diff --git a/src/libcamera/camera_sensor.cpp b/src/libcamera/camera_sensor.cpp
index ab2bed561cc6..9cfb3847dda6 100644
--- a/src/libcamera/camera_sensor.cpp
+++ b/src/libcamera/camera_sensor.cpp
@@ -133,7 +133,6 @@ LOG_DEFINE_CATEGORY(CameraSensor);
 CameraSensor::CameraSensor(const MediaEntity *entity)
 	: entity_(entity), properties_(properties::properties)
 {
-	subdev_ = new V4L2Subdevice(entity);
 }
 
 /**
@@ -141,7 +140,6 @@ CameraSensor::CameraSensor(const MediaEntity *entity)
  */
 CameraSensor::~CameraSensor()
 {
-	delete subdev_;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -197,7 +195,8 @@ int CameraSensor::init()
 	else
 		model_ = entityName;
 
-	/* Open the subdev. */
+	/* Create and open the subdev. */
+	subdev_ = std::make_unique<V4L2Subdevice>(entity_);
 	ret = subdev_->open();
 	if (ret < 0)
 		return ret;
diff --git a/src/libcamera/include/camera_sensor.h b/src/libcamera/include/camera_sensor.h
index f39ea96dc77a..92cd90353e72 100644
--- a/src/libcamera/include/camera_sensor.h
+++ b/src/libcamera/include/camera_sensor.h
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@
 #ifndef __LIBCAMERA_CAMERA_SENSOR_H__
 #define __LIBCAMERA_CAMERA_SENSOR_H__
 
+#include <memory>
 #include <string>
 #include <vector>
 
@@ -68,7 +69,7 @@ protected:
 
 private:
 	const MediaEntity *entity_;
-	V4L2Subdevice *subdev_;
+	std::unique_ptr<V4L2Subdevice> subdev_;
 	std::string model_;
 
 	std::vector<unsigned int> mbusCodes_;