diff --git a/src/Discard.cc b/src/Discard.cc
index 3738706f26..8e73dc83c5 100644
--- a/src/Discard.cc
+++ b/src/Discard.cc
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ bool Discarder::IsActive()
 	return check_ip || check_tcp || check_udp || check_icmp;
 	}
 
-bool Discarder::NextPacket(const IP_Hdr* ip, int len, int caplen)
+bool Discarder::NextPacket(const std::unique_ptr<IP_Hdr>& ip, int len, int caplen)
 	{
 	bool discard_packet = false;
 
diff --git a/src/Discard.h b/src/Discard.h
index 977f2fa724..3009088d17 100644
--- a/src/Discard.h
+++ b/src/Discard.h
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 #pragma once
 
 #include <sys/types.h> // for u_char
+#include <memory>
 
 #include "IntrusivePtr.h"
 
@@ -22,7 +23,7 @@ public:
 
 	bool IsActive();
 
-	bool NextPacket(const IP_Hdr* ip, int len, int caplen);
+	bool NextPacket(const std::unique_ptr<IP_Hdr>& ip, int len, int caplen);
 
 protected:
 	Val* BuildData(const u_char* data, int hdrlen, int len, int caplen);
diff --git a/src/Frag.cc b/src/Frag.cc
index 90476546f6..b2a7fd7aaa 100644
--- a/src/Frag.cc
+++ b/src/Frag.cc
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ void FragTimer::Dispatch(double t, bool /* is_expire */)
 	}
 
 FragReassembler::FragReassembler(NetSessions* arg_s,
-                                 const IP_Hdr* ip, const u_char* pkt,
+                                 const std::unique_ptr<IP_Hdr>& ip, const u_char* pkt,
                                  const FragReassemblerKey& k, double t)
 	: Reassembler(0, REASSEM_FRAG)
 	{
@@ -73,7 +73,8 @@ FragReassembler::~FragReassembler()
 	delete [] proto_hdr;
 	}
 
-void FragReassembler::AddFragment(double t, const IP_Hdr* ip, const u_char* pkt)
+void FragReassembler::AddFragment(double t, const std::unique_ptr<IP_Hdr>& ip,
+                                  const u_char* pkt)
 	{
 	const struct ip* ip4 = ip->IP4_Hdr();
 
@@ -85,19 +86,19 @@ void FragReassembler::AddFragment(double t, const IP_Hdr* ip, const u_char* pkt)
 		// don't check TOS, there's at least one stack that actually
 		// uses different values, and it's hard to see an associated
 		// attack.
-		s->Weird("fragment_protocol_inconsistency", ip);
+		s->Weird("fragment_protocol_inconsistency", ip.get());
 		}
 	else
 		{
 		if ( ip->NextProto() != next_proto ||
 		     ip->HdrLen() - 8 != proto_hdr_len )
-			s->Weird("fragment_protocol_inconsistency", ip);
+			s->Weird("fragment_protocol_inconsistency", ip.get());
 		// TODO: more detailed unfrag header consistency checks?
 		}
 
 	if ( ip->DF() )
 		// Linux MTU discovery for UDP can do this, for example.
-		s->Weird("fragment_with_DF", ip);
+		s->Weird("fragment_with_DF", ip.get());
 
 	uint16_t offset = ip->FragOffset();
 	uint32_t len = ip->TotalLen();
@@ -105,7 +106,7 @@ void FragReassembler::AddFragment(double t, const IP_Hdr* ip, const u_char* pkt)
 
 	if ( len < hdr_len )
 		{
-		s->Weird("fragment_protocol_inconsistency", ip);
+		s->Weird("fragment_protocol_inconsistency", ip.get());
 		return;
 		}
 
