diff --git a/src/core/kcoreconfigskeleton.h b/src/core/kcoreconfigskeleton.h
--- a/src/core/kcoreconfigskeleton.h
+++ b/src/core/kcoreconfigskeleton.h
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@
  */
 class KCONFIGCORE_EXPORT KConfigSkeletonItem
 {
+    Q_DECLARE_PRIVATE(KConfigSkeletonItem)
 public:
     typedef QList < KConfigSkeletonItem * >List;
     typedef QHash < QString, KConfigSkeletonItem * > Dict;
@@ -226,6 +227,8 @@
     bool isSaveNeeded() const;
 
 protected:
+    explicit KConfigSkeletonItem(KConfigSkeletonItemPrivate &dd, const QString &_group, const QString &_key);
+
     /**
      * sets mIsImmutable to true if mKey in config is immutable
      * @param group KConfigGroup to check if mKey is immutable in
@@ -241,8 +244,7 @@
     void setIsDefaultImpl(const std::function<bool()> &impl);
     void setIsSaveNeededImpl(const std::function<bool()> &impl);
 
-private:
-    KConfigSkeletonItemPrivate *const d;
+    KConfigSkeletonItemPrivate *const d_ptr;
 };
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/core/kcoreconfigskeleton.cpp b/src/core/kcoreconfigskeleton.cpp
--- a/src/core/kcoreconfigskeleton.cpp
+++ b/src/core/kcoreconfigskeleton.cpp
@@ -37,17 +37,26 @@
     return result;
 }
 
+KConfigSkeletonItemPrivate::~KConfigSkeletonItemPrivate() = default;
+
 KConfigSkeletonItem::KConfigSkeletonItem(const QString &_group,
         const QString &_key)
     : mGroup(_group)
     , mKey(_key)
-    , d(new KConfigSkeletonItemPrivate)
+    , d_ptr(new KConfigSkeletonItemPrivate)
+{
+}
+
+KConfigSkeletonItem::KConfigSkeletonItem(KConfigSkeletonItemPrivate &dd, const QString &_group, const QString &_key)
+    : mGroup(_group)
+    , mKey(_key)
+    , d_ptr(&dd)
 {
 }
 
 KConfigSkeletonItem::~KConfigSkeletonItem()
 {
-    delete d;
+    delete d_ptr;
 }
 
 void KConfigSkeletonItem::setGroup(const QString &_group)
@@ -82,41 +91,49 @@
 
 void KConfigSkeletonItem::setLabel(const QString &l)
 {
+    Q_D(KConfigSkeletonItem);
     d->mLabel = l;
 }
 
 QString KConfigSkeletonItem::label() const
 {
+    Q_D(const KConfigSkeletonItem);
     return d->mLabel;
 }
 
 void KConfigSkeletonItem::setToolTip(const QString &t)
 {
+    Q_D(KConfigSkeletonItem);
     d->mToolTip = t;
 }
 
 QString KConfigSkeletonItem::toolTip() const
 {
+    Q_D(const KConfigSkeletonItem);
     return d->mToolTip;
 }
 
 void KConfigSkeletonItem::setWhatsThis(const QString &w)
 {
+    Q_D(KConfigSkeletonItem);
     d->mWhatsThis = w;
 }
 
 QString KConfigSkeletonItem::whatsThis() const
 {
+    Q_D(const KConfigSkeletonItem);
     return d->mWhatsThis;
 }
 
 void KConfigSkeletonItem::setWriteFlags(KConfigBase::WriteConfigFlags flags)
 {
+    Q_D(KConfigSkeletonItem);
     d->mWriteFlags = flags;
 }
 
 KConfigBase::WriteConfigFlags KConfigSkeletonItem::writeFlags() const
 {
+    Q_D(const KConfigSkeletonItem);
     return d->mWriteFlags;
 }
 
@@ -132,31 +149,37 @@
 
 bool KConfigSkeletonItem::isImmutable() const
 {
+    Q_D(const KConfigSkeletonItem);
     return d->mIsImmutable;
 }
 
 bool KConfigSkeletonItem::isDefault() const
 {
+    Q_D(const KConfigSkeletonItem);
     return d->mIsDefaultImpl();
 }
 
 bool KConfigSkeletonItem::isSaveNeeded() const
 {
+    Q_D(const KConfigSkeletonItem);
     return d->mIsSaveNeededImpl();
 }
 
 void KConfigSkeletonItem::readImmutability(const KConfigGroup &group)
 {
+    Q_D(KConfigSkeletonItem);
     d->mIsImmutable = group.isEntryImmutable(mKey);
 }
 
 void KConfigSkeletonItem::setIsDefaultImpl(const std::function<bool ()> &impl)
 {
+    Q_D(KConfigSkeletonItem);
     d->mIsDefaultImpl = impl;
 }
 
 void KConfigSkeletonItem::setIsSaveNeededImpl(const std::function<bool ()> &impl)
 {
+    Q_D(KConfigSkeletonItem);
     d->mIsSaveNeededImpl = impl;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/core/kcoreconfigskeleton_p.h b/src/core/kcoreconfigskeleton_p.h
--- a/src/core/kcoreconfigskeleton_p.h
+++ b/src/core/kcoreconfigskeleton_p.h
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@
         : mIsImmutable(true)
         , mWriteFlags(KConfigBase::Normal)
     {}
+    virtual ~KConfigSkeletonItemPrivate();
     bool mIsImmutable; ///< Indicates this item is immutable
     KConfigBase::WriteConfigFlags mWriteFlags; ///< The flags to pass to calls of writeEntry() and revertToDefault()