diff --git a/dpctl/tensor/libtensor/include/kernels/sorting/radix_sort.hpp b/dpctl/tensor/libtensor/include/kernels/sorting/radix_sort.hpp
index 84edb1dd3b..de0011e2ab 100644
--- a/dpctl/tensor/libtensor/include/kernels/sorting/radix_sort.hpp
+++ b/dpctl/tensor/libtensor/include/kernels/sorting/radix_sort.hpp
@@ -1588,11 +1588,11 @@ sycl::event parallel_radix_sort_impl(sycl::queue &exec_q,
         using CountT = std::uint32_t;
 
         // memory for storing count and offset values
-        CountT *count_ptr =
-            sycl::malloc_device<CountT>(n_iters * n_counts, exec_q);
-        if (nullptr == count_ptr) {
-            throw std::runtime_error("Could not allocate USM-device memory");
-        }
+        auto count_owner =
+            dpctl::tensor::alloc_utils::smart_malloc_device<CountT>(
+                n_iters * n_counts, exec_q);
+
+        CountT *count_ptr = count_owner.get();
 
         constexpr std::uint32_t zero_radix_iter{0};
 
@@ -1605,25 +1605,17 @@ sycl::event parallel_radix_sort_impl(sycl::queue &exec_q,
                                                    n_counts, count_ptr, proj_op,
                                                    is_ascending, depends);
 
-            sort_ev = exec_q.submit([=](sycl::handler &cgh) {
-                cgh.depends_on(sort_ev);
-                const sycl::context &ctx = exec_q.get_context();
-
-                using dpctl::tensor::alloc_utils::sycl_free_noexcept;
-                cgh.host_task(
-                    [ctx, count_ptr]() { sycl_free_noexcept(count_ptr, ctx); });
-            });
+            sort_ev = dpctl::tensor::alloc_utils::async_smart_free(
+                exec_q, {sort_ev}, count_owner);
 
             return sort_ev;
         }
 
-        ValueT *tmp_arr =
-            sycl::malloc_device<ValueT>(n_iters * n_to_sort, exec_q);
-        if (nullptr == tmp_arr) {
-            using dpctl::tensor::alloc_utils::sycl_free_noexcept;
-            sycl_free_noexcept(count_ptr, exec_q);
-            throw std::runtime_error("Could not allocate USM-device memory");
-        }
+        auto tmp_arr_owner =
+            dpctl::tensor::alloc_utils::smart_malloc_device<ValueT>(
+                n_iters * n_to_sort, exec_q);
+
+        ValueT *tmp_arr = tmp_arr_owner.get();
 
         // iterations per each bucket
         assert("Number of iterations must be even" && radix_iters % 2 == 0);
@@ -1657,17 +1649,8 @@ sycl::event parallel_radix_sort_impl(sycl::queue &exec_q,
             }
         }
 
-        sort_ev = exec_q.submit([=](sycl::handler &cgh) {
-            cgh.depends_on(sort_ev);
-
-            const sycl::context &ctx = exec_q.get_context();
-
-            using dpctl::tensor::alloc_utils::sycl_free_noexcept;
-            cgh.host_task([ctx, count_ptr, tmp_arr]() {
-                sycl_free_noexcept(tmp_arr, ctx);
-                sycl_free_noexcept(count_ptr, ctx);
-            });
-        });
+        sort_ev = dpctl::tensor::alloc_utils::async_smart_free(
+            exec_q, {sort_ev}, tmp_arr_owner, count_owner);
     }
 
     return sort_ev;
@@ -1769,13 +1752,12 @@ radix_argsort_axis1_contig_impl(sycl::queue &exec_q,
         reinterpret_cast<IndexTy *>(res_cp) + iter_res_offset + sort_res_offset;
 
     const std::size_t total_nelems = iter_nelems * sort_nelems;
-    const std::size_t padded_total_nelems = ((total_nelems + 63) / 64) * 64;
-    IndexTy *workspace = sycl::malloc_device<IndexTy>(
-        padded_total_nelems + total_nelems, exec_q);
+    auto workspace_owner =
+        dpctl::tensor::alloc_utils::smart_malloc_device<IndexTy>(total_nelems,
+                                                                 exec_q);
 
-    if (nullptr == workspace) {
-        throw std::runtime_error("Could not allocate workspace on device");
-    }
+    // get raw USM pointer
+    IndexTy *workspace = workspace_owner.get();
 
     using IdentityProjT = radix_sort_details::IdentityProj;
     using IndexedProjT =
@@ -1820,14 +1802,8 @@ radix_argsort_axis1_contig_impl(sycl::queue &exec_q,
             });
     });
 
