diff --git a/c++/carla-backend/carla_bridge.cpp b/c++/carla-backend/carla_bridge.cpp
index 1e6b25a..a9898cf 100644
--- a/c++/carla-backend/carla_bridge.cpp
+++ b/c++/carla-backend/carla_bridge.cpp
@@ -955,7 +955,7 @@ public:
             x_engine->__bridgePluginRegister(m_id, nullptr);
 
             osc.thread->terminate();
-            setLastError("Timeout while waiting for a response from plugin-bridge");
+            setLastError("Timeout while waiting for a response from plugin-bridge\n(or the plugin crashed on initialization?)");
             return false;
         }
         else if (m_initError)
diff --git a/c++/carla-backend/vst.cpp b/c++/carla-backend/vst.cpp
index 4b5c46d..2bba2f0 100644
--- a/c++/carla-backend/vst.cpp
+++ b/c++/carla-backend/vst.cpp
@@ -1732,12 +1732,20 @@ public:
                     self = nullptr;
             }
 
-#ifdef DEBUG
             if (self)
+            {
+                if (! self->effect)
+                    self->effect = effect;
+
                 Q_ASSERT(self->effect == effect);
-#endif
 
-            if (lastVstPlugin && ! self)
+                if (self->effect != effect)
+                {
+                    qWarning("VstPlugin::hostCallback() - host pointer mismatch: %p != %p", self->effect, effect);
+                    self = nullptr;
+                }
+            }
+            else if (lastVstPlugin)
             {
 #ifdef VESTIGE_HEADER
                 effect->ptr1 = lastVstPlugin;
@@ -1896,7 +1904,9 @@ public:
         case audioMasterGetSampleRate:
             Q_ASSERT(self);
             if (self)
+            {
                 ret = self->handleAudioMasterGetSampleRate();
+            }
             else
             {
                 qWarning("VstPlugin::hostCallback::audioMasterGetSampleRate called without valid object");
@@ -1907,7 +1917,9 @@ public:
         case audioMasterGetBlockSize:
             Q_ASSERT(self);
             if (self)
+            {
                 ret = self->handleAudioMasterGetBlockSize();
+            }
             else
             {
                 qWarning("stPlugin::hostCallback::audioMasterGetBlockSize called without valid object");