diff --git a/src/ai/basictasks/directsuicidetask.cpp b/src/ai/basictasks/directsuicidetask.cpp
index 8504d7b8..d73067da 100644
--- a/src/ai/basictasks/directsuicidetask.cpp
+++ b/src/ai/basictasks/directsuicidetask.cpp
@@ -10,12 +10,12 @@
 
 DirectSuicideTask::DirectSuicideTask(BoardComputer* boardComputer, WorldObject* target) :
     AiTask(boardComputer),
-    m_target(target ? target->handle<WorldObject>() : Handle<WorldObject>())
+    m_target(target ? makeHandle(target) : Handle<WorldObject>())
 {
 }
 
 void DirectSuicideTask::setTarget(WorldObject* target) {
-    m_target = (target ? target->handle<WorldObject>() : Handle<WorldObject>());
+    m_target = (target ? makeHandle(target) : Handle<WorldObject>());
 }
 
 void DirectSuicideTask::update(float deltaSec) {
diff --git a/src/ai/grouptasks/defendareatask.cpp b/src/ai/grouptasks/defendareatask.cpp
index f0692f80..9c6164ea 100644
--- a/src/ai/grouptasks/defendareatask.cpp
+++ b/src/ai/grouptasks/defendareatask.cpp
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ void DefendAreaTask::update(float deltaSec) {
                 updatePatrol();
             }
         }
-        
+
         // update called by the leader himself
     }
 }
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ bool DefendAreaTask::isEnemyInRange() {
         if (ship) {
             Faction& enemyFaction = ship->character()->faction();
             if (enemyFaction.relationTo(m_squad.leader()->character()->faction()).type() == FactionRelationType::Enemy) {
-                m_enemies.push_back(worldObject->handle<WorldObject>());
+                m_enemies.push_back(makeHandle(worldObject));
             } else {
                 continue;
             }
diff --git a/src/camera/camerafollowhelper.cpp b/src/camera/camerafollowhelper.cpp
index 5f78936d..0671a51e 100644
--- a/src/camera/camerafollowhelper.cpp
+++ b/src/camera/camerafollowhelper.cpp
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ WorldObject* CameraFollowHelper::target() {
 }
 
 void CameraFollowHelper::setTarget(WorldObject* target) {
-    m_target = target->handle<WorldObject>();
+    m_target = makeHandle(target);
 }
 
 glm::vec3 CameraFollowHelper::followPosition() {
diff --git a/src/equipment/weapons/rocket.cpp b/src/equipment/weapons/rocket.cpp
index 483f2d86..52073693 100644
--- a/src/equipment/weapons/rocket.cpp
+++ b/src/equipment/weapons/rocket.cpp
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ WorldObject* Rocket::target() {
 
 void Rocket::setTarget(WorldObject* targetObject) {
     if (targetObject) {
-        m_targetHandle = targetObject->handle<WorldObject>();
+        m_targetHandle = makeHandle(targetObject);
         m_aiTask.reset(new DirectSuicideTask(&m_boardComputer, targetObject));
     } else {
         m_targetHandle = Handle<WorldObject>();
diff --git a/src/equipment/weapons/splitrocket.cpp b/src/equipment/weapons/splitrocket.cpp
index 4187e8b6..45717f52 100644
--- a/src/equipment/weapons/splitrocket.cpp
+++ b/src/equipment/weapons/splitrocket.cpp
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ SplitRocket::SplitRocket():
 
 void SplitRocket::setTarget(WorldObject* targetObject) {
     if (targetObject) {
-        m_targetHandle = targetObject->handle<WorldObject>();
+        m_targetHandle = makeHandle(targetObject);
         m_aiTask.reset(new SplitRocketTask(this, &m_boardComputer, targetObject));
     } else {
         m_targetHandle = Handle<WorldObject>(nullptr);
diff --git a/src/events/aabbenteredpoll.cpp b/src/events/aabbenteredpoll.cpp
index b709380d..16670242 100644
--- a/src/events/aabbenteredpoll.cpp
+++ b/src/events/aabbenteredpoll.cpp
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 
 AABBEnteredPoll::AABBEnteredPoll(WorldObject* worldObject, const AABB& aabb, const Callback& callback):
     EventPoll(callback),
-    m_worldObject(worldObject->handle<WorldObject>()),
+    m_worldObject(makeHandle(worldObject)),
     m_aabb(aabb),
     m_entered(false)
 {
diff --git a/src/events/aitaskfinishedpoll.cpp b/src/events/aitaskfinishedpoll.cpp
index e4e0ced8..4d46d51b 100644
--- a/src/events/aitaskfinishedpoll.cpp
+++ b/src/events/aitaskfinishedpoll.cpp
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 
 AiTaskFinishedPoll::AiTaskFinishedPoll(AiTask* aitask, const Callback& callback):
     EventPoll(callback),
-    m_aiTask(aitask->handle<AiTask>())
+    m_aiTask(makeHandle(aitask))
 {
 }
 
diff --git a/src/events/worldobjectdestroyedpoll.cpp b/src/events/worldobjectdestroyedpoll.cpp
index 3b454e02..ecfbf8f4 100644
--- a/src/events/worldobjectdestroyedpoll.cpp
+++ b/src/events/worldobjectdestroyedpoll.cpp
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 
 WorldObjectDestroyedPoll::WorldObjectDestroyedPoll(WorldObject* worldObject, const Callback& callback):
     EventPoll(callback),
-    m_worldObject(worldObject->handle<WorldObject>())
+    m_worldObject(makeHandle(worldObject))
 {
 }
 
