diff --git a/src/backend/corebackend.h b/src/backend/corebackend.h
index 92c1bb8..c2e1153 100644
--- a/src/backend/corebackend.h
+++ b/src/backend/corebackend.h
@@ -136,25 +136,21 @@ public:
       *         an instance is returned, it's the caller's responsibility to delete the
       *         object.
       */
-    virtual CoreBackendDevice* openDevice(const Device& d) = 0;
+    virtual std::unique_ptr<CoreBackendDevice> openDevice(const Device& d) = 0;
 
     /**
       * Open a device in exclusive mode for writing.
       * @param deviceNode The path of the device that is to be opened (e.g. /dev/sda)
-      * @return a pointer to a CoreBackendDevice or nullptr if the open failed. If a pointer to
-      *         an instance is returned, it's the caller's responsibility to delete the
-      *         object.
+      * @return a pointer to a CoreBackendDevice or nullptr if the open failed.
       */
-    virtual CoreBackendDevice* openDeviceExclusive(const Device& d) = 0;
+    virtual std::unique_ptr<CoreBackendDevice> openDeviceExclusive(const Device& d) = 0;
 
     /**
       * Close a CoreBackendDevice that has previously been opened.
       * @param core_device Pointer to the CoreBackendDevice to be closed. Must not be nullptr.
       * @return true if closing the CoreBackendDevice succeeded, otherwise false.
-      *
-      * This method does not delete the object.
       */
-    virtual bool closeDevice(CoreBackendDevice* core_device) = 0;
+    virtual bool closeDevice(std::unique_ptr<CoreBackendDevice> coreDevice) = 0;
 
     /**
       * Emit progress.
diff --git a/src/core/copysourcedevice.cpp b/src/core/copysourcedevice.cpp
index 9754a0d..18fcb85 100644
--- a/src/core/copysourcedevice.cpp
+++ b/src/core/copysourcedevice.cpp
@@ -20,7 +20,6 @@
 
 #include "backend/corebackend.h"
 #include "backend/corebackendmanager.h"
-#include "backend/corebackenddevice.h"
 
 #include "core/copytarget.h"
 #include "core/copytargetdevice.h"
@@ -40,12 +39,6 @@ CopySourceDevice::CopySourceDevice(Device& d, qint64 firstbyte, qint64 lastbyte)
 {
 }
 
-/** Destructs a CopySourceDevice */
-CopySourceDevice::~CopySourceDevice()
-{
-    delete m_BackendDevice;
-}
-
 /** Opens the Device
     @return true if the Device could be successfully opened
 */
diff --git a/src/core/copysourcedevice.h b/src/core/copysourcedevice.h
index bfdbd45..07aee9d 100644
--- a/src/core/copysourcedevice.h
+++ b/src/core/copysourcedevice.h
@@ -19,9 +19,12 @@
 
 #define KPMCORE_COPYSOURCEDEVICE_H
 
+#include "backend/corebackenddevice.h"
 #include "core/copysource.h"
 #include "util/libpartitionmanagerexport.h"
 
+#include <memory>
+
 #include <QtGlobal>
 
 class Device;
@@ -41,7 +44,6 @@ class CopySourceDevice : public CopySource
 
 public:
     CopySourceDevice(Device& d, qint64 firstbyte, qint64 lastbyte);
-    ~CopySourceDevice();
 
 public:
     bool open() override;
@@ -68,7 +70,7 @@ protected:
     Device& m_Device;
     const qint64 m_FirstByte;
     const qint64 m_LastByte;
-    CoreBackendDevice* m_BackendDevice;
+    std::unique_ptr<CoreBackendDevice> m_BackendDevice;
 };
 
 #endif
diff --git a/src/core/copytargetdevice.cpp b/src/core/copytargetdevice.cpp
index 2ad9a02..b5dd671 100644
--- a/src/core/copytargetdevice.cpp
+++ b/src/core/copytargetdevice.cpp
@@ -19,7 +19,6 @@
 
 #include "backend/corebackend.h"
 #include "backend/corebackendmanager.h"
-#include "backend/corebackenddevice.h"
 
 #include "core/device.h"
 
@@ -37,12 +36,6 @@ CopyTargetDevice::CopyTargetDevice(Device& d, qint64 firstbyte, qint64 lastbyte)
 {
 }
 
-/** Destructs a CopyTargetDevice */
-CopyTargetDevice::~CopyTargetDevice()
-{
-    delete m_BackendDevice;
-}
-
 /** Opens a CopyTargetDevice for writing to.
     @return true on success
 */
diff --git a/src/core/copytargetdevice.h b/src/core/copytargetdevice.h
index f7021d2..3306b47 100644
--- a/src/core/copytargetdevice.h
+++ b/src/core/copytargetdevice.h
@@ -19,9 +19,12 @@
 
