diff --git a/lib/include/pl/api.hpp b/lib/include/pl/api.hpp
index f90bbf0d..6317692b 100644
--- a/lib/include/pl/api.hpp
+++ b/lib/include/pl/api.hpp
@@ -126,7 +126,7 @@ namespace pl::api {
     /**
      * @brief A function callback called when a custom built-in type is being instantiated
      */
-    using TypeCallback = std::function<std::unique_ptr<ptrn::Pattern>(core::Evaluator *, const std::vector<core::Token::Literal> &)>;
+    using TypeCallback = std::function<std::shared_ptr<ptrn::Pattern>(core::Evaluator *, const std::vector<core::Token::Literal> &)>;
 
     /**
      * @brief A type representing a function.
diff --git a/lib/include/pl/patterns/pattern.hpp b/lib/include/pl/patterns/pattern.hpp
index e0cd35da..6e6238d0 100644
--- a/lib/include/pl/patterns/pattern.hpp
+++ b/lib/include/pl/patterns/pattern.hpp
@@ -116,7 +116,13 @@ namespace pl::ptrn {
         }
 
         virtual std::shared_ptr<Pattern> clone() const = 0;
-        std::shared_ptr<Pattern> reference() { return shared_from_this(); }
+        std::shared_ptr<Pattern> reference() {
+            auto weakPtr = weak_from_this();
+            if (weakPtr.expired()) {
+                core::err::E0001.throwError("Cannot call shared_from_this if this is not shared.");
+            }
+            return shared_from_this();
+        }
 
         [[nodiscard]] u64 getOffset() const { return this->m_offset; }
         [[nodiscard]] virtual u128 getOffsetForSorting() const { return this->getOffset() << 3; }
@@ -538,14 +544,14 @@ namespace pl::ptrn {
         }
 
         [[nodiscard]] const Pattern* getParent() const {
-            return m_parent;
+            return m_parent.lock().get();
         }
 
         [[nodiscard]] Pattern* getParent() {
-            return m_parent;
+            return m_parent.lock().get();
         }
 
-        void setParent(Pattern *parent) {
+        void setParent(std::shared_ptr<Pattern> parent) {
             m_parent = parent;
         }
 
@@ -623,7 +629,7 @@ namespace pl::ptrn {
         core::Evaluator *m_evaluator;
 
         std::unique_ptr<std::map<std::string, std::vector<core::Token::Literal>>> m_attributes;
-        Pattern *m_parent = nullptr;
+        std::weak_ptr<Pattern> m_parent;
         u32 m_line = 0;
 
         std::set<std::string>::const_iterator m_variableName;
diff --git a/lib/include/pl/patterns/pattern_array_dynamic.hpp b/lib/include/pl/patterns/pattern_array_dynamic.hpp
index 7334f1eb..4e7f14e8 100644
--- a/lib/include/pl/patterns/pattern_array_dynamic.hpp
+++ b/lib/include/pl/patterns/pattern_array_dynamic.hpp
@@ -20,7 +20,11 @@ namespace pl::ptrn {
         }
 
         [[nodiscard]] std::shared_ptr<Pattern> clone() const override {
-            return std::unique_ptr<Pattern>(new PatternArrayDynamic(*this));
+            auto other = std::make_shared<PatternArrayDynamic>(*this);
+            for (const auto &entry : other->m_entries)
+                entry->setParent(other->reference());
+
+            return other;
         }
 
         void setColor(u32 color) override {
@@ -133,7 +137,6 @@ namespace pl::ptrn {
 
             if (!entry->hasOverriddenColor())
                 entry->setBaseColor(this->getColor());
-            entry->setParent(this);
 
             this->m_entries.emplace_back(entry);
         }
diff --git a/lib/include/pl/patterns/pattern_array_static.hpp b/lib/include/pl/patterns/pattern_array_static.hpp
index 36de9798..4e5d004c 100644
--- a/lib/include/pl/patterns/pattern_array_static.hpp
+++ b/lib/include/pl/patterns/pattern_array_static.hpp
@@ -16,7 +16,9 @@ namespace pl::ptrn {
         }
 
         [[nodiscard]] std::shared_ptr<Pattern> clone() const override {
-            return std::unique_ptr<Pattern>(new PatternArrayStatic(*this));
+            auto other = std::make_shared<PatternArrayStatic>(*this);
+            other->m_template->setParent(other->reference());
+            return other;
         }
 
