diff --git a/libbroker/broker/internal/checked.hh b/libbroker/broker/internal/checked.hh
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..26f408c6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/libbroker/broker/internal/checked.hh
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <stdexcept>
+
+namespace broker::internal {
+
+// Helper function to check a nullable value and throw an exception if it is
+// `nullptr` / `nullopt`. This function is used to simplify error handling in
+// the constructor when initializing member functions.
+template <class Nullable>
+auto checked(Nullable what, const char* msg) {
+  if (!what)
+    throw std::logic_error(msg);
+  return what;
+}
+
+template <class Nullable>
+auto& checked_deref(Nullable& what, const char* msg) {
+  if (!what)
+    throw std::logic_error(msg);
+  return *what;
+}
+
+} // namespace broker::internal
diff --git a/libbroker/broker/internal/clone_actor.cc b/libbroker/broker/internal/clone_actor.cc
index 5cf4f5bc..8343b5d0 100644
--- a/libbroker/broker/internal/clone_actor.cc
+++ b/libbroker/broker/internal/clone_actor.cc
@@ -47,8 +47,8 @@ clone_state::clone_state(caf::event_based_actor* ptr,
                          caf::async::consumer_resource<command_message> in_res,
                          caf::async::producer_resource<command_message> out_res)
   : super(ptr), input(this), max_sync_interval(master_timeout) {
-  super::init(reg, this_endpoint, ep_clock, std::move(nm), std::move(parent),
-              std::move(in_res), std::move(out_res));
+  super::init(std::move(reg), this_endpoint, ep_clock, std::move(nm),
+              std::move(parent), std::move(in_res), std::move(out_res));
   master_topic = store_name / topic::master_suffix();
   super::init(input);
   max_get_delay = caf::get_or(ptr->config(), "broker.store.max-get-delay",
diff --git a/libbroker/broker/internal/core_actor.cc b/libbroker/broker/internal/core_actor.cc
index a0761b6b..e71ebbef 100644
--- a/libbroker/broker/internal/core_actor.cc
+++ b/libbroker/broker/internal/core_actor.cc
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@
 #include "broker/domain_options.hh"
 #include "broker/filter_type.hh"
 #include "broker/format/bin.hh"
+#include "broker/internal/checked.hh"
 #include "broker/internal/clone_actor.hh"
 #include "broker/internal/killswitch.hh"
 #include "broker/internal/master_actor.hh"
@@ -143,10 +144,11 @@ core_actor_state::core_actor_state(caf::event_based_actor* self, //
     id(this_peer),
     filter(std::make_shared<shared_filter_type>(std::move(initial_filter))),
     clock(clock),
-    metrics(*reg),
+    registry(checked(std::move(reg),
+                     "cannot construct the core actor without registry")),
+    metrics(*registry),
     unsafe_inputs(self),
-    flow_inputs(self),
-    registry(reg) {
+    flow_inputs(self) {
   // Read config and check for extra configuration parameters.
   ttl = caf::get_or(self->config(), "broker.ttl", defaults::ttl);
   if (adaptation && adaptation->disable_forwarding) {
diff --git a/libbroker/broker/internal/core_actor.hh b/libbroker/broker/internal/core_actor.hh
index 5d855d07..636cdf61 100644
--- a/libbroker/broker/internal/core_actor.hh
+++ b/libbroker/broker/internal/core_actor.hh
@@ -243,6 +243,9 @@ public:
   /// Enables manual time management by the user.
   endpoint::clock* clock;
 
+  /// Stores a reference to the metrics registry.
+  prometheus_registry_ptr registry;
+
   /// Caches pointers to the Broker metrics.
   metrics_t metrics;
 
@@ -353,9 +356,6 @@ public:
   /// Counts messages that were published directly via message, i.e., without
   /// using the back-pressure of flows.
   int64_t published_via_async_msg = 0;
-
-  /// Stores a reference to the metrics registry.
-  prometheus_registry_ptr registry;
 };
 
 using core_actor = caf::stateful_actor<core_actor_state>;
diff --git a/libbroker/broker/internal/core_actor.test.cc b/libbroker/broker/internal/core_actor.test.cc
index ab6e8f69..eb799af0 100644
--- a/libbroker/broker/internal/core_actor.test.cc
+++ b/libbroker/broker/internal/core_actor.test.cc
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ struct fixture : test_coordinator_fixture<config> {
 
   std::vector<caf::actor> bridges;
 
