diff --git a/src/network/core/tcp.cpp b/src/network/core/tcp.cpp
index 626f978b42..b792aa96f9 100644
--- a/src/network/core/tcp.cpp
+++ b/src/network/core/tcp.cpp
@@ -41,7 +41,6 @@ void NetworkTCPSocketHandler::EmptyPacketQueue()
 	while (this->packet_queue != nullptr) {
 		delete Packet::PopFromQueue(&this->packet_queue);
 	}
-	delete this->packet_recv;
 	this->packet_recv = nullptr;
 }
 
@@ -141,17 +140,17 @@ SendPacketsState NetworkTCPSocketHandler::SendPackets(bool closing_down)
  * Receives a packet for the given client
  * @return The received packet (or nullptr when it didn't receive one)
  */
-Packet *NetworkTCPSocketHandler::ReceivePacket()
+std::unique_ptr<Packet> NetworkTCPSocketHandler::ReceivePacket()
 {
 	ssize_t res;
 
 	if (!this->IsConnected()) return nullptr;
 
 	if (this->packet_recv == nullptr) {
-		this->packet_recv = new Packet(this, TCP_MTU);
+		this->packet_recv = std::make_unique<Packet>(this, TCP_MTU);
 	}
 
-	Packet *p = this->packet_recv;
+	Packet *p = this->packet_recv.get();
 
 	/* Read packet size */
 	if (!p->HasPacketSizeData()) {
@@ -203,11 +202,8 @@ Packet *NetworkTCPSocketHandler::ReceivePacket()
 		}
 	}
 
-	/* Prepare for receiving a new packet */
-	this->packet_recv = nullptr;
-
 	p->PrepareToRead();
-	return p;
+	return std::move(this->packet_recv);
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/network/core/tcp.h b/src/network/core/tcp.h
index caade125b0..e4b49b31cd 100644
--- a/src/network/core/tcp.h
+++ b/src/network/core/tcp.h
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ enum SendPacketsState {
 class NetworkTCPSocketHandler : public NetworkSocketHandler {
 private:
 	Packet *packet_queue;     ///< Packets that are awaiting delivery
-	Packet *packet_recv;      ///< Partially received packet
+	std::unique_ptr<Packet> packet_recv; ///< Partially received packet
 
 	void EmptyPacketQueue();
 public:
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ public:
 	virtual void SendPacket(Packet *packet);
 	SendPacketsState SendPackets(bool closing_down = false);
 
-	virtual Packet *ReceivePacket();
+	virtual std::unique_ptr<Packet> ReceivePacket();
 
 	bool CanSendReceive();
 
