diff --git a/Source/Core/Common/SPSCQueue.h b/Source/Core/Common/SPSCQueue.h
index b586012226..d54ac303d4 100644
--- a/Source/Core/Common/SPSCQueue.h
+++ b/Source/Core/Common/SPSCQueue.h
@@ -8,7 +8,8 @@
 
 #include <atomic>
 #include <cassert>
-#include <memory>
+
+#include "Common/TypeUtils.h"
 
 namespace Common
 {
@@ -38,7 +39,7 @@ public:
   template <typename... Args>
   void Emplace(Args&&... args)
   {
-    std::construct_at(&m_write_ptr->value.data, std::forward<Args>(args)...);
+    m_write_ptr->value.Construct(std::forward<Args>(args)...);
 
     Node* const new_ptr = new Node;
     m_write_ptr->next = new_ptr;
@@ -54,14 +55,14 @@ public:
   }
 
   // The following are only safe from the "consumer thread":
-  T& Front() { return m_read_ptr->value.data; }
-  const T& Front() const { return m_read_ptr->value.data; }
+  T& Front() { return m_read_ptr->value.Ref(); }
+  const T& Front() const { return m_read_ptr->value.Ref(); }
 
   void Pop()
   {
     assert(!Empty());
 
-    std::destroy_at(&Front());
+    m_read_ptr->value.Destroy();
 
     Node* const old_node = m_read_ptr;
     m_read_ptr = old_node->next;
@@ -94,14 +95,7 @@ public:
 private:
   struct Node
   {
-    // union allows value construction to be deferred until Push.
-    union Value
-    {
-      T data;
-      Value() {}
-      ~Value() {}
-    } value;
-
+    ManuallyConstructedValue<T> value;
     Node* next;
   };
 
diff --git a/Source/Core/Common/SmallVector.h b/Source/Core/Common/SmallVector.h
index d06bcd1cfa..9200fe2cde 100644
--- a/Source/Core/Common/SmallVector.h
+++ b/Source/Core/Common/SmallVector.h
@@ -7,9 +7,13 @@
 #include <cstddef>
 #include <utility>
 
+#include "Common/TypeUtils.h"
+
 namespace Common
 {
 
+// TODO C++26: Replace with std::inplace_vector.
+
 // An std::vector-like container that uses no heap allocations but is limited to a maximum size.
 template <typename T, size_t MaxSize>
 class SmallVector final
@@ -59,13 +63,13 @@ public:
   value_type& emplace_back(Args&&... args)
   {
     assert(m_size < MaxSize);
-    return *::new (&m_array[m_size++ * sizeof(value_type)]) value_type{std::forward<Args>(args)...};
+    return m_array[m_size++].Construct(std::forward<Args>(args)...);
   }
 
   void pop_back()
   {
     assert(m_size > 0);
-    std::destroy_at(data() + --m_size);
+    m_array[--m_size].Destroy();
   }
 
   value_type& operator[](size_t i)
@@ -79,11 +83,11 @@ public:
     return data()[i];
   }
 
-  auto data() { return std::launder(reinterpret_cast<value_type*>(m_array.data())); }
+  auto data() { return m_array.data()->Ptr(); }
   auto begin() { return data(); }
   auto end() { return data() + m_size; }
 
-  auto data() const { return std::launder(reinterpret_cast<const value_type*>(m_array.data())); }
+  auto data() const { return m_array.data()->Ptr(); }
   auto begin() const { return data(); }
   auto end() const { return data() + m_size; }
 
@@ -106,7 +110,7 @@ public:
   void clear() { resize(0); }
 
 private:
-  alignas(value_type) std::array<std::byte, MaxSize * sizeof(value_type)> m_array;
+  std::array<ManuallyConstructedValue<T>, MaxSize> m_array;
   size_t m_size = 0;
 };
 
diff --git a/Source/Core/Common/TypeUtils.h b/Source/Core/Common/TypeUtils.h
index 714f5a718d..384af63b8c 100644
--- a/Source/Core/Common/TypeUtils.h
+++ b/Source/Core/Common/TypeUtils.h
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 #pragma once
 
 #include <cstddef>
+#include <memory>
 #include <type_traits>
 
 namespace Common
@@ -82,4 +83,54 @@ static_assert(!IsNOf<int, 1, int, int>::value);
 static_assert(IsNOf<int, 2, int, int>::value);
 static_assert(IsNOf<int, 2, int, short>::value);  // Type conversions ARE allowed
 static_assert(!IsNOf<int, 2, int, char*>::value);
+
+// Lighter than optional<T> but you must manage object lifetime yourself.
+// You must call Destroy if you call Construct.
+// Useful for containers.
+template <typename T>
+class ManuallyConstructedValue
+{
+public:
+  template <typename... Args>
+  T& Construct(Args&&... args)
+  {
+    static_assert(sizeof(ManuallyConstructedValue) == sizeof(T));
+
+// TODO: Remove placement-new version when we can require Clang 16.
+#if defined(__cpp_aggregate_paren_init) && (__cpp_aggregate_paren_init >= 201902L)
+    return *std::construct_at(&m_value.data, std::forward<Args>(args)...);
+#else
+    return *::new (&m_value.data) T{std::forward<Args>(args)...};
+#endif
+  }
+
+  void Destroy() { std::destroy_at(&m_value.data); }
+
+  T* Ptr() { return &m_value.data; }
+  const T* Ptr() const { return &m_value.data; }
+  T& Ref() { return m_value.data; }
+  const T& Ref() const { return m_value.data; }
+
+  T* operator->() { return Ptr(); }
+  const T* operator->() const { return Ptr(); }
+  T& operator*() { return Ref(); }
+  const T& operator*() const { return Ref(); }
+
+private:
+  union Value
+  {
+    // The union allows this object's automatic construction to be avoided.
+    T data;
+
+    Value() {}
+    ~Value() {}
+
+    Value& operator=(const Value&) = delete;
+    Value(const Value&) = delete;
+    Value& operator=(Value&&) = delete;
+    Value(Value&&) = delete;
+
+  } m_value;
+};
+
 }  // namespace Common