         [[nodiscard]] std::shared_ptr<Pattern> getEntry(size_t index) const override {
@@ -153,7 +155,6 @@ namespace pl::ptrn {
 
         void setEntries(std::shared_ptr<Pattern> &&templatePattern, size_t count) {
             this->m_template          = std::move(templatePattern);
-            this->m_template->setParent(this);
             this->m_highlightTemplates.push_back(this->m_template->clone());
             this->m_entryCount        = count;
 
diff --git a/lib/include/pl/patterns/pattern_bitfield.hpp b/lib/include/pl/patterns/pattern_bitfield.hpp
index de64a087..812b56a7 100644
--- a/lib/include/pl/patterns/pattern_bitfield.hpp
+++ b/lib/include/pl/patterns/pattern_bitfield.hpp
@@ -55,7 +55,8 @@ namespace pl::ptrn {
     public:
         PatternBitfieldField(core::Evaluator *evaluator, u64 offset, u8 bitOffset, u8 bitSize, u32 line, PatternBitfieldMember *parentBitfield = nullptr)
                 : PatternBitfieldMember(evaluator, offset, (bitOffset + bitSize + 7) / 8, line), m_bitOffset(bitOffset % 8), m_bitSize(bitSize) {
-            this->setParent(parentBitfield);
+            if (parentBitfield != nullptr)
+                this->setParent(parentBitfield->reference());
         }
 
         PatternBitfieldField(const PatternBitfieldField &other) : PatternBitfieldMember(other) {
@@ -282,7 +283,10 @@ namespace pl::ptrn {
         }
 
         [[nodiscard]] std::shared_ptr<Pattern> clone() const override {
-            return std::unique_ptr<Pattern>(new PatternBitfieldArray(*this));
+            auto other =  std::make_shared<PatternBitfieldArray>(*this);
+            for (const auto &entry : other->m_entries)
+                entry->setParent(other->reference());
+            return other;
         }
 
         [[nodiscard]] u8 getBitOffset() const override {
@@ -422,8 +426,6 @@ namespace pl::ptrn {
                 if (!entry->hasOverriddenColor())
                     entry->setBaseColor(this->getColor());
 
-                entry->setParent(this);
-
                 this->m_sortedEntries.push_back(entry.get());
             }
 
@@ -643,7 +645,7 @@ namespace pl::ptrn {
                 this->setBaseColor(this->m_fields.front()->getColor());
 
             for (const auto &field : this->m_fields) {
-                field->setParent(this);
+                field->setParent(this->reference());
                 this->m_sortedFields.push_back(field.get());
             }
         }
diff --git a/lib/include/pl/patterns/pattern_struct.hpp b/lib/include/pl/patterns/pattern_struct.hpp
index 3bd42bbd..032dda26 100644
--- a/lib/include/pl/patterns/pattern_struct.hpp
+++ b/lib/include/pl/patterns/pattern_struct.hpp
@@ -15,14 +15,17 @@ namespace pl::ptrn {
             for (const auto &member : other.m_members) {
                 auto copy = member->clone();
 
-                copy->setParent(this);
                 this->m_sortedMembers.push_back(copy.get());
                 this->m_members.push_back(std::move(copy));
             }
         }
 
         [[nodiscard]] std::shared_ptr<Pattern> clone() const override {
-            return std::unique_ptr<Pattern>(new PatternStruct(*this));
+            auto other = std::make_shared<PatternStruct>(*this);
+            for (const auto &member : other->m_members)
+                member->setParent(other->reference());
+
+            return other;
         }
 
         [[nodiscard]] std::shared_ptr<Pattern> getEntry(size_t index) const override {
@@ -36,7 +39,7 @@ namespace pl::ptrn {
         void addEntry(const std::shared_ptr<Pattern> &entry) override {
             if (entry == nullptr) return;
 
-            entry->setParent(this);
+            entry->setParent(this->reference());
             this->m_sortedMembers.push_back(entry.get());
             this->m_members.push_back(entry);
         }
diff --git a/lib/include/pl/patterns/pattern_union.hpp b/lib/include/pl/patterns/pattern_union.hpp
index fa2939e3..a1ddd179 100644
--- a/lib/include/pl/patterns/pattern_union.hpp
+++ b/lib/include/pl/patterns/pattern_union.hpp
@@ -21,7 +21,11 @@ namespace pl::ptrn {
         }
 
         [[nodiscard]] std::shared_ptr<Pattern> clone() const override {
-            return std::unique_ptr<Pattern>(new PatternUnion(*this));
+            auto other = std::make_shared<PatternUnion>(*this);
+            for (const auto &member : other->m_members)
+                member->setParent(other->reference());
+
+            return other;
         }
 
         [[nodiscard]] std::shared_ptr<Pattern> getEntry(size_t index) const override {
@@ -35,7 +39,6 @@ namespace pl::ptrn {
         void addEntry(const std::shared_ptr<Pattern> &entry) override {
             if (entry == nullptr) return;
 
