diff --git a/rclcpp/CMakeLists.txt b/rclcpp/CMakeLists.txt
index df45ff93cd..51389fc2a2 100644
--- a/rclcpp/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/rclcpp/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -125,6 +125,7 @@ ament_export_include_directories(include)
 ament_export_libraries(${PROJECT_NAME})
 
 if(BUILD_TESTING)
+  find_package(ament_cmake_gtest REQUIRED)
   find_package(ament_lint_auto REQUIRED)
   ament_lint_auto_find_test_dependencies()
 
diff --git a/rclcpp/include/rclcpp/client.hpp b/rclcpp/include/rclcpp/client.hpp
index 445f1d22af..d32a3b335e 100644
--- a/rclcpp/include/rclcpp/client.hpp
+++ b/rclcpp/include/rclcpp/client.hpp
@@ -68,11 +68,11 @@ class ClientBase
   get_service_name() const;
 
   RCLCPP_PUBLIC
-  rcl_client_t *
+  std::shared_ptr<rcl_client_t>
   get_client_handle();
 
   RCLCPP_PUBLIC
-  const rcl_client_t *
+  std::shared_ptr<const rcl_client_t>
   get_client_handle() const;
 
   RCLCPP_PUBLIC
@@ -112,7 +112,7 @@ class ClientBase
   rclcpp::node_interfaces::NodeGraphInterface::WeakPtr node_graph_;
   std::shared_ptr<rcl_node_t> node_handle_;
 
-  rcl_client_t client_handle_ = rcl_get_zero_initialized_client();
+  std::shared_ptr<rcl_client_t> client_handle_;
   std::string service_name_;
 };
 
@@ -148,7 +148,7 @@ class Client : public ClientBase
     auto service_type_support_handle =
       get_service_type_support_handle<ServiceT>();
     rcl_ret_t ret = rcl_client_init(
-      &client_handle_,
+      client_handle_.get(),
       this->get_rcl_node_handle(),
       service_type_support_handle,
       service_name.c_str(),
@@ -170,11 +170,6 @@ class Client : public ClientBase
 
   virtual ~Client()
   {
-    if (rcl_client_fini(&client_handle_, this->get_rcl_node_handle()) != RCL_RET_OK) {
-      fprintf(stderr,
-        "Error in destruction of rcl client handle: %s\n", rcl_get_error_string_safe());
-      rcl_reset_error();
-    }
   }
 
   std::shared_ptr<void>
@@ -238,7 +233,7 @@ class Client : public ClientBase
   {
     std::lock_guard<std::mutex> lock(pending_requests_mutex_);
     int64_t sequence_number;
-    rcl_ret_t ret = rcl_send_request(get_client_handle(), request.get(), &sequence_number);
+    rcl_ret_t ret = rcl_send_request(get_client_handle().get(), request.get(), &sequence_number);
     if (RCL_RET_OK != ret) {
       rclcpp::exceptions::throw_from_rcl_error(ret, "failed to send request");
     }
diff --git a/rclcpp/include/rclcpp/memory_strategy.hpp b/rclcpp/include/rclcpp/memory_strategy.hpp
index 0421555c6c..da1b160888 100644
--- a/rclcpp/include/rclcpp/memory_strategy.hpp
+++ b/rclcpp/include/rclcpp/memory_strategy.hpp
@@ -83,14 +83,18 @@ class RCLCPP_PUBLIC MemoryStrategy
 
   static rclcpp::SubscriptionBase::SharedPtr
   get_subscription_by_handle(
-    const rcl_subscription_t * subscriber_handle,
+    std::shared_ptr<const rcl_subscription_t> subscriber_handle,
     const WeakNodeVector & weak_nodes);
 
   static rclcpp::ServiceBase::SharedPtr
-  get_service_by_handle(const rcl_service_t * service_handle, const WeakNodeVector & weak_nodes);
+  get_service_by_handle(
+    std::shared_ptr<const rcl_service_t> service_handle,
+    const WeakNodeVector & weak_nodes);
 
   static rclcpp::ClientBase::SharedPtr
-  get_client_by_handle(const rcl_client_t * client_handle, const WeakNodeVector & weak_nodes);
+  get_client_by_handle(
+    std::shared_ptr<const rcl_client_t> client_handle,
+    const WeakNodeVector & weak_nodes);
 
   static rclcpp::node_interfaces::NodeBaseInterface::SharedPtr
   get_node_by_group(
diff --git a/rclcpp/include/rclcpp/service.hpp b/rclcpp/include/rclcpp/service.hpp
index ec8193fa08..27081b5fa0 100644
--- a/rclcpp/include/rclcpp/service.hpp
+++ b/rclcpp/include/rclcpp/service.hpp
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@
 #include <sstream>
 #include <string>
 
