diff --git a/include/libcamera/base/object.h b/include/libcamera/base/object.h
index 508773cd0..c4522d480 100644
--- a/include/libcamera/base/object.h
+++ b/include/libcamera/base/object.h
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@ class Thread;
 class Object
 {
 public:
+	static void Deleter(Object *obj);
+
 	Object(Object *parent = nullptr);
 	virtual ~Object();
 
diff --git a/src/libcamera/base/object.cpp b/src/libcamera/base/object.cpp
index 745d2565a..2c04b99a5 100644
--- a/src/libcamera/base/object.cpp
+++ b/src/libcamera/base/object.cpp
@@ -59,6 +59,17 @@ LOG_DEFINE_CATEGORY(Object)
  * \sa Message, Signal, Thread
  */
 
+/**
+ * \brief A deleter function that calls Object::deleteLater
+ * \param[in] obj The object itself
+ *
+ * The static deleter function that's used in smart pointers.
+ */
+void Object::Deleter(Object *obj)
+{
+	obj->deleteLater();
+}
+
 /**
  * \brief Construct an Object instance
  * \param[in] parent The object parent