diff --git a/source/backend/plugin/CarlaPluginInternal.cpp b/source/backend/plugin/CarlaPluginInternal.cpp
index 0cc22f1e6..30246a160 100644
--- a/source/backend/plugin/CarlaPluginInternal.cpp
+++ b/source/backend/plugin/CarlaPluginInternal.cpp
@@ -684,11 +684,6 @@ bool CarlaPlugin::ProtectedData::libClose() noexcept
     return ret;
 }
 
-void* CarlaPlugin::ProtectedData::libSymbol(const char* const symbol) const noexcept
-{
-    return lib_symbol(lib, symbol);
-}
-
 bool CarlaPlugin::ProtectedData::uiLibOpen(const char* const fname, const bool canDelete) noexcept
 {
     uiLib = sLibCounter.open(fname, canDelete);
@@ -702,11 +697,6 @@ bool CarlaPlugin::ProtectedData::uiLibClose() noexcept
     return ret;
 }
 
-void* CarlaPlugin::ProtectedData::uiLibSymbol(const char* const symbol) const noexcept
-{
-    return lib_symbol(uiLib, symbol);
-}
-
 // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 void CarlaPlugin::ProtectedData::tryTransient() noexcept
diff --git a/source/backend/plugin/CarlaPluginInternal.hpp b/source/backend/plugin/CarlaPluginInternal.hpp
index 6d23706b1..7919680d9 100644
--- a/source/backend/plugin/CarlaPluginInternal.hpp
+++ b/source/backend/plugin/CarlaPluginInternal.hpp
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 #include "CarlaPlugin.hpp"
 #include "CarlaPluginThread.hpp"
 
+#include "CarlaLibUtils.hpp"
 #include "CarlaOscUtils.hpp"
 #include "CarlaStateUtils.hpp"
 
@@ -330,13 +331,23 @@ struct CarlaPlugin::ProtectedData {
 
     static const char* libError(const char* const filename) noexcept;
 
-    bool  libOpen(const char* const filename) noexcept;
-    bool  libClose() noexcept;
-    void* libSymbol(const char* const symbol) const noexcept;
+    bool libOpen(const char* const filename) noexcept;
+    bool libClose() noexcept;
 
-    bool  uiLibOpen(const char* const filename, const bool canDelete) noexcept;
-    bool  uiLibClose() noexcept;
-    void* uiLibSymbol(const char* const symbol) const noexcept;
+    bool uiLibOpen(const char* const filename, const bool canDelete) noexcept;
+    bool uiLibClose() noexcept;
+
+    template<typename Func>
+    Func libSymbol(const char* const symbol) const noexcept
+    {
+        return lib_symbol<Func>(lib, symbol);
+    }
+
+    template<typename Func>
+    Func uiLibSymbol(const char* const symbol) const noexcept
+    {
+        return lib_symbol<Func>(uiLib, symbol);
+    }
 
     // -------------------------------------------------------------------
     // Misc
diff --git a/source/backend/plugin/DssiPlugin.cpp b/source/backend/plugin/DssiPlugin.cpp
index f5adb2ab7..0bfa5eaac 100644
--- a/source/backend/plugin/DssiPlugin.cpp
+++ b/source/backend/plugin/DssiPlugin.cpp
@@ -2025,7 +2025,7 @@ public:
         // ---------------------------------------------------------------
         // get DLL main entry
 
-        const DSSI_Descriptor_Function descFn = (DSSI_Descriptor_Function)pData->libSymbol("dssi_descriptor");
+        const DSSI_Descriptor_Function descFn = pData->libSymbol<DSSI_Descriptor_Function>("dssi_descriptor");
 
         if (descFn == nullptr)
         {
diff --git a/source/backend/plugin/LadspaPlugin.cpp b/source/backend/plugin/LadspaPlugin.cpp
index 4efbcafb1..9ed14f413 100644
--- a/source/backend/plugin/LadspaPlugin.cpp
+++ b/source/backend/plugin/LadspaPlugin.cpp
@@ -1551,7 +1551,7 @@ public:
         // ---------------------------------------------------------------
         // get DLL main entry
 
