabled);
@@ -331,9 +355,13 @@ clutter_actor_meta_set_enabled (ClutterActorMeta *meta,
 gboolean
 clutter_actor_meta_get_enabled (ClutterActorMeta *meta)
 {
+  ClutterActorMetaPrivate *priv;
+
   g_return_val_if_fail (CLUTTER_IS_ACTOR_META (meta), FALSE);
 
-  return meta->priv->is_enabled;
+  priv = clutter_actor_meta_get_instance_private (meta);
+
+  return priv->is_enabled;
 }
 
 /*
@@ -369,40 +397,54 @@ _clutter_actor_meta_set_actor (ClutterActorMeta *meta,
 ClutterActor *
 clutter_actor_meta_get_actor (ClutterActorMeta *meta)
 {
+  ClutterActorMetaPrivate *priv;
+
   g_return_val_if_fail (CLUTTER_IS_ACTOR_META (meta), NULL);
 
-  return meta->priv->actor;
+  priv = clutter_actor_meta_get_instance_private (meta);
+
+  return priv->actor;
 }
 
 void
 _clutter_actor_meta_set_priority (ClutterActorMeta *meta,
                                   gint priority)
 {
+  ClutterActorMetaPrivate *priv;
+
   g_return_if_fail (CLUTTER_IS_ACTOR_META (meta));
 
+  priv = clutter_actor_meta_get_instance_private (meta);
+
   /* This property shouldn't be modified after the actor meta is in
      use because ClutterMetaGroup doesn't resort the list when it
      changes. If we made the priority public then we could either make
      the priority a construct-only property or listen for
      notifications on the property from the ClutterMetaGroup and
      resort. */
-  g_return_if_fail (meta->priv->actor == NULL);
+  g_return_if_fail (priv->actor == NULL);
 
-  meta->priv->priority = priority;
+  priv->priority = priority;
 }
 
 gint
 _clutter_actor_meta_get_priority (ClutterActorMeta *meta)
 {
+  ClutterActorMetaPrivate *priv;
+
   g_return_val_if_fail (CLUTTER_IS_ACTOR_META (meta), 0);
 
-  return meta->priv->priority;
+  priv = clutter_actor_meta_get_instance_private (meta);
+
+  return priv->priority;
 }
 
 gboolean
 _clutter_actor_meta_is_internal (ClutterActorMeta *meta)
 {
-  gint priority = meta->priv->priority;
+  ClutterActorMetaPrivate *priv =
+    clutter_actor_meta_get_instance_private (meta);
+  gint priority = priv->priority;
 
   return (priority <= CLUTTER_ACTOR_META_PRIORITY_INTERNAL_LOW ||
           priority >= CLUTTER_ACTOR_META_PRIORITY_INTERNAL_HIGH);
@@ -449,19 +491,21 @@ void
 _clutter_meta_group_add_meta (ClutterMetaGroup *group,
                               ClutterActorMeta *meta)
 {
+  ClutterActorMetaPrivate *priv =
+    clutter_actor_meta_get_instance_private (meta);
   GList *prev = NULL, *l;
 
-  if (meta->priv->actor != NULL)
+  if (priv->actor != NULL)
     {
       g_warning ("The meta of type '%s' with name '%s' is "
                  "already attached to actor '%s'",
                  G_OBJECT_TYPE_NAME (meta),
-                 meta->priv->name != NULL
-                   ? meta->priv->name
+                 priv->name != NULL
+                   ? priv->name
                    : "<unknown>",
-                 clutter_actor_get_name (meta->priv->actor) != NULL
-                   ? clutter_actor_get_name (meta->priv->actor)
-                   : G_OBJECT_TYPE_NAME (meta->priv->actor));
+                 clutter_actor_get_name (priv->actor) != NULL
+                   ? clutter_actor_get_name (priv->actor)
+                   : G_OBJECT_TYPE_NAME (priv->actor));
       return;
     }
 
@@ -497,13 +541,16 @@ void
 _clutter_meta_group_remove_meta (ClutterMetaGroup *group,
                                  ClutterActorMeta *meta)
 {
-  if (meta->priv->actor != group->actor)
+  ClutterActorMetaPrivate *priv =
+    clutter_actor_meta_get_instance_private (meta);
+
+  if (priv->actor != group->actor)
     {
       g_warning ("The meta of type '%s' with name '%s' is not "
                  "attached to the actor '%s'",
                  G_OBJECT_TYPE_NAME (meta),
-                 meta->priv->name != NULL
-                   ? meta->priv->name
+                 priv->name != NULL
+                   ? priv->name
                    : "<unknown>",
                  clutter_actor_get_name (group->actor) != NULL
                    ? clutter_actor_get_name (group->actor)
@@ -646,8 +693,10 @@ _clutter_meta_group_get_meta (ClutterMetaGroup *group,
   for (l = group->meta; l != NULL; l = l->next)
     {
       ClutterActorMeta *meta = l->data;
+      ClutterActorMetaPrivate *priv =
+        clutter_actor_meta_get_instance_private (meta);
 
