diff --git a/models/diffusion_connection.h b/models/diffusion_connection.h
index d7b250853a..c96ac60017 100644
--- a/models/diffusion_connection.h
+++ b/models/diffusion_connection.h
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ class diffusion_connection : public Connection< targetidentifierT >
   {
   }
 
-  SecondaryEvent* get_secondary_event();
+  std::unique_ptr< SecondaryEvent > get_secondary_event();
 
   // Explicitly declare all methods inherited from the dependent base
   // ConnectionBase.
@@ -214,10 +214,10 @@ diffusion_connection< targetidentifierT >::set_status( const DictionaryDatum& d,
 
 
 template < typename targetidentifierT >
-SecondaryEvent*
+std::unique_ptr< SecondaryEvent >
 diffusion_connection< targetidentifierT >::get_secondary_event()
 {
-  return new DiffusionConnectionEvent();
+  return std::make_unique< DiffusionConnectionEvent >();
 }
 
 } // namespace
diff --git a/models/eprop_learning_signal_connection.h b/models/eprop_learning_signal_connection.h
index cc013a028b..c40b27a296 100644
--- a/models/eprop_learning_signal_connection.h
+++ b/models/eprop_learning_signal_connection.h
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ class eprop_learning_signal_connection : public Connection< targetidentifierT >
   }
 
   //! Get the secondary learning signal event.
-  SecondaryEvent* get_secondary_event();
+  std::unique_ptr< SecondaryEvent > get_secondary_event();
 
   using ConnectionBase::get_delay_steps;
   using ConnectionBase::get_rport;
@@ -220,10 +220,10 @@ eprop_learning_signal_connection< targetidentifierT >::set_status( const Diction
 }
 
 template < typename targetidentifierT >
-SecondaryEvent*
+std::unique_ptr< SecondaryEvent >
 eprop_learning_signal_connection< targetidentifierT >::get_secondary_event()
 {
-  return new LearningSignalConnectionEvent();
+  return std::make_unique< LearningSignalConnectionEvent >();
 }
 
 } // namespace nest
diff --git a/models/eprop_learning_signal_connection_bsshslm_2020.h b/models/eprop_learning_signal_connection_bsshslm_2020.h
index 5a6f5d5e5d..cf829a46db 100644
--- a/models/eprop_learning_signal_connection_bsshslm_2020.h
+++ b/models/eprop_learning_signal_connection_bsshslm_2020.h
@@ -154,7 +154,7 @@ class eprop_learning_signal_connection_bsshslm_2020 : public Connection< targeti
   }
 
   //! Get the secondary learning signal event.
-  SecondaryEvent* get_secondary_event();
+  std::unique_ptr< SecondaryEvent > get_secondary_event();
 
   using ConnectionBase::get_delay_steps;
   using ConnectionBase::get_rport;
@@ -224,10 +224,10 @@ eprop_learning_signal_connection_bsshslm_2020< targetidentifierT >::set_status(
 }
 
 template < typename targetidentifierT >
-SecondaryEvent*
+std::unique_ptr< SecondaryEvent >
 eprop_learning_signal_connection_bsshslm_2020< targetidentifierT >::get_secondary_event()
 {
-  return new LearningSignalConnectionEvent();
+  return std::make_unique< LearningSignalConnectionEvent >();
 }
 
 } // namespace nest
diff --git a/models/gap_junction.h b/models/gap_junction.h
index dd25df9776..415e819cc0 100644
--- a/models/gap_junction.h
+++ b/models/gap_junction.h
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ class gap_junction : public Connection< targetidentifierT >
   {
   }
 
-  SecondaryEvent* get_secondary_event();
+  std::unique_ptr< SecondaryEvent > get_secondary_event();
 
   // Explicitly declare all methods inherited from the dependent base
   // ConnectionBase. This avoids explicit name prefixes in all places these
@@ -177,10 +177,10 @@ gap_junction< targetidentifierT >::get_status( DictionaryDatum& d ) const
 }
 
 template < typename targetidentifierT >
-SecondaryEvent*
+std::unique_ptr< SecondaryEvent >
 gap_junction< targetidentifierT >::get_secondary_event()
 {
-  return new GapJunctionEvent();
+  return std::make_unique< GapJunctionEvent >();
 }
 
 template < typename targetidentifierT >
diff --git a/models/rate_connection_delayed.h b/models/rate_connection_delayed.h
index 81c3f3ea40..e5f1bf176d 100644
--- a/models/rate_connection_delayed.h
+++ b/models/rate_connection_delayed.h
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ class rate_connection_delayed : public Connection< targetidentifierT >
   {
   }
 
