diff --git a/include/mapnik/renderer_common/render_group_symbolizer.hpp b/include/mapnik/renderer_common/render_group_symbolizer.hpp
index e7b1b2248..65cc0f94f 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/renderer_common/render_group_symbolizer.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/renderer_common/render_group_symbolizer.hpp
@@ -42,9 +42,9 @@ struct render_thunk_list_dispatch
     {
         offset_ = offset;
 
-        for (render_thunk_ptr const& thunk : thunks)
+        for (render_thunk const& thunk : thunks)
         {
-            util::apply_visitor(std::ref(*this), *thunk);
+            util::apply_visitor(std::ref(*this), thunk);
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/include/mapnik/renderer_common/render_thunk.hpp b/include/mapnik/renderer_common/render_thunk.hpp
index 2a957d260..66b108bb9 100644
--- a/include/mapnik/renderer_common/render_thunk.hpp
+++ b/include/mapnik/renderer_common/render_thunk.hpp
@@ -107,8 +107,7 @@ struct text_render_thunk : util::movable
 using render_thunk = util::variant<vector_marker_render_thunk,
                                    raster_marker_render_thunk,
                                    text_render_thunk>;
-using render_thunk_ptr = std::unique_ptr<render_thunk>;
-using render_thunk_list = std::list<render_thunk_ptr>;
+using render_thunk_list = std::list<render_thunk>;
 
 } // namespace mapnik
 
diff --git a/src/renderer_common/render_thunk_extractor.cpp b/src/renderer_common/render_thunk_extractor.cpp
index c437262da..1a5d1b854 100644
--- a/src/renderer_common/render_thunk_extractor.cpp
+++ b/src/renderer_common/render_thunk_extractor.cpp
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ struct thunk_markers_renderer_context : markers_renderer_context
     {
         vector_marker_render_thunk thunk(src, attrs, marker_tr, params.opacity,
                                          comp_op_, params.snap_to_pixels);
-        thunks_.push_back(std::make_unique<render_thunk>(std::move(thunk)));
+        thunks_.emplace_back(std::move(thunk));
     }
 
     virtual void render_marker(image_rgba8 const& src,
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ struct thunk_markers_renderer_context : markers_renderer_context
     {
         raster_marker_render_thunk thunk(src, marker_tr, params.opacity,
                                          comp_op_, params.snap_to_pixels);
-        thunks_.push_back(std::make_unique<render_thunk>(std::move(thunk)));
+        thunks_.emplace_back(std::move(thunk));
     }
 
 private:
@@ -128,7 +128,7 @@ void render_thunk_extractor::extract_text_thunk(text_render_thunk::helper_ptr &&
     halo_rasterizer_enum halo_rasterizer = get<halo_rasterizer_enum>(sym, keys::halo_rasterizer, feature_, common_.vars_, HALO_RASTERIZER_FULL);
 
     text_render_thunk thunk(std::move(helper), opacity, comp_op, halo_rasterizer);
-    thunks_.push_back(std::make_unique<render_thunk>(std::move(thunk)));
+    thunks_.emplace_back(std::move(thunk));
 
     update_box();
 }