-    sycl::event cleanup_ev = exec_q.submit([&](sycl::handler &cgh) {
-        cgh.depends_on(map_back_ev);
-
-        const sycl::context &ctx = exec_q.get_context();
-
-        using dpctl::tensor::alloc_utils::sycl_free_noexcept;
-        cgh.host_task([ctx, workspace] { sycl_free_noexcept(workspace, ctx); });
-    });
+    sycl::event cleanup_ev = dpctl::tensor::alloc_utils::async_smart_free(
+        exec_q, {map_back_ev}, workspace_owner);
 
     return cleanup_ev;
 }
diff --git a/dpctl/tensor/libtensor/include/kernels/sorting/topk.hpp b/dpctl/tensor/libtensor/include/kernels/sorting/topk.hpp
index 6698aa50de..d1d686a2dd 100644
--- a/dpctl/tensor/libtensor/include/kernels/sorting/topk.hpp
+++ b/dpctl/tensor/libtensor/include/kernels/sorting/topk.hpp
@@ -30,9 +30,10 @@
 #include <iterator>
 #include <limits>
 #include <stdexcept>
-#include <sycl/sycl.hpp>
 #include <vector>
 
+#include <sycl/sycl.hpp>
+
 #include "kernels/dpctl_tensor_types.hpp"
 #include "kernels/sorting/merge_sort.hpp"
 #include "kernels/sorting/radix_sort.hpp"
@@ -90,11 +91,11 @@ topk_full_merge_sort_impl(sycl::queue &exec_q,
                           const CompT &comp,
                           const std::vector<sycl::event> &depends)
 {
-    IndexTy *index_data =
-        sycl::malloc_device<IndexTy>(iter_nelems * axis_nelems, exec_q);
-    if (index_data == nullptr) {
-        throw std::runtime_error("Unable to allocate device_memory");
-    }
+    auto index_data_owner =
+        dpctl::tensor::alloc_utils::smart_malloc_device<IndexTy>(
+            iter_nelems * axis_nelems, exec_q);
+    // extract USM pointer
+    IndexTy *index_data = index_data_owner.get();
 
     using IotaKernelName = topk_populate_index_data_krn<argTy, IndexTy, CompT>;
 
@@ -153,14 +154,8 @@ topk_full_merge_sort_impl(sycl::queue &exec_q,
     });
 
     sycl::event cleanup_host_task_event =
-        exec_q.submit([&](sycl::handler &cgh) {
-            cgh.depends_on(write_out_ev);
-            const sycl::context &ctx = exec_q.get_context();
-
-            using dpctl::tensor::alloc_utils::sycl_free_noexcept;
-            cgh.host_task(
-                [ctx, index_data] { sycl_free_noexcept(index_data, ctx); });
-        });
+        dpctl::tensor::alloc_utils::async_smart_free(exec_q, {write_out_ev},
+                                                     index_data_owner);
 
     return cleanup_host_task_event;
 };
@@ -283,11 +278,11 @@ sycl::event topk_merge_impl(
                                              index_comp, depends);
         }
 
-        IndexTy *index_data =
-            sycl::malloc_device<IndexTy>(iter_nelems * alloc_len, exec_q);
-        if (index_data == nullptr) {
-            throw std::runtime_error("Unable to allocate device_memory");
-        }
+        auto index_data_owner =
+            dpctl::tensor::alloc_utils::smart_malloc_device<IndexTy>(
+                iter_nelems * alloc_len, exec_q);
+        // get raw USM pointer
+        IndexTy *index_data = index_data_owner.get();
 
         // no need to populate index data: SLM will be populated with default
         // values
@@ -427,14 +422,8 @@ sycl::event topk_merge_impl(
         });
 
         sycl::event cleanup_host_task_event =
-            exec_q.submit([&](sycl::handler &cgh) {
-                cgh.depends_on(write_topk_ev);
-                const sycl::context &ctx = exec_q.get_context();
-
-                using dpctl::tensor::alloc_utils::sycl_free_noexcept;
-                cgh.host_task(
-                    [ctx, index_data] { sycl_free_noexcept(index_data, ctx); });
-            });
+            dpctl::tensor::alloc_utils::async_smart_free(
+                exec_q, {write_topk_ev}, index_data_owner);
 
         return cleanup_host_task_event;
     }
@@ -474,15 +463,13 @@ sycl::event topk_radix_impl(sycl::queue &exec_q,
 
     const std::size_t total_nelems = iter_nelems * axis_nelems;
     const std::size_t padded_total_nelems = ((total_nelems + 63) / 64) * 64;
-    IndexTy *workspace = sycl::malloc_device<IndexTy>(
-        padded_total_nelems + total_nelems, exec_q);
+    auto workspace_owner =
+        dpctl::tensor::alloc_utils::smart_malloc_device<IndexTy>(
+            padded_total_nelems + total_nelems, exec_q);
 
-    IndexTy *tmp_tp = sycl::malloc_device<IndexTy>(total_nelems, exec_q);
-
-    if (nullptr == workspace || nullptr == tmp_tp) {
-        throw std::runtime_error(
-            "Not enough device memory for radix sort topk");
-    }
+    // get raw USM pointer
+    IndexTy *workspace = workspace_owner.get();
+    IndexTy *tmp_tp = workspace + padded_total_nelems;
 
     using IdentityProjT = radix_sort_details::IdentityProj;
     using IndexedProjT =
@@ -536,17 +523,8 @@ sycl::event topk_radix_impl(sycl::queue &exec_q,
         });
     });
 