+#include "rcutils/logging_macros.h"
+
 #include "rcl/error_handling.h"
 #include "rcl/service.h"
 
@@ -30,6 +32,7 @@
 #include "rclcpp/type_support_decl.hpp"
 #include "rclcpp/expand_topic_or_service_name.hpp"
 #include "rclcpp/visibility_control.hpp"
+#include "rclcpp/logging.hpp"
 #include "rmw/error_handling.h"
 #include "rmw/rmw.h"
 
@@ -58,11 +61,11 @@ class ServiceBase
   get_service_name();
 
   RCLCPP_PUBLIC
-  rcl_service_t *
+  std::shared_ptr<rcl_service_t>
   get_service_handle();
 
   RCLCPP_PUBLIC
-  const rcl_service_t *
+  std::shared_ptr<const rcl_service_t>
   get_service_handle() const;
 
   virtual std::shared_ptr<void> create_request() = 0;
@@ -84,7 +87,7 @@ class ServiceBase
 
   std::shared_ptr<rcl_node_t> node_handle_;
 
-  rcl_service_t * service_handle_ = nullptr;
+  std::shared_ptr<rcl_service_t> service_handle_;
   std::string service_name_;
   bool owns_rcl_handle_ = true;
 };
@@ -116,11 +119,22 @@ class Service : public ServiceBase
     auto service_type_support_handle = get_service_type_support_handle<ServiceT>();
 
     // rcl does the static memory allocation here
-    service_handle_ = new rcl_service_t;
-    *service_handle_ = rcl_get_zero_initialized_service();
+    service_handle_ = std::shared_ptr<rcl_service_t>(
+      new rcl_service_t, [ = ](rcl_service_t * service)
+      {
+        if (rcl_service_fini(service, node_handle_.get()) != RCL_RET_OK) {
+          RCLCPP_ERROR(
+            rclcpp::get_logger(rcl_node_get_name(node_handle.get())).get_child("rclcpp"),
+            "Error in destruction of rcl service handle: %s",
+            rcl_get_error_string_safe());
+          rcl_reset_error();
+        }
+        delete service;
+      });
+    *service_handle_.get() = rcl_get_zero_initialized_service();
 
     rcl_ret_t ret = rcl_service_init(
-      service_handle_,
+      service_handle_.get(),
       node_handle.get(),
       service_type_support_handle,
       service_name.c_str(),
@@ -141,6 +155,29 @@ class Service : public ServiceBase
     }
   }
 
+  Service(
+    std::shared_ptr<rcl_node_t> node_handle,
+    std::shared_ptr<rcl_service_t> service_handle,
+    AnyServiceCallback<ServiceT> any_callback)
+  : ServiceBase(node_handle),
+    any_callback_(any_callback)
+  {
+    // check if service handle was initialized
+    if (!rcl_service_is_valid(service_handle.get(), nullptr)) {
+      // *INDENT-OFF* (prevent uncrustify from making unnecessary indents here)
+      throw std::runtime_error(
+        std::string("rcl_service_t in constructor argument must be initialized beforehand."));
+      // *INDENT-ON*
+    }
+
+    const char * service_name = rcl_service_get_service_name(service_handle.get());
+    if (!service_name) {
+      throw std::runtime_error("failed to get service name");
+    }
+    service_handle_ = service_handle;
+    service_name_ = std::string(service_name);
+  }
+
   Service(
     std::shared_ptr<rcl_node_t> node_handle,
     rcl_service_t * service_handle,
@@ -149,10 +186,7 @@ class Service : public ServiceBase
     any_callback_(any_callback)
   {
     // check if service handle was initialized
-    // TODO(karsten1987): Take this verification
-    // directly in rcl_*_t
-    // see: https://github.com/ros2/rcl/issues/81
-    if (!service_handle->impl) {
+    if (!rcl_service_is_valid(service_handle, nullptr)) {
       // *INDENT-OFF* (prevent uncrustify from making unnecessary indents here)
       throw std::runtime_error(
         std::string("rcl_service_t in constructor argument must be initialized beforehand."));
@@ -163,26 +197,17 @@ class Service : public ServiceBase
     if (!service_name) {
       throw std::runtime_error("failed to get service name");
     }
-    service_handle_ = service_handle;
     service_name_ = std::string(service_name);
-    owns_rcl_handle_ = false;
+
+    // In this case, rcl owns the service handle memory
+    service_handle_ = std::shared_ptr<rcl_service_t>(new rcl_service_t);
+    service_handle_->impl = service_handle->impl;
   }
 
