diff -ruN thunar.orig/thunar-gio-extensions.c thunar/thunar-gio-extensions.c
--- thunar.orig/thunar-gio-extensions.c	2015-03-08 00:00:00.000000000 +0100
+++ thunar/thunar-gio-extensions.c	2015-03-08 00:00:00.000000000 +0100
@@ -421,13 +421,13 @@
 
   _thunar_return_val_if_fail (G_IS_FILE (file), NULL);
 
-  preferences = thunar_preferences_get ();
-  g_object_get (preferences, "misc-file-size-binary", &file_size_binary, NULL);
-  g_object_unref (preferences);
-
   if (thunar_g_file_get_free_space (file, &fs_free, &fs_size)
       && fs_size > 0)
     {
+      preferences = thunar_preferences_get ();
+      g_object_get (preferences, "misc-file-size-binary", &file_size_binary, NULL);
+      g_object_unref (preferences);
+
       fs_free_str = g_format_size_full (fs_free, file_size_binary ? G_FORMAT_SIZE_IEC_UNITS : G_FORMAT_SIZE_DEFAULT);
       fs_size_str = g_format_size_full (fs_size, file_size_binary ? G_FORMAT_SIZE_IEC_UNITS : G_FORMAT_SIZE_DEFAULT);
       /* free disk space string */
diff -ruN thunar.orig/thunar-size-label.c thunar/thunar-size-label.c
--- thunar.orig/thunar-size-label.c	2015-03-08 00:00:00.000000000 +0100
+++ thunar/thunar-size-label.c	2015-03-08 00:00:00.000000000 +0100
@@ -274,10 +274,6 @@
   _thunar_return_if_fail (size_label->files != NULL);
   _thunar_return_if_fail (THUNAR_IS_FILE (size_label->files->data));
 
-  preferences = thunar_preferences_get ();
-  g_object_get (preferences, "misc-file-size-binary", &file_size_binary, NULL);
-  g_object_unref (preferences);
-
   /* cancel the pending job (if any) */
   if (G_UNLIKELY (size_label->job != NULL))
     {
@@ -307,6 +303,10 @@
     }
   else
     {
+      preferences = thunar_preferences_get ();
+      g_object_get (preferences, "misc-file-size-binary", &file_size_binary, NULL);
+      g_object_unref (preferences);
+
       /* this is going to be quick, stop and hide the spinner */
       gtk_spinner_stop (GTK_SPINNER (size_label->spinner));
       gtk_widget_hide (size_label->spinner);
@@ -377,15 +377,15 @@
   _thunar_return_if_fail (THUNAR_IS_SIZE_LABEL (size_label));
   _thunar_return_if_fail (size_label->job == job);
 
-  preferences = thunar_preferences_get ();
-  g_object_get (preferences, "misc-file-size-binary", &file_size_binary, NULL);
-  g_object_unref (preferences);
-
   /* determine the total number of items */
   n = file_count + directory_count + unreadable_directory_count;
 
   if (G_LIKELY (n > unreadable_directory_count))
     {
+      preferences = thunar_preferences_get ();
+      g_object_get (preferences, "misc-file-size-binary", &file_size_binary, NULL);
+      g_object_unref (preferences);
+
       /* update the label */
       size_string = g_format_size_full (total_size, file_size_binary ? G_FORMAT_SIZE_IEC_UNITS : G_FORMAT_SIZE_DEFAULT);
       text = g_strdup_printf (ngettext ("%u item, totalling %s", "%u items, totalling %s", n), n, size_string);
diff -ruN thunar.orig/thunar-transfer-job.c thunar/thunar-transfer-job.c
--- thunar.orig/thunar-transfer-job.c	2015-03-08 00:00:00.000000000 +0100
+++ thunar/thunar-transfer-job.c	2015-03-08 00:00:00.000000000 +0100
@@ -686,10 +686,6 @@
 
   _thunar_return_val_if_fail (THUNAR_IS_TRANSFER_JOB (transfer_job), FALSE);
 
-  preferences = thunar_preferences_get ();
-  g_object_get (preferences, "misc-file-size-binary", &file_size_binary, NULL);
-  g_object_unref (preferences);
-
   /* no target file list */
   if (transfer_job->target_file_list == NULL)
     return TRUE;
@@ -736,6 +732,10 @@
       free_space = g_file_info_get_attribute_uint64 (filesystem_info, G_FILE_ATTRIBUTE_FILESYSTEM_FREE);
       if (transfer_job->total_size > free_space)
         {
+          preferences = thunar_preferences_get ();
+          g_object_get (preferences, "misc-file-size-binary", &file_size_binary, NULL);
+          g_object_unref (preferences);
+
           size_string = g_format_size_full (transfer_job->total_size - free_space, file_size_binary ? G_FORMAT_SIZE_IEC_UNITS : G_FORMAT_SIZE_DEFAULT);
           succeed = thunar_job_ask_no_size (THUNAR_JOB (transfer_job),
                                              _("Error while copying to \"%s\": %s more space is "