-            entry->setParent(this);
             this->m_sortedMembers.push_back(entry.get());
             this->m_members.push_back(entry);
         }
diff --git a/lib/source/pl/core/ast/ast_node_bitfield.cpp b/lib/source/pl/core/ast/ast_node_bitfield.cpp
index fde1deca..7f95226d 100644
--- a/lib/source/pl/core/ast/ast_node_bitfield.cpp
+++ b/lib/source/pl/core/ast/ast_node_bitfield.cpp
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ namespace pl::core::ast {
 
         for (auto &pattern : potentialPatterns) {
             if (auto bitfieldMember = dynamic_cast<ptrn::PatternBitfieldMember*>(pattern.get()); bitfieldMember != nullptr) {
-                bitfieldMember->setParent(bitfieldPattern.get());
+                bitfieldMember->setParent(bitfieldPattern->reference());
                 if (!bitfieldMember->isPadding())
                     fields.push_back(pattern);
             } else {
diff --git a/lib/source/pl/core/ast/ast_node_bitfield_array_variable_decl.cpp b/lib/source/pl/core/ast/ast_node_bitfield_array_variable_decl.cpp
index 7a87c518..7d82fa32 100644
--- a/lib/source/pl/core/ast/ast_node_bitfield_array_variable_decl.cpp
+++ b/lib/source/pl/core/ast/ast_node_bitfield_array_variable_decl.cpp
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ namespace pl::core::ast {
         };
 
         auto position = evaluator->getBitwiseReadOffset();
-        auto arrayPattern = std::make_unique<ptrn::PatternBitfieldArray>(evaluator, position.byteOffset, position.bitOffset, 0, getLocation().line);
+        auto arrayPattern = std::make_shared<ptrn::PatternBitfieldArray>(evaluator, position.byteOffset, position.bitOffset, 0, getLocation().line);
         arrayPattern->setVariableName(this->m_name);
         arrayPattern->setSection(evaluator->getSectionId());
         arrayPattern->setReversed(evaluator->isReadOrderReversed());
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ namespace pl::core::ast {
 
             for (auto &pattern : entries) {
                 if (auto bitfieldMember = dynamic_cast<ptrn::PatternBitfieldMember*>(pattern.get()); bitfieldMember != nullptr)
-                    bitfieldMember->setParent(arrayPattern.get());
+                    bitfieldMember->setParent(arrayPattern->reference());
             }
 
             arrayPattern->setEntries(entries);
diff --git a/lib/source/pl/core/ast/ast_node_builtin_type.cpp b/lib/source/pl/core/ast/ast_node_builtin_type.cpp
index 9f0b2a29..fbac27f8 100644
--- a/lib/source/pl/core/ast/ast_node_builtin_type.cpp
+++ b/lib/source/pl/core/ast/ast_node_builtin_type.cpp
@@ -23,23 +23,23 @@ namespace pl::core::ast {
         auto size   = Token::getTypeSize(this->m_type);
         auto offset = evaluator->getReadOffsetAndIncrement(size);
 
-        std::unique_ptr<ptrn::Pattern> pattern;
+        std::shared_ptr<ptrn::Pattern> pattern;
         if (Token::isUnsigned(this->m_type))
-            pattern = std::make_unique<ptrn::PatternUnsigned>(evaluator, offset, size, getLocation().line);
+            pattern = std::make_shared<ptrn::PatternUnsigned>(evaluator, offset, size, getLocation().line);
         else if (Token::isSigned(this->m_type))
-            pattern = std::make_unique<ptrn::PatternSigned>(evaluator, offset, size, getLocation().line);
+            pattern = std::make_shared<ptrn::PatternSigned>(evaluator, offset, size, getLocation().line);
         else if (Token::isFloatingPoint(this->m_type))
-            pattern = std::make_unique<ptrn::PatternFloat>(evaluator, offset, size, getLocation().line);
+            pattern = std::make_shared<ptrn::PatternFloat>(evaluator, offset, size, getLocation().line);
         else if (this->m_type == Token::ValueType::Boolean)
-            pattern = std::make_unique<ptrn::PatternBoolean>(evaluator, offset, getLocation().line);
+            pattern = std::make_shared<ptrn::PatternBoolean>(evaluator, offset, getLocation().line);
         else if (this->m_type == Token::ValueType::Character)
-            pattern = std::make_unique<ptrn::PatternCharacter>(evaluator, offset, getLocation().line);
+            pattern = std::make_shared<ptrn::PatternCharacter>(evaluator, offset, getLocation().line);
         else if (this->m_type == Token::ValueType::Character16)
-            pattern = std::make_unique<ptrn::PatternWideCharacter>(evaluator, offset, getLocation().line);
+            pattern = std::make_shared<ptrn::PatternWideCharacter>(evaluator, offset, getLocation().line);
         else if (this->m_type == Token::ValueType::Padding)
-            pattern = std::make_unique<ptrn::PatternPadding>(evaluator, offset, 1, getLocation().line);
+            pattern = std::make_shared<ptrn::PatternPadding>(evaluator, offset, 1, getLocation().line);
         else if (this->m_type == Token::ValueType::String)
-            pattern = std::make_unique<ptrn::PatternString>(evaluator, offset, 0, getLocation().line);
+            pattern = std::make_shared<ptrn::PatternString>(evaluator, offset, 0, getLocation().line);
         else if (this->m_type == Token::ValueType::CustomType) {
             std::vector<Token::Literal> params;
 