   Service() = delete;
 
   virtual ~Service()
   {
-    // check if you have ownership of the handle
-    if (owns_rcl_handle_) {
-      if (rcl_service_fini(service_handle_, node_handle_.get()) != RCL_RET_OK) {
-        std::stringstream ss;
-        ss << "Error in destruction of rcl service_handle_ handle: " <<
-          rcl_get_error_string_safe() << '\n';
-        (std::cerr << ss.str()).flush();
-        rcl_reset_error();
-      }
-      delete service_handle_;
-    }
   }
 
   std::shared_ptr<void> create_request()
@@ -211,7 +236,7 @@ class Service : public ServiceBase
     std::shared_ptr<rmw_request_id_t> req_id,
     std::shared_ptr<typename ServiceT::Response> response)
   {
-    rcl_ret_t status = rcl_send_response(get_service_handle(), req_id.get(), response.get());
+    rcl_ret_t status = rcl_send_response(get_service_handle().get(), req_id.get(), response.get());
 
     if (status != RCL_RET_OK) {
       rclcpp::exceptions::throw_from_rcl_error(status, "failed to send response");
diff --git a/rclcpp/include/rclcpp/strategies/allocator_memory_strategy.hpp b/rclcpp/include/rclcpp/strategies/allocator_memory_strategy.hpp
index 588c587cbd..ef820d6c0b 100644
--- a/rclcpp/include/rclcpp/strategies/allocator_memory_strategy.hpp
+++ b/rclcpp/include/rclcpp/strategies/allocator_memory_strategy.hpp
@@ -98,22 +98,22 @@ class AllocatorMemoryStrategy : public memory_strategy::MemoryStrategy
   {
     for (size_t i = 0; i < wait_set->size_of_subscriptions; ++i) {
       if (!wait_set->subscriptions[i]) {
-        subscription_handles_[i] = nullptr;
+        subscription_handles_[i].reset();
       }
     }
     for (size_t i = 0; i < wait_set->size_of_services; ++i) {
       if (!wait_set->services[i]) {
-        service_handles_[i] = nullptr;
+        service_handles_[i].reset();
       }
     }
     for (size_t i = 0; i < wait_set->size_of_clients; ++i) {
       if (!wait_set->clients[i]) {
-        client_handles_[i] = nullptr;
+        client_handles_[i].reset();
       }
     }
     for (size_t i = 0; i < wait_set->size_of_timers; ++i) {
       if (!wait_set->timers[i]) {
-        timer_handles_[i] = nullptr;
+        timer_handles_[i].reset();
       }
     }
 
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ class AllocatorMemoryStrategy : public memory_strategy::MemoryStrategy
   bool add_handles_to_wait_set(rcl_wait_set_t * wait_set)
   {
     for (auto subscription : subscription_handles_) {
-      if (rcl_wait_set_add_subscription(wait_set, subscription) != RCL_RET_OK) {
+      if (rcl_wait_set_add_subscription(wait_set, subscription.get()) != RCL_RET_OK) {
         RCUTILS_LOG_ERROR_NAMED(
           "rclcpp",
           "Couldn't add subscription to wait set: %s", rcl_get_error_string_safe());
@@ -197,7 +197,7 @@ class AllocatorMemoryStrategy : public memory_strategy::MemoryStrategy
     }
 
