diff --git a/cuda_core/cuda/core/experimental/_program.py b/cuda_core/cuda/core/experimental/_program.py
index 22b9fd81..28936a88 100644
--- a/cuda_core/cuda/core/experimental/_program.py
+++ b/cuda_core/cuda/core/experimental/_program.py
@@ -26,32 +26,41 @@ class Program:
 
     """
 
-    __slots__ = ("__weakref__", "_handle", "_backend")
+    class _MembersNeededForFinalize:
+        __slots__ = ("handle",)
+
+        def __init__(self, program_obj, handle):
+            self.handle = handle
+            weakref.finalize(program_obj, self.close)
+
+        def close(self):
+            if self.handle is not None:
+                handle_return(nvrtc.nvrtcDestroyProgram(self.handle))
+                self.handle = None
+
+    __slots__ = ("__weakref__", "_mnff", "_backend")
     _supported_code_type = ("c++",)
     _supported_target_type = ("ptx", "cubin", "ltoir")
 
     def __init__(self, code, code_type):
+        self._mnff = Program._MembersNeededForFinalize(self, None)
+
         if code_type not in self._supported_code_type:
             raise NotImplementedError
 
-        self._handle = None
-        weakref.finalize(self, self.close)
-
         if code_type.lower() == "c++":
             if not isinstance(code, str):
                 raise TypeError
             # TODO: support pre-loaded headers & include names
             # TODO: allow tuples once NVIDIA/cuda-python#72 is resolved
-            self._handle = handle_return(nvrtc.nvrtcCreateProgram(code.encode(), b"", 0, [], []))
+            self._mnff.handle = handle_return(nvrtc.nvrtcCreateProgram(code.encode(), b"", 0, [], []))
             self._backend = "nvrtc"
         else:
             raise NotImplementedError
 
     def close(self):
         """Destroy this program."""
-        if self._handle is not None:
-            handle_return(nvrtc.nvrtcDestroyProgram(self._handle))
-            self._handle = None
+        self._mnff.close()
 
     def compile(self, target_type, options=(), name_expressions=(), logs=None):
         """Compile the program with a specific compilation type.
@@ -84,29 +93,29 @@ def compile(self, target_type, options=(), name_expressions=(), logs=None):
         if self._backend == "nvrtc":
             if name_expressions:
                 for n in name_expressions:
-                    handle_return(nvrtc.nvrtcAddNameExpression(self._handle, n.encode()), handle=self._handle)
+                    handle_return(nvrtc.nvrtcAddNameExpression(self._mnff.handle, n.encode()), handle=self._mnff.handle)
             # TODO: allow tuples once NVIDIA/cuda-python#72 is resolved
             options = list(o.encode() for o in options)
-            handle_return(nvrtc.nvrtcCompileProgram(self._handle, len(options), options), handle=self._handle)
+            handle_return(nvrtc.nvrtcCompileProgram(self._mnff.handle, len(options), options), handle=self._mnff.handle)
 
             size_func = getattr(nvrtc, f"nvrtcGet{target_type.upper()}Size")
             comp_func = getattr(nvrtc, f"nvrtcGet{target_type.upper()}")
-            size = handle_return(size_func(self._handle), handle=self._handle)
+            size = handle_return(size_func(self._mnff.handle), handle=self._mnff.handle)
             data = b" " * size
-            handle_return(comp_func(self._handle, data), handle=self._handle)
+            handle_return(comp_func(self._mnff.handle, data), handle=self._mnff.handle)
 
             symbol_mapping = {}
             if name_expressions:
                 for n in name_expressions:
                     symbol_mapping[n] = handle_return(
-                        nvrtc.nvrtcGetLoweredName(self._handle, n.encode()), handle=self._handle
+                        nvrtc.nvrtcGetLoweredName(self._mnff.handle, n.encode()), handle=self._mnff.handle
                     )
 
             if logs is not None:
-                logsize = handle_return(nvrtc.nvrtcGetProgramLogSize(self._handle), handle=self._handle)
+                logsize = handle_return(nvrtc.nvrtcGetProgramLogSize(self._mnff.handle), handle=self._mnff.handle)
                 if logsize > 1:
                     log = b" " * logsize
-                    handle_return(nvrtc.nvrtcGetProgramLog(self._handle, log), handle=self._handle)
+                    handle_return(nvrtc.nvrtcGetProgramLog(self._mnff.handle, log), handle=self._mnff.handle)
                     logs.write(log.decode())
 
             # TODO: handle jit_options for ptx?
@@ -121,4 +130,4 @@ def backend(self):
     @property
     def handle(self):
         """Return the program handle object."""
-        return self._handle
+        return self._mnff.handle