-  SecondaryEvent* get_secondary_event();
+  std::unique_ptr< SecondaryEvent > get_secondary_event();
 
   // Explicitly declare all methods inherited from the dependent base
   // ConnectionBase.
@@ -174,10 +174,10 @@ rate_connection_delayed< targetidentifierT >::set_status( const DictionaryDatum&
 }
 
 template < typename targetidentifierT >
-SecondaryEvent*
+std::unique_ptr< SecondaryEvent >
 rate_connection_delayed< targetidentifierT >::get_secondary_event()
 {
-  return new DelayedRateConnectionEvent();
+  return std::make_unique< DelayedRateConnectionEvent >();
 }
 
 } // namespace
diff --git a/models/rate_connection_instantaneous.h b/models/rate_connection_instantaneous.h
index 4d32e41cc0..577cca889b 100644
--- a/models/rate_connection_instantaneous.h
+++ b/models/rate_connection_instantaneous.h
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ class rate_connection_instantaneous : public Connection< targetidentifierT >
   {
   }
 
-  SecondaryEvent* get_secondary_event();
+  std::unique_ptr< SecondaryEvent > get_secondary_event();
 
   // Explicitly declare all methods inherited from the dependent base
   // ConnectionBase.
@@ -189,10 +189,10 @@ rate_connection_instantaneous< targetidentifierT >::set_status( const Dictionary
 }
 
 template < typename targetidentifierT >
-SecondaryEvent*
+std::unique_ptr< SecondaryEvent >
 rate_connection_instantaneous< targetidentifierT >::get_secondary_event()
 {
-  return new InstantaneousRateConnectionEvent();
+  return std::make_unique< InstantaneousRateConnectionEvent >();
 }
 
 } // namespace
diff --git a/models/sic_connection.h b/models/sic_connection.h
index 0cf806c2ac..a07c3a5b9a 100644
--- a/models/sic_connection.h
+++ b/models/sic_connection.h
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ class sic_connection : public Connection< targetidentifierT >
   {
   }
 
-  SecondaryEvent* get_secondary_event();
+  std::unique_ptr< SecondaryEvent > get_secondary_event();
 
   // Explicitly declare all methods inherited from the dependent base
   // ConnectionBase. This avoids explicit name prefixes in all places these
@@ -154,10 +154,10 @@ sic_connection< targetidentifierT >::get_status( DictionaryDatum& d ) const
 }
 
 template < typename targetidentifierT >
-SecondaryEvent*
+std::unique_ptr< SecondaryEvent >
 sic_connection< targetidentifierT >::get_secondary_event()
 {
-  return new SICEvent();
+  return std::make_unique< SICEvent >();
 }
 
 template < typename targetidentifierT >
diff --git a/nestkernel/connection.h b/nestkernel/connection.h
index 4a90eb2f0f..d3cb8f4cee 100644
--- a/nestkernel/connection.h
+++ b/nestkernel/connection.h
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ class Connection
    * To prevent erronous calls of this function on primary connections, the base class implementation
    * below just contains `assert(false)`.
    */
-  SecondaryEvent* get_secondary_event();
+  std::unique_ptr< SecondaryEvent > get_secondary_event();
 