-        const LADSPA_Descriptor_Function descFn = (LADSPA_Descriptor_Function)pData->libSymbol("ladspa_descriptor");
+        const LADSPA_Descriptor_Function descFn = pData->libSymbol<LADSPA_Descriptor_Function>("ladspa_descriptor");
 
         if (descFn == nullptr)
         {
diff --git a/source/backend/plugin/Lv2Plugin.cpp b/source/backend/plugin/Lv2Plugin.cpp
index b9e2a7545..2f878c5fe 100644
--- a/source/backend/plugin/Lv2Plugin.cpp
+++ b/source/backend/plugin/Lv2Plugin.cpp
@@ -4581,7 +4581,7 @@ public:
         // ---------------------------------------------------------------
         // try to get DLL main entry via new mode
 
-        if (const LV2_Lib_Descriptor_Function libDescFn = (LV2_Lib_Descriptor_Function)pData->libSymbol("lv2_lib_descriptor"))
+        if (const LV2_Lib_Descriptor_Function libDescFn = pData->libSymbol<LV2_Lib_Descriptor_Function>("lv2_lib_descriptor"))
         {
             // -----------------------------------------------------------
             // all ok, get lib descriptor
@@ -4609,7 +4609,7 @@ public:
             // -----------------------------------------------------------
             // get DLL main entry (old mode)
 
-            const LV2_Descriptor_Function descFn = (LV2_Descriptor_Function)pData->libSymbol("lv2_descriptor");
+            const LV2_Descriptor_Function descFn = pData->libSymbol<LV2_Descriptor_Function>("lv2_descriptor");
 
             if (descFn == nullptr)
             {
@@ -5110,7 +5110,7 @@ public:
         // ---------------------------------------------------------------
         // get UI DLL main entry
 
-        LV2UI_DescriptorFunction uiDescFn = (LV2UI_DescriptorFunction)pData->uiLibSymbol("lv2ui_descriptor");
+        LV2UI_DescriptorFunction uiDescFn = pData->uiLibSymbol<LV2UI_DescriptorFunction>("lv2ui_descriptor");
 
         if (uiDescFn == nullptr)
         {
diff --git a/source/backend/plugin/VstPlugin.cpp b/source/backend/plugin/VstPlugin.cpp
index bc3e26a63..a5c794512 100644
--- a/source/backend/plugin/VstPlugin.cpp
+++ b/source/backend/plugin/VstPlugin.cpp
@@ -2212,11 +2212,11 @@ public:
         // ---------------------------------------------------------------
         // get DLL main entry
 
-        VST_Function vstFn = (VST_Function)pData->libSymbol("VSTPluginMain");
+        VST_Function vstFn = pData->libSymbol<VST_Function>("VSTPluginMain");
 
         if (vstFn == nullptr)
         {
-            vstFn = (VST_Function)pData->libSymbol("main");
+            vstFn = pData->libSymbol<VST_Function>("main");
 
             if (vstFn == nullptr)
             {
diff --git a/source/bridges-ui/CarlaBridgeClient.cpp b/source/bridges-ui/CarlaBridgeClient.cpp
index 8ba3317ad..c7e78662e 100644
--- a/source/bridges-ui/CarlaBridgeClient.cpp
+++ b/source/bridges-ui/CarlaBridgeClient.cpp
@@ -245,14 +245,6 @@ bool CarlaBridgeClient::uiLibClose()
     return closed;
 }
 