diff --git a/src/network/core/tcp_admin.cpp b/src/network/core/tcp_admin.cpp
index 895817cad3..fe1750482e 100644
--- a/src/network/core/tcp_admin.cpp
+++ b/src/network/core/tcp_admin.cpp
@@ -108,10 +108,9 @@ NetworkRecvStatus NetworkAdminSocketHandler::HandlePacket(Packet *p)
  */
 NetworkRecvStatus NetworkAdminSocketHandler::ReceivePackets()
 {
-	Packet *p;
+	std::unique_ptr<Packet> p;
 	while ((p = this->ReceivePacket()) != nullptr) {
-		NetworkRecvStatus res = this->HandlePacket(p);
-		delete p;
+		NetworkRecvStatus res = this->HandlePacket(p.get());
 		if (res != NETWORK_RECV_STATUS_OKAY) return res;
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/network/core/tcp_content.cpp b/src/network/core/tcp_content.cpp
index 11df443b86..199c70b11c 100644
--- a/src/network/core/tcp_content.cpp
+++ b/src/network/core/tcp_content.cpp
@@ -146,12 +146,11 @@ bool NetworkContentSocketHandler::ReceivePackets()
 	 *
 	 * What arbitrary number to choose is the ultimate question though.
 	 */
-	Packet *p;
+	std::unique_ptr<Packet> p;
 	static const int MAX_PACKETS_TO_RECEIVE = 42;
 	int i = MAX_PACKETS_TO_RECEIVE;
 	while (--i != 0 && (p = this->ReceivePacket()) != nullptr) {
-		bool cont = this->HandlePacket(p);
-		delete p;
+		bool cont = this->HandlePacket(p.get());
 		if (!cont) return true;
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/network/core/tcp_coordinator.cpp b/src/network/core/tcp_coordinator.cpp
index cffb36ab6d..70533657b8 100644
--- a/src/network/core/tcp_coordinator.cpp
+++ b/src/network/core/tcp_coordinator.cpp
@@ -64,12 +64,11 @@ bool NetworkCoordinatorSocketHandler::ReceivePackets()
 	 *
 	 * What arbitrary number to choose is the ultimate question though.
 	 */
-	Packet *p;
+	std::unique_ptr<Packet> p;
 	static const int MAX_PACKETS_TO_RECEIVE = 42;
 	int i = MAX_PACKETS_TO_RECEIVE;
 	while (--i != 0 && (p = this->ReceivePacket()) != nullptr) {
-		bool cont = this->HandlePacket(p);
-		delete p;
+		bool cont = this->HandlePacket(p.get());
 		if (!cont) return true;
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/network/core/tcp_game.cpp b/src/network/core/tcp_game.cpp
index 0f8051eef6..fc199c5d60 100644
--- a/src/network/core/tcp_game.cpp
+++ b/src/network/core/tcp_game.cpp
@@ -135,10 +135,9 @@ NetworkRecvStatus NetworkGameSocketHandler::HandlePacket(Packet *p)
  */
 NetworkRecvStatus NetworkGameSocketHandler::ReceivePackets()
 {
-	Packet *p;
+	std::unique_ptr<Packet> p;
 	while ((p = this->ReceivePacket()) != nullptr) {
-		NetworkRecvStatus res = HandlePacket(p);
-		delete p;
+		NetworkRecvStatus res = HandlePacket(p.get());
 		if (res != NETWORK_RECV_STATUS_OKAY) return res;
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/network/core/tcp_turn.cpp b/src/network/core/tcp_turn.cpp
index 76096aeb2b..0fc549aacd 100644
--- a/src/network/core/tcp_turn.cpp
+++ b/src/network/core/tcp_turn.cpp
@@ -43,12 +43,11 @@ bool NetworkTurnSocketHandler::HandlePacket(Packet *p)
  */
 bool NetworkTurnSocketHandler::ReceivePackets()
 {
-	Packet *p;
+	std::unique_ptr<Packet> p;
 	static const int MAX_PACKETS_TO_RECEIVE = 4;
 	int i = MAX_PACKETS_TO_RECEIVE;
 	while (--i != 0 && (p = this->ReceivePacket()) != nullptr) {
-		bool cont = this->HandlePacket(p);
-		delete p;
+		bool cont = this->HandlePacket(p.get());
 		if (!cont) return true;
 	}
 
diff --git a/src/network/network_server.cpp b/src/network/network_server.cpp
index 1dda7dbcf4..7e8a11dffa 100644
--- a/src/network/network_server.cpp
+++ b/src/network/network_server.cpp
@@ -239,7 +239,7 @@ ServerNetworkGameSocketHandler::~ServerNetworkGameSocketHandler()
 	}
 }
 
-Packet *ServerNetworkGameSocketHandler::ReceivePacket()
+std::unique_ptr<Packet> ServerNetworkGameSocketHandler::ReceivePacket()
 {
 	/* Only allow receiving when we have some buffer free; this value
 	 * can go negative, but eventually it will become positive again. */
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ Packet *ServerNetworkGameSocketHandler::ReceivePacket()
 
 	/* We can receive a packet, so try that and if needed account for
 	 * the amount of received data. */
-	Packet *p = this->NetworkTCPSocketHandler::ReceivePacket();
+	std::unique_ptr<Packet> p = this->NetworkTCPSocketHandler::ReceivePacket();
 	if (p != nullptr) this->receive_limit -= p->Size();
 	return p;
 }
diff --git a/src/network/network_server.h b/src/network/network_server.h
index 2ff1c9798f..973b30157e 100644
--- a/src/network/network_server.h
+++ b/src/network/network_server.h
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ public:
 	ServerNetworkGameSocketHandler(SOCKET s);
 	~ServerNetworkGameSocketHandler();
 
-	Packet *ReceivePacket() override;
+	std::unique_ptr<Packet> ReceivePacket() override;
 	NetworkRecvStatus CloseConnection(NetworkRecvStatus status) override;
 	std::string GetClientName() const;