diff --git a/lisp/org-macs.el b/lisp/org-macs.el
index 1552675f8..642a58403 100644
--- a/lisp/org-macs.el
+++ b/lisp/org-macs.el
@@ -1287,9 +1287,8 @@ so values can contain further %-escapes if they are define later in TABLE."
     (dolist (e tbl)
       (setq re (concat "%-?[0-9.]*" (substring (car e) 1)))
       (when (and (cdr e) (string-match re (cdr e)))
-        (let ((sref (substring (cdr e) (match-beginning 0) (match-end 0)))
-              (safe "SREF"))
-          (add-text-properties 0 3 (list 'sref sref) safe)
+        (let* ((sref (substring (cdr e) (match-beginning 0) (match-end 0)))
+               (safe (propertize "SREF" 'sref sref)))
           (setcdr e (replace-match safe t t (cdr e)))))
       (while (string-match re string)
         (setq rpl (format (concat (substring (match-string 0 string) 0 -1) "s")