@@ -123,7 +124,7 @@ void FragReassembler::AddFragment(double t, const IP_Hdr* ip, const u_char* pkt)
 
 		else if ( upper_seq != frag_size )
 			{
-			s->Weird("fragment_size_inconsistency", ip);
+			s->Weird("fragment_size_inconsistency", ip.get());
 
 			if ( upper_seq > frag_size )
 				frag_size = upper_seq;
@@ -131,10 +132,10 @@ void FragReassembler::AddFragment(double t, const IP_Hdr* ip, const u_char* pkt)
 		}
 
 	else if ( len < MIN_ACCEPTABLE_FRAG_SIZE )
-		s->Weird("excessively_small_fragment", ip);
+		s->Weird("excessively_small_fragment", ip.get());
 
 	if ( upper_seq > MAX_ACCEPTABLE_FRAG_SIZE )
-		s->Weird("excessively_large_fragment", ip);
+		s->Weird("excessively_large_fragment", ip.get());
 
 	if ( frag_size && upper_seq > frag_size )
 		{
@@ -143,7 +144,7 @@ void FragReassembler::AddFragment(double t, const IP_Hdr* ip, const u_char* pkt)
 		// larger than the size we derived from a previously-seen
 		// "last fragment".
 
-		s->Weird("fragment_size_inconsistency", ip);
+		s->Weird("fragment_size_inconsistency", ip.get());
 		frag_size = upper_seq;
 		}
 
@@ -286,8 +287,7 @@ void FragReassembler::BlockInserted(DataBlockMap::const_iterator /* it */)
 		memcpy(&pkt[b.seq], b.block, b.upper - b.seq);
 		}
 
-	delete reassembled_pkt;
-	reassembled_pkt = nullptr;
+	reassembled_pkt.reset();
 
 	unsigned int version = ((const struct ip*)pkt_start)->ip_v;
 
@@ -295,7 +295,7 @@ void FragReassembler::BlockInserted(DataBlockMap::const_iterator /* it */)
 		{
 		struct ip* reassem4 = (struct ip*) pkt_start;
 		reassem4->ip_len = htons(frag_size + proto_hdr_len);
-		reassembled_pkt = new IP_Hdr(reassem4, true);
+		reassembled_pkt = std::make_unique<IP_Hdr>(reassem4, true);
 		reassembled_pkt->reassembled = true;
 		DeleteTimer();
 		}
@@ -305,7 +305,7 @@ void FragReassembler::BlockInserted(DataBlockMap::const_iterator /* it */)
 		struct ip6_hdr* reassem6 = (struct ip6_hdr*) pkt_start;
 		reassem6->ip6_plen = htons(frag_size + proto_hdr_len - 40);
 		const IPv6_Hdr_Chain* chain = new IPv6_Hdr_Chain(reassem6, next_proto, n);
-		reassembled_pkt = new IP_Hdr(reassem6, true, n, chain);
+		reassembled_pkt = std::make_unique<IP_Hdr>(reassem6, true, n, chain);
 		reassembled_pkt->reassembled = true;
 		DeleteTimer();
 		}
@@ -342,7 +342,8 @@ FragmentManager::~FragmentManager()
 	Clear();
 	}
 
-FragReassembler* FragmentManager::NextFragment(double t, const IP_Hdr* ip, const u_char* pkt)
+FragReassembler* FragmentManager::NextFragment(double t, const std::unique_ptr<IP_Hdr>& ip,
+                                               const u_char* pkt)
 	{
 	uint32_t frag_id = ip->ID();
 	FragReassemblerKey key = std::make_tuple(ip->SrcAddr(), ip->DstAddr(), frag_id);
diff --git a/src/Frag.h b/src/Frag.h
index 1fb373f1cc..62158982b7 100644
--- a/src/Frag.h
+++ b/src/Frag.h
@@ -22,17 +22,17 @@ using FragReassemblerKey = std::tuple<IPAddr, IPAddr, bro_uint_t>;
 
 class FragReassembler : public Reassembler {
 public:
-	FragReassembler(NetSessions* s, const IP_Hdr* ip, const u_char* pkt,
+	FragReassembler(NetSessions* s, const std::unique_ptr<IP_Hdr>& ip, const u_char* pkt,
 	                const FragReassemblerKey& k, double t);
 	~FragReassembler() override;
 
-	void AddFragment(double t, const IP_Hdr* ip, const u_char* pkt);
+	void AddFragment(double t, const std::unique_ptr<IP_Hdr>& ip, const u_char* pkt);
 
 	void Expire(double t);
 	void DeleteTimer();
 	void ClearTimer()	{ expire_timer = nullptr; }
 
