diff --git a/src/core/pointcloud/qgspointcloudlayerexporter.cpp b/src/core/pointcloud/qgspointcloudlayerexporter.cpp
index e5e4787792d6..c042aa5d1b11 100644
--- a/src/core/pointcloud/qgspointcloudlayerexporter.cpp
+++ b/src/core/pointcloud/qgspointcloudlayerexporter.cpp
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ QString QgsPointCloudLayerExporter::getOgrDriverName( ExportFormat format )
 
 QgsPointCloudLayerExporter::QgsPointCloudLayerExporter( QgsPointCloudLayer *layer )
   : mLayerAttributeCollection( layer->attributes() )
-  , mIndex( layer->dataProvider()->index()->clone().release() )
+  , mIndex( layer->dataProvider()->index()->clone() )
   , mSourceCrs( QgsCoordinateReferenceSystem( layer->crs() ) )
   , mTargetCrs( QgsCoordinateReferenceSystem( layer->crs() ) )
 {
diff --git a/src/core/pointcloud/qgspointcloudlayerexporter.h b/src/core/pointcloud/qgspointcloudlayerexporter.h
index 45ed03e42357..fbca3aa606c8 100644
--- a/src/core/pointcloud/qgspointcloudlayerexporter.h
+++ b/src/core/pointcloud/qgspointcloudlayerexporter.h
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ class CORE_EXPORT QgsPointCloudLayerExporter SIP_NODEFAULTCTORS
 
     const QgsPointCloudAttributeCollection mLayerAttributeCollection;
 
-    QgsPointCloudIndex *mIndex = nullptr;
+    std::unique_ptr< QgsPointCloudIndex > mIndex;
     QString mName = QObject::tr( "Exported" );
     ExportFormat mFormat = ExportFormat::Memory;
     QString mFilename;