diff --git a/arangod/RestServer/DatabaseFeature.cpp b/arangod/RestServer/DatabaseFeature.cpp
index 990c58b4e0..d2fb04e0d4 100644
--- a/arangod/RestServer/DatabaseFeature.cpp
+++ b/arangod/RestServer/DatabaseFeature.cpp
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ void DatabaseManagerThread::run() {
         // remove apps directory for database
         auto appPath = dealer->appPath();
 
-        if (database->_isOwnAppsDirectory && !appPath.empty()) {
+        if (database->isOwnAppsDirectory() && !appPath.empty()) {
           path = arangodb::basics::FileUtils::buildFilename(
               arangodb::basics::FileUtils::buildFilename(appPath, "_db"),
               database->name());
@@ -687,7 +687,7 @@ int DatabaseFeature::dropDatabase(std::string const& name, bool writeMarker, boo
     _databasesProtector.scan();
     delete oldLists;
 
-    vocbase->_isOwnAppsDirectory = removeAppsDirectory;
+    vocbase->isOwnAppsDirectory(removeAppsDirectory);
 
     // invalidate all entries for the database
     arangodb::aql::QueryCache::instance()->invalidate(vocbase);
diff --git a/arangod/VocBase/vocbase.cpp b/arangod/VocBase/vocbase.cpp
index 78e997a9f4..cf76d50077 100644
--- a/arangod/VocBase/vocbase.cpp
+++ b/arangod/VocBase/vocbase.cpp
@@ -1530,10 +1530,11 @@ TRI_vocbase_t::TRI_vocbase_t(TRI_vocbase_type_e type, TRI_voc_tick_t id,
       _name(name),
       _type(type),
       _refCount(0),
+      _isOwnAppsDirectory(true),
       _deadlockDetector(false),
       _userStructures(nullptr),
-      _hasCompactor(false),
-      _isOwnAppsDirectory(true) {
+      _hasCompactor(false) {
+
   _queries.reset(new arangodb::aql::QueryList(this));
   _cursorRepository.reset(new arangodb::CursorRepository(this));
   _collectionKeys.reset(new arangodb::CollectionKeysRepository());
diff --git a/arangod/VocBase/vocbase.h b/arangod/VocBase/vocbase.h
index dbad4a22f2..ea39aa3f46 100644
--- a/arangod/VocBase/vocbase.h
+++ b/arangod/VocBase/vocbase.h
@@ -177,10 +177,8 @@ struct TRI_vocbase_t {
   std::string _name;         // database name
   TRI_vocbase_type_e _type;  // type (normal or coordinator)
   std::atomic<uint64_t> _refCount;
- public:
-  arangodb::basics::DeadlockDetector<TRI_collection_t>
-      _deadlockDetector;
- private:
+  bool _isOwnAppsDirectory;
+  
   arangodb::basics::ReadWriteLock _collectionsLock;  // collection iterator lock
   std::vector<TRI_vocbase_col_t*> _collections;  // pointers to ALL collections
   std::vector<TRI_vocbase_col_t*> _deadCollections;  // pointers to collections
@@ -189,20 +187,22 @@ struct TRI_vocbase_t {
  
   std::unordered_map<std::string, TRI_vocbase_col_t*> _collectionsByName;  // collections by name
   std::unordered_map<TRI_voc_cid_t, TRI_vocbase_col_t*> _collectionsById;    // collections by id
+  
+  std::unique_ptr<arangodb::aql::QueryList> _queries;
+  std::unique_ptr<arangodb::CursorRepository> _cursorRepository;
+  std::unique_ptr<arangodb::CollectionKeysRepository> _collectionKeys;
+
  public:
+  arangodb::basics::DeadlockDetector<TRI_collection_t>
+      _deadlockDetector;
   arangodb::basics::ReadWriteLock _inventoryLock;  // object lock needed when
                                                    // replication is assessing
                                                    // the state of the vocbase
 
   // structures for user-defined volatile data
   void* _userStructures;
- private:
-  std::unique_ptr<arangodb::aql::QueryList> _queries;
-  std::unique_ptr<arangodb::CursorRepository> _cursorRepository;
-  std::unique_ptr<arangodb::CollectionKeysRepository> _collectionKeys;
  public:
   bool _hasCompactor;
-  bool _isOwnAppsDirectory;
 
   std::unique_ptr<TRI_replication_applier_t> _replicationApplier;
 
@@ -245,6 +245,9 @@ struct TRI_vocbase_t {
   arangodb::CursorRepository* cursorRepository() const { return _cursorRepository.get(); }
   arangodb::CollectionKeysRepository* collectionKeys() const { return _collectionKeys.get(); }
 
+  bool isOwnAppsDirectory() const { return _isOwnAppsDirectory; }
+  void isOwnAppsDirectory(bool value) { _isOwnAppsDirectory = value; }
+
   /// @brief whether or not the vocbase has been marked as deleted
   inline bool isDropped() const {
     auto refCount = _refCount.load();