diff --git a/tests/include/test_patterns/test_pattern.hpp b/tests/include/test_patterns/test_pattern.hpp
index 78a054b0..cd8853de 100644
--- a/tests/include/test_patterns/test_pattern.hpp
+++ b/tests/include/test_patterns/test_pattern.hpp
@@ -30,18 +30,18 @@ namespace pl::test {
         virtual ~TestPattern() = default;
 
         template<typename T>
-        std::unique_ptr<T> create(const std::string &typeName, const std::string &varName, auto... args) {
-            auto pattern = std::make_unique<T>(m_evaluator, args...);
+        std::shared_ptr<T> create(const std::string &typeName, const std::string &varName, auto... args) {
+            auto pattern = std::make_shared<T>(m_evaluator, args...);
             pattern->setTypeName(typeName);
             pattern->setVariableName(varName);
 
-            return std::move(pattern);
+            return pattern;
         }
 
         [[nodiscard]] virtual std::string getSourceCode() const = 0;
 
-        [[nodiscard]] virtual const std::vector<std::unique_ptr<ptrn::Pattern>> &getPatterns() const final { return this->m_patterns; }
-        virtual void addPattern(std::unique_ptr<ptrn::Pattern> &&pattern) final {
+        [[nodiscard]] virtual const std::vector<std::shared_ptr<ptrn::Pattern>> &getPatterns() const final { return this->m_patterns; }
+        virtual void addPattern(std::shared_ptr<ptrn::Pattern> &&pattern) final {
             this->m_patterns.push_back(std::move(pattern));
         }
 
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ namespace pl::test {
         }
 
     private:
-        std::vector<std::unique_ptr<ptrn::Pattern>> m_patterns;
+        std::vector<std::shared_ptr<ptrn::Pattern>> m_patterns;
         core::Evaluator *m_evaluator;
         Mode m_mode;
 
diff --git a/tests/include/test_patterns/test_pattern_bitfields.hpp b/tests/include/test_patterns/test_pattern_bitfields.hpp
index 0b41af6d..cb3c69ea 100644
--- a/tests/include/test_patterns/test_pattern_bitfields.hpp
+++ b/tests/include/test_patterns/test_pattern_bitfields.hpp
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@ namespace pl::test {
                     nestedFields.push_back(create<PatternBitfieldField>("", "nestedA", 0x25, 5, 4, 0, testBitfield.get()));
                     nestedFields.push_back(create<PatternBitfieldField>("", "nestedB", 0x26, 1, 4, 0, testBitfield.get()));
                 }
-                nestedBitfield->setParent(testBitfield.get());
+                nestedBitfield->setParent(testBitfield->reference());
                 nestedBitfield->setFields(std::move(nestedFields));
                 nestedBitfield->setEndian(std::endian::big);
                 bitfieldFields.push_back(std::move(nestedBitfield));
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ namespace pl::test {
                         array0Fields.push_back(create<PatternBitfieldField>("", "nestedA", 0x27, 5, 4, 0, array0Bitfield.get()));
                         array0Fields.push_back(create<PatternBitfieldField>("", "nestedB", 0x28, 1, 4, 0, array0Bitfield.get()));
                     }
-                    array0Bitfield->setParent(array.get());
+                    array0Bitfield->setParent(array->reference());
                     array0Bitfield->setFields(std::move(array0Fields));
                     array0Bitfield->setEndian(std::endian::big);
                     arrayEntries.push_back(std::move(array0Bitfield));
@@ -50,12 +50,12 @@ namespace pl::test {
                         array1Fields.push_back(create<PatternBitfieldField>("", "nestedA", 0x28, 5, 4, 0, array1Bitfield.get()));
                         array1Fields.push_back(create<PatternBitfieldField>("", "nestedB", 0x29, 1, 4, 0, array1Bitfield.get()));
                     }
-                    array1Bitfield->setParent(array.get());
+                    array1Bitfield->setParent(array->reference());
                     array1Bitfield->setFields(std::move(array1Fields));
                     array1Bitfield->setEndian(std::endian::big);
                     arrayEntries.push_back(std::move(array1Bitfield));
                 }
-                array->setParent(testBitfield.get());
+                array->setParent(testBitfield->reference());
                 array->setEntries(arrayEntries);
                 array->setEndian(std::endian::big);
                 bitfieldFields.push_back(std::move(array));