diff --git a/src/util/externalcommandhelper.cpp b/src/util/externalcommandhelper.cpp
index d542324..2b89c75 100644
--- a/src/util/externalcommandhelper.cpp
+++ b/src/util/externalcommandhelper.cpp
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ ActionReply ExternalCommandHelper::init(const QVariantMap& args)
 
     m_publicKey = QCA::PublicKey::fromDER(args[QStringLiteral("pubkey")].toByteArray());
 
+    m_loop = std::make_unique<QEventLoop>();
     HelperSupport::progressStep(QVariantMap());
     auto timeout = [this] () {
             QDBusInterface iface(QStringLiteral("org.kde.kpmcore.applicationinterface"),
@@ -74,7 +75,7 @@ ActionReply ExternalCommandHelper::init(const QVariantMap& args)
             auto exitLoop = [&] (QDBusPendingCallWatcher *watcher) {
                     if (watcher->isError()) {
                         qWarning() << watcher->error();
-                        m_loop.exit();
+                        m_loop->exit();
                     }
                     };
             connect(watcher, &QDBusPendingCallWatcher::finished, exitLoop);
@@ -83,7 +84,7 @@ ActionReply ExternalCommandHelper::init(const QVariantMap& args)
     QTimer *timer = new QTimer(this);
     connect(timer, &QTimer::timeout, this, timeout);
     timer->start(5000); // 5 seconds
-    m_loop.exec();
+    m_loop->exec();
     reply.addData(QStringLiteral("success"), true);
 
     return reply;
@@ -313,7 +314,7 @@ void ExternalCommandHelper::exit(const QByteArray& signature, const quint64 nonc
         return;
     }
 
-    m_loop.exit();
+    m_loop->exit();
 
     QDBusConnection::systemBus().unregisterObject(QStringLiteral("/Helper"));
     QDBusConnection::systemBus().unregisterService(QStringLiteral("org.kde.kpmcore.helperinterface"));
diff --git a/src/util/externalcommandhelper.h b/src/util/externalcommandhelper.h
index 4f1cab7..0ab9ef9 100644
--- a/src/util/externalcommandhelper.h
+++ b/src/util/externalcommandhelper.h
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@
 #ifndef KPMCORE_EXTERNALCOMMANDHELPER_H
 #define KPMCORE_EXTERNALCOMMANDHELPER_H
 
+#include <memory>
 #include <unordered_set>
 
 #include <KAuth>
@@ -54,7 +55,7 @@ public Q_SLOTS:
 private:
     void onReadOutput();
 
-    QEventLoop m_loop;
+    std::unique_ptr<QEventLoop> m_loop;
     QCA::Initializer initializer;
     QCA::PublicKey m_publicKey;
     QRandomGenerator64 m_Generator;