-void* CarlaBridgeClient::uiLibSymbol(const char* const symbol)
-{
-    CARLA_SAFE_ASSERT_RETURN(fUI.lib != nullptr, nullptr);
-    carla_debug("CarlaBridgeClient::uiLibSymbol(\"%s\")", symbol);
-
-    return lib_symbol(fUI.lib, symbol);
-}
-
 const char* CarlaBridgeClient::uiLibError()
 {
     carla_debug("CarlaBridgeClient::uiLibError()");
diff --git a/source/bridges-ui/CarlaBridgeClient.hpp b/source/bridges-ui/CarlaBridgeClient.hpp
index 282683222..b9efa2328 100644
--- a/source/bridges-ui/CarlaBridgeClient.hpp
+++ b/source/bridges-ui/CarlaBridgeClient.hpp
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
 
 #include "CarlaBridgeOsc.hpp"
 #include "CarlaBridgeToolkit.hpp"
+#include "CarlaLibUtils.hpp"
 
 CARLA_BRIDGE_START_NAMESPACE
 
@@ -91,11 +92,22 @@ protected:
 
     void* getContainerId();
     void* getContainerId2();
-    bool  uiLibOpen(const char* const filename);
-    bool  uiLibClose();
-    void* uiLibSymbol(const char* const symbol);
+
+    // ---------------------------------------------------------------------
+
+    bool uiLibOpen(const char* const filename);
+    bool uiLibClose();
     const char* uiLibError();
 
+    template<typename Func>
+    Func uiLibSymbol(const char* const symbol)
+    {
+        CARLA_SAFE_ASSERT_RETURN(fUI.lib != nullptr, nullptr);
+        carla_debug("CarlaBridgeClient::uiLibSymbol(\"%s\")", symbol);
+
+        return lib_symbol<Func>(fUI.lib, symbol);
+    }
+
     // ---------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 private:
diff --git a/source/bridges-ui/CarlaBridgeUI-LV2.cpp b/source/bridges-ui/CarlaBridgeUI-LV2.cpp
index e819597bb..ef9f6bf86 100644
--- a/source/bridges-ui/CarlaBridgeUI-LV2.cpp
+++ b/source/bridges-ui/CarlaBridgeUI-LV2.cpp
@@ -415,7 +415,7 @@ public:
         // -----------------------------------------------------------------
         // get DLL main entry
 
-        const LV2UI_DescriptorFunction ui_descFn = (LV2UI_DescriptorFunction)uiLibSymbol("lv2ui_descriptor");
+        const LV2UI_DescriptorFunction ui_descFn = uiLibSymbol<LV2UI_DescriptorFunction>("lv2ui_descriptor");
 
         if (ui_descFn == nullptr)
             return false;
diff --git a/source/bridges-ui/CarlaBridgeUI-VST.cpp b/source/bridges-ui/CarlaBridgeUI-VST.cpp
index d16639a13..c4f881e23 100644
--- a/source/bridges-ui/CarlaBridgeUI-VST.cpp
+++ b/source/bridges-ui/CarlaBridgeUI-VST.cpp
@@ -72,10 +72,10 @@ public:
         // -----------------------------------------------------------------
         // get DLL main entry
 
-        VST_Function vstFn = (VST_Function)uiLibSymbol("VSTPluginMain");
+        VST_Function vstFn = uiLibSymbol<VST_Function>("VSTPluginMain");
 
         if (vstFn == nullptr)
-            vstFn = (VST_Function)uiLibSymbol("main");
+            vstFn = uiLibSymbol<VST_Function>("main");
 
         if (vstFn == nullptr)
             return false;
diff --git a/source/discovery/carla-discovery.cpp b/source/discovery/carla-discovery.cpp
index e5a88bbe2..1d8f52642 100644
--- a/source/discovery/carla-discovery.cpp
+++ b/source/discovery/carla-discovery.cpp
@@ -403,7 +403,7 @@ private:
 
 static void do_ladspa_check(void*& libHandle, const char* const filename, const bool doInit)
 {
-    LADSPA_Descriptor_Function descFn = (LADSPA_Descriptor_Function)lib_symbol(libHandle, "ladspa_descriptor");
+    LADSPA_Descriptor_Function descFn = lib_symbol<LADSPA_Descriptor_Function>(libHandle, "ladspa_descriptor");
 
     if (descFn == nullptr)
     {
@@ -443,7 +443,7 @@ static void do_ladspa_check(void*& libHandle, const char* const filename, const
                 return;
             }
 