-      if (g_strcmp0 (meta->priv->name, name) == 0)
+      if (g_strcmp0 (priv->name, name) == 0)
         return meta;
     }
 
@@ -667,6 +716,8 @@ _clutter_meta_group_get_meta (ClutterMetaGroup *group,
 const gchar *
 _clutter_actor_meta_get_debug_name (ClutterActorMeta *meta)
 {
-  return meta->priv->name != NULL ? meta->priv->name
-                                  : G_OBJECT_TYPE_NAME (meta);
+  ClutterActorMetaPrivate *priv =
+    clutter_actor_meta_get_instance_private (meta);
+
+  return priv->name != NULL ? priv->name : G_OBJECT_TYPE_NAME (meta);
 }
diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-actor-meta.h b/clutter/clutter/clutter-actor-meta.h
index 27517fadf..ca337c90d 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-actor-meta.h
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-actor-meta.h
@@ -33,31 +33,13 @@
 
 G_BEGIN_DECLS
 
-#define CLUTTER_TYPE_ACTOR_META                 (clutter_actor_meta_get_type ())
-#define CLUTTER_ACTOR_META(obj)                 (G_TYPE_CHECK_INSTANCE_CAST ((obj), CLUTTER_TYPE_ACTOR_META, ClutterActorMeta))
-#define CLUTTER_IS_ACTOR_META(obj)              (G_TYPE_CHECK_INSTANCE_TYPE ((obj), CLUTTER_TYPE_ACTOR_META))
-#define CLUTTER_ACTOR_META_CLASS(klass)         (G_TYPE_CHECK_CLASS_CAST ((klass), CLUTTER_TYPE_ACTOR_META, ClutterActorMetaClass))
-#define CLUTTER_IS_ACTOR_META_CLASS(klass)      (G_TYPE_CHECK_CLASS_TYPE ((klass), CLUTTER_TYPE_ACTOR_META))
-#define CLUTTER_ACTOR_META_GET_CLASS(obj)       (G_TYPE_INSTANCE_GET_CLASS ((obj), CLUTTER_TYPE_ACTOR_META, ClutterActorMetaClass))
+#define CLUTTER_TYPE_ACTOR_META (clutter_actor_meta_get_type ())
 
-typedef struct _ClutterActorMetaPrivate         ClutterActorMetaPrivate;
-typedef struct _ClutterActorMetaClass           ClutterActorMetaClass;
+CLUTTER_EXPORT
+G_DECLARE_DERIVABLE_TYPE (ClutterActorMeta, clutter_actor_meta,
+                          CLUTTER, ACTOR_META, GInitiallyUnowned);
 
-/**
- * ClutterActorMeta:
- *
- * The #ClutterActorMeta structure contains only
- * private data and should be accessed using the provided API
- *
- * Since: 1.4
- */
-struct _ClutterActorMeta
-{
-  /*< private >*/
-  GInitiallyUnowned parent_instance;
-
-  ClutterActorMetaPrivate *priv;
-};
+typedef struct _ClutterActorMetaPrivate ClutterActorMetaPrivate;
 
 /**
  * ClutterActorMetaClass:
@@ -99,9 +81,6 @@ struct _ClutterActorMetaClass
   void (* _clutter_meta6) (void);
 };
 
-CLUTTER_EXPORT
-GType clutter_actor_meta_get_type (void) G_GNUC_CONST;
-
 CLUTTER_EXPORT
 void            clutter_actor_meta_set_name     (ClutterActorMeta *meta,
                                                  const gchar      *name);
diff --git a/clutter/clutter/clutter-autocleanups.h b/clutter/clutter/clutter-autocleanups.h
index ef50a9048..d3ecd345b 100644
--- a/clutter/clutter/clutter-autocleanups.h
+++ b/clutter/clutter/clutter-autocleanups.h
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@
 
 G_DEFINE_AUTOPTR_CLEANUP_FUNC (ClutterAction, g_object_unref)
 G_DEFINE_AUTOPTR_CLEANUP_FUNC (ClutterActor, g_object_unref)
-G_DEFINE_AUTOPTR_CLEANUP_FUNC (ClutterActorMeta, g_object_unref)
 G_DEFINE_AUTOPTR_CLEANUP_FUNC (ClutterAlignConstraint, g_object_unref)
 G_DEFINE_AUTOPTR_CLEANUP_FUNC (ClutterBackend, g_object_unref)
 G_DEFINE_AUTOPTR_CLEANUP_FUNC (ClutterBindConstraint, g_object_unref)