diff --git a/src/storm/storage/expressions/Variable.cpp b/src/storm/storage/expressions/Variable.cpp
index 0259ab3e5..675f1caef 100644
--- a/src/storm/storage/expressions/Variable.cpp
+++ b/src/storm/storage/expressions/Variable.cpp
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ namespace storm {
         }
 
         bool Variable::operator==(Variable const& other) const {
-            return manager == other.manager && index == other.index;
+            return &this->getManager() == &other.getManager() && index == other.index;
         }
 
         bool Variable::operator!=(Variable const& other) const {
@@ -48,8 +48,7 @@ namespace storm {
         }
         
         ExpressionManager const& Variable::getManager() const {
-            STORM_LOG_ASSERT(manager != nullptr, "Manager is null.");
-            return *manager;
+            return *manager.lock();
         }
 
         bool Variable::hasBooleanType() const {
diff --git a/src/storm/storage/expressions/Variable.h b/src/storm/storage/expressions/Variable.h
index 8a51df376..3ecea02c0 100644
--- a/src/storm/storage/expressions/Variable.h
+++ b/src/storm/storage/expressions/Variable.h
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ namespace storm {
 
         private:
             // The manager that is responsible for this variable.
-            std::shared_ptr<ExpressionManager const> manager;
+            std::weak_ptr<ExpressionManager const> manager;
             
             // The index of the variable.
             uint_fast64_t index;