-	IP_Hdr* ReassembledPkt()	{ return reassembled_pkt; }
+	std::unique_ptr<IP_Hdr> ReassembledPkt()	{ return std::move(reassembled_pkt); }
 	const FragReassemblerKey& Key() const	{ return key; }
 
 protected:
@@ -41,7 +41,7 @@ protected:
 	void Weird(const char* name) const;
 
 	u_char* proto_hdr;
-	IP_Hdr* reassembled_pkt;
+	std::unique_ptr<IP_Hdr> reassembled_pkt;
 	NetSessions* s;
 	uint64_t frag_size;	// size of fully reassembled fragment
 	FragReassemblerKey key;
@@ -73,7 +73,8 @@ public:
 	FragmentManager() = default;
 	~FragmentManager();
 
-	FragReassembler* NextFragment(double t, const IP_Hdr* ip, const u_char* pkt);
+	FragReassembler* NextFragment(double t, const std::unique_ptr<IP_Hdr>& ip,
+	                              const u_char* pkt);
 	void Clear();
 	void Remove(detail::FragReassembler* f);
 
diff --git a/src/PacketFilter.cc b/src/PacketFilter.cc
index 43e13bd32b..d2b24c8ecc 100644
--- a/src/PacketFilter.cc
+++ b/src/PacketFilter.cc
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ bool PacketFilter::RemoveDst(Val* dst)
 	return f != nullptr;
 	}
 
-bool PacketFilter::Match(const IP_Hdr* ip, int len, int caplen)
+bool PacketFilter::Match(const std::unique_ptr<IP_Hdr>& ip, int len, int caplen)
 	{
 	Filter* f = (Filter*) src_filter.Lookup(ip->SrcAddr(), 128);
 	if ( f )
diff --git a/src/PacketFilter.h b/src/PacketFilter.h
index edf58a1280..22f8e47b47 100644
--- a/src/PacketFilter.h
+++ b/src/PacketFilter.h
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 
 #pragma once
 
+#include <memory>
 #include "IPAddr.h"
 #include "PrefixTable.h"
 
@@ -31,7 +32,7 @@ public:
 	bool RemoveDst(Val* dst);
 
 	// Returns true if packet matches a drop filter
-	bool Match(const IP_Hdr* ip, int len, int caplen);
+	bool Match(const std::unique_ptr<IP_Hdr>& ip, int len, int caplen);
 
 private:
 	struct Filter {
diff --git a/src/Sessions.cc b/src/Sessions.cc
index 8cf4a12712..1b92eafca4 100644
--- a/src/Sessions.cc
+++ b/src/Sessions.cc
@@ -81,8 +81,10 @@ void NetSessions::NextPacket(double t, Packet* pkt)
 	packet_mgr->ProcessPacket(pkt);
 	}
 
-void NetSessions::DoNextPacket(double t, const Packet* pkt, const IP_Hdr* ip_hdr)
+void NetSessions::DoNextPacket(double t, const Packet* pkt)
 	{
+	const std::unique_ptr<IP_Hdr>& ip_hdr = pkt->ip_hdr;
+
 	uint32_t caplen = pkt->cap_len - pkt->hdr_size;
 	uint32_t len = ip_hdr->TotalLen();
 	uint16_t ip_hdr_len = ip_hdr->HdrLen();
@@ -218,7 +220,7 @@ void NetSessions::DoNextPacket(double t, const Packet* pkt, const IP_Hdr* ip_hdr
 		conn->EnqueueEvent(new_packet, nullptr, conn->ConnVal(), pkt_hdr_val ?
 		                   std::move(pkt_hdr_val) : ip_hdr->ToPktHdrVal());
 
-	conn->NextPacket(t, is_orig, ip_hdr, len, caplen, data,
+	conn->NextPacket(t, is_orig, ip_hdr.get(), len, caplen, data,
 	                 record_packet, record_content, pkt);
 
 	// We skip this block for reassembled packets because the pointer
diff --git a/src/Sessions.h b/src/Sessions.h
index 0ef23b550e..762dafb0e7 100644
--- a/src/Sessions.h
+++ b/src/Sessions.h
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ public:
 	 * method is called by the packet analysis manager when after it has processed
 	 * an IP-based packet, and shouldn't be called directly from other places.
 	 */
-	void DoNextPacket(double t, const Packet *pkt, const IP_Hdr* ip_hdr);
+	void DoNextPacket(double t, const Packet *pkt);
 
