diff --git a/Source/cmCustomCommandGenerator.cxx b/Source/cmCustomCommandGenerator.cxx
index 11308c682..f654eb9e4 100644
--- a/Source/cmCustomCommandGenerator.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmCustomCommandGenerator.cxx
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ cmCustomCommandGenerator::cmCustomCommandGenerator(
   cmCustomCommand const& cc, const std::string& config, cmMakefile* mf):
   CC(cc), Config(config), Makefile(mf),
   OldStyle(cc.GetEscapeOldStyle()), MakeVars(cc.GetEscapeAllowMakeVars()),
-  GE(new cmGeneratorExpression(&cc.GetBacktrace())), DependsDone(false)
+  GE(new cmGeneratorExpression(cc.GetBacktrace())), DependsDone(false)
 {
 }
 
diff --git a/Source/cmFileCommand.cxx b/Source/cmFileCommand.cxx
index f740020b2..3d84f3827 100644
--- a/Source/cmFileCommand.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmFileCommand.cxx
@@ -3565,11 +3565,11 @@ void cmFileCommand::AddEvaluationFile(const std::string &inputName,
 {
   cmListFileBacktrace lfbt = this->Makefile->GetBacktrace();
 
-  cmGeneratorExpression outputGe(&lfbt);
+  cmGeneratorExpression outputGe(lfbt);
   cmsys::auto_ptr<cmCompiledGeneratorExpression> outputCge
                                                 = outputGe.Parse(outputExpr);
 
-  cmGeneratorExpression conditionGe(&lfbt);
+  cmGeneratorExpression conditionGe(lfbt);
   cmsys::auto_ptr<cmCompiledGeneratorExpression> conditionCge
                                               = conditionGe.Parse(condition);
 
diff --git a/Source/cmGeneratorExpression.cxx b/Source/cmGeneratorExpression.cxx
index 3655a8782..80a4f8179 100644
--- a/Source/cmGeneratorExpression.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmGeneratorExpression.cxx
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@
 
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 cmGeneratorExpression::cmGeneratorExpression(
-  cmListFileBacktrace const* backtrace):
+    const cmListFileBacktrace& backtrace):
   Backtrace(backtrace)
 {
 }
@@ -33,9 +33,7 @@ cmsys::auto_ptr<cmCompiledGeneratorExpression>
 cmGeneratorExpression::Parse(std::string const& input)
 {
   return cmsys::auto_ptr<cmCompiledGeneratorExpression>(
-    new cmCompiledGeneratorExpression(
-      this->Backtrace ? *this->Backtrace : cmListFileBacktrace(),
-      input));
+    new cmCompiledGeneratorExpression(this->Backtrace, input));
 }
 
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/Source/cmGeneratorExpression.h b/Source/cmGeneratorExpression.h
index 11c27fdcf..cd19bc014 100644
--- a/Source/cmGeneratorExpression.h
+++ b/Source/cmGeneratorExpression.h
@@ -42,7 +42,8 @@ class cmGeneratorExpression
 {
 public:
   /** Construct. */
-  cmGeneratorExpression(cmListFileBacktrace const* backtrace = NULL);
+  cmGeneratorExpression(
+      cmListFileBacktrace const& backtrace = cmListFileBacktrace());
   ~cmGeneratorExpression();
 
   cmsys::auto_ptr<cmCompiledGeneratorExpression> Parse(
@@ -71,7 +72,7 @@ private:
   cmGeneratorExpression(const cmGeneratorExpression &);
   void operator=(const cmGeneratorExpression &);
 
-  cmListFileBacktrace const* Backtrace;
+  cmListFileBacktrace Backtrace;
 };
 
 class cmCompiledGeneratorExpression
diff --git a/Source/cmGeneratorExpressionEvaluationFile.cxx b/Source/cmGeneratorExpressionEvaluationFile.cxx
index c7269954b..92ff314b8 100644
--- a/Source/cmGeneratorExpressionEvaluationFile.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmGeneratorExpressionEvaluationFile.cxx
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ void cmGeneratorExpressionEvaluationFile::Generate()
     }
 
   cmListFileBacktrace lfbt = this->OutputFileExpr->GetBacktrace();
-  cmGeneratorExpression contentGE(&lfbt);
+  cmGeneratorExpression contentGE(lfbt);
   cmsys::auto_ptr<cmCompiledGeneratorExpression> inputExpression
                                               = contentGE.Parse(inputContent);
 
