diff --git a/include/wx/qt/statusbar.h b/include/wx/qt/statusbar.h
index 7e89426d25..7d289327fc 100644
--- a/include/wx/qt/statusbar.h
+++ b/include/wx/qt/statusbar.h
@@ -10,6 +10,8 @@
 
 #include "wx/statusbr.h"
 
+#include <QtCore/QScopedPointer>
+
 class QLabel;
 class QStatusBar;
 
@@ -45,7 +47,7 @@ private:
     void UpdateFields();
 
     QStatusBar *m_qtStatusBar;
-    QList< QLabel* > *m_qtPanes;
+    QScopedPointer< QList<QLabel*> > m_qtPanes; // should this really be a pointer?
 
     wxDECLARE_DYNAMIC_CLASS(wxStatusBar);
 };
diff --git a/src/qt/statusbar.cpp b/src/qt/statusbar.cpp
index cbf8664d89..fa30dbb23a 100644
--- a/src/qt/statusbar.cpp
+++ b/src/qt/statusbar.cpp
@@ -48,7 +48,7 @@ bool wxStatusBar::Create(wxWindow *parent, wxWindowID WXUNUSED(winid),
                          long style, const wxString& WXUNUSED(name))
 {
     m_qtStatusBar = new wxQtStatusBar( parent, this );
-    m_qtPanes = new QList < QLabel* >;
+    m_qtPanes.reset(new QList<QLabel*>());
 
     if ( style & wxSTB_SIZEGRIP )
         m_qtStatusBar->setSizeGripEnabled(true);
@@ -106,7 +106,6 @@ void wxStatusBar::Refresh( bool eraseBackground, const wxRect *rect )
 void wxStatusBar::Init()
 {
     m_qtStatusBar = NULL;
-    m_qtPanes = NULL;
 }
 
 void wxStatusBar::UpdateFields()