 	/**
 	 * Returns a wrapper IP_Hdr object if \a pkt appears to be a valid IPv4
diff --git a/src/iosource/Packet.cc b/src/iosource/Packet.cc
index b652c14f48..91b03d421d 100644
--- a/src/iosource/Packet.cc
+++ b/src/iosource/Packet.cc
@@ -63,8 +63,7 @@ void Packet::Init(int arg_link_type, pkt_timeval *arg_ts, uint32_t arg_caplen,
 	l3_checksummed = false;
 
 	encap.reset();
-	delete ip_hdr;
-	ip_hdr = nullptr;
+	ip_hdr.reset();
 
 	proto = -1;
 	tunnel_type = BifEnum::Tunnel::IP;
@@ -83,8 +82,6 @@ Packet::~Packet()
 	{
 	if ( copy )
 		delete [] data;
-
-	delete ip_hdr;
 	}
 
 const IP_Hdr Packet::IP() const
diff --git a/src/iosource/Packet.h b/src/iosource/Packet.h
index 57182c4f47..0207fdfd5b 100644
--- a/src/iosource/Packet.h
+++ b/src/iosource/Packet.h
@@ -16,11 +16,11 @@ typedef struct timeval pkt_timeval;
 #include "pcap.h" // For DLT_ constants
 #include "zeek/NetVar.h" // For BifEnum::Tunnel
 #include "zeek/TunnelEncapsulation.h"
+#include "zeek/IP.h"
 
 ZEEK_FORWARD_DECLARE_NAMESPACED(ODesc, zeek);
 ZEEK_FORWARD_DECLARE_NAMESPACED(Val, zeek);
 ZEEK_FORWARD_DECLARE_NAMESPACED(RecordVal, zeek);
-ZEEK_FORWARD_DECLARE_NAMESPACED(IP_Hdr, zeek);
 
 namespace zeek {
 
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ public:
 	 * The IP header for this packet. This is filled in by the IP analyzer
 	 * during processing if the packet contains an IP header.
 	 */
-	IP_Hdr* ip_hdr = nullptr;
+	std::unique_ptr<IP_Hdr> ip_hdr = nullptr;
 
 	/**
 	 * The protocol of the packet. This is used by the tunnel analyzers to
diff --git a/src/packet_analysis/protocol/gre/GRE.cc b/src/packet_analysis/protocol/gre/GRE.cc
index 2d4b61f32d..c8bfddaf01 100644
--- a/src/packet_analysis/protocol/gre/GRE.cc
+++ b/src/packet_analysis/protocol/gre/GRE.cc
@@ -48,11 +48,9 @@ bool GREAnalyzer::AnalyzePacket(size_t len, const uint8_t* data, Packet* packet)
 		return false;
 		}
 
-	IP_Hdr* ip_hdr = packet->ip_hdr;
-
 	if ( ! BifConst::Tunnel::enable_gre )
 		{
-		sessions->Weird("GRE_tunnel", ip_hdr, packet->encap);
+		sessions->Weird("GRE_tunnel", packet->ip_hdr.get(), packet->encap);
 		return false;
 		}
 
@@ -70,7 +68,7 @@ bool GREAnalyzer::AnalyzePacket(size_t len, const uint8_t* data, Packet* packet)
 