diff --git a/Source/cmGeneratorExpressionNode.cxx b/Source/cmGeneratorExpressionNode.cxx
index 293eb415d..90c82c263 100644
--- a/Source/cmGeneratorExpressionNode.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmGeneratorExpressionNode.cxx
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ std::string cmGeneratorExpressionNode::EvaluateDependentExpression(
     cmTarget const* headTarget, cmTarget const* currentTarget,
     cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker *dagChecker)
 {
-  cmGeneratorExpression ge(&context->Backtrace);
+  cmGeneratorExpression ge(context->Backtrace);
   cmsys::auto_ptr<cmCompiledGeneratorExpression> cge = ge.Parse(prop);
   cge->SetEvaluateForBuildsystem(context->EvaluateForBuildsystem);
   std::string result = cge->Evaluate(makefile,
diff --git a/Source/cmGeneratorTarget.cxx b/Source/cmGeneratorTarget.cxx
index 449455306..e6f7a43df 100644
--- a/Source/cmGeneratorTarget.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmGeneratorTarget.cxx
@@ -878,7 +878,7 @@ cmTargetTraceDependencies
 {
   // Transform command names that reference targets built in this
   // project to corresponding target-level dependencies.
-  cmGeneratorExpression ge(&cc.GetBacktrace());
+  cmGeneratorExpression ge(cc.GetBacktrace());
 
   // Add target-level dependencies referenced by generator expressions.
   std::set<cmTarget*> targets;
diff --git a/Source/cmInstalledFile.cxx b/Source/cmInstalledFile.cxx
index 8c52b488c..fa5e81528 100644
--- a/Source/cmInstalledFile.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmInstalledFile.cxx
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ cmInstalledFile::Property::~Property()
 void cmInstalledFile::SetName(cmMakefile* mf, const std::string& name)
 {
   cmListFileBacktrace backtrace = mf->GetBacktrace();
-  cmGeneratorExpression ge(&backtrace);
+  cmGeneratorExpression ge(backtrace);
 
   this->Name = name;
   this->NameExpression = ge.Parse(name).release();
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ void cmInstalledFile::AppendProperty(cmMakefile const* mf,
   const std::string& prop, const char* value, bool /*asString*/)
 {
   cmListFileBacktrace backtrace = mf->GetBacktrace();
-  cmGeneratorExpression ge(&backtrace);
+  cmGeneratorExpression ge(backtrace);
 