-            descFn = (LADSPA_Descriptor_Function)lib_symbol(libHandle, "ladspa_descriptor");
+            descFn = lib_symbol<LADSPA_Descriptor_Function>(libHandle, "ladspa_descriptor");
 
             if (descFn == nullptr)
             {
@@ -636,7 +636,7 @@ static void do_ladspa_check(void*& libHandle, const char* const filename, const
 
 static void do_dssi_check(void*& libHandle, const char* const filename, const bool doInit)
 {
-    DSSI_Descriptor_Function descFn = (DSSI_Descriptor_Function)lib_symbol(libHandle, "dssi_descriptor");
+    DSSI_Descriptor_Function descFn = lib_symbol<DSSI_Descriptor_Function>(libHandle, "dssi_descriptor");
 
     if (descFn == nullptr)
     {
@@ -684,7 +684,7 @@ static void do_dssi_check(void*& libHandle, const char* const filename, const bo
                 return;
             }
 
-            descFn = (DSSI_Descriptor_Function)lib_symbol(libHandle, "dssi_descriptor");
+            descFn = lib_symbol<DSSI_Descriptor_Function>(libHandle, "dssi_descriptor");
 
             if (descFn == nullptr)
             {
@@ -1144,11 +1144,11 @@ static void do_lv2_check(const char* const bundle, const bool doInit)
 #ifndef CARLA_OS_MAC
 static void do_vst_check(void*& libHandle, const bool doInit)
 {
-    VST_Function vstFn = (VST_Function)lib_symbol(libHandle, "VSTPluginMain");
+    VST_Function vstFn = lib_symbol<VST_Function>(libHandle, "VSTPluginMain");
 
     if (vstFn == nullptr)
     {
-        vstFn = (VST_Function)lib_symbol(libHandle, "main");
+        vstFn = lib_symbol<VST_Function>(libHandle, "main");
 
         if (vstFn == nullptr)
         {
diff --git a/source/includes/CarlaDefines.h b/source/includes/CarlaDefines.h
index 6e0d5fb38..f297921dc 100644
--- a/source/includes/CarlaDefines.h
+++ b/source/includes/CarlaDefines.h
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ private:                                        \
 #  ifdef BUILDING_CARLA
 #   define CARLA_API __declspec (dllexport)
 #  else
-#   define CARLA_API __declspec (imexport)
+#   define CARLA_API __declspec (dllimport)
 #  endif
 # else
 #  define CARLA_API __attribute__ ((visibility("default")))
diff --git a/source/modules/jackbridge/JackBridge1.cpp b/source/modules/jackbridge/JackBridge1.cpp
index 416d44359..197a9a174 100644
--- a/source/modules/jackbridge/JackBridge1.cpp
+++ b/source/modules/jackbridge/JackBridge1.cpp
@@ -368,7 +368,7 @@ struct JackBridge {
         }
 
         #define JOIN(a, b) a ## b
-        #define LIB_SYMBOL(NAME) JOIN(NAME, _ptr) = (jacksym_##NAME)lib_symbol(lib, "jack_" #NAME);
+        #define LIB_SYMBOL(NAME) JOIN(NAME, _ptr) = lib_symbol<jacksym_##NAME>(lib, "jack_" #NAME);
 
         LIB_SYMBOL(get_version)
         LIB_SYMBOL(get_version_string)
diff --git a/source/modules/jackbridge/JackBridgeExport.cpp b/source/modules/jackbridge/JackBridgeExport.cpp
index ce9bf7803..58d3e210b 100644
--- a/source/modules/jackbridge/JackBridgeExport.cpp
+++ b/source/modules/jackbridge/JackBridgeExport.cpp
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ public:
 #endif
         CARLA_SAFE_ASSERT_RETURN(lib != nullptr,);
 