 	if ( gre_version != 0 && gre_version != 1 )
 		{
-		sessions->Weird("unknown_gre_version", ip_hdr, packet->encap,
+		sessions->Weird("unknown_gre_version", packet->ip_hdr.get(), packet->encap,
 		                util::fmt("%d", gre_version));
 		return false;
 		}
@@ -88,7 +86,7 @@ bool GREAnalyzer::AnalyzePacket(size_t len, const uint8_t* data, Packet* packet)
 				}
 			else
 				{
-				sessions->Weird("truncated_GRE", ip_hdr, packet->encap);
+				sessions->Weird("truncated_GRE", packet->ip_hdr.get(), packet->encap);
 				return false;
 				}
 			}
@@ -105,7 +103,7 @@ bool GREAnalyzer::AnalyzePacket(size_t len, const uint8_t* data, Packet* packet)
 				}
 			else
 				{
-				sessions->Weird("truncated_GRE", ip_hdr, packet->encap);
+				sessions->Weird("truncated_GRE", packet->ip_hdr.get(), packet->encap);
 				return false;
 				}
 			}
@@ -128,7 +126,7 @@ bool GREAnalyzer::AnalyzePacket(size_t len, const uint8_t* data, Packet* packet)
 						erspan_len += 8;
 					else
 						{
-						sessions->Weird("truncated_GRE", ip_hdr, packet->encap);
+						sessions->Weird("truncated_GRE", packet->ip_hdr.get(), packet->encap);
 						return false;
 						}
 					}
@@ -137,7 +135,7 @@ bool GREAnalyzer::AnalyzePacket(size_t len, const uint8_t* data, Packet* packet)
 				}
 			else
 				{
-				sessions->Weird("truncated_GRE", ip_hdr, packet->encap);
+				sessions->Weird("truncated_GRE", packet->ip_hdr.get(), packet->encap);
 				return false;
 				}
 			}
@@ -148,7 +146,7 @@ bool GREAnalyzer::AnalyzePacket(size_t len, const uint8_t* data, Packet* packet)
 		if ( proto_typ != 0x880b )
 			{
 			// Enhanced GRE payload must be PPP.
-			sessions->Weird("egre_protocol_type", ip_hdr, packet->encap,
+			sessions->Weird("egre_protocol_type", packet->ip_hdr.get(), packet->encap,
 			      util::fmt("%d", proto_typ));
 			return false;
 			}
@@ -159,20 +157,20 @@ bool GREAnalyzer::AnalyzePacket(size_t len, const uint8_t* data, Packet* packet)
 		// RFC 2784 deprecates the variable length routing field
 		// specified by RFC 1701. It could be parsed here, but easiest
 		// to just skip for now.
-		sessions->Weird("gre_routing", ip_hdr, packet->encap);
+		sessions->Weird("gre_routing", packet->ip_hdr.get(), packet->encap);
 		return false;
 		}
 
 	if ( flags_ver & 0x0078 )
 		{
 		// Expect last 4 bits of flags are reserved, undefined.
-		sessions->Weird("unknown_gre_flags", ip_hdr, packet->encap);
+		sessions->Weird("unknown_gre_flags", packet->ip_hdr.get(), packet->encap);
 		return false;
 		}
 
 	if ( len < gre_len + ppp_len + eth_len + erspan_len )
 		{
-		sessions->Weird("truncated_GRE", ip_hdr, packet->encap);
+		sessions->Weird("truncated_GRE", packet->ip_hdr.get(), packet->encap);
 		return false;
 		}
 
@@ -182,7 +180,8 @@ bool GREAnalyzer::AnalyzePacket(size_t len, const uint8_t* data, Packet* packet)
 
 		if ( ppp_proto != 0x0021 && ppp_proto != 0x0057 )
 			{
-			sessions->Weird("non_ip_packet_in_encap", ip_hdr, packet->encap);
+			sessions->Weird("non_ip_packet_in_encap", packet->ip_hdr.get(),
+			                packet->encap);
 			return false;
 			}
 
diff --git a/src/packet_analysis/protocol/ip/IP.cc b/src/packet_analysis/protocol/ip/IP.cc
index a4393fb6fb..de9fe3ae10 100644
--- a/src/packet_analysis/protocol/ip/IP.cc
+++ b/src/packet_analysis/protocol/ip/IP.cc
@@ -49,10 +49,9 @@ bool IPAnalyzer::AnalyzePacket(size_t len, const uint8_t* data, Packet* packet)
 	uint32_t protocol = ip->ip_v;
 
 	// This is a unique pointer because of the mass of early returns from this method.
-	IP_Hdr* ip_hdr = nullptr;
 	if ( protocol == 4 )
 		{
-		ip_hdr = new IP_Hdr(ip, false);
+		packet->ip_hdr = std::make_unique<IP_Hdr>(ip, false);
 		packet->l3_proto = L3_IPV4;
 		}
 	else if ( protocol == 6 )
@@ -63,7 +62,7 @@ bool IPAnalyzer::AnalyzePacket(size_t len, const uint8_t* data, Packet* packet)
 			return false;
 			}
 
-		ip_hdr = new IP_Hdr((const struct ip6_hdr*) data, false, len);
+		packet->ip_hdr = std::make_unique<IP_Hdr>((const struct ip6_hdr*) data, false, len);
 		packet->l3_proto = L3_IPV6;
 		}
 	else
@@ -72,14 +71,10 @@ bool IPAnalyzer::AnalyzePacket(size_t len, const uint8_t* data, Packet* packet)
 		return false;
 		}
 
