diff --git a/src/cpp/httprequest.h b/src/cpp/httprequest.h
index 1901f889..99c54368 100644
--- a/src/cpp/httprequest.h
+++ b/src/cpp/httprequest.h
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 /*
  * Copyright (C) 2012-2016 Fanout, Inc.
- * Copyright (C) 2023 Fastly, Inc.
+ * Copyright (C) 2023-2024 Fastly, Inc.
  *
  * This file is part of Pushpin.
  *
@@ -24,19 +24,17 @@
 #ifndef HTTPREQUEST_H
 #define HTTPREQUEST_H
 
-#include <QObject>
 #include <QUrl>
 #include <QHostAddress>
 #include "httpheaders.h"
 #include <boost/signals2.hpp>
+#include <memory>
 
 using Signal = boost::signals2::signal<void()>;
 using SignalInt = boost::signals2::signal<void(int)>;
 
-class HttpRequest : public QObject
+class HttpRequest
 {
-	Q_OBJECT
-
 public:
 	enum ErrorCondition
 	{
@@ -52,7 +50,7 @@ class HttpRequest : public QObject
 		ErrorRequestTooLarge
 	};
 
-	HttpRequest(QObject *parent = 0) : QObject(parent) {}
+	HttpRequest() {}
 
 	virtual QHostAddress peerAddress() const = 0;
 
diff --git a/src/cpp/proxy/testhttprequest.cpp b/src/cpp/proxy/testhttprequest.cpp
index dfe36308..672d8caa 100644
--- a/src/cpp/proxy/testhttprequest.cpp
+++ b/src/cpp/proxy/testhttprequest.cpp
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 /*
  * Copyright (C) 2016 Fanout, Inc.
+ * Copyright (C) 2024 Fastly, Inc.
  *
  * This file is part of Pushpin.
  *
@@ -32,10 +33,8 @@
 
 #define MAX_REQUEST_SIZE 100000
 
-class TestHttpRequest::Private : public QObject
-{
-	Q_OBJECT
-
+class TestHttpRequest::Private
+{ 
 public:
 	enum State
 	{
@@ -55,7 +54,6 @@ class TestHttpRequest::Private : public QObject
 	ErrorCondition errorCondition;
 
 	Private(TestHttpRequest *_q) :
-		QObject(_q),
 		q(_q),
 		state(Idle),
 		requestBodyFinished(false),
@@ -139,10 +137,10 @@ public slots:
 	}
 };
 
-TestHttpRequest::TestHttpRequest(QObject *parent) :
-	HttpRequest(parent)
+TestHttpRequest::TestHttpRequest() :
+	HttpRequest()
 {
-	d = new Private(this);
+    d = std::make_unique<Private>(this);
 }
 
 TestHttpRequest::~TestHttpRequest()
diff --git a/src/cpp/proxy/testhttprequest.h b/src/cpp/proxy/testhttprequest.h
index a9873d8e..3369564c 100644
--- a/src/cpp/proxy/testhttprequest.h
+++ b/src/cpp/proxy/testhttprequest.h
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 /*
  * Copyright (C) 2016 Fanout, Inc.
+ * Copyright (C) 2024 Fastly, Inc.
  *
  * This file is part of Pushpin.
  *
@@ -24,16 +25,15 @@
 #define TESTHTTPREQUEST_H
 
 #include "httprequest.h"
+#include <memory>
 
 class TestHttpRequest : public HttpRequest
 {
-	Q_OBJECT
-
 public:
 	// pair of sender + request id
 	typedef QPair<QByteArray, QByteArray> Rid;
 
-	TestHttpRequest(QObject *parent = 0);
+	TestHttpRequest();
 	~TestHttpRequest();
 
 	// reimplemented
@@ -74,7 +74,7 @@ class TestHttpRequest : public HttpRequest
 private:
 	class Private;
 	friend class Private;
-	Private *d;
+	std::unique_ptr<Private> d;
 };
 
 #endif
diff --git a/src/cpp/rtimer.cpp b/src/cpp/rtimer.cpp
index ef2cb471..1e605bad 100644
--- a/src/cpp/rtimer.cpp
+++ b/src/cpp/rtimer.cpp
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 #include <QDateTime>
 #include <QTimer>
 #include "timerwheel.h"
+#include <memory>
 
 #define TICK_DURATION_MS 10
 #define UPDATE_TICKS_MAX 1000
@@ -46,37 +47,33 @@ static qint64 ticksToDuration(qint64 ticks)
 	return ticks * TICK_DURATION_MS;
 }
 