-        func = (jackbridge_exported_function_type)lib_symbol(lib, "jackbridge_get_exported_functions");
+        func = lib_symbol<jackbridge_exported_function_type>(lib, "jackbridge_get_exported_functions");
         CARLA_SAFE_ASSERT_RETURN(func != nullptr,);
     }
 
diff --git a/source/tests/CarlaUtils3.cpp b/source/tests/CarlaUtils3.cpp
index 5f788fd23..74ad2dd1f 100644
--- a/source/tests/CarlaUtils3.cpp
+++ b/source/tests/CarlaUtils3.cpp
@@ -71,6 +71,8 @@ static void test_CarlaJuceUtils()
 
 // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+typedef void (*nullFunc)();
+
 static void test_CarlaLibUtils() noexcept
 {
     void* const libNot = lib_open("/libzzzzz...");
@@ -80,7 +82,7 @@ static void test_CarlaLibUtils() noexcept
     void* const lib = lib_open("/usr/lib/liblo.so");
     CARLA_SAFE_ASSERT_RETURN(lib != nullptr,);
 
-    void* const libS = lib_symbol(lib, "lo_server_new");
+    const nullFunc libS = lib_symbol<nullFunc>(lib, "lo_server_new");
     CARLA_SAFE_ASSERT(libS != nullptr);
 
     const bool closed = lib_close(lib);
diff --git a/source/tests/Makefile b/source/tests/Makefile
index d01026b1f..fa1cbb82d 100644
--- a/source/tests/Makefile
+++ b/source/tests/Makefile
@@ -52,7 +52,9 @@ TARGETS += ansi-pedantic-test_cxx11
 TARGETS += CarlaRingBuffer
 TARGETS += CarlaString
 TARGETS += CarlaUtils1
+ifneq ($(WIN32),true)
 TARGETS += CarlaUtils2
+endif
 TARGETS += CarlaUtils3
 TARGETS += CarlaUtils4
 TARGETS += Exceptions
@@ -82,15 +84,21 @@ ansi-pedantic-test_cxx11: ansi-pedantic-test.cpp ../backend/Carla*.h ../includes
 
 CarlaRingBuffer: CarlaRingBuffer.cpp ../utils/CarlaRingBuffer.hpp
 	$(CXX) $< $(PEDANTIC_CXX_FLAGS) -o $@
+ifneq ($(WIN32),true)
 	./$@ && valgrind --leak-check=full ./$@
+endif
 
 CarlaString: CarlaString.cpp ../utils/CarlaString.hpp
 	$(CXX) $< $(PEDANTIC_CXX_FLAGS) -o $@
+ifneq ($(WIN32),true)
 	./$@ && valgrind --leak-check=full ./$@
+endif
 
 CarlaUtils1: CarlaUtils1.cpp ../utils/*.hpp
 	$(CXX) $< $(PEDANTIC_CXX_FLAGS) -o $@
+ifneq ($(WIN32),true)
 	./$@ && valgrind --leak-check=full ./$@
+endif
 
 CarlaUtils2: CarlaUtils2.cpp ../utils/*.hpp
 	$(CXX) $< $(PEDANTIC_CXX_FLAGS) -o $@ \
@@ -99,24 +107,34 @@ CarlaUtils2: CarlaUtils2.cpp ../utils/*.hpp
 
 CarlaUtils3: CarlaUtils3.cpp ../utils/*.hpp
 	$(CXX) $< $(PEDANTIC_CXX_FLAGS) -o $@ -ldl -lrt
+ifneq ($(WIN32),true)
 	./$@ && valgrind --leak-check=full ./$@
+endif
 