-	// Store this with the packet, since it's potentially used in other places
-	// and it makes sense to not have to parse it out a second time.
-	packet->ip_hdr = ip_hdr;
-
-	const struct ip* ip4 = ip_hdr->IP4_Hdr();
+	const struct ip* ip4 = packet->ip_hdr->IP4_Hdr();
 
 	// total_len is the length of the packet minus all of the headers so far, including IP
-	uint32_t total_len = ip_hdr->TotalLen();
+	uint32_t total_len = packet->ip_hdr->TotalLen();
 	if ( total_len == 0 )
 		{
 		// TCP segmentation offloading can zero out the ip_len field.
@@ -97,20 +92,20 @@ bool IPAnalyzer::AnalyzePacket(size_t len, const uint8_t* data, Packet* packet)
 
 	// For both of these it is safe to pass ip_hdr because the presence
 	// is guaranteed for the functions that pass data to us.
-	uint16_t ip_hdr_len = ip_hdr->HdrLen();
+	uint16_t ip_hdr_len = packet->ip_hdr->HdrLen();
 	if ( ip_hdr_len > total_len )
 		{
-		sessions->Weird("invalid_IP_header_size", ip_hdr, packet->encap);
+		sessions->Weird("invalid_IP_header_size", packet->ip_hdr.get(), packet->encap);
 		return false;
 		}
 
 	if ( ip_hdr_len > len )
 		{
-		sessions->Weird("internally_truncated_header", ip_hdr, packet->encap);
+		sessions->Weird("internally_truncated_header", packet->ip_hdr.get(), packet->encap);
 		return false;
 		}
 
-	if ( ip_hdr->IP4_Hdr() )
+	if ( packet->ip_hdr->IP4_Hdr() )
 		{
 		if ( ip_hdr_len < sizeof(struct ip) )
 			{
@@ -129,7 +124,7 @@ bool IPAnalyzer::AnalyzePacket(size_t len, const uint8_t* data, Packet* packet)
 
 	// Ignore if packet matches packet filter.
 	detail::PacketFilter* packet_filter = sessions->GetPacketFilter(false);
-	if ( packet_filter && packet_filter->Match(ip_hdr, total_len, len) )
+	if ( packet_filter && packet_filter->Match(packet->ip_hdr, total_len, len) )
 		 return false;
 
 	if ( ! packet->l2_checksummed && ! detail::ignore_checksums && ip4 &&
@@ -139,30 +134,31 @@ bool IPAnalyzer::AnalyzePacket(size_t len, const uint8_t* data, Packet* packet)
 		return false;
 		}
 
-	if ( discarder && discarder->NextPacket(ip_hdr, total_len, len) )
+	if ( discarder && discarder->NextPacket(packet->ip_hdr, total_len, len) )
 		return false;
 
 	detail::FragReassembler* f = nullptr;
 
-	if ( ip_hdr->IsFragment() )
+	if ( packet->ip_hdr->IsFragment() )
 		{
 		packet->dump_packet = true;	// always record fragments
 
 		if ( len < total_len )
 			{
-			sessions->Weird("incompletely_captured_fragment", ip_hdr, packet->encap);
+			sessions->Weird("incompletely_captured_fragment", packet->ip_hdr.get(), packet->encap);
 
 			// Don't try to reassemble, that's doomed.
 			// Discard all except the first fragment (which
 			// is useful in analyzing header-only traces)
-			if ( ip_hdr->FragOffset() != 0 )
+			if ( packet->ip_hdr->FragOffset() != 0 )
 				return false;
 			}
 		else
 			{
-			f = detail::fragment_mgr->NextFragment(run_state::processing_start_time, ip_hdr,
+			f = detail::fragment_mgr->NextFragment(run_state::processing_start_time, packet->ip_hdr,
 			                                       packet->data + packet->hdr_size);
-			IP_Hdr* ih = f->ReassembledPkt();
+			std::unique_ptr<IP_Hdr> ih = f->ReassembledPkt();
+
 			if ( ! ih )
 				// It didn't reassemble into anything yet.
 				return true;
@@ -171,17 +167,15 @@ bool IPAnalyzer::AnalyzePacket(size_t len, const uint8_t* data, Packet* packet)
 
