diff --git a/qutebrowser/browser/webengine/webenginesettings.py b/qutebrowser/browser/webengine/webenginesettings.py
index d0841c11b..58cd85520 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/browser/webengine/webenginesettings.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/browser/webengine/webenginesettings.py
@@ -36,23 +36,23 @@ from qutebrowser.utils import objreg, utils
 
 class Attribute(websettings.Attribute):
 
-    GLOBAL_SETTINGS = QWebEngineSettings.globalSettings()
+    GLOBAL_SETTINGS = QWebEngineSettings.globalSettings
     ENUM_BASE = QWebEngineSettings
 
 
 class Setter(websettings.Setter):
 
-    GLOBAL_SETTINGS = QWebEngineSettings.globalSettings()
+    GLOBAL_SETTINGS = QWebEngineSettings.globalSettings
 
 
 class NullStringSetter(websettings.NullStringSetter):
 
-    GLOBAL_SETTINGS = QWebEngineSettings.globalSettings()
+    GLOBAL_SETTINGS = QWebEngineSettings.globalSettings
 
 
 class StaticSetter(websettings.StaticSetter):
 
-    GLOBAL_SETTINGS = QWebEngineSettings.globalSettings()
+    GLOBAL_SETTINGS = QWebEngineSettings.globalSettings
 
 
 def update_settings(section, option):
diff --git a/qutebrowser/browser/webkit/webkitsettings.py b/qutebrowser/browser/webkit/webkitsettings.py
index 7d29453cf..0e8170231 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/browser/webkit/webkitsettings.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/browser/webkit/webkitsettings.py
@@ -34,23 +34,23 @@ from qutebrowser.utils import standarddir, objreg
 
 class Attribute(websettings.Attribute):
 
-    GLOBAL_SETTINGS = QWebSettings.globalSettings()
+    GLOBAL_SETTINGS = QWebSettings.globalSettings
     ENUM_BASE = QWebSettings
 
 
 class Setter(websettings.Setter):
 
-    GLOBAL_SETTINGS = QWebSettings.globalSettings()
+    GLOBAL_SETTINGS = QWebSettings.globalSettings
 
 
 class NullStringSetter(websettings.NullStringSetter):
 
-    GLOBAL_SETTINGS = QWebSettings.globalSettings()
+    GLOBAL_SETTINGS = QWebSettings.globalSettings
 
 
 class StaticSetter(websettings.StaticSetter):
 
-    GLOBAL_SETTINGS = QWebSettings.globalSettings()
+    GLOBAL_SETTINGS = QWebSettings.globalSettings
 
 
 class CookiePolicy(websettings.Base):
diff --git a/qutebrowser/config/websettings.py b/qutebrowser/config/websettings.py
index d266e7ae5..7093479a2 100644
--- a/qutebrowser/config/websettings.py
+++ b/qutebrowser/config/websettings.py
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ class Base:
                       the global instance.
         """
         if settings is None:
-            return self.GLOBAL_SETTINGS
+            return self.GLOBAL_SETTINGS()
         else:
             return settings