-class TimerManager : public QObject
+class TimerManager
 {
-	Q_OBJECT
-
 public:
-	TimerManager(int capacity, QObject *parent = 0);
+	TimerManager(int capacity);
 
 	int add(int msec, RTimer *r);
 	void remove(int key);
 
-private slots:
+private:
 	void t_timeout();
 
-private:
 	TimerWheel wheel_;
 	qint64 startTime_;
 	quint64 currentTicks_;
-	QTimer *t_;
+	std::unique_ptr<QTimer> t_;
 
 	void updateTimeout(qint64 currentTime);
 };
 
-TimerManager::TimerManager(int capacity, QObject *parent) :
-	QObject(parent),
+TimerManager::TimerManager(int capacity) :
 	wheel_(TimerWheel(capacity))
 {
 	startTime_ = QDateTime::currentMSecsSinceEpoch();
 	currentTicks_ = 0;
 
-	t_ = new QTimer(this);
-	connect(t_, &QTimer::timeout, this, &TimerManager::t_timeout);
+	t_ = std::make_unique<QTimer>(this);
+	QObject::connect(t_.get(), &QTimer::timeout, this, &TimerManager::t_timeout);
 	t_->setSingleShot(true);
 }
 
@@ -170,10 +167,9 @@ void TimerManager::updateTimeout(qint64 currentTime)
 	}
 }
 
-static TimerManager *g_manager = 0;
+static std::unique_ptr<TimerManager> g_manager = nullptr;
 
-RTimer::RTimer(QObject *parent) :
-	QObject(parent),
+RTimer::RTimer() :
 	singleShot_(false),
 	interval_(0),
 	timerId_(-1)
@@ -243,7 +239,7 @@ void RTimer::init(int capacity)
 {
 	assert(!g_manager);
 
-	g_manager = new TimerManager(capacity);
+	g_manager = std::make_unique<TimerManager>(capacity);
 }
 
 void RTimer::deinit()
@@ -251,5 +247,3 @@ void RTimer::deinit()
 	delete g_manager;
 	g_manager = 0;
 }
-
-#include "rtimer.moc"
diff --git a/src/cpp/rtimer.h b/src/cpp/rtimer.h
index ffacf13c..dd56d18a 100644
--- a/src/cpp/rtimer.h
+++ b/src/cpp/rtimer.h
@@ -30,12 +30,10 @@ using Signal = boost::signals2::signal<void()>;
 
 class TimerManager;
 
-class RTimer : public QObject
+class RTimer
 {
-	Q_OBJECT
-
 public:
-	RTimer(QObject *parent = 0);
+	RTimer();
 	~RTimer();
 
 	bool isActive() const;
diff --git a/src/cpp/zhttpmanager.cpp b/src/cpp/zhttpmanager.cpp
index 96f3b49e..92aec530 100644
--- a/src/cpp/zhttpmanager.cpp
+++ b/src/cpp/zhttpmanager.cpp
@@ -35,6 +35,7 @@
 #include "log.h"
 #include "zutil.h"
 #include "logutil.h"
+#include <memory>
 
 #define OUT_HWM 100
 #define IN_HWM 100
@@ -54,10 +55,8 @@
 // needs to match the peer
 #define ZHTTP_IDS_MAX 128
 