 			// Switch the stored ip header over to the one from the
 			// fragmented packet.
-			delete ip_hdr;
-			ip_hdr = ih;
+			packet->ip_hdr = std::move(ih);
 
-			len = total_len = ip_hdr->TotalLen();
-			ip_hdr_len = ip_hdr->HdrLen();
+			len = total_len = packet->ip_hdr->TotalLen();
+			ip_hdr_len = packet->ip_hdr->HdrLen();
 			packet->cap_len = total_len + packet->hdr_size;
-			packet->ip_hdr = ih;
 
 			if ( ip_hdr_len > total_len )
 				{
-				sessions->Weird("invalid_IP_header_size", ip_hdr, packet->encap);
+				sessions->Weird("invalid_IP_header_size", packet->ip_hdr.get(), packet->encap);
 				return false;
 				}
 			}
@@ -191,11 +185,11 @@ bool IPAnalyzer::AnalyzePacket(size_t len, const uint8_t* data, Packet* packet)
 
 	// We stop building the chain when seeing IPPROTO_ESP so if it's
 	// there, it's always the last.
-	if ( ip_hdr->LastHeader() == IPPROTO_ESP )
+	if ( packet->ip_hdr->LastHeader() == IPPROTO_ESP )
 		{
 		packet->dump_packet = true;
 		if ( esp_packet )
-			event_mgr.Enqueue(esp_packet, ip_hdr->ToPktHdrVal());
+			event_mgr.Enqueue(esp_packet, packet->ip_hdr->ToPktHdrVal());
 
 		// Can't do more since upper-layer payloads are going to be encrypted.
 		return true;
@@ -204,20 +198,20 @@ bool IPAnalyzer::AnalyzePacket(size_t len, const uint8_t* data, Packet* packet)
 #ifdef ENABLE_MOBILE_IPV6
 	// We stop building the chain when seeing IPPROTO_MOBILITY so it's always
 	// last if present.
-	if ( ip_hdr->LastHeader() == IPPROTO_MOBILITY )
+	if ( packet->ip_hdr->LastHeader() == IPPROTO_MOBILITY )
 		{
 		dump_this_packet = true;
 
-		if ( ! ignore_checksums && mobility_header_checksum(ip_hdr) != 0xffff )
+		if ( ! ignore_checksums && mobility_header_checksum(packet->ip_hdr) != 0xffff )
 			{
 			sessions->Weird("bad_MH_checksum", packet, packet->encap);
 			return false;
 			}
 
 		if ( mobile_ipv6_message )
-			event_mgr.Enqueue(mobile_ipv6_message, ip_hdr->ToPktHdrVal());
+			event_mgr.Enqueue(mobile_ipv6_message, packet->ip_hdr->ToPktHdrVal());
 
-		if ( ip_hdr->NextProto() != IPPROTO_NONE )
+		if ( packet->ip_hdr->NextProto() != IPPROTO_NONE )
 			sessions->Weird("mobility_piggyback", packet, packet->encap);
 
 		return true;
@@ -226,7 +220,7 @@ bool IPAnalyzer::AnalyzePacket(size_t len, const uint8_t* data, Packet* packet)
 
 	// Set the data pointer to match the payload from the IP header. This makes sure that it's also pointing
 	// at the reassembled data for a fragmented packet.
-	data = ip_hdr->Payload();
+	data = packet->ip_hdr->Payload();
 	len -= ip_hdr_len;
 
 	// Session analysis assumes that the header size stored in the packet does not include the IP header
@@ -236,7 +230,7 @@ bool IPAnalyzer::AnalyzePacket(size_t len, const uint8_t* data, Packet* packet)
 	// change, but for now we leave it as it is.
 
 	bool return_val = true;
-	int proto = ip_hdr->NextProto();
+	int proto = packet->ip_hdr->NextProto();
 
 	packet->proto = proto;
 
