diff --git a/modules/juce_events/native/juce_mac_MessageManager.mm b/modules/juce_events/native/juce_mac_MessageManager.mm
index 972e894ac7..1cc0b9f8e1 100644
--- a/modules/juce_events/native/juce_mac_MessageManager.mm
+++ b/modules/juce_events/native/juce_mac_MessageManager.mm
@@ -436,17 +436,16 @@ void initialiseNSApplication()
     }
 }
 
-static AppDelegate* appDelegate = nullptr;
+static std::unique_ptr<AppDelegate> appDelegate;
 
 void MessageManager::doPlatformSpecificInitialisation()
 {
     if (appDelegate == nil)
-        appDelegate = new AppDelegate();
+        appDelegate.reset (new AppDelegate());
 }
 
 void MessageManager::doPlatformSpecificShutdown()
 {
-    delete appDelegate;
     appDelegate = nullptr;
 }