   Property& property = this->Properties[prop];
   property.ValueExpressions.push_back(ge.Parse(value).release());
diff --git a/Source/cmTarget.cxx b/Source/cmTarget.cxx
index 0303f1e4b..46e9ed4a1 100644
--- a/Source/cmTarget.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmTarget.cxx
@@ -916,7 +916,7 @@ void cmTarget::AddTracedSources(std::vector<std::string> const& srcs)
     this->Internal->SourceFilesMap.clear();
     this->LinkImplementationLanguageIsContextDependent = true;
     cmListFileBacktrace lfbt = this->Makefile->GetBacktrace();
-    cmGeneratorExpression ge(&lfbt);
+    cmGeneratorExpression ge(lfbt);
     cmsys::auto_ptr<cmCompiledGeneratorExpression> cge = ge.Parse(srcFiles);
     cge->SetEvaluateForBuildsystem(true);
     this->Internal->SourceEntries.push_back(
@@ -956,7 +956,7 @@ void cmTarget::AddSources(std::vector<std::string> const& srcs)
     this->Internal->SourceFilesMap.clear();
     this->LinkImplementationLanguageIsContextDependent = true;
     cmListFileBacktrace lfbt = this->Makefile->GetBacktrace();
-    cmGeneratorExpression ge(&lfbt);
+    cmGeneratorExpression ge(lfbt);
     cmsys::auto_ptr<cmCompiledGeneratorExpression> cge = ge.Parse(srcFiles);
     cge->SetEvaluateForBuildsystem(true);
     this->Internal->SourceEntries.push_back(
@@ -1089,7 +1089,7 @@ cmSourceFile* cmTarget::AddSource(const std::string& src)
     this->Internal->SourceFilesMap.clear();
     this->LinkImplementationLanguageIsContextDependent = true;
     cmListFileBacktrace lfbt = this->Makefile->GetBacktrace();
-    cmGeneratorExpression ge(&lfbt);
+    cmGeneratorExpression ge(lfbt);
     cmsys::auto_ptr<cmCompiledGeneratorExpression> cge = ge.Parse(src);
     cge->SetEvaluateForBuildsystem(true);
     this->Internal->SourceEntries.push_back(
@@ -1710,7 +1710,7 @@ void cmTarget::SetProperty(const std::string& prop, const char* value)
   else if(prop == "INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES")
     {
     cmListFileBacktrace lfbt = this->Makefile->GetBacktrace();
-    cmGeneratorExpression ge(&lfbt);
+    cmGeneratorExpression ge(lfbt);
     deleteAndClear(this->Internal->IncludeDirectoriesEntries);
     cmsys::auto_ptr<cmCompiledGeneratorExpression> cge = ge.Parse(value);
     this->Internal->IncludeDirectoriesEntries.push_back(
@@ -1719,7 +1719,7 @@ void cmTarget::SetProperty(const std::string& prop, const char* value)
   else if(prop == "COMPILE_OPTIONS")
     {
     cmListFileBacktrace lfbt = this->Makefile->GetBacktrace();
-    cmGeneratorExpression ge(&lfbt);
+    cmGeneratorExpression ge(lfbt);
     deleteAndClear(this->Internal->CompileOptionsEntries);
     cmsys::auto_ptr<cmCompiledGeneratorExpression> cge = ge.Parse(value);
     this->Internal->CompileOptionsEntries.push_back(
@@ -1728,7 +1728,7 @@ void cmTarget::SetProperty(const std::string& prop, const char* value)
   else if(prop == "COMPILE_FEATURES")
     {
     cmListFileBacktrace lfbt = this->Makefile->GetBacktrace();
-    cmGeneratorExpression ge(&lfbt);
+    cmGeneratorExpression ge(lfbt);
     deleteAndClear(this->Internal->CompileFeaturesEntries);
     cmsys::auto_ptr<cmCompiledGeneratorExpression> cge = ge.Parse(value);
     this->Internal->CompileFeaturesEntries.push_back(
@@ -1737,7 +1737,7 @@ void cmTarget::SetProperty(const std::string& prop, const char* value)
   else if(prop == "COMPILE_DEFINITIONS")
     {
     cmListFileBacktrace lfbt = this->Makefile->GetBacktrace();
-    cmGeneratorExpression ge(&lfbt);
+    cmGeneratorExpression ge(lfbt);
     deleteAndClear(this->Internal->CompileDefinitionsEntries);
     cmsys::auto_ptr<cmCompiledGeneratorExpression> cge = ge.Parse(value);
     this->Internal->CompileDefinitionsEntries.push_back(
@@ -1772,7 +1772,7 @@ void cmTarget::SetProperty(const std::string& prop, const char* value)
       }
     this->Internal->SourceFilesMap.clear();
     cmListFileBacktrace lfbt = this->Makefile->GetBacktrace();
-    cmGeneratorExpression ge(&lfbt);
+    cmGeneratorExpression ge(lfbt);
     this->Internal->SourceEntries.clear();
     cmsys::auto_ptr<cmCompiledGeneratorExpression> cge = ge.Parse(value);
     this->Internal->SourceEntries.push_back(
@@ -1808,28 +1808,28 @@ void cmTarget::AppendProperty(const std::string& prop, const char* value,
   else if(prop == "INCLUDE_DIRECTORIES")
     {
     cmListFileBacktrace lfbt = this->Makefile->GetBacktrace();
-    cmGeneratorExpression ge(&lfbt);
+    cmGeneratorExpression ge(lfbt);
     this->Internal->IncludeDirectoriesEntries.push_back(
               new cmTargetInternals::TargetPropertyEntry(ge.Parse(value)));
     }
   else if(prop == "COMPILE_OPTIONS")
     {
     cmListFileBacktrace lfbt = this->Makefile->GetBacktrace();
-    cmGeneratorExpression ge(&lfbt);
+    cmGeneratorExpression ge(lfbt);
     this->Internal->CompileOptionsEntries.push_back(
               new cmTargetInternals::TargetPropertyEntry(ge.Parse(value)));
     }
   else if(prop == "COMPILE_FEATURES")
     {
     cmListFileBacktrace lfbt = this->Makefile->GetBacktrace();
-    cmGeneratorExpression ge(&lfbt);
+    cmGeneratorExpression ge(lfbt);
     this->Internal->CompileFeaturesEntries.push_back(
               new cmTargetInternals::TargetPropertyEntry(ge.Parse(value)));
     }
   else if(prop == "COMPILE_DEFINITIONS")
     {
     cmListFileBacktrace lfbt = this->Makefile->GetBacktrace();
-    cmGeneratorExpression ge(&lfbt);
+    cmGeneratorExpression ge(lfbt);
     this->Internal->CompileDefinitionsEntries.push_back(
               new cmTargetInternals::TargetPropertyEntry(ge.Parse(value)));
     }
@@ -1861,7 +1861,7 @@ void cmTarget::AppendProperty(const std::string& prop, const char* value,
       }
       this->Internal->SourceFilesMap.clear();
       cmListFileBacktrace lfbt = this->Makefile->GetBacktrace();
-      cmGeneratorExpression ge(&lfbt);
+      cmGeneratorExpression ge(lfbt);
       cmsys::auto_ptr<cmCompiledGeneratorExpression> cge = ge.Parse(value);
       this->Internal->SourceEntries.push_back(
                             new cmTargetInternals::TargetPropertyEntry(cge));
@@ -1929,7 +1929,7 @@ void cmTarget::AppendBuildInterfaceIncludes()
 void cmTarget::InsertInclude(const cmValueWithOrigin &entry,
                      bool before)
 {
-  cmGeneratorExpression ge(&entry.Backtrace);
+  cmGeneratorExpression ge(entry.Backtrace);
 