-class ZhttpManager::Private : public QObject
+class ZhttpManager::Private
 {
-	Q_OBJECT
-
 public:
 	enum SessionType
 	{
@@ -82,25 +81,25 @@ class ZhttpManager::Private : public QObject
 	QStringList server_in_specs;
 	QStringList server_in_stream_specs;
 	QStringList server_out_specs;
-	QZmq::Socket *client_out_sock;
-	QZmq::Socket *client_out_stream_sock;
-	QZmq::Socket *client_in_sock;
-	QZmq::Socket *client_req_sock;
-	QZmq::Socket *server_in_sock;
-	QZmq::Socket *server_in_stream_sock;
-	QZmq::Socket *server_out_sock;
-	QZmq::Valve *client_in_valve;
-	QZmq::Valve *server_in_valve;
-	QZmq::Valve *server_in_stream_valve;
+    std::unique_ptr<QZmq::Socket> client_out_sock;
+    std::unique_ptr<QZmq::Socket> client_out_stream_sock;
+    std::unique_ptr<QZmq::Socket> client_in_sock;
+    std::unique_ptr<QZmq::Socket> client_req_sock;
+    std::unique_ptr<QZmq::Socket> server_in_sock;
+    std::unique_ptr<QZmq::Socket> server_in_stream_sock;
+    std::unique_ptr<QZmq::Socket> server_out_sock;
+    std::unique_ptr<QZmq::Valve> client_in_valve;
+    std::unique_ptr<QZmq::Valve> server_in_valve;
+    std::unique_ptr<QZmq::Valve> server_in_stream_valve;
 	QByteArray instanceId;
 	int ipcFileMode;
 	bool doBind;
-	QHash<ZhttpRequest::Rid, ZhttpRequest*> clientReqsByRid;
-	QHash<ZhttpRequest::Rid, ZhttpRequest*> serverReqsByRid;
+	QHash<ZhttpRequest::Rid, std::unique_ptr<ZhttpRequest>> clientReqsByRid;
+	QHash<ZhttpRequest::Rid, std::unique_ptr<ZhttpRequest>> serverReqsByRid;
 	QList<ZhttpRequest*> serverPendingReqs;
-	QHash<ZWebSocket::Rid, ZWebSocket*> clientSocksByRid;
-	QHash<ZWebSocket::Rid, ZWebSocket*> serverSocksByRid;
-	QList<ZWebSocket*> serverPendingSocks;
+	QHash<ZWebSocket::Rid, std::unique_ptr<ZWebSocket>> clientSocksByRid;
+	QHash<ZWebSocket::Rid, std::unique_ptr<ZWebSocket>> serverSocksByRid;
+	QList<std::unique_ptr<ZWebSocket>> serverPendingSocks;
 	QTimer *refreshTimer;
 	QHash<void*, KeepAliveRegistration*> keepAliveRegistrations;
 	QSet<KeepAliveRegistration*> sessionRefreshBuckets[ZHTTP_REFRESH_BUCKETS];
@@ -114,7 +113,6 @@ class ZhttpManager::Private : public QObject
 	Connection serverStreamConnection;
 
 	Private(ZhttpManager *_q) :
-		QObject(_q),
 		q(_q),
 		client_out_sock(0),
 		client_out_stream_sock(0),
@@ -507,8 +505,6 @@ class ZhttpManager::Private : public QObject
 
 	void client_req_readyRead()
 	{
-		QPointer<QObject> self = this;
-
 		while(client_req_sock->canRead())
 		{
 			QList<QByteArray> msg = client_req_sock->read();
@@ -606,8 +602,6 @@ class ZhttpManager::Private : public QObject
 			return;
 		}
 
-		QPointer<QObject> self = this;
-
 		foreach(const ZhttpResponsePacket::Id &id, p.ids)
 		{
 			// is this for a websocket?
@@ -774,8 +768,6 @@ class ZhttpManager::Private : public QObject
 			return;
 		}
 
-		QPointer<QObject> self = this;
-
 		foreach(const ZhttpRequestPacket::Id &id, p.ids)
 		{
 			// is this for a websocket?
@@ -949,10 +941,8 @@ public slots:
 	}
 };
 
-ZhttpManager::ZhttpManager(QObject *parent) :
-	QObject(parent)
-{
-	d = new Private(this);
+ZhttpManager::ZhttpManager() {
+    d = std::make_unique<Private>(this);
 }
 
 ZhttpManager::~ZhttpManager()
@@ -1239,5 +1229,3 @@ int ZhttpManager::estimateResponseHeaderBytes(int code, const QByteArray &reason
 
 	return total;
 }
-
-#include "zhttpmanager.moc"
diff --git a/src/cpp/zhttpmanager.h b/src/cpp/zhttpmanager.h
index 0994170c..197e7cb8 100644
--- a/src/cpp/zhttpmanager.h
+++ b/src/cpp/zhttpmanager.h
@@ -23,22 +23,20 @@
 #ifndef ZHTTPMANAGER_H
 #define ZHTTPMANAGER_H
 
-#include <QObject>
 #include "zhttprequest.h"
 #include "zwebsocket.h"
 #include <boost/signals2.hpp>
+#include <memory>
 
 using Signal = boost::signals2::signal<void()>;
 
 class ZhttpRequestPacket;
 class ZhttpResponsePacket;
 
-class ZhttpManager : public QObject
+class ZhttpManager
 {
-	Q_OBJECT
-
 public:
-	ZhttpManager(QObject *parent = 0);
+	ZhttpManager();
 	~ZhttpManager();
 
 	int connectionCount() const;
@@ -79,7 +77,7 @@ class ZhttpManager : public QObject
 private:
 	class Private;
 	friend class Private;
-	Private *d;
+	std::unique_ptr<Private> d;
 
 	friend class ZhttpRequest;
 	friend class ZWebSocket;
diff --git a/src/cpp/zhttprequest.cpp b/src/cpp/zhttprequest.cpp
index 2a0fcb22..c16eba68 100644
--- a/src/cpp/zhttprequest.cpp
+++ b/src/cpp/zhttprequest.cpp
@@ -32,16 +32,15 @@
 #include "rtimer.h"
 #include "zhttpmanager.h"
 #include "uuidutil.h"
+#include <memory>
 
