diff --git a/include/podio/Reader.h b/include/podio/Reader.h
index 8484fc1b2..e644a8238 100644
--- a/include/podio/Reader.h
+++ b/include/podio/Reader.h
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ class Reader {
 
   template <typename T>
   struct ReaderModel final : public ReaderConcept {
-    ReaderModel(T* reader) : m_reader(reader) {
+    ReaderModel(std::unique_ptr<T> reader) : m_reader(std::move(reader)) {
     }
     ReaderModel(const ReaderModel&) = delete;
     ReaderModel& operator=(const ReaderModel&) = delete;
diff --git a/src/Reader.cc b/src/Reader.cc
index 3684634f9..2686419b8 100644
--- a/src/Reader.cc
+++ b/src/Reader.cc
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 namespace podio {
 
 template <typename T>
-Reader::Reader(std::unique_ptr<T> reader) : m_self(std::make_unique<ReaderModel<T>>(reader.release())) {
+Reader::Reader(std::unique_ptr<T> reader) : m_self(std::make_unique<ReaderModel<T>>(std::move(reader))) {
 }
 
 Reader makeReader(const std::string& filename) {