diff --git a/src/php/access/PropertyAccess.php b/src/php/access/PropertyAccess.php
index 1550173..fe09704 100644
--- a/src/php/access/PropertyAccess.php
+++ b/src/php/access/PropertyAccess.php
@@ -9,18 +9,25 @@ class PropertyAccess extends AbstractAccess {
   function __construct(object &$object, $name, ?array $params=null) {
     parent::__construct($params);
     $this->object =& $object;
-    $this->class = new ReflectionClass($object);
     $this->name = $name;
+    $class = new ReflectionClass($object);
+    try {
+      $property = $class->getProperty($this->name);
+      $property->setAccessible(true);
+    } catch (ReflectionException $e) {
+      $property = null;
+    }
+    $this->property = $property;
     $this->allowNull = $params["allow_null"] ?? true;
     $this->allowFalse = $params["allow_false"] ?? false;
   }
 
   protected object $object;
 
-  protected ReflectionClass $class;
-
   protected string $name;
 
+  protected ?ReflectionProperty $property;
+
   protected bool $allowNull;
 
   protected bool $allowFalse;
@@ -31,23 +38,16 @@ class PropertyAccess extends AbstractAccess {
   }
 
   function exists(): bool {
-    return $this->class->hasProperty($this->name)
+    return $this->property !== null
       || property_exists($this->object, $this->name);
   }
 
-  protected function _property(): ReflectionProperty {
-    $property = $this->class->getProperty($this->name);
-    $property->setAccessible(true);
-    return $property;
-  }
-
   protected function _get($default=null) {
-    try {
-      return $this->_property()->getValue($this->object);
-    } catch (ReflectionException $e) {
-    }
     $name = $this->name;
-    if (property_exists($this->object, $name)) {
+    $property = $this->property;
+    if ($property !== null) {
+      return $property->getValue($this->object);
+    } elseif (property_exists($this->object, $name)) {
       return $this->object->$name;
     } else {
       return $default;
@@ -73,10 +73,11 @@ class PropertyAccess extends AbstractAccess {
   }
 
   protected function _set($value): void {
-    try {
-      $this->_property()->setValue($this->object, $value);
-    } catch (ReflectionException $e) {
-      $name = $this->name;
+    $name = $this->name;
+    $property = $this->property;
+    if ($property !== null) {
+      $property->setValue($this->object, $value);
+    } else {
       $this->object->$name = $value;
     }
   }