 #define IDEAL_CREDITS 200000
 #define SESSION_EXPIRE 60000
 #define KEEPALIVE_INTERVAL 45000
 #define REQ_BUF_MAX 1000000
 
-class ZhttpRequest::Private : public QObject
+class ZhttpRequest::Private
 {
-	Q_OBJECT
-
 public:
 	enum State
 	{
@@ -99,15 +98,14 @@ class ZhttpRequest::Private : public QObject
 	bool writableChanged;
 	bool errored;
 	ErrorCondition errorCondition;
-	RTimer *expireTimer;
-	RTimer *keepAliveTimer;
+	std::unique_ptr<RTimer> expireTimer;
+	std::unique_ptr<RTimer> keepAliveTimer;
 	bool multi;
 	bool quiet;
 	Connection expTimerConnection;
 	Connection keepAliveTimerConnection;
 
 	Private(ZhttpRequest *_q) :
-		QObject(_q),
 		q(_q),
 		manager(0),
 		server(false),
@@ -132,16 +130,14 @@ class ZhttpRequest::Private : public QObject
 		readableChanged(false),
 		writableChanged(false),
 		errored(false),
-		expireTimer(0),
-		keepAliveTimer(0),
 		multi(false),
 		quiet(false)
 	{
-		expireTimer = new RTimer(this);
+		expireTimer = std::make_unique<RTimer>(this);
 		expTimerConnection = expireTimer->timeout.connect(boost::bind(&Private::expire_timeout, this));
 		expireTimer->setSingleShot(true);
 
-		keepAliveTimer = new RTimer(this);
+		keepAliveTimer = std::make_unique<RTimer>(this);
 		keepAliveTimerConnection = keepAliveTimer->timeout.connect(boost::bind(&Private::keepAlive_timeout, this));
 	}
 
@@ -161,7 +157,7 @@ class ZhttpRequest::Private : public QObject
 
 		if(expireTimer)
 		{
-			expireTimer->disconnect(this);
+			expireTimer->unref()->disconnect(this);
 			expireTimer->setParent(0);
 			expireTimer->deleteLater();
 			expireTimer = 0;
@@ -409,8 +405,6 @@ class ZhttpRequest::Private : public QObject
 
 	void tryWrite()
 	{
-		QPointer<QObject> self = this;
-
 		if(state == ClientRequesting)
 		{
 			// if all we have to send is EOF, we don't need credits for that
@@ -1043,7 +1037,6 @@ public slots:
 		}
 		else if(state == ClientRequesting)
 		{
-			QPointer<QObject> self = this;
 			tryWrite();
 			if(!self)
 				return;
@@ -1129,8 +1122,6 @@ public slots:
 				cleanup();
 			}
 
-			QPointer<QObject> self = this;
-
 			if(!packet.body.isEmpty())
 				q->bytesWritten(packet.body.size());
 			else if(!packet.more)
@@ -1143,7 +1134,6 @@ public slots:
 		}
 		else if(state == ServerResponding)
 		{
-			QPointer<QObject> self = this;
 			tryWrite();
 			if(!self)
 				return;
@@ -1183,10 +1173,10 @@ public slots:
 	}
 };
 
-ZhttpRequest::ZhttpRequest(QObject *parent) :
-	HttpRequest(parent)
+ZhttpRequest::ZhttpRequest() :
+	HttpRequest()
 {
-	d = new Private(this);
+	d = std::make_unique<Private>();
 }
 
 ZhttpRequest::~ZhttpRequest()
@@ -1455,5 +1445,3 @@ void ZhttpRequest::handle(const QByteArray &id, int seq, const ZhttpResponsePack
 
 	d->handle(id, seq, packet);
 }
-
-#include "zhttprequest.moc"
diff --git a/src/cpp/zhttprequest.h b/src/cpp/zhttprequest.h
index cefba914..e94de494 100644
--- a/src/cpp/zhttprequest.h
+++ b/src/cpp/zhttprequest.h
@@ -35,8 +35,6 @@ class ZhttpManager;
 
 class ZhttpRequest : public HttpRequest
 {
-	Q_OBJECT
-
 public:
 	// pair of sender + request id
 	typedef QPair<QByteArray, QByteArray> Rid;
@@ -117,7 +115,7 @@ class ZhttpRequest : public HttpRequest
 private:
 	class Private;
 	friend class Private;
-	Private *d;
+	std::unique_ptr<Private> d;
 
 	friend class ZhttpManager;
 	ZhttpRequest(QObject *parent = 0);