 CarlaUtils4: CarlaUtils4.cpp ../utils/CarlaStateUtils.cpp ../utils/*.hpp
 	$(CXX) $< $(PEDANTIC_CXX_FLAGS) -o $@ \
 		../modules/juce_core.a -ldl -lpthread -lrt
+ifneq ($(WIN32),true)
 	./$@ && valgrind --leak-check=full ./$@
+endif
 
 Exceptions: Exceptions.cpp
 	$(CXX) $< $(PEDANTIC_CXX_FLAGS) -o $@
+ifneq ($(WIN32),true)
 	./$@ && valgrind --leak-check=full ./$@
+endif
 
 Print: Print.cpp ../utils/CarlaUtils.hpp
 	$(CXX) $< $(PEDANTIC_CXX_FLAGS) -o $@
+ifneq ($(WIN32),true)
 	./$@ && valgrind --leak-check=full ./$@
+endif
 
 RDF: RDF.cpp ../modules/ladspa_rdf.hpp ../modules/lv2_rdf.hpp
 	$(CXX) $< $(PEDANTIC_CXX_FLAGS) -o $@
+ifneq ($(WIN32),true)
 	./$@ && valgrind --leak-check=full ./$@
+endif
 
 # --------------------------------------------------------------
 
diff --git a/source/utils/CarlaLibUtils.hpp b/source/utils/CarlaLibUtils.hpp
index 71675b47c..c77c9f831 100644
--- a/source/utils/CarlaLibUtils.hpp
+++ b/source/utils/CarlaLibUtils.hpp
@@ -67,17 +67,20 @@ bool lib_close(void* const lib) noexcept
  * Get a library symbol (must not be null).
  * Returns null if the symbol is not found.
  */
+template<typename Func>
 static inline
-void* lib_symbol(void* const lib, const char* const symbol) noexcept
+Func lib_symbol(void* const lib, const char* const symbol) noexcept
 {
     CARLA_SAFE_ASSERT_RETURN(lib != nullptr, nullptr);
     CARLA_SAFE_ASSERT_RETURN(symbol != nullptr && symbol[0] != '\0', nullptr);
 
+    try {
 #ifdef CARLA_OS_WIN
-    return (void*)::GetProcAddress((HMODULE)lib, symbol);
+        return (Func)::GetProcAddress((HMODULE)lib, symbol);
 #else
-    return ::dlsym(lib, symbol);
+        return (Func)(uintptr_t)::dlsym(lib, symbol);
 #endif
+    } CARLA_SAFE_EXCEPTION_RETURN("lib_symbol", nullptr);
 }
 
 /*
diff --git a/source/utils/CarlaShmUtils.hpp b/source/utils/CarlaShmUtils.hpp
index 9d77650d2..e26523b8d 100644
--- a/source/utils/CarlaShmUtils.hpp
+++ b/source/utils/CarlaShmUtils.hpp
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ shm_t carla_shm_attach(const char* const filename) noexcept
 
     try {
 #ifdef CARLA_OS_WIN
-        ret.shm = ::CreateFileA(filename, GENERIC_READ|GENERIC_WRITE, 0, NULL, OPEN_EXISTING, 0, NULL);
+        ret.shm = ::CreateFileA(filename, GENERIC_READ|GENERIC_WRITE, 0, nullptr, OPEN_EXISTING, 0, nullptr);
         ret.map = nullptr;
 #else
         ret.fd       = ::shm_open(filename, O_RDWR, 0);
@@ -174,7 +174,7 @@ void* carla_shm_map(shm_t& shm, const std::size_t size) noexcept
 
     try {
 #ifdef CARLA_OS_WIN
-        const HANDLE map = ::CreateFileMapping(shm.shm, NULL, PAGE_READWRITE, size, size, NULL);
+        const HANDLE map = ::CreateFileMapping(shm.shm, nullptr, PAGE_READWRITE, size, size, nullptr);
         CARLA_SAFE_ASSERT_RETURN(map != nullptr, nullptr);
 
         HANDLE ptr = ::MapViewOfFile(map, FILE_MAP_COPY, 0, 0, size);