     for (auto client : client_handles_) {
-      if (rcl_wait_set_add_client(wait_set, client) != RCL_RET_OK) {
+      if (rcl_wait_set_add_client(wait_set, client.get()) != RCL_RET_OK) {
         RCUTILS_LOG_ERROR_NAMED(
           "rclcpp",
           "Couldn't add client to wait set: %s", rcl_get_error_string_safe());
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ class AllocatorMemoryStrategy : public memory_strategy::MemoryStrategy
     }
 
     for (auto service : service_handles_) {
-      if (rcl_wait_set_add_service(wait_set, service) != RCL_RET_OK) {
+      if (rcl_wait_set_add_service(wait_set, service.get()) != RCL_RET_OK) {
         RCUTILS_LOG_ERROR_NAMED(
           "rclcpp",
           "Couldn't add service to wait set: %s", rcl_get_error_string_safe());
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ class AllocatorMemoryStrategy : public memory_strategy::MemoryStrategy
     }
 
     for (auto timer : timer_handles_) {
-      if (rcl_wait_set_add_timer(wait_set, timer) != RCL_RET_OK) {
+      if (rcl_wait_set_add_timer(wait_set, timer.get()) != RCL_RET_OK) {
         RCUTILS_LOG_ERROR_NAMED(
           "rclcpp",
           "Couldn't add timer to wait set: %s", rcl_get_error_string_safe());
@@ -391,10 +391,10 @@ class AllocatorMemoryStrategy : public memory_strategy::MemoryStrategy
 
   VectorRebind<const rcl_guard_condition_t *> guard_conditions_;
 
-  VectorRebind<const rcl_subscription_t *> subscription_handles_;
-  VectorRebind<const rcl_service_t *> service_handles_;
-  VectorRebind<const rcl_client_t *> client_handles_;
-  VectorRebind<const rcl_timer_t *> timer_handles_;
+  VectorRebind<std::shared_ptr<const rcl_subscription_t>> subscription_handles_;
+  VectorRebind<std::shared_ptr<const rcl_service_t>> service_handles_;
+  VectorRebind<std::shared_ptr<const rcl_client_t>> client_handles_;
+  VectorRebind<std::shared_ptr<const rcl_timer_t>> timer_handles_;
 
   std::shared_ptr<ExecAlloc> executable_allocator_;
   std::shared_ptr<VoidAlloc> allocator_;
diff --git a/rclcpp/include/rclcpp/subscription.hpp b/rclcpp/include/rclcpp/subscription.hpp
index bfbb0fe7aa..91c1248452 100644
--- a/rclcpp/include/rclcpp/subscription.hpp
+++ b/rclcpp/include/rclcpp/subscription.hpp
@@ -76,15 +76,15 @@ class SubscriptionBase
   get_topic_name() const;
 
   RCLCPP_PUBLIC
-  rcl_subscription_t *
+  std::shared_ptr<rcl_subscription_t>
   get_subscription_handle();
 
   RCLCPP_PUBLIC
-  const rcl_subscription_t *
+  const std::shared_ptr<rcl_subscription_t>
   get_subscription_handle() const;
 
   RCLCPP_PUBLIC
-  virtual const rcl_subscription_t *
+  virtual const std::shared_ptr<rcl_subscription_t>
   get_intra_process_subscription_handle() const;
 
   /// Borrow a new message.
@@ -110,8 +110,8 @@ class SubscriptionBase
     const rmw_message_info_t & message_info) = 0;
 
 protected:
-  rcl_subscription_t intra_process_subscription_handle_ = rcl_get_zero_initialized_subscription();
-  rcl_subscription_t subscription_handle_ = rcl_get_zero_initialized_subscription();
+  std::shared_ptr<rcl_subscription_t> intra_process_subscription_handle_;
+  std::shared_ptr<rcl_subscription_t> subscription_handle_;
   std::shared_ptr<rcl_node_t> node_handle_;
 
 private:
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ class Subscription : public SubscriptionBase
   {
     std::string intra_process_topic_name = std::string(get_topic_name()) + "/_intra";
     rcl_ret_t ret = rcl_subscription_init(
-      &intra_process_subscription_handle_,
+      intra_process_subscription_handle_.get(),
       node_handle_.get(),
       rclcpp::type_support::get_intra_process_message_msg_type_support(),
       intra_process_topic_name.c_str(),
@@ -266,13 +266,13 @@ class Subscription : public SubscriptionBase
   }
 
