diff --git a/question/type/ddimageortext/question.php b/question/type/ddimageortext/question.php
index f2839f7a389..94c2f861b55 100644
--- a/question/type/ddimageortext/question.php
+++ b/question/type/ddimageortext/question.php
@@ -119,9 +119,6 @@ class qtype_ddimageortext_drop_zone {
     /** @var array X and Y location of the drop zone */
     public $xy;
 
-    /** @var string field name to use */
-    public $fieldname;
-
     /**
      * Create a drop zone object.
      *
diff --git a/question/type/ddimageortext/rendererbase.php b/question/type/ddimageortext/rendererbase.php
index 987b1f40623..1d140e4ecd0 100644
--- a/question/type/ddimageortext/rendererbase.php
+++ b/question/type/ddimageortext/rendererbase.php
@@ -103,18 +103,25 @@ class qtype_ddtoimage_renderer_base extends qtype_with_combined_feedback_rendere
         $output .= $dragimagehomes;
         $output .= html_writer::end_div();
 
+        // Note, the mobile app implementation of ddimageortext relies on extracting the
+        // blob of places data out of the rendered HTML, which makes it impossible
+        // to clean up this structure of otherwise unnecessary stuff.
+        $placeinfoforjsandmobileapp = [];
         foreach ($question->places as $placeno => $place) {
             $varname = $question->field($placeno);
-            list($fieldname, $html) = $this->hidden_field_for_qt_var($qa, $varname, null,
+            [$fieldname, $html] = $this->hidden_field_for_qt_var($qa, $varname, null,
                     ['placeinput', 'place' . $placeno, 'group' . $place->group]);
             $output .= $html;
+            $placeinfo = (object) $place;
+            $placeinfo->fieldname = $fieldname;
+            $placeinfoforjsandmobileapp[$placeno] = $placeinfo;
         }
 
         $output .= html_writer::end_div();
 
         $this->page->requires->string_for_js('blank', 'qtype_ddimageortext');
         $this->page->requires->js_call_amd('qtype_ddimageortext/question', 'init',
-                [$qa->get_outer_question_div_unique_id(), $options->readonly, $question->places]);
+                [$qa->get_outer_question_div_unique_id(), $options->readonly, $placeinfoforjsandmobileapp]);
 
         if ($qa->get_state() == question_state::$invalid) {
             $output .= html_writer::div($question->get_validation_error($qa->get_last_qt_data()), 'validationerror');