 #define KPMCORE_COPYTARGETDEVICE_H
 
+#include "backend/corebackenddevice.h"
 #include "core/copytarget.h"
 #include "util/libpartitionmanagerexport.h"
 
+#include <memory>
+
 #include <QtGlobal>
 
 class Device;
@@ -42,7 +45,6 @@ class CopyTargetDevice : public CopyTarget
 
 public:
     CopyTargetDevice(Device& d, qint64 firstbyte, qint64 lastbyte);
-    ~CopyTargetDevice();
 
 public:
     bool open() override;
@@ -63,7 +65,7 @@ public:
 
 protected:
     Device& m_Device;
-    CoreBackendDevice* m_BackendDevice;
+    std::unique_ptr<CoreBackendDevice> m_BackendDevice;
     const qint64 m_FirstByte;
     const qint64 m_LastByte;
 };
diff --git a/src/jobs/createfilesystemjob.cpp b/src/jobs/createfilesystemjob.cpp
index 8db2b47..ad20db7 100644
--- a/src/jobs/createfilesystemjob.cpp
+++ b/src/jobs/createfilesystemjob.cpp
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ bool CreateFileSystemJob::run(Report& parent)
             createResult = partition().fileSystem().create(*report, partition().deviceNode());
         if (createResult) {
             if (device().type() == Device::Disk_Device) {
-                CoreBackendDevice* backendDevice = CoreBackendManager::self()->backend()->openDevice(device());
+                std::unique_ptr<CoreBackendDevice> backendDevice = CoreBackendManager::self()->backend()->openDevice(device());
 
                 if (backendDevice) {
                     CoreBackendPartitionTable* backendPartitionTable = backendDevice->openPartitionTable();
@@ -75,8 +75,6 @@ bool CreateFileSystemJob::run(Report& parent)
                         delete backendPartitionTable;
                     } else
                         report->line() << xi18nc("@info:progress", "Could not open partition table on device <filename>%1</filename> to set the system type for partition <filename>%2</filename>.", device().deviceNode(), partition().deviceNode());
-
-                    delete backendDevice;
                 } else
                     report->line() << xi18nc("@info:progress", "Could not open device <filename>%1</filename> to set the system type for partition <filename>%2</filename>.", device().deviceNode(), partition().deviceNode());
             } else if (device().type() == Device::LVM_Device) {
diff --git a/src/jobs/createpartitionjob.cpp b/src/jobs/createpartitionjob.cpp
index bb2b1b2..dae4bf7 100644
--- a/src/jobs/createpartitionjob.cpp
+++ b/src/jobs/createpartitionjob.cpp
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ bool CreatePartitionJob::run(Report& parent)
     Report* report = jobStarted(parent);
 
     if (device().type() == Device::Disk_Device) {
-        CoreBackendDevice* backendDevice = CoreBackendManager::self()->backend()->openDevice(device());
+        std::unique_ptr<CoreBackendDevice> backendDevice = CoreBackendManager::self()->backend()->openDevice(device());
 
         if (backendDevice) {
             CoreBackendPartitionTable* backendPartitionTable = backendDevice->openPartitionTable();
@@ -70,8 +70,6 @@ bool CreatePartitionJob::run(Report& parent)
                 delete backendPartitionTable;
             } else
                 report->line() << xi18nc("@info:progress", "Could not open partition table on device <filename>%1</filename> to create new partition <filename>%2</filename>.", device().deviceNode(), partition().deviceNode());
-
-            delete backendDevice;
         } else
             report->line() << xi18nc("@info:progress", "Could not open device <filename>%1</filename> to create new partition <filename>%2</filename>.", device().deviceNode(), partition().deviceNode());
     } else if (device().type() == Device::LVM_Device) {
diff --git a/src/jobs/createpartitiontablejob.cpp b/src/jobs/createpartitiontablejob.cpp
index 3d2fe0b..8ceb8b9 100644
--- a/src/jobs/createpartitiontablejob.cpp
+++ b/src/jobs/createpartitiontablejob.cpp
@@ -45,14 +45,12 @@ bool CreatePartitionTableJob::run(Report& parent)
     Report* report = jobStarted(parent);
 
     if (device().type() == Device::Disk_Device) {
-        CoreBackendDevice* backendDevice = CoreBackendManager::self()->backend()->openDevice(device());
+        std::unique_ptr<CoreBackendDevice> backendDevice = CoreBackendManager::self()->backend()->openDevice(device());
 
