diff --git a/examples/simple_repeater/MyMesh.cpp b/examples/simple_repeater/MyMesh.cpp
index f310a2fe..4265ca6a 100644
--- a/examples/simple_repeater/MyMesh.cpp
+++ b/examples/simple_repeater/MyMesh.cpp
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ void MyMesh::logRx(mesh::Packet *pkt, int len, float score) {
 
 void MyMesh::logTx(mesh::Packet *pkt, int len) {
 #ifdef WITH_BRIDGE
-  bridge->onPacketTransmitted(pkt);
+  bridge.onPacketTransmitted(pkt);
 #endif
   if (_logging) {
     File f = openAppend(PACKET_LOG_FILE);
@@ -473,16 +473,13 @@ bool MyMesh::onPeerPathRecv(mesh::Packet *packet, int sender_idx, const uint8_t
 MyMesh::MyMesh(mesh::MainBoard &board, mesh::Radio &radio, mesh::MillisecondClock &ms, mesh::RNG &rng,
                mesh::RTCClock &rtc, mesh::MeshTables &tables)
     : mesh::Mesh(radio, ms, rng, rtc, *new StaticPoolPacketManager(32), tables),
-      _cli(board, rtc, &_prefs, this), telemetry(MAX_PACKET_PAYLOAD - 4) {
-#ifdef WITH_BRIDGE
+      _cli(board, rtc, &_prefs, this), telemetry(MAX_PACKET_PAYLOAD - 4)
 #if defined(WITH_RS232_BRIDGE)
-    bridge = new RS232Bridge(WITH_RS232_BRIDGE, _mgr, &rtc);
+      , bridge(WITH_RS232_BRIDGE, _mgr, &rtc)
 #elif defined(WITH_ESPNOW_BRIDGE)
-    bridge = new ESPNowBridge(_mgr, &rtc);
-#else
-#error "You must choose either RS232 or ESPNow bridge"
-#endif
+      , bridge(_mgr, &rtc)
 #endif
+{
   memset(known_clients, 0, sizeof(known_clients));
   next_local_advert = next_flood_advert = 0;
   set_radio_at = revert_radio_at = 0;
@@ -518,6 +515,10 @@ void MyMesh::begin(FILESYSTEM *fs) {
   // load persisted prefs
   _cli.loadPrefs(_fs);
 
+#ifdef WITH_BRIDGE
+  bridge.begin();
+#endif
+
   radio_set_params(_prefs.freq, _prefs.bw, _prefs.sf, _prefs.cr);
   radio_set_tx_power(_prefs.tx_power_dbm);
 
@@ -668,7 +669,7 @@ void MyMesh::handleCommand(uint32_t sender_timestamp, char *command, char *reply
 
 void MyMesh::loop() {
 #ifdef WITH_BRIDGE
-  bridge->loop();
+  bridge.loop();
 #endif
 
   mesh::Mesh::loop();
diff --git a/examples/simple_repeater/MyMesh.h b/examples/simple_repeater/MyMesh.h
index d315f58b..06e7ebe4 100644
--- a/examples/simple_repeater/MyMesh.h
+++ b/examples/simple_repeater/MyMesh.h
@@ -102,6 +102,11 @@ class MyMesh : public mesh::Mesh, public CommonCLICallbacks {
   uint8_t pending_sf;
   uint8_t pending_cr;
   int  matching_peer_indexes[MAX_CLIENTS];
+#if defined(WITH_RS232_BRIDGE)
+  RS232Bridge bridge;
+#elif defined(WITH_ESPNOW_BRIDGE)
+  ESPNowBridge bridge;
+#endif
 
   ClientInfo* putClient(const mesh::Identity& id);
   void putNeighbour(const mesh::Identity& id, uint32_t timestamp, float snr);
diff --git a/examples/simple_repeater/main.cpp b/examples/simple_repeater/main.cpp
index 08c0e875..7db0e7d4 100644
--- a/examples/simple_repeater/main.cpp
+++ b/examples/simple_repeater/main.cpp
@@ -8,10 +8,6 @@
   static UITask ui_task(display);
 #endif
 
-#ifdef WITH_BRIDGE
-AbstractBridge* bridge;
-#endif
-
 StdRNG fast_rng;
 SimpleMeshTables tables;
 
@@ -27,10 +23,6 @@ void setup() {
   Serial.begin(115200);
   delay(1000);
 
-#ifdef WITH_BRIDGE
-  bridge->begin();
-#endif
-
   board.begin();
 
 #ifdef DISPLAY_CLASS