-  prometheus_registry_ptr registry;
+  prometheus_registry_ptr registry = std::make_shared<prometheus::Registry>();
 
   using data_message_list = std::vector<data_message>;
 
@@ -62,7 +62,6 @@ struct fixture : test_coordinator_fixture<config> {
   }
 
   fixture() {
-    registry = std::make_shared<prometheus::Registry>();
     // We don't do networking, but our flares use the socket API.
     ep1.id = endpoint_id::random(1);
     ep2.id = endpoint_id::random(2);
diff --git a/libbroker/broker/internal/master_actor.cc b/libbroker/broker/internal/master_actor.cc
index 40ddbcb0..c92c9fec 100644
--- a/libbroker/broker/internal/master_actor.cc
+++ b/libbroker/broker/internal/master_actor.cc
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 #include "broker/detail/abstract_backend.hh"
 #include "broker/detail/assert.hh"
 #include "broker/detail/die.hh"
+#include "broker/internal/checked.hh"
 #include "broker/internal/master_actor.hh"
 #include "broker/internal/metric_factory.hh"
 #include "broker/store.hh"
@@ -58,9 +59,13 @@ master_state::master_state(
   caf::actor parent, endpoint::clock* ep_clock,
   caf::async::consumer_resource<command_message> in_res,
   caf::async::producer_resource<command_message> out_res)
-  : super(ptr), output(this), metrics(*reg, nm) {
-  super::init(reg, this_endpoint, ep_clock, std::move(nm), std::move(parent),
-              std::move(in_res), std::move(out_res));
+  : super(ptr),
+    output(this),
+    metrics(checked_deref(reg,
+                          "cannot construct a master actor without registry"),
+            nm) {
+  super::init(std::move(reg), this_endpoint, ep_clock, std::move(nm),
+              std::move(parent), std::move(in_res), std::move(out_res));
   super::init(output);
   clones_topic = store_name / topic::clone_suffix();
   backend = std::move(bp);
diff --git a/libbroker/broker/internal/store_actor.cc b/libbroker/broker/internal/store_actor.cc
index 3e444f36..cab041d6 100644
--- a/libbroker/broker/internal/store_actor.cc
+++ b/libbroker/broker/internal/store_actor.cc
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ void store_actor_state::init(prometheus_registry_ptr reg,
                              consumer_resource<command_message> in_res,
                              producer_resource<command_message> out_res) {
   BROKER_ASSERT(clock != nullptr);
-  this->registry = reg;
+  this->registry = std::move(reg);
   this->clock = clock;
   this->store_name = std::move(store_name);
   this->id.endpoint = this_endpoint;
diff --git a/libbroker/broker/internal/store_actor.hh b/libbroker/broker/internal/store_actor.hh
index e849466a..c3612a9e 100644
--- a/libbroker/broker/internal/store_actor.hh
+++ b/libbroker/broker/internal/store_actor.hh
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 #pragma once
 
 #include <algorithm>
-#include <memory>
 #include <optional>
 #include <string>
 #include <unordered_map>
@@ -24,6 +23,7 @@
 #include "broker/entity_id.hh"
 #include "broker/fwd.hh"
 #include "broker/internal/channel.hh"
+#include "broker/internal/checked.hh"
 #include "broker/internal/type_id.hh"
 #include "broker/topic.hh"
 
@@ -82,7 +82,10 @@ public:
                                   defaults::store::heartbeat_interval));
     out.connection_timeout_factor(get_or(cfg, "broker.store.connection-timeout",
                                          defaults::store::connection_timeout));
-    out.metrics().init(*registry, store_name);
+    out.metrics().init(
+      checked_deref(registry,
+                    "cannot initialize a store actor without registry"),
+      store_name);
   }
 
   template <class Backend>
@@ -100,7 +103,10 @@ public:
     in.heartbeat_interval(heartbeat_interval);
     in.connection_timeout_factor(connection_timeout);
     in.nack_timeout(nack_timeout);
-    in.metrics().init(*registry, store_name);
+    in.metrics().init(
+      checked_deref(registry,
+                    "cannot initialize a store actor without registry"),
+      store_name);
   }
 
   template <class... Fs>