diff --git a/common/main/newmenu.h b/common/main/newmenu.h
index 0441acae7..94cca9d8d 100644
--- a/common/main/newmenu.h
+++ b/common/main/newmenu.h
@@ -354,7 +354,7 @@ struct newmenu : newmenu_layout, window, mixin_trackable_window
 		newmenu_layout(title, subtitle, filename, src, tiny_mode, tabs_flag, citem_init, draw_box), window(src, x, y, w, h)
 	{
 	}
-	int *rval = nullptr;			// Pointer to return value (for polling newmenus)
+	std::shared_ptr<int> rval;			// Pointer to return value (for polling newmenus)
 	virtual window_event_result event_handler(const d_event &) override;
 	static int process_until_closed(newmenu *);
 };
diff --git a/similar/main/newmenu.cpp b/similar/main/newmenu.cpp
index 80fd6105e..bd2e96194 100644
--- a/similar/main/newmenu.cpp
+++ b/similar/main/newmenu.cpp
@@ -534,8 +534,8 @@ int newmenu_do2(const menu_title title, const menu_subtitle subtitle, const rang
 
 int newmenu::process_until_closed(newmenu *const menu)
 {
-	int rval = -1;
-	menu->rval = &rval;
+	auto rval = std::make_shared<int>(-1);
+	menu->rval = rval;
 	// Track to see when the window is freed
 	// Doing this way in case another window is opened on top without its own polling loop
 	// newmenu_do2 and simpler get their own event loop
@@ -546,7 +546,7 @@ int newmenu::process_until_closed(newmenu *const menu)
 	/* menu is now a pointer to freed memory, and cannot be accessed
 	 * further
 	 */
-	return rval;
+	return *rval;
 }
 
 namespace {