diff --git a/src/virt-viewer-app.c b/src/virt-viewer-app.c
index e4ffe4e..4a61d48 100644
--- a/src/virt-viewer-app.c
+++ b/src/virt-viewer-app.c
@@ -1476,7 +1476,7 @@ virt_viewer_app_set_property (GObject *object, guint property_id,
         break;
 
     case PROP_ENABLE_ACCEL:
-        priv->enable_accel = g_value_get_boolean(value);
+        virt_viewer_app_set_enable_accel(self, g_value_get_boolean(value));
         break;
 
     case PROP_KIOSK:
@@ -1839,6 +1839,13 @@ virt_viewer_app_clear_hotkeys(VirtViewerApp *self)
     virt_viewer_set_remove_smartcard_accel(self, 0, 0);
 }
 
+void
+virt_viewer_app_set_enable_accel(VirtViewerApp *self, gboolean enable)
+{
+    self->priv->enable_accel = enable;
+    g_object_notify(G_OBJECT(self), "enable-accel");
+}
+
 void
 virt_viewer_app_set_hotkeys(VirtViewerApp *self, const gchar *hotkeys_str)
 {
@@ -1851,12 +1858,12 @@ virt_viewer_app_set_hotkeys(VirtViewerApp *self, const gchar *hotkeys_str)
 
     if (!hotkeys || g_strv_length(hotkeys) == 0) {
         g_strfreev(hotkeys);
-        g_object_set(self, "enable-accel", FALSE, NULL);
+        virt_viewer_app_set_enable_accel(self, FALSE);
         return;
     }
 
     virt_viewer_app_clear_hotkeys(self);
-    g_object_set(self, "enable-accel", TRUE, NULL);
+    virt_viewer_app_set_enable_accel(self, TRUE);
 
     for (hotkey = hotkeys; *hotkey != NULL; hotkey++) {
         gchar *key = strstr(*hotkey, "=");
diff --git a/src/virt-viewer-app.h b/src/virt-viewer-app.h
index 3ee1f0a..7c77957 100644
--- a/src/virt-viewer-app.h
+++ b/src/virt-viewer-app.h
@@ -102,6 +102,7 @@ void virt_viewer_app_clear_hotkeys(VirtViewerApp *app);
 gint virt_viewer_app_get_n_initial_displays(VirtViewerApp* self);
 gint virt_viewer_app_get_initial_monitor_for_display(VirtViewerApp* self, gint display);
 void virt_viewer_app_set_uuid_string(VirtViewerApp* self, const gchar* uuid_string);
+void virt_viewer_app_set_enable_accel(VirtViewerApp *app, gboolean enable);
 
 G_END_DECLS
 
diff --git a/src/virt-viewer-file.c b/src/virt-viewer-file.c
index 238ffea..639d96e 100644
--- a/src/virt-viewer-file.c
+++ b/src/virt-viewer-file.c
@@ -636,7 +636,6 @@ virt_viewer_file_fill_app(VirtViewerFile* self, VirtViewerApp *app, GError **err
 
 
     virt_viewer_app_clear_hotkeys(app);
-    g_object_set(G_OBJECT(app), "enable-accel", TRUE, NULL);
 
     {
         gchar *val;
@@ -661,6 +660,8 @@ virt_viewer_file_fill_app(VirtViewerFile* self, VirtViewerApp *app, GError **err
         }
     }
 
+    virt_viewer_app_set_enable_accel(app, TRUE);
+
     if (virt_viewer_file_is_set(self, "fullscreen"))
         g_object_set(G_OBJECT(app), "fullscreen",
             virt_viewer_file_get_fullscreen(self), NULL);