diff --git a/include/mbgl/storage/request.hpp b/include/mbgl/storage/request.hpp
index 5d979a281..4b75f23f6 100644
--- a/include/mbgl/storage/request.hpp
+++ b/include/mbgl/storage/request.hpp
@@ -11,8 +11,8 @@
 #include <functional>
 #include <memory>
 
-typedef struct uv_async_s uv_async_t;
 typedef struct uv_loop_s uv_loop_t;
+namespace uv { class async; }
 
 namespace mbgl {
 
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ private:
     void notifyCallback();
 
 private:
-    uv_async_t *async = nullptr;
+    std::unique_ptr<uv::async> async;
     struct Canceled;
     std::unique_ptr<Canceled> canceled;
     Callback callback;
diff --git a/src/mbgl/storage/request.cpp b/src/mbgl/storage/request.cpp
index 53a882f2a..a6d845ce4 100644
--- a/src/mbgl/storage/request.cpp
+++ b/src/mbgl/storage/request.cpp
@@ -5,9 +5,7 @@
 
 #include <mbgl/util/util.hpp>
 #include <mbgl/util/std.hpp>
-#include <mbgl/util/uv.hpp>
-
-#include <uv.h>
+#include <mbgl/util/uv_detail.hpp>
 
 #include <cassert>
 #include <functional>
@@ -18,18 +16,9 @@ struct Request::Canceled { std::mutex mutex; bool confirmed = false; };
 
 // Note: This requires that loop is running in the current thread (or not yet running).
 Request::Request(const Resource &resource_, uv_loop_t *loop, Callback callback_)
-    : callback(callback_), resource(resource_) {
-    // When there is no loop supplied (== nullptr), the callback will be fired in an arbitrary
-    // thread (the thread notify() is called from) rather than kicking back to the calling thread.
-    if (loop) {
-        async = new uv_async_t;
-        async->data = this;
-#if UV_VERSION_MAJOR == 0 && UV_VERSION_MINOR <= 10
-        uv_async_init(loop, async, [](uv_async_t *a, int) { reinterpret_cast<Request *>(a->data)->notifyCallback(); });
-#else
-        uv_async_init(loop, async, [](uv_async_t *a) { reinterpret_cast<Request *>(a->data)->notifyCallback(); });
-#endif
-    }
+    : async(util::make_unique<uv::async>(loop, [this] { notifyCallback(); })),
+      callback(callback_),
+      resource(resource_) {
 }
 
 // Called in the originating thread.
@@ -59,27 +48,14 @@ void Request::invoke() {
     delete this;
 }
 
-Request::~Request() {
-    if (async) {
-        uv_close(reinterpret_cast<uv_handle_t*>(async), [](uv_handle_t* handle) {
-            delete reinterpret_cast<uv_async_t*>(handle);
-        });
-    }
-}
+Request::~Request() = default;
 
 // Called in the FileSource thread.
 void Request::notify(const std::shared_ptr<const Response> &response_) {
     assert(!response);
     response = response_;
     assert(response);
-
-    if (async) {
-        uv_async_send(async);
-    } else {
-        // This request is not cancelable. This means that the callback will be executed in an
-        // arbitrary thread (== FileSource thread).
-        invoke();
-    }
+    async->send();
 }
 
 // Called in the originating thread.
@@ -97,7 +73,7 @@ void Request::destruct() {
     assert(canceled);
     std::unique_lock<std::mutex> lock(canceled->mutex);
     canceled->confirmed = true;
-    uv_async_send(async);
+    async->send();
     // after this method returns, the FileSource thread has no knowledge of
     // this object anymore.
 }