         if (backendDevice != nullptr) {
             Q_ASSERT(device().partitionTable());
 
             rval = backendDevice->createPartitionTable(*report, *device().partitionTable());
-
-            delete backendDevice;
         } else
             report->line() << xi18nc("@info:progress", "Creating partition table failed: Could not open device <filename>%1</filename>.", device().deviceNode());
     } else if (device().type() == Device::LVM_Device) {
diff --git a/src/jobs/deletefilesystemjob.cpp b/src/jobs/deletefilesystemjob.cpp
index da95287..f01a3e3 100644
--- a/src/jobs/deletefilesystemjob.cpp
+++ b/src/jobs/deletefilesystemjob.cpp
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ bool DeleteFileSystemJob::run(Report& parent)
             return false;
         }
 
-        CoreBackendDevice* backendDevice = CoreBackendManager::self()->backend()->openDevice(device());
+        std::unique_ptr<CoreBackendDevice> backendDevice = CoreBackendManager::self()->backend()->openDevice(device());
 
         if (backendDevice) {
             CoreBackendPartitionTable* backendPartitionTable = backendDevice->openPartitionTable();
@@ -92,7 +92,6 @@ bool DeleteFileSystemJob::run(Report& parent)
             } else
                 report->line() << xi18nc("@info:progress", "Could not open partition table on device <filename>%1</filename> to delete file system on <filename>%2</filename>.", device().deviceNode(), partition().deviceNode());
 
-            delete backendDevice;
         } else
             report->line() << xi18nc("@info:progress", "Could not delete file system signature for partition <filename>%1</filename>: Failed to open device <filename>%2</filename>.", partition().deviceNode(), device().deviceNode());
     }
diff --git a/src/jobs/deletepartitionjob.cpp b/src/jobs/deletepartitionjob.cpp
index 5ba7401..293496c 100644
--- a/src/jobs/deletepartitionjob.cpp
+++ b/src/jobs/deletepartitionjob.cpp
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ bool DeletePartitionJob::run(Report& parent)
     Report* report = jobStarted(parent);
 
     if (device().type() == Device::Disk_Device) {
-        CoreBackendDevice* backendDevice = CoreBackendManager::self()->backend()->openDevice(device());
+        std::unique_ptr<CoreBackendDevice> backendDevice = CoreBackendManager::self()->backend()->openDevice(device());
 
         if (backendDevice) {
             CoreBackendPartitionTable* backendPartitionTable = backendDevice->openPartitionTable();
@@ -75,8 +75,6 @@ bool DeletePartitionJob::run(Report& parent)
 
             } else
                 report->line() << xi18nc("@info:progress", "Could not open partition table on device <filename>%1</filename> to delete partition <filename>%2</filename>.", device().deviceNode(), partition().deviceNode());
-
-            delete backendDevice;
         } else
             report->line() << xi18nc("@info:progress", "Deleting partition failed: Could not open device <filename>%1</filename>.", device().deviceNode());
     } else if (device().type() == Device::LVM_Device) {
diff --git a/src/jobs/resizefilesystemjob.cpp b/src/jobs/resizefilesystemjob.cpp
index a3af897..d86108a 100644
--- a/src/jobs/resizefilesystemjob.cpp
+++ b/src/jobs/resizefilesystemjob.cpp
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@
 #include "util/report.h"
 #include "util/capacity.h"
 
+#include <memory>
+
 #include <QDebug>
 
 #include <KLocalizedString>
@@ -112,7 +114,7 @@ bool ResizeFileSystemJob::resizeFileSystemBackend(Report& report)
 {
     bool rval = false;
 
-    CoreBackendDevice* backendDevice = CoreBackendManager::self()->backend()->openDevice(device());
+    std::unique_ptr<CoreBackendDevice> backendDevice = CoreBackendManager::self()->backend()->openDevice(device());
 
     if (backendDevice) {
         CoreBackendPartitionTable* backendPartitionTable = backendDevice->openPartitionTable();
@@ -131,7 +133,6 @@ bool ResizeFileSystemJob::resizeFileSystemBackend(Report& report)
         } else
             report.line() << xi18nc("@info:progress", "Could not open partition <filename>%1</filename> while trying to resize the file system.", partition().deviceNode());
 