@@ -247,7 +241,7 @@ bool IPAnalyzer::AnalyzePacket(size_t len, const uint8_t* data, Packet* packet)
 	case IPPROTO_ICMPV6:
 		DBG_LOG(DBG_PACKET_ANALYSIS, "Analysis in %s succeeded, next layer identifier is %#x.",
 		        GetAnalyzerName(), proto);
-		sessions->DoNextPacket(run_state::processing_start_time, packet, ip_hdr);
+		sessions->DoNextPacket(run_state::processing_start_time, packet);
 		break;
 	case IPPROTO_NONE:
 		// If the packet is encapsulated in Teredo, then it was a bubble and
diff --git a/src/packet_analysis/protocol/iptunnel/IPTunnel.cc b/src/packet_analysis/protocol/iptunnel/IPTunnel.cc
index da4d94d59b..8b298dfda1 100644
--- a/src/packet_analysis/protocol/iptunnel/IPTunnel.cc
+++ b/src/packet_analysis/protocol/iptunnel/IPTunnel.cc
@@ -26,18 +26,16 @@ bool IPTunnelAnalyzer::AnalyzePacket(size_t len, const uint8_t* data, Packet* pa
 		return false;
 		}
 
-	IP_Hdr* ip_hdr = packet->ip_hdr;
-
 	if ( ! BifConst::Tunnel::enable_ip )
 		{
-		sessions->Weird("IP_tunnel", ip_hdr, packet->encap);
+		sessions->Weird("IP_tunnel", packet->ip_hdr.get(), packet->encap);
 		return false;
 		}
 
 	if ( packet->encap &&
 	     packet->encap->Depth() >= BifConst::Tunnel::max_depth )
 		{
-		sessions->Weird("exceeded_tunnel_max_depth", ip_hdr, packet->encap);
+		sessions->Weird("exceeded_tunnel_max_depth", packet->ip_hdr.get(), packet->encap);
 		return false;
 		}
 
@@ -53,11 +51,11 @@ bool IPTunnelAnalyzer::AnalyzePacket(size_t len, const uint8_t* data, Packet* pa
 		// Check for a valid inner packet first.
 		int result = sessions->ParseIPPacket(len, data, proto, inner);
 		if ( result == -2 )
-			sessions->Weird("invalid_inner_IP_version", ip_hdr, packet->encap);
+			sessions->Weird("invalid_inner_IP_version", packet->ip_hdr.get(), packet->encap);
 		else if ( result < 0 )
-			sessions->Weird("truncated_inner_IP", ip_hdr, packet->encap);
+			sessions->Weird("truncated_inner_IP", packet->ip_hdr.get(), packet->encap);
 		else if ( result > 0 )
-			sessions->Weird("inner_IP_payload_length_mismatch", ip_hdr, packet->encap);
+			sessions->Weird("inner_IP_payload_length_mismatch", packet->ip_hdr.get(), packet->encap);
 
 		if ( result != 0 )
 			{
@@ -70,16 +68,16 @@ bool IPTunnelAnalyzer::AnalyzePacket(size_t len, const uint8_t* data, Packet* pa
 	// by the pair of IP addresses, so that we can always associate the
 	// same UID with it.
 	IPPair tunnel_idx;
-	if ( ip_hdr->SrcAddr() < ip_hdr->DstAddr() )
-		tunnel_idx = IPPair(ip_hdr->SrcAddr(), ip_hdr->DstAddr());
+	if ( packet->ip_hdr->SrcAddr() < packet->ip_hdr->DstAddr() )
+		tunnel_idx = IPPair(packet->ip_hdr->SrcAddr(), packet->ip_hdr->DstAddr());
 	else
-		tunnel_idx = IPPair(ip_hdr->DstAddr(), ip_hdr->SrcAddr());
+		tunnel_idx = IPPair(packet->ip_hdr->DstAddr(), packet->ip_hdr->SrcAddr());
 
 	IPTunnelMap::iterator tunnel_it = ip_tunnels.find(tunnel_idx);
 
 	if ( tunnel_it == ip_tunnels.end() )
 		{
-		EncapsulatingConn ec(ip_hdr->SrcAddr(), ip_hdr->DstAddr(),
+		EncapsulatingConn ec(packet->ip_hdr->SrcAddr(), packet->ip_hdr->DstAddr(),
 		                     tunnel_type);
 		ip_tunnels[tunnel_idx] = TunnelActivity(ec, run_state::network_time);
 		zeek::detail::timer_mgr->Add(new detail::IPTunnelTimer(run_state::network_time, tunnel_idx, this));