diff --git a/python/core/auto_generated/layertree/qgslayertreemodellegendnode.sip.in b/python/core/auto_generated/layertree/qgslayertreemodellegendnode.sip.in
index 1476edf44b1..97441774395 100644
--- a/python/core/auto_generated/layertree/qgslayertreemodellegendnode.sip.in
+++ b/python/core/auto_generated/layertree/qgslayertreemodellegendnode.sip.in
@@ -221,9 +221,9 @@ Returns the symbol used by the legend node.
 .. versionadded:: 2.14
 %End
 
-    void setSymbol( QgsSymbol *symbol );
+    void setSymbol( QgsSymbol *symbol /Transfer/ );
 %Docstring
-Sets the symbol to be used by the legend node. The symbol change is also propagated
+Sets the ``symbol`` to be used by the legend node. The symbol change is also propagated
 to the associated vector layer's renderer.
 
 :param symbol: new symbol for node. Ownership is transferred.
diff --git a/python/core/auto_generated/symbology/qgslegendsymbolitem.sip.in b/python/core/auto_generated/symbology/qgslegendsymbolitem.sip.in
index 89017e3a6e9..59702b8b9d7 100644
--- a/python/core/auto_generated/symbology/qgslegendsymbolitem.sip.in
+++ b/python/core/auto_generated/symbology/qgslegendsymbolitem.sip.in
@@ -94,9 +94,13 @@ Key of the parent legend node. For legends with tree hierarchy
    Parameter parentRuleKey added in QGIS 2.8
 %End
 
-    void setSymbol( QgsSymbol *s /Transfer/ );
+    void setSymbol( QgsSymbol *s );
 %Docstring
-Sets symbol of the item. Takes ownership of symbol.
+Sets the symbol of the item.
+
+Does not take ownership of symbol -- an internal clone is made of the symbol.
+
+.. seealso:: :py:func:`symbol`
 %End
 
     void setDataDefinedSizeLegendSettings( QgsDataDefinedSizeLegend *settings /Transfer/ );
diff --git a/src/core/layertree/qgslayertreemodellegendnode.h b/src/core/layertree/qgslayertreemodellegendnode.h
index f59638e4e00..5c39f7ba868 100644
--- a/src/core/layertree/qgslayertreemodellegendnode.h
+++ b/src/core/layertree/qgslayertreemodellegendnode.h
@@ -214,13 +214,13 @@ class CORE_EXPORT QgsSymbolLegendNode : public QgsLayerTreeModelLegendNode
     const QgsSymbol *symbol() const;
 
     /**
-     * Sets the symbol to be used by the legend node. The symbol change is also propagated
+     * Sets the \a symbol to be used by the legend node. The symbol change is also propagated
      * to the associated vector layer's renderer.
      * \param symbol new symbol for node. Ownership is transferred.
      * \see symbol()
      * \since QGIS 2.14
      */
-    void setSymbol( QgsSymbol *symbol );
+    void setSymbol( QgsSymbol *symbol SIP_TRANSFER );
 
     /**
      * Returns label of text to be shown on top of the symbol.
diff --git a/src/core/symbology/qgslegendsymbolitem.cpp b/src/core/symbology/qgslegendsymbolitem.cpp
index ca643da0c39..85cbed619f3 100644
--- a/src/core/symbology/qgslegendsymbolitem.cpp
+++ b/src/core/symbology/qgslegendsymbolitem.cpp
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ bool QgsLegendSymbolItem::isScaleOK( double scale ) const
 
 void QgsLegendSymbolItem::setSymbol( QgsSymbol *s )
 {
-  mSymbol.reset( s );
+  mSymbol.reset( s ? s->clone() : nullptr );
   mOriginalSymbolPointer = s;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/core/symbology/qgslegendsymbolitem.h b/src/core/symbology/qgslegendsymbolitem.h
index 9777d2e5cce..5a1d004b952 100644
--- a/src/core/symbology/qgslegendsymbolitem.h
+++ b/src/core/symbology/qgslegendsymbolitem.h
@@ -88,8 +88,14 @@ class CORE_EXPORT QgsLegendSymbolItem
      */
     QString parentRuleKey() const { return mParentKey; }
 
-    //! Sets symbol of the item. Takes ownership of symbol.
-    void setSymbol( QgsSymbol *s SIP_TRANSFER );
+    /**
+     * Sets the symbol of the item.
+     *
+     * Does not take ownership of symbol -- an internal clone is made of the symbol.
+     *
+     * \see symbol()
+     */
+    void setSymbol( QgsSymbol *s );
 
     /**
      * Sets extra information about data-defined size. If set, this item should be converted to QgsDataDefinedSizeLegendNode