-        delete backendDevice;
     } else
         report.line() << xi18nc("@info:progress", "Could not read geometry for partition <filename>%1</filename> while trying to resize the file system.", partition().deviceNode());
 
diff --git a/src/jobs/restorefilesystemjob.cpp b/src/jobs/restorefilesystemjob.cpp
index aff8d70..a9265da 100644
--- a/src/jobs/restorefilesystemjob.cpp
+++ b/src/jobs/restorefilesystemjob.cpp
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ bool RestoreFileSystemJob::run(Report& parent)
                 // create a new file system for what was restored with the length of the image file
                 const qint64 newLastSector = targetPartition().firstSector() + copySource.length() - 1;
 
-                CoreBackendDevice* backendDevice = CoreBackendManager::self()->backend()->openDevice(targetDevice());
+                std::unique_ptr<CoreBackendDevice> backendDevice = CoreBackendManager::self()->backend()->openDevice(targetDevice());
 
                 FileSystem::Type t = FileSystem::Unknown;
 
diff --git a/src/jobs/setpartflagsjob.cpp b/src/jobs/setpartflagsjob.cpp
index 2aad649..33a3070 100644
--- a/src/jobs/setpartflagsjob.cpp
+++ b/src/jobs/setpartflagsjob.cpp
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ bool SetPartFlagsJob::run(Report& parent)
 
     Report* report = jobStarted(parent);
 
-    CoreBackendDevice* backendDevice = CoreBackendManager::self()->backend()->openDevice(device());
+    std::unique_ptr<CoreBackendDevice> backendDevice = CoreBackendManager::self()->backend()->openDevice(device());
 
     if (backendDevice) {
         CoreBackendPartitionTable* backendPartitionTable = backendDevice->openPartitionTable();
@@ -85,8 +85,6 @@ bool SetPartFlagsJob::run(Report& parent)
             delete backendPartitionTable;
         } else
             report->line() << xi18nc("@info:progress", "Could not open partition table on device <filename>%1</filename> to set partition flags for partition <filename>%2</filename>.", device().deviceNode(), partition().deviceNode());
-
-        delete backendDevice;
     } else
         report->line() << xi18nc("@info:progress", "Could not open device <filename>%1</filename> to set partition flags for partition <filename>%2</filename>.", device().deviceNode(), partition().deviceNode());
 
diff --git a/src/jobs/setpartgeometryjob.cpp b/src/jobs/setpartgeometryjob.cpp
index 7a4fbd7..9c3a488 100644
--- a/src/jobs/setpartgeometryjob.cpp
+++ b/src/jobs/setpartgeometryjob.cpp
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ bool SetPartGeometryJob::run(Report& parent)
     Report* report = jobStarted(parent);
 
     if(device().type() == Device::Disk_Device) {
-        CoreBackendDevice* backendDevice = CoreBackendManager::self()->backend()->openDevice(device());
+        std::unique_ptr<CoreBackendDevice> backendDevice = CoreBackendManager::self()->backend()->openDevice(device());
 
         if (backendDevice) {
             CoreBackendPartitionTable* backendPartitionTable = backendDevice->openPartitionTable();
@@ -72,8 +72,6 @@ bool SetPartGeometryJob::run(Report& parent)
 
                 delete backendPartitionTable;
             }
-
-            delete backendDevice;
         } else
             report->line() << xi18nc("@info:progress", "Could not open device <filename>%1</filename> while trying to resize/move partition <filename>%2</filename>.", device().deviceNode(), partition().deviceNode());
     } else if (device().type() == Device::LVM_Device) {
diff --git a/src/plugins/dummy/dummybackend.cpp b/src/plugins/dummy/dummybackend.cpp
index 5abc6f2..30fe534 100644
--- a/src/plugins/dummy/dummybackend.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/dummy/dummybackend.cpp
@@ -91,31 +91,27 @@ QString DummyBackend::readUUID(const QString& deviceNode) const
     return QString();
 }
 
-CoreBackendDevice* DummyBackend::openDevice(const Device& d)
+std::unique_ptr<CoreBackendDevice> DummyBackend::openDevice(const Device& d)
 {
-    DummyDevice* device = new DummyDevice(d.deviceNode());
+    std::unique_ptr<DummyDevice> device = std::make_unique<DummyDevice>(d.deviceNode());
 
-    if (device == nullptr || !device->open()) {
-        delete device;
+    if (!device->open())
         device = nullptr;
-    }
 
     return device;
 }
 
-CoreBackendDevice* DummyBackend::openDeviceExclusive(const Device& d)
+std::unique_ptr<CoreBackendDevice> DummyBackend::openDeviceExclusive(const Device& d)
 {
-    DummyDevice* device = new DummyDevice(d.deviceNode());
+    std::unique_ptr<DummyDevice> device = std::make_unique<DummyDevice>(d.deviceNode());
 