-    sycl::event cleanup_ev = exec_q.submit([&](sycl::handler &cgh) {
-        cgh.depends_on(write_topk_ev);
-
-        const sycl::context &ctx = exec_q.get_context();
-
-        using dpctl::tensor::alloc_utils::sycl_free_noexcept;
-        cgh.host_task([ctx, workspace, tmp_tp] {
-            sycl_free_noexcept(workspace, ctx);
-            sycl_free_noexcept(tmp_tp, ctx);
-        });
-    });
+    sycl::event cleanup_ev = dpctl::tensor::alloc_utils::async_smart_free(
+        exec_q, {write_topk_ev}, workspace_owner);
 
     return cleanup_ev;
 }
diff --git a/dpctl/tensor/libtensor/include/utils/sycl_alloc_utils.hpp b/dpctl/tensor/libtensor/include/utils/sycl_alloc_utils.hpp
index 3ad5f6f36a..87476221d8 100644
--- a/dpctl/tensor/libtensor/include/utils/sycl_alloc_utils.hpp
+++ b/dpctl/tensor/libtensor/include/utils/sycl_alloc_utils.hpp
@@ -28,6 +28,9 @@
 
 #include <exception>
 #include <iostream>
+#include <memory>
+#include <stdexcept>
+#include <vector>
 
 #include "sycl/sycl.hpp"
 
@@ -73,11 +76,99 @@ void sycl_free_noexcept(T *ptr, const sycl::context &ctx) noexcept
     }
 }
 
-template <typename T> void sycl_free_noexcept(T *ptr, sycl::queue &q) noexcept
+template <typename T>
+void sycl_free_noexcept(T *ptr, const sycl::queue &q) noexcept
 {
     sycl_free_noexcept(ptr, q.get_context());
 }
 
+class USMDeleter
+{
+private:
+    sycl::context ctx_;
+
+public:
+    USMDeleter(const sycl::queue &q) : ctx_(q.get_context()) {}
+    USMDeleter(const sycl::context &ctx) : ctx_(ctx) {}
+
+    template <typename T> void operator()(T *ptr) const
+    {
+        sycl_free_noexcept(ptr, ctx_);
+    }
+};
+
+template <typename T>
+std::unique_ptr<T, USMDeleter>
+smart_malloc(std::size_t count,
+             const sycl::queue &q,
+             sycl::usm::alloc kind,
+             const sycl::property_list &propList = {})
+{
+    T *ptr = sycl::malloc<T>(count, q, kind, propList);
+    if (nullptr == ptr) {
+        throw std::runtime_error("Unable to allocate device_memory");
+    }
+
+    auto usm_deleter = USMDeleter(q);
+    return std::unique_ptr<T, USMDeleter>(ptr, usm_deleter);
+}
+
+template <typename T>
+std::unique_ptr<T, USMDeleter>
+smart_malloc_device(std::size_t count,
+                    const sycl::queue &q,
+                    const sycl::property_list &propList = {})
+{
+    return smart_malloc<T>(count, q, sycl::usm::alloc::device, propList);
+}
+
+template <typename T>
+std::unique_ptr<T, USMDeleter>
+smart_malloc_shared(std::size_t count,
+                    const sycl::queue &q,
+                    const sycl::property_list &propList = {})
+{
+    return smart_malloc<T>(count, q, sycl::usm::alloc::shared, propList);
+}
+
+template <typename T>
+std::unique_ptr<T, USMDeleter>
+smart_malloc_jost(std::size_t count,
+                  const sycl::queue &q,
+                  const sycl::property_list &propList = {})
+{
+    return smart_malloc<T>(count, q, sycl::usm::alloc::host, propList);
+}
+
+template <typename... Args>
+sycl::event async_smart_free(sycl::queue &exec_q,
+                             const std::vector<sycl::event> &depends,
+                             Args &&...args)
+{
+    constexpr std::size_t n = sizeof...(Args);
+
+    std::vector<void *> ptrs;
+    ptrs.reserve(n);
+    (ptrs.push_back(reinterpret_cast<void *>(args.get())), ...);
+
+    std::vector<USMDeleter> dels;
+    dels.reserve(n);
+    (dels.push_back(args.get_deleter()), ...);
+
+    sycl::event ht_e = exec_q.submit([&](sycl::handler &cgh) {
+        cgh.depends_on(depends);
+
+        cgh.host_task([ptrs, dels]() {
+            for (size_t i = 0; i < ptrs.size(); ++i) {
+                dels[i](ptrs[i]);
+            }
+        });
+    });
+    (args.release(), ...);
+
+    return ht_e;
+}
+
 } // end of namespace alloc_utils
 } // end of namespace tensor
 } // end of namespace dpctl