diff --git a/src/Widgets/TerminalWidget.vala b/src/Widgets/TerminalWidget.vala
index 2c89eeb232..66216f516f 100644
--- a/src/Widgets/TerminalWidget.vala
+++ b/src/Widgets/TerminalWidget.vala
@@ -35,7 +35,8 @@ namespace Terminal {
 
         GLib.Pid child_pid;
 
-        public unowned MainWindow main_window;
+        public unowned MainWindow main_window { get; construct; }
+
         private Terminal.Application app {
             get {
                 return main_window.app;