   /**
    * Get all properties of this connection and put them into a dictionary.
@@ -399,7 +399,7 @@ Connection< targetidentifierT >::trigger_update_weight( const size_t,
 }
 
 template < typename targetidentifierT >
-SecondaryEvent*
+std::unique_ptr< SecondaryEvent >
 Connection< targetidentifierT >::get_secondary_event()
 {
   assert( false and "Non-primary connections have to provide get_secondary_event()" );
diff --git a/nestkernel/connection_manager.cpp b/nestkernel/connection_manager.cpp
index 0924fb73e2..22e55c871e 100644
--- a/nestkernel/connection_manager.cpp
+++ b/nestkernel/connection_manager.cpp
@@ -1681,19 +1681,20 @@ nest::ConnectionManager::deliver_secondary_events( const size_t tid,
     {
       if ( positions_tid[ syn_id ].size() > 0 )
       {
-        SecondaryEvent& prototype = kernel().model_manager.get_secondary_event_prototype( syn_id, tid );
+        std::unique_ptr< SecondaryEvent > prototype =
+          kernel().model_manager.get_secondary_event_prototype( syn_id, tid );
 
         size_t lcid = 0;
         const size_t lcid_end = positions_tid[ syn_id ].size();
         while ( lcid < lcid_end )
         {
           std::vector< unsigned int >::iterator readpos = recv_buffer.begin() + positions_tid[ syn_id ][ lcid ];
-          prototype << readpos;
-          prototype.set_stamp( stamp );
+          *prototype << readpos;
+          prototype->set_stamp( stamp );
 
           // send delivers event to all targets with the same source
           // and returns how many targets this event was delivered to
-          lcid += connections_[ tid ][ syn_id ]->send( tid, lcid, cm, prototype );
+          lcid += connections_[ tid ][ syn_id ]->send( tid, lcid, cm, *prototype );
         }
       }
     }
diff --git a/nestkernel/connector_model.h b/nestkernel/connector_model.h
index 0a7f83ce8e..0884b44312 100644
--- a/nestkernel/connector_model.h
+++ b/nestkernel/connector_model.h
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ class ConnectorModel
    */
   virtual void check_synapse_params( const DictionaryDatum& ) const = 0;
 
-  virtual SecondaryEvent* get_secondary_event() = 0;
+  virtual std::unique_ptr< SecondaryEvent > get_secondary_event() = 0;
 
   virtual size_t get_syn_id() const = 0;
   virtual void set_syn_id( synindex syn_id ) = 0;
@@ -199,7 +199,7 @@ class GenericConnectorModel : public ConnectorModel
 
   void check_synapse_params( const DictionaryDatum& syn_spec ) const override;
 
-  SecondaryEvent*
+  std::unique_ptr< SecondaryEvent >
   get_secondary_event() override
   {
     return default_connection_.get_secondary_event();
diff --git a/nestkernel/model_manager.h b/nestkernel/model_manager.h
index 924535a780..58c5ceafb2 100644
--- a/nestkernel/model_manager.h
+++ b/nestkernel/model_manager.h
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ class ModelManager : public ManagerInterface
    */
   void memory_info() const;
 
-  SecondaryEvent& get_secondary_event_prototype( const synindex syn_id, const size_t tid );
+  std::unique_ptr< SecondaryEvent > get_secondary_event_prototype( const synindex syn_id, const size_t tid );
 
 private:
   /**
@@ -319,11 +319,11 @@ ModelManager::assert_valid_syn_id( synindex syn_id, size_t t ) const
   }
 }
 
-inline SecondaryEvent&
+inline std::unique_ptr< SecondaryEvent >
 ModelManager::get_secondary_event_prototype( const synindex syn_id, const size_t tid )
 {
   assert_valid_syn_id( syn_id, tid );
-  return *get_connection_model( syn_id, tid ).get_secondary_event();
+  return get_connection_model( syn_id, tid ).get_secondary_event();
 }
 
 } // namespace nest
diff --git a/nestkernel/source_table.cpp b/nestkernel/source_table.cpp
index d9fcd7af1c..7007e8e60a 100644
--- a/nestkernel/source_table.cpp
+++ b/nestkernel/source_table.cpp
@@ -246,7 +246,7 @@ nest::SourceTable::compute_buffer_pos_for_unique_secondary_sources( const size_t
           ++cit )
     {
       const size_t source_rank = kernel().mpi_manager.get_process_id_of_node_id( cit->first );
-      const size_t event_size = kernel().model_manager.get_secondary_event_prototype( cit->second, tid ).size();
+      const size_t event_size = kernel().model_manager.get_secondary_event_prototype( cit->second, tid )->size();
 
       buffer_pos_of_source_node_id_syn_id.insert(
         std::make_pair( pack_source_node_id_and_syn_id( cit->first, cit->second ),