diff --git a/dix/property_list.c b/dix/property_list.c
index f96ddf3b3..1a0d24201 100644
--- a/dix/property_list.c
+++ b/dix/property_list.c
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ PropertyPtr dixPropertyCreate(Atom type, Atom name, int format, size_t len,
     pProp->value.format = format;
     pProp->value.size = len;
     pProp->value.type = type;
+    pProp->deletable = TRUE;
 
     return pProp;
 }
diff --git a/include/propertyst.h b/include/propertyst.h
index 31cc4b140..d3fa7aa11 100644
--- a/include/propertyst.h
+++ b/include/propertyst.h
@@ -61,6 +61,7 @@ typedef struct _Property {
     ATOM propertyName;
     PropertyValueRec value;
     PrivateRec *devPrivates;
+    Bool deletable;
 } PropertyRec;
 
 #endif                          /* PROPERTYSTRUCT_H */