diff --git a/src/lib/elementary/elm_widget.c b/src/lib/elementary/elm_widget.c
index d1ede03ff3..b4e5a48ea6 100644
--- a/src/lib/elementary/elm_widget.c
+++ b/src/lib/elementary/elm_widget.c
@@ -1850,15 +1850,23 @@ elm_widget_can_focus_child_list_get(const Eo *obj)
    return child_list;
 }
 
-EOLIAN static void
-_elm_widget_highlight_ignore_set(Eo *obj EINA_UNUSED, Elm_Widget_Smart_Data *sd, Eina_Bool ignore)
+/** @internal */
+EAPI void
+elm_widget_highlight_ignore_set(Eo *obj, Eina_Bool ignore)
 {
+   Elm_Widget_Smart_Data *sd = efl_data_scope_safe_get(obj, MY_CLASS);
+   if (!sd) return;
+
    sd->highlight_ignore = !!ignore;
 }
 
-EOLIAN static Eina_Bool
-_elm_widget_highlight_ignore_get(Eo *obj EINA_UNUSED, Elm_Widget_Smart_Data *sd)
+/** @internal */
+EAPI Eina_Bool
+elm_widget_highlight_ignore_get(const Eo *obj)
 {
+   Elm_Widget_Smart_Data *sd = efl_data_scope_safe_get(obj, MY_CLASS);
+   if (!sd) return EINA_FALSE;
+
    return sd->highlight_ignore;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/lib/elementary/elm_widget.eo b/src/lib/elementary/elm_widget.eo
index 209fe2dbbe..958b7e2fb1 100644
--- a/src/lib/elementary/elm_widget.eo
+++ b/src/lib/elementary/elm_widget.eo
@@ -223,12 +223,6 @@ abstract Elm.Widget (Efl.Canvas.Group, Elm.Interface.Atspi_Accessible,
             th: ptr(Elm.Theme) @nullable; [[Elementary theme]]
          }
       }
-      @property highlight_ignore {
-         [[Highlight ignore]]
-         values {
-            ignore: bool; [[$true if highlights are ignored, $false otherwise]]
-         }
-      }
       @property theme_object @beta {
       	 [[Theme object property]]
          set {