diff --git a/src/wrap_helpers.hpp b/src/wrap_helpers.hpp
index 1384d79a51b7a7cabee7266806d98634c1356292..1635a6846690f6b618bf7642c316c36aa63342f4 100644
--- a/src/wrap_helpers.hpp
+++ b/src/wrap_helpers.hpp
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ namespace
   template <typename T>
   inline py::object handle_from_new_ptr(T *ptr)
   {
-    return py::cast(ptr);
+    return py::cast(ptr, py::return_value_policy::take_ownership);
   }
 
   template <typename T, typename ClType>