diff --git a/src/player.cpp b/src/player.cpp
index c50cb036..40c29291 100644
--- a/src/player.cpp
+++ b/src/player.cpp
@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ Ship* Player::ship() {
 }
 
 void Player::setShip(Ship* ship) {
-    m_ship = ship->handle<Ship>();
+    m_ship = makeHandle(ship);
     m_ship->character()->setFaction(World::instance()->factionMatrix().playerFaction());
     m_ship->info().setShowOnHud(false);
     m_cameraDolly->followWorldObject(ship);
diff --git a/src/scripting/bindings/aibindings.cpp b/src/scripting/bindings/aibindings.cpp
index 0cab2146..42d82835 100644
--- a/src/scripting/bindings/aibindings.cpp
+++ b/src/scripting/bindings/aibindings.cpp
@@ -162,10 +162,11 @@ int AiBindings::apiAddFightTaskTarget(apikey key, apikey worldObjectKey) {
     }
 
     WorldObject* worldObject = m_scriptEngine.get<WorldObject>(worldObjectKey);
-    if (!worldObject) { return -1; }
-
+    if (!worldObject){
+        return -1;
+    }
 
-    fightTask->addTarget(worldObject->handle<WorldObject>());
+    fightTask->addTarget(makeHandle(worldObject));
     return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/scripting/scriptcallbackimpl.inl b/src/scripting/scriptcallbackimpl.inl
index bbba5d8f..5ab5f0b2 100644
--- a/src/scripting/scriptcallbackimpl.inl
+++ b/src/scripting/scriptcallbackimpl.inl
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ void callHelper(ScriptCallbackImpl<Args...>* callback, const std::string& functi
 
 template<typename... Args>
 ScriptCallbackImpl<Args...>::ScriptCallbackImpl(Script& script, const std::string& function, Args... args):
-    m_script(script.handle<Script>()),
+    m_script(makeHandle(script)),
     m_function(function),
     m_call(std::bind(callHelper<Args...>, this, function, args...))
 {
diff --git a/src/ui/hud/hud.cpp b/src/ui/hud/hud.cpp
index 8120a367..250cf3f2 100644
--- a/src/ui/hud/hud.cpp
+++ b/src/ui/hud/hud.cpp
@@ -213,7 +213,7 @@ glm::vec3 HUD::applyTo(const glm::vec3 &vertex) const {
 }
 
 void HUD::setTarget(WorldObject* target) {
-    m_target = target ? target->handle<WorldObject>() : Handle<WorldObject>();
+    m_target = target ? makeHandle(target) : Handle<WorldObject>();
 }
 
 WorldObject* HUD::target() {
diff --git a/src/ui/hud/hudobjectdelegate.cpp b/src/ui/hud/hudobjectdelegate.cpp
index cedf8daf..fb6f988e 100644
--- a/src/ui/hud/hudobjectdelegate.cpp
+++ b/src/ui/hud/hudobjectdelegate.cpp
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
 
 HUDObjectDelegate::HUDObjectDelegate(HUD* hud, WorldObject* worldObject, ObjectHudget* hudget):
     m_hud(hud),
-    m_worldObjectHandle(worldObject->handle<WorldObject>()),
+    m_worldObjectHandle(makeHandle(worldObject)),
     m_hudget(hudget)
 {
     hudget->setObjectDelegate(this);
diff --git a/src/utils/handle/handle.inl b/src/utils/handle/handle.inl
index 3859e2e4..0a208153 100644
--- a/src/utils/handle/handle.inl
+++ b/src/utils/handle/handle.inl
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@ Handle<T>::Handle():
 
 template<typename T>
 Handle<T>::Handle(const std::shared_ptr<HandleImpl>& impl):
-    m_impl(impl),
-    m_referenced(static_cast<T*>(impl->owner()))
+    m_impl(impl ? impl : std::make_shared<HandleImpl>(nullptr)),
+    m_referenced(impl ? static_cast<T*>(impl->owner()) : nullptr)
 {
 }
 
diff --git a/src/utils/handle/handleowner.h b/src/utils/handle/handleowner.h
index f3407311..7744c974 100644
--- a/src/utils/handle/handleowner.h
+++ b/src/utils/handle/handleowner.h
@@ -26,5 +26,11 @@ class HandleOwner {
     std::shared_ptr<HandleImpl> m_impl;
 };
 
+template<typename T>
+Handle<T> makeHandle(T* owner);
+
+template<typename T>
+Handle<T> makeHandle(T& owner);
+
 
 #include "handleowner.inl"
diff --git a/src/utils/handle/handleowner.inl b/src/utils/handle/handleowner.inl
index 62867d56..a9ec1bb2 100644
--- a/src/utils/handle/handleowner.inl
+++ b/src/utils/handle/handleowner.inl
@@ -15,3 +15,14 @@ Handle<T> HandleOwner::handle() {
     return Handle<T>(m_impl);
 }
 
+template<typename T>
+Handle<T> makeHandle(T* owner) {
+    return owner->template handle<T>();
+}
+
+
+template<typename T>
+Handle<T> makeHandle(T& owner) {
+    return owner.template handle<T>();
+}
+
diff --git a/src/worldobject/ship.cpp b/src/worldobject/ship.cpp
index 6a93e873..81e0a10d 100644
--- a/src/worldobject/ship.cpp
+++ b/src/worldobject/ship.cpp
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ void Ship::update(float deltaSec) {
 }
 
 void Ship::setTargetObject(WorldObject* target) {
-    m_targetObjectHandle = target ? target->handle<WorldObject>() : Handle<WorldObject>();
+    m_targetObjectHandle = target ? makeHandle(target) : Handle<WorldObject>();
 }
 
 WorldObject* Ship::targetObject() {