   /// Implemenation detail.
-  const rcl_subscription_t *
+  const std::shared_ptr<rcl_subscription_t>
   get_intra_process_subscription_handle() const
   {
     if (!get_intra_process_message_callback_) {
       return nullptr;
     }
-    return &intra_process_subscription_handle_;
+    return intra_process_subscription_handle_;
   }
 
 private:
diff --git a/rclcpp/include/rclcpp/timer.hpp b/rclcpp/include/rclcpp/timer.hpp
index 94cd537a39..6dc9815ec1 100644
--- a/rclcpp/include/rclcpp/timer.hpp
+++ b/rclcpp/include/rclcpp/timer.hpp
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ class TimerBase
   execute_callback() = 0;
 
   RCLCPP_PUBLIC
-  const rcl_timer_t *
+  std::shared_ptr<const rcl_timer_t>
   get_timer_handle();
 
   /// Check how long the timer has until its next scheduled callback.
@@ -85,7 +85,7 @@ class TimerBase
   bool is_ready();
 
 protected:
-  rcl_timer_t timer_handle_ = rcl_get_zero_initialized_timer();
+  std::shared_ptr<rcl_timer_t> timer_handle_;
 };
 
 
@@ -122,15 +122,12 @@ class GenericTimer : public TimerBase
   {
     // Stop the timer from running.
     cancel();
-    if (rcl_timer_fini(&timer_handle_) != RCL_RET_OK) {
-      fprintf(stderr, "Failed to clean up rcl timer handle: %s\n", rcl_get_error_string_safe());
-    }
   }
 
   void
   execute_callback()
   {
-    rcl_ret_t ret = rcl_timer_call(&timer_handle_);
+    rcl_ret_t ret = rcl_timer_call(timer_handle_.get());
     if (ret == RCL_RET_TIMER_CANCELED) {
       return;
     }
diff --git a/rclcpp/src/rclcpp/client.cpp b/rclcpp/src/rclcpp/client.cpp
index d646005b1f..70034b60e0 100644
--- a/rclcpp/src/rclcpp/client.cpp
+++ b/rclcpp/src/rclcpp/client.cpp
@@ -19,6 +19,8 @@
 #include <memory>
 #include <string>
 
+#include "rcutils/logging_macros.h"
+
 #include "rcl/graph.h"
 #include "rcl/node.h"
 #include "rcl/wait.h"
@@ -38,7 +40,20 @@ ClientBase::ClientBase(
 : node_graph_(node_graph),
   node_handle_(node_base->get_shared_rcl_node_handle()),
   service_name_(service_name)
-{}
+{
+  client_handle_ = std::shared_ptr<rcl_client_t>(
+    new rcl_client_t, [ = ](rcl_client_t * client)
+    {
+      if (rcl_client_fini(client, node_handle_.get()) != RCL_RET_OK) {
+        RCUTILS_LOG_ERROR_NAMED(
+          "rclcpp",
+          "Error in destruction of rcl client handle: %s", rcl_get_error_string_safe());
+        rcl_reset_error();
+        delete client;
+      }
+    });
+  *client_handle_.get() = rcl_get_zero_initialized_client();
+}
 
 ClientBase::~ClientBase() {}
 
@@ -48,16 +63,16 @@ ClientBase::get_service_name() const
   return this->service_name_;
 }
 
-rcl_client_t *
+std::shared_ptr<rcl_client_t>
 ClientBase::get_client_handle()
 {
-  return &client_handle_;
+  return client_handle_;
 }
 
-const rcl_client_t *
+std::shared_ptr<const rcl_client_t>
 ClientBase::get_client_handle() const
 {
-  return &client_handle_;
+  return client_handle_;
 }
 
 bool
@@ -65,7 +80,7 @@ ClientBase::service_is_ready() const
 {
   bool is_ready;
   rcl_ret_t ret =
-    rcl_service_server_is_available(this->get_rcl_node_handle(), &client_handle_, &is_ready);
+    rcl_service_server_is_available(this->get_rcl_node_handle(), client_handle_.get(), &is_ready);
   if (ret != RCL_RET_OK) {
     throw_from_rcl_error(ret, "rcl_service_server_is_available failed");
   }
diff --git a/rclcpp/src/rclcpp/executor.cpp b/rclcpp/src/rclcpp/executor.cpp
index f6a97bf157..ae2a34d4c8 100644
--- a/rclcpp/src/rclcpp/executor.cpp
+++ b/rclcpp/src/rclcpp/executor.cpp
@@ -280,7 +280,7 @@ Executor::execute_subscription(
   std::shared_ptr<void> message = subscription->create_message();
   rmw_message_info_t message_info;
 
-  auto ret = rcl_take(subscription->get_subscription_handle(),
+  auto ret = rcl_take(subscription->get_subscription_handle().get(),
       message.get(), &message_info);
   if (ret == RCL_RET_OK) {
     message_info.from_intra_process = false;
@@ -302,7 +302,7 @@ Executor::execute_intra_process_subscription(
   rcl_interfaces::msg::IntraProcessMessage ipm;
   rmw_message_info_t message_info;
   rcl_ret_t status = rcl_take(
-    subscription->get_intra_process_subscription_handle(),
+    subscription->get_intra_process_subscription_handle().get(),
     &ipm,
     &message_info);
 
@@ -332,7 +332,7 @@ Executor::execute_service(
   auto request_header = service->create_request_header();
   std::shared_ptr<void> request = service->create_request();
   rcl_ret_t status = rcl_take_request(
-    service->get_service_handle(),
+    service->get_service_handle().get(),
     request_header.get(),
     request.get());
   if (status == RCL_RET_OK) {
@@ -353,7 +353,7 @@ Executor::execute_client(
   auto request_header = client->create_request_header();
   std::shared_ptr<void> response = client->create_response();
   rcl_ret_t status = rcl_take_response(
-    client->get_client_handle(),
+    client->get_client_handle().get(),
     request_header.get(),
     response.get());
   if (status == RCL_RET_OK) {
diff --git a/rclcpp/src/rclcpp/memory_strategy.cpp b/rclcpp/src/rclcpp/memory_strategy.cpp
index f4efb3f1b2..5ef79a1dd8 100644
--- a/rclcpp/src/rclcpp/memory_strategy.cpp
+++ b/rclcpp/src/rclcpp/memory_strategy.cpp
@@ -13,12 +13,14 @@
 // limitations under the License.
 
 #include "rclcpp/memory_strategy.hpp"
+#include <memory>
 
 using rclcpp::memory_strategy::MemoryStrategy;
 
 rclcpp::SubscriptionBase::SharedPtr
 MemoryStrategy::get_subscription_by_handle(
-  const rcl_subscription_t * subscriber_handle, const WeakNodeVector & weak_nodes)
+  std::shared_ptr<const rcl_subscription_t> subscriber_handle,
+  const WeakNodeVector & weak_nodes)
 {
   for (auto & weak_node : weak_nodes) {
     auto node = weak_node.lock();
@@ -48,7 +50,7 @@ MemoryStrategy::get_subscription_by_handle(
 
 rclcpp::ServiceBase::SharedPtr
 MemoryStrategy::get_service_by_handle(
-  const rcl_service_t * service_handle,
+  std::shared_ptr<const rcl_service_t> service_handle,
   const WeakNodeVector & weak_nodes)
 {
   for (auto & weak_node : weak_nodes) {
@@ -74,7 +76,7 @@ MemoryStrategy::get_service_by_handle(
 
 rclcpp::ClientBase::SharedPtr
 MemoryStrategy::get_client_by_handle(
-  const rcl_client_t * client_handle,
+  std::shared_ptr<const rcl_client_t> client_handle,
   const WeakNodeVector & weak_nodes)
 {
   for (auto & weak_node : weak_nodes) {
diff --git a/rclcpp/src/rclcpp/service.cpp b/rclcpp/src/rclcpp/service.cpp
index 441c2f67e6..6ea503080c 100644
--- a/rclcpp/src/rclcpp/service.cpp
+++ b/rclcpp/src/rclcpp/service.cpp
@@ -46,13 +46,13 @@ ServiceBase::get_service_name()
   return this->service_name_;
 }
 
-rcl_service_t *
+std::shared_ptr<rcl_service_t>
 ServiceBase::get_service_handle()
 {
   return service_handle_;
 }
 
-const rcl_service_t *
+std::shared_ptr<const rcl_service_t>
 ServiceBase::get_service_handle() const
 {
   return service_handle_;
diff --git a/rclcpp/src/rclcpp/subscription.cpp b/rclcpp/src/rclcpp/subscription.cpp
index 79170acdf8..767624931e 100644
--- a/rclcpp/src/rclcpp/subscription.cpp
+++ b/rclcpp/src/rclcpp/subscription.cpp
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@
 
 #include "rclcpp/subscription.hpp"
 
+#include <rcutils/logging_macros.h>
+
 #include <cstdio>
 #include <memory>
 #include <string>
@@ -24,7 +26,6 @@
 #include "rmw/error_handling.h"
 #include "rmw/rmw.h"
 
-
 using rclcpp::SubscriptionBase;
 
 SubscriptionBase::SubscriptionBase(
@@ -34,8 +35,28 @@ SubscriptionBase::SubscriptionBase(
   const rcl_subscription_options_t & subscription_options)
 : node_handle_(node_handle)
 {
+  auto custom_deletor = [ = ](rcl_subscription_t * rcl_subs)
+    {
+      if (rcl_subscription_fini(rcl_subs, node_handle_.get()) != RCL_RET_OK) {
+        RCUTILS_LOG_ERROR_NAMED(
+          "rclcpp",
+          "Error in destruction of rcl subscription handle: %s",
+          rcl_get_error_string_safe());
+        rcl_reset_error();
+      }
+      delete rcl_subs;
+    };
+
+  subscription_handle_ = std::shared_ptr<rcl_subscription_t>(
+    new rcl_subscription_t, custom_deletor);
+  *subscription_handle_.get() = rcl_get_zero_initialized_subscription();
+
+  intra_process_subscription_handle_ = std::shared_ptr<rcl_subscription_t>(
+    new rcl_subscription_t, custom_deletor);
+  *intra_process_subscription_handle_.get() = rcl_get_zero_initialized_subscription();
+
   rcl_ret_t ret = rcl_subscription_init(
-    &subscription_handle_,
+    subscription_handle_.get(),
     node_handle_.get(),
     &type_support_handle,
     topic_name.c_str(),
@@ -57,42 +78,28 @@ SubscriptionBase::SubscriptionBase(
 
 SubscriptionBase::~SubscriptionBase()
 {
-  if (rcl_subscription_fini(&subscription_handle_, node_handle_.get()) != RCL_RET_OK) {
-    std::stringstream ss;
-    ss << "Error in destruction of rcl subscription handle: " <<
-      rcl_get_error_string_safe() << '\n';
-    (std::cerr << ss.str()).flush();
-  }
-  if (rcl_subscription_fini(
-      &intra_process_subscription_handle_, node_handle_.get()) != RCL_RET_OK)
-  {
-    std::stringstream ss;
-    ss << "Error in destruction of rmw intra process subscription handle: " <<
-      rcl_get_error_string_safe() << '\n';
-    (std::cerr << ss.str()).flush();
-  }
 }
 
 const char *
 SubscriptionBase::get_topic_name() const
 {
-  return rcl_subscription_get_topic_name(&subscription_handle_);
+  return rcl_subscription_get_topic_name(subscription_handle_.get());
 }
 
-rcl_subscription_t *
+std::shared_ptr<rcl_subscription_t>
 SubscriptionBase::get_subscription_handle()
 {
-  return &subscription_handle_;
+  return subscription_handle_;
 }
 
-const rcl_subscription_t *
+const std::shared_ptr<rcl_subscription_t>
 SubscriptionBase::get_subscription_handle() const
 {
-  return &subscription_handle_;
+  return subscription_handle_;
 }
 
-const rcl_subscription_t *
+const std::shared_ptr<rcl_subscription_t>
 SubscriptionBase::get_intra_process_subscription_handle() const
 {
-  return &intra_process_subscription_handle_;
+  return intra_process_subscription_handle_;
 }
diff --git a/rclcpp/src/rclcpp/timer.cpp b/rclcpp/src/rclcpp/timer.cpp
index db03d6b69e..138e19d42f 100644
--- a/rclcpp/src/rclcpp/timer.cpp
+++ b/rclcpp/src/rclcpp/timer.cpp
@@ -16,16 +16,36 @@
 
 #include <chrono>
 #include <string>
+#include <memory>
+
+#include "rcutils/logging_macros.h"
 
 using rclcpp::TimerBase;
 
 TimerBase::TimerBase(std::chrono::nanoseconds period)
 {
+  timer_handle_ = std::shared_ptr<rcl_timer_t>(
+    new rcl_timer_t, [ = ](rcl_timer_t * timer)
+    {
+      if (rcl_timer_fini(timer) != RCL_RET_OK) {
+        RCUTILS_LOG_ERROR_NAMED(
+          "rclcpp",
+          "Failed to clean up rcl timer handle: %s", rcl_get_error_string_safe());
+        rcl_reset_error();
+      }
+      delete timer;
+    });
+
+  *timer_handle_.get() = rcl_get_zero_initialized_timer();
+
   if (rcl_timer_init(
-      &timer_handle_, period.count(), nullptr,
+      timer_handle_.get(), period.count(), nullptr,
       rcl_get_default_allocator()) != RCL_RET_OK)
   {
-    fprintf(stderr, "Couldn't initialize rcl timer handle: %s\n", rcl_get_error_string_safe());
+    RCUTILS_LOG_ERROR_NAMED(
+      "rclcpp",
+      "Couldn't initialize rcl timer handle: %s\n", rcl_get_error_string_safe());
+    rcl_reset_error();
   }
 }
 
@@ -35,7 +55,7 @@ TimerBase::~TimerBase()
 void
 TimerBase::cancel()
 {
-  if (rcl_timer_cancel(&timer_handle_) != RCL_RET_OK) {
+  if (rcl_timer_cancel(timer_handle_.get()) != RCL_RET_OK) {
     throw std::runtime_error(std::string("Couldn't cancel timer: ") + rcl_get_error_string_safe());
   }
 }
@@ -43,7 +63,7 @@ TimerBase::cancel()
 void
 TimerBase::reset()
 {
-  if (rcl_timer_reset(&timer_handle_) != RCL_RET_OK) {
+  if (rcl_timer_reset(timer_handle_.get()) != RCL_RET_OK) {
     throw std::runtime_error(std::string("Couldn't reset timer: ") + rcl_get_error_string_safe());
   }
 }
@@ -52,7 +72,7 @@ bool
 TimerBase::is_ready()
 {
   bool ready = false;
-  if (rcl_timer_is_ready(&timer_handle_, &ready) != RCL_RET_OK) {
+  if (rcl_timer_is_ready(timer_handle_.get(), &ready) != RCL_RET_OK) {
     throw std::runtime_error(std::string("Failed to check timer: ") + rcl_get_error_string_safe());
   }
   return ready;
@@ -62,7 +82,9 @@ std::chrono::nanoseconds
 TimerBase::time_until_trigger()
 {
   int64_t time_until_next_call = 0;
-  if (rcl_timer_get_time_until_next_call(&timer_handle_, &time_until_next_call) != RCL_RET_OK) {
+  if (rcl_timer_get_time_until_next_call(timer_handle_.get(),
+    &time_until_next_call) != RCL_RET_OK)
+  {
     throw std::runtime_error(
             std::string("Timer could not get time until next call: ") +
             rcl_get_error_string_safe());
@@ -70,8 +92,8 @@ TimerBase::time_until_trigger()
   return std::chrono::nanoseconds(time_until_next_call);
 }
 
-const rcl_timer_t *
+std::shared_ptr<const rcl_timer_t>
 TimerBase::get_timer_handle()
 {
-  return &timer_handle_;
+  return timer_handle_;
 }