diff --git a/src/input/controller.cpp b/src/input/controller.cpp
index dc5fdf370..71f0b0c09 100644
--- a/src/input/controller.cpp
+++ b/src/input/controller.cpp
@@ -260,17 +260,16 @@ void GameController::SetTouchpadState(int touchIndex, bool touchDown, float x, f
     }
 }
 
-void GameController::SetEngine(Engine* engine) {
+void GameController::SetEngine(std::unique_ptr<Engine> engine) {
     std::scoped_lock _{m_mutex};
-    delete m_engine;
-    m_engine = engine;
+    m_engine = std::move(engine);
     if (m_engine) {
         m_engine->Init();
     }
 }
 
 Engine* GameController::GetEngine() {
-    return m_engine;
+    return m_engine.get();
 }
 
 u32 GameController::Poll() {
diff --git a/src/input/controller.h b/src/input/controller.h
index bb7363457..a45e71d77 100644
--- a/src/input/controller.h
+++ b/src/input/controller.h
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@
 #pragma once
 
 #include <algorithm>
+#include <memory>
 #include <mutex>
 #include "common/types.h"
 #include "core/libraries/pad/pad.h"
@@ -77,7 +78,7 @@ public:
     void SetLightBarRGB(u8 r, u8 g, u8 b);
     void SetVibration(u8 smallMotor, u8 largeMotor);
     void SetTouchpadState(int touchIndex, bool touchDown, float x, float y);
-    void SetEngine(Engine*);
+    void SetEngine(std::unique_ptr<Engine>);
     Engine* GetEngine();
     u32 Poll();
 
@@ -100,7 +101,7 @@ private:
     std::array<State, MAX_STATES> m_states;
     std::array<StateInternal, MAX_STATES> m_private;
 
-    Engine* m_engine = nullptr;
+    std::unique_ptr<Engine> m_engine = nullptr;
 };
 
 } // namespace Input
diff --git a/src/sdl_window.cpp b/src/sdl_window.cpp
index 89187df69..0de0ea396 100644
--- a/src/sdl_window.cpp
+++ b/src/sdl_window.cpp
@@ -263,7 +263,7 @@ WindowSDL::WindowSDL(s32 width_, s32 height_, Input::GameController* controller_
     SDL_SetWindowFullscreen(window, Config::getIsFullscreen());
 
     SDL_InitSubSystem(SDL_INIT_GAMEPAD);
-    controller->SetEngine(new Input::SDLInputEngine());
+    controller->SetEngine(std::make_unique<Input::SDLInputEngine>());
 
 #if defined(SDL_PLATFORM_WIN32)
     window_info.type = WindowSystemType::Windows;
@@ -573,7 +573,7 @@ void WindowSDL::OnGamepadEvent(const SDL_Event* event) {
     switch (event->type) {
     case SDL_EVENT_GAMEPAD_ADDED:
     case SDL_EVENT_GAMEPAD_REMOVED:
-        controller->SetEngine(new Input::SDLInputEngine());
+        controller->SetEngine(std::make_unique<Input::SDLInputEngine>());
         break;
     case SDL_EVENT_GAMEPAD_TOUCHPAD_DOWN:
     case SDL_EVENT_GAMEPAD_TOUCHPAD_UP: