diff --git a/GroundMaterialConfiguration.cpp b/GroundMaterialConfiguration.cpp
index 6a19c0d4..60caab90 100644
--- a/GroundMaterialConfiguration.cpp
+++ b/GroundMaterialConfiguration.cpp
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@
 #include "GUI.h"
 #include "ContentLoader.h"
 #include "EnumToString.h"
+#include "MiscUtils.h"
 
 using namespace std;
 using namespace DFHack;
@@ -41,16 +42,6 @@ TerrainConfiguration::TerrainConfiguration()
     //dont really care about the rest of the sprite right now.
 }
 
-TerrainConfiguration::~TerrainConfiguration()
-{
-    uint32_t currentsize = (uint32_t)terrainMaterials.size();
-    for (uint32_t i = 0; i < currentsize; i++) {
-        if (terrainMaterials[i] != NULL) {
-            delete(terrainMaterials[i]);
-        }
-    }
-}
-
 void DumpInorganicMaterialNamesToDisk()
 {
     FILE* fp = fopen("dump.txt", "w");
@@ -261,13 +252,13 @@ void parseWallFloorSpriteElement(TiXmlElement* elemWallFloorSprite, vector<std::
                 // if that was null we have *really* screwed up earlier
                 // create a new TerrainMaterialConfiguration if required
                 // make sure we have room for it first
-                if (tConfig->terrainMaterials.size() <= (uint32_t)elemIndex) {
+                while (tConfig->terrainMaterials.size() <= (uint32_t)elemIndex) {
                     // dont make a full size vector in advance- most of the time
                     // we will only need the first few
-                    tConfig->terrainMaterials.resize(elemIndex + 1, NULL);
+                    tConfig->terrainMaterials.push_back(nullptr);
                 }
-                if (tConfig->terrainMaterials[elemIndex] == NULL) {
-                    tConfig->terrainMaterials[elemIndex] = new TerrainMaterialConfiguration();
+                if (tConfig->terrainMaterials[elemIndex] == nullptr) {
+                    tConfig->terrainMaterials[elemIndex] = dts::make_unique<TerrainMaterialConfiguration>();
                 }
                 // only update if not set by earlier configs,
                 //FIXME: figure out how to manage priorities here.
@@ -296,13 +287,13 @@ void parseWallFloorSpriteElement(TiXmlElement* elemWallFloorSprite, vector<std::
                 //if that was null we have *really* screwed up earlier
                 //create a new TerrainMaterialConfiguration if required
                 //make sure we have room for it first
-                if (tConfig->terrainMaterials.size() <= (uint32_t)elemIndex) {
+                while (tConfig->terrainMaterials.size() <= (uint32_t)elemIndex) {
                     //dont make a full size vector in advance- we wont need it except
                     //for those who insist on Soap Fortresses
-                    tConfig->terrainMaterials.resize(elemIndex + 1, NULL);
+                    tConfig->terrainMaterials.push_back(nullptr);
                 }
-                if (tConfig->terrainMaterials[elemIndex] == NULL) {
-                    tConfig->terrainMaterials[elemIndex] = new TerrainMaterialConfiguration();
+                if (tConfig->terrainMaterials[elemIndex] == nullptr) {
+                    tConfig->terrainMaterials[elemIndex] = dts::make_unique<TerrainMaterialConfiguration>();
                 }
                 // add to map (if not already present)
                 for (int j = 0; j < NUM_FORMS; j++) {
diff --git a/GroundMaterialConfiguration.h b/GroundMaterialConfiguration.h
index 5cdb5e97..52c374af 100644
--- a/GroundMaterialConfiguration.h
+++ b/GroundMaterialConfiguration.h
@@ -16,16 +16,14 @@ class TerrainMaterialConfiguration
     std::vector<std::map<int, std::pair<c_sprite, int>> > overridingMaterials;
 
     TerrainMaterialConfiguration();
-    ~TerrainMaterialConfiguration() {}
 };
 
 class TerrainConfiguration
 {
 public:
-    std::vector<TerrainMaterialConfiguration*> terrainMaterials;
+    std::vector<std::unique_ptr<TerrainMaterialConfiguration>> terrainMaterials;
     std::vector<std::pair<c_sprite, int>> defaultSprite;
     TerrainConfiguration();
-    ~TerrainConfiguration();
 };
 
 bool addSingleTerrainConfig( TiXmlElement* elemRoot);
diff --git a/SpriteMaps.cpp b/SpriteMaps.cpp
index 2d1bafe0..f9f01334 100644
--- a/SpriteMaps.cpp
+++ b/SpriteMaps.cpp
@@ -49,8 +49,8 @@ c_sprite *  GetTerrainSpriteMap(int in, t_matglossPair material, vector<std::uni
         }
     }
     // find mat config
-    TerrainMaterialConfiguration* terrainMat = terrain->terrainMaterials[material.type];
-    if (terrainMat == NULL) {
+    TerrainMaterialConfiguration* terrainMat = terrain->terrainMaterials[material.type].get();
+    if (terrainMat == nullptr) {
         if (terrain->defaultSprite[tempform].first.get_sheetindex() == UNCONFIGURED_INDEX) {
             return &(terrain->defaultSprite[0].first);
         } else {