-    if (device == nullptr || !device->openExclusive()) {
-        delete device;
+    if (!device->openExclusive())
         device = nullptr;
-    }
 
     return device;
 }
 
-bool DummyBackend::closeDevice(CoreBackendDevice* coreDevice)
+bool DummyBackend::closeDevice(std::unique_ptr<CoreBackendDevice> coreDevice)
 {
     return coreDevice->close();
 }
diff --git a/src/plugins/dummy/dummybackend.h b/src/plugins/dummy/dummybackend.h
index 12aad6b..a9f8fb3 100644
--- a/src/plugins/dummy/dummybackend.h
+++ b/src/plugins/dummy/dummybackend.h
@@ -45,9 +45,9 @@ public:
     void initFSSupport() override;
 
     QList<Device*> scanDevices(bool excludeReadOnly = false) override;
-    CoreBackendDevice* openDevice(const Device& d) override;
-    CoreBackendDevice* openDeviceExclusive(const Device& d) override;
-    bool closeDevice(CoreBackendDevice* coreDevice) override;
+    std::unique_ptr<CoreBackendDevice> openDevice(const Device& d) override;
+    std::unique_ptr<CoreBackendDevice> openDeviceExclusive(const Device& d) override;
+    bool closeDevice(std::unique_ptr<CoreBackendDevice> coreDevice) override;
     Device* scanDevice(const QString& deviceNode) override;
     FileSystem::Type detectFileSystem(const QString& deviceNode) override;
     QString readLabel(const QString& deviceNode) const override;
diff --git a/src/plugins/sfdisk/sfdiskbackend.cpp b/src/plugins/sfdisk/sfdiskbackend.cpp
index 57a510d..aa103b7 100644
--- a/src/plugins/sfdisk/sfdiskbackend.cpp
+++ b/src/plugins/sfdisk/sfdiskbackend.cpp
@@ -403,31 +403,27 @@ PartitionTable::Flags SfdiskBackend::availableFlags(PartitionTable::TableType ty
     return flags;
 }
 
-CoreBackendDevice* SfdiskBackend::openDevice(const Device& d)
+std::unique_ptr<CoreBackendDevice> SfdiskBackend::openDevice(const Device& d)
 {
-    SfdiskDevice* device = new SfdiskDevice(d);
+    std::unique_ptr<SfdiskDevice> device = std::make_unique<SfdiskDevice>(d);
 
-    if (device == nullptr || !device->open()) {
-        delete device;
+    if (!device->open())
         device = nullptr;
-    }
 
     return device;
 }
 
-CoreBackendDevice* SfdiskBackend::openDeviceExclusive(const Device& d)
+std::unique_ptr<CoreBackendDevice> SfdiskBackend::openDeviceExclusive(const Device& d)
 {
-    SfdiskDevice* device = new SfdiskDevice(d);
+    std::unique_ptr<SfdiskDevice> device = std::make_unique<SfdiskDevice>(d);
 
-    if (device == nullptr || !device->openExclusive()) {
-        delete device;
+    if (!device->openExclusive())
         device = nullptr;
-    }
 
     return device;
 }
 
-bool SfdiskBackend::closeDevice(CoreBackendDevice* coreDevice)
+bool SfdiskBackend::closeDevice(std::unique_ptr<CoreBackendDevice> coreDevice)
 {
     return coreDevice->close();
 }
diff --git a/src/plugins/sfdisk/sfdiskbackend.h b/src/plugins/sfdisk/sfdiskbackend.h
index 5cb3291..d60deb1 100644
--- a/src/plugins/sfdisk/sfdiskbackend.h
+++ b/src/plugins/sfdisk/sfdiskbackend.h
@@ -47,9 +47,9 @@ public:
     void initFSSupport() override;
 
     QList<Device*> scanDevices(bool excludeReadOnly = false) override;
-    CoreBackendDevice* openDevice(const Device& d) override;
-    CoreBackendDevice* openDeviceExclusive(const Device& d) override;
-    bool closeDevice(CoreBackendDevice* coreDevice) override;
+    std::unique_ptr<CoreBackendDevice> openDevice(const Device& d) override;
+    std::unique_ptr<CoreBackendDevice> openDeviceExclusive(const Device& d) override;
+    bool closeDevice(std::unique_ptr<CoreBackendDevice> coreDevice) override;
     Device* scanDevice(const QString& deviceNode) override;
     FileSystem::Type detectFileSystem(const QString& partitionPath) override;
     QString readLabel(const QString& deviceNode) const override;