diff --git a/src/core/qgsspatialiteutils.cpp b/src/core/qgsspatialiteutils.cpp
index 39a73d063c0..48f1336d3c0 100644
--- a/src/core/qgsspatialiteutils.cpp
+++ b/src/core/qgsspatialiteutils.cpp
@@ -22,18 +22,10 @@
 #include <sqlite3.h>
 #include <spatialite.h>
 
-spatialite_database_unique_ptr::spatialite_database_unique_ptr()
-  : std::unique_ptr< sqlite3, std::function<void( sqlite3 * )>> ( nullptr, [this]( sqlite3 * handle )->void
-{
-  deleter( handle );
-} )
-{
-}
-
 int spatialite_database_unique_ptr::open( const QString &path )
 {
 #if defined(SPATIALITE_HAS_INIT_EX)
-  mSpatialiteContext = spatialite_alloc_connection();
+  get_deleter().mSpatialiteContext = spatialite_alloc_connection();
 #else
   spatialite_init( 0 );
 #endif
@@ -44,7 +36,7 @@ int spatialite_database_unique_ptr::open( const QString &path )
 
 #if defined(SPATIALITE_HAS_INIT_EX)
   if ( result == SQLITE_OK )
-    spatialite_init_ex( database, mSpatialiteContext, 0 );
+    spatialite_init_ex( database, get_deleter().mSpatialiteContext, 0 );
 #endif
 
   return result;
@@ -53,7 +45,7 @@ int spatialite_database_unique_ptr::open( const QString &path )
 int spatialite_database_unique_ptr::open_v2( const QString &path, int flags, const char *zVfs )
 {
 #if defined(SPATIALITE_HAS_INIT_EX)
-  void *conn = spatialite_alloc_connection();
+  get_deleter().mSpatialiteContext = spatialite_alloc_connection();
 #else
   spatialite_init( 0 );
 #endif
@@ -64,7 +56,7 @@ int spatialite_database_unique_ptr::open_v2( const QString &path, int flags, con
 
 #if defined(SPATIALITE_HAS_INIT_EX)
   if ( result == SQLITE_OK )
-    spatialite_init_ex( database, conn, 0 );
+    spatialite_init_ex( database, get_deleter().mSpatialiteContext, 0 );
 #endif
 
   return result;
@@ -79,21 +71,24 @@ sqlite3_statement_unique_ptr spatialite_database_unique_ptr::prepare( const QStr
 {
   sqlite3_stmt *preparedStatement = nullptr;
   const char *tail = nullptr;
-  resultCode = sqlite3_prepare( get(), sql.toUtf8(), sql.toUtf8().length(), &preparedStatement, &tail );
+  const QByteArray sqlUtf8 = sql.toUtf8();
+  resultCode = sqlite3_prepare( get(), sqlUtf8, sqlUtf8.length(), &preparedStatement, &tail );
   sqlite3_statement_unique_ptr s;
   s.reset( preparedStatement );
   return s;
 }
 
-void spatialite_database_unique_ptr::deleter( sqlite3 *handle )
+void QgsSpatialiteCloser::operator()( sqlite3 *handle )
 {
+
 #if defined(SPATIALITE_HAS_INIT_EX)
   spatialite_cleanup_ex( mSpatialiteContext );
+  mSpatialiteContext = nullptr;
 #endif
 
   int res = sqlite3_close( handle );
   if ( res != SQLITE_OK )
   {
-    QgsDebugMsg( QString( "sqlite3_close() failed: %1" ).arg( res ) );
+    QgsDebugMsg( QStringLiteral( "sqlite3_close() failed: %1" ).arg( res ) );
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/core/qgsspatialiteutils.h b/src/core/qgsspatialiteutils.h
index de2358c2355..805b1d17100 100644
--- a/src/core/qgsspatialiteutils.h
+++ b/src/core/qgsspatialiteutils.h
@@ -24,6 +24,27 @@
 #include "qgssqliteutils.h"
 #include <functional>
 
+/**
+ * \ingroup core
+ *
+ * Closes a spatialite database.
+ *
+ * \since QGIS 3.0
+ */
+struct CORE_EXPORT QgsSpatialiteCloser
+{
+
+  /**
+   * Closes an spatialite \a database.
+   */
+  void operator()( sqlite3 *database );
+
+  /**
+   * Keep track of the spatialite context. Set in open(_v2)
+   */
+  void *mSpatialiteContext = nullptr;
+};
+
 /**
  * \ingroup core
  *
@@ -32,12 +53,10 @@
  *
  * \since QGIS 3.0
  */
-class CORE_EXPORT spatialite_database_unique_ptr : public std::unique_ptr< sqlite3, std::function<void( sqlite3 * )>>
+class CORE_EXPORT spatialite_database_unique_ptr : public std::unique_ptr< sqlite3, QgsSpatialiteCloser>
 {
   public:
 
-    spatialite_database_unique_ptr();
-
     /**
      * Opens the database at the specified file \a path.
      *
@@ -62,18 +81,6 @@ class CORE_EXPORT spatialite_database_unique_ptr : public std::unique_ptr< sqlit
      * argument will be filled with the sqlite3 result code.
      */
     sqlite3_statement_unique_ptr prepare( const QString &sql, int &resultCode );
-
-  private:
-
-    /**
-     * Will be set as deleter for this pointer in the constructor.
-     */
-    void deleter( sqlite3 *handle );
-
-    /**
-     * Keep track of the spatialite context. Set in open(_v2), unset in deleter.
-     */
-    void *mSpatialiteContext = nullptr;
 };
 
 #endif // QGSSPATIALITEUTILS_H