   std::vector<cmTargetInternals::TargetPropertyEntry*>::iterator position
                 = before ? this->Internal->IncludeDirectoriesEntries.begin()
@@ -1943,7 +1943,7 @@ void cmTarget::InsertInclude(const cmValueWithOrigin &entry,
 void cmTarget::InsertCompileOption(const cmValueWithOrigin &entry,
                      bool before)
 {
-  cmGeneratorExpression ge(&entry.Backtrace);
+  cmGeneratorExpression ge(entry.Backtrace);
 
   std::vector<cmTargetInternals::TargetPropertyEntry*>::iterator position
                 = before ? this->Internal->CompileOptionsEntries.begin()
@@ -1956,7 +1956,7 @@ void cmTarget::InsertCompileOption(const cmValueWithOrigin &entry,
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 void cmTarget::InsertCompileDefinition(const cmValueWithOrigin &entry)
 {
-  cmGeneratorExpression ge(&entry.Backtrace);
+  cmGeneratorExpression ge(entry.Backtrace);
 
   this->Internal->CompileDefinitionsEntries.push_back(
       new cmTargetInternals::TargetPropertyEntry(ge.Parse(entry.Value)));
@@ -6162,7 +6162,7 @@ void cmTargetInternals::AddInterfaceEntries(
         {
         std::string genex =
           "$<TARGET_PROPERTY:" + *it + "," + prop + ">";
-        cmGeneratorExpression ge(&it->Backtrace);
+        cmGeneratorExpression ge(it->Backtrace);
         cmsys::auto_ptr<cmCompiledGeneratorExpression> cge = ge.Parse(genex);
         cge->SetEvaluateForBuildsystem(true);
         entries.push_back(
@@ -6258,7 +6258,7 @@ cmTargetInternals::ComputeLinkImplementationLibraries(
     cmGeneratorExpressionDAGChecker dagChecker(
                                         thisTarget->GetName(),
                                         "LINK_LIBRARIES", 0, 0);
-    cmGeneratorExpression ge(&le->Backtrace);
+    cmGeneratorExpression ge(le->Backtrace);
     cmsys::auto_ptr<cmCompiledGeneratorExpression> const cge =
       ge.Parse(le->Value);
     std::string const evaluated =
diff --git a/Source/cmTestGenerator.cxx b/Source/cmTestGenerator.cxx
index 546ad71b8..65d3b6ac2 100644
--- a/Source/cmTestGenerator.cxx
+++ b/Source/cmTestGenerator.cxx
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ void cmTestGenerator::GenerateScriptForConfig(std::ostream& os,
   this->TestGenerated = true;
 
   // Set up generator expression evaluation context.
-  cmGeneratorExpression ge(&this->Test->GetBacktrace());
+  cmGeneratorExpression ge(this->Test->GetBacktrace());
 
   // Start the test command.
   os << indent << "add_test(" << this->Test->GetName() << " ";