diff --git a/spring-boot/src/main/java/org/springframework/boot/context/config/ConfigFileApplicationListener.java b/spring-boot/src/main/java/org/springframework/boot/context/config/ConfigFileApplicationListener.java
index e0810bc9207..5ba71a07c3c 100644
--- a/spring-boot/src/main/java/org/springframework/boot/context/config/ConfigFileApplicationListener.java
+++ b/spring-boot/src/main/java/org/springframework/boot/context/config/ConfigFileApplicationListener.java
@@ -31,8 +31,7 @@ import org.springframework.beans.BeansException;
 import org.springframework.beans.factory.config.BeanFactoryPostProcessor;
 import org.springframework.beans.factory.config.ConfigurableListableBeanFactory;
 import org.springframework.boot.SpringApplication;
-import org.springframework.boot.bind.PropertySourcesPropertyValues;
-import org.springframework.boot.bind.RelaxedDataBinder;
+import org.springframework.boot.bind.PropertiesConfigurationFactory;
 import org.springframework.boot.context.event.ApplicationEnvironmentPreparedEvent;
 import org.springframework.boot.context.event.ApplicationPreparedEvent;
 import org.springframework.boot.env.EnumerableCompositePropertySource;
@@ -54,6 +53,7 @@ import org.springframework.core.io.Resource;
 import org.springframework.core.io.ResourceLoader;
 import org.springframework.util.Assert;
 import org.springframework.util.StringUtils;
+import org.springframework.validation.BindException;
 
 /**
  * {@link ApplicationListener} that configures the context environment by loading
@@ -171,9 +171,17 @@ public class ConfigFileApplicationListener implements
 	 */
 	protected void bindToSpringApplication(ConfigurableEnvironment environment,
 			SpringApplication application) {
-		RelaxedDataBinder binder = new RelaxedDataBinder(application, "spring.main");
+		PropertiesConfigurationFactory<SpringApplication> binder = new PropertiesConfigurationFactory<SpringApplication>(
+				application);
+		binder.setTargetName("spring.main");
 		binder.setConversionService(this.conversionService);
-		binder.bind(new PropertySourcesPropertyValues(environment.getPropertySources()));
+		binder.setPropertySources(environment.getPropertySources());
+		try {
+			binder.bindPropertiesToTarget();
+		}
+		catch (BindException e) {
+			throw new IllegalStateException("Cannot bind to SpringApplication", e);
+		}
 	}
 
 	/**
diff --git a/spring-boot/src/test/java/org/springframework/boot/context/config/ConfigFileApplicationListenerTests.java b/spring-boot/src/test/java/org/springframework/boot/context/config/ConfigFileApplicationListenerTests.java
index 446cf6736c3..5c3a10075d4 100644
--- a/spring-boot/src/test/java/org/springframework/boot/context/config/ConfigFileApplicationListenerTests.java
+++ b/spring-boot/src/test/java/org/springframework/boot/context/config/ConfigFileApplicationListenerTests.java
@@ -82,6 +82,7 @@ public class ConfigFileApplicationListenerTests {
 	public void cleanup() {
 		System.clearProperty("my.property");
 		System.clearProperty("spring.config.location");
+		System.clearProperty("spring.main.showBanner");
 	}
 
 	@Test
@@ -561,6 +562,17 @@ public class ConfigFileApplicationListenerTests {
 		assertThat((Boolean) field.get(application), equalTo(false));
 	}
 
+	@Test
+	public void bindsSystemPropertyToSpringApplication() throws Exception {
+		// gh-951
+		System.setProperty("spring.main.showBanner", "false");
+		this.initializer.onApplicationEvent(this.event);
+		SpringApplication application = this.event.getSpringApplication();
+		Field field = ReflectionUtils.findField(SpringApplication.class, "showBanner");
+		field.setAccessible(true);
+		assertThat((Boolean) field.get(application), equalTo(false));
+	}
+
 	private static Matcher<? super ConfigurableEnvironment> containsPropertySource(
 			final String sourceName) {
 		return new TypeSafeDiagnosingMatcher<ConfigurableEnvironment>() {