diff --git a/source/modules/rtmempool/list.h b/source/modules/rtmempool/list.h
index b842b2548..9df654270 100644
--- a/source/modules/rtmempool/list.h
+++ b/source/modules/rtmempool/list.h
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ struct list_head {
 #define LIST_HEAD(name) \
     struct list_head name = LIST_HEAD_INIT(name)
 
-static inline void INIT_LIST_HEAD(struct list_head *list)
+static inline void INIT_LIST_HEAD(struct list_head *list) __THROW
 {
     list->next = list;
     list->prev = list;
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ static inline void INIT_LIST_HEAD(struct list_head *list)
  * This is only for internal list manipulation where we know
  * the prev/next entries already!
  */
-static inline void __list_add(struct list_head *new_, struct list_head *prev, struct list_head *next)
+static inline void __list_add(struct list_head *new_, struct list_head *prev, struct list_head *next) __THROW
 {
     next->prev = new_;
     new_->next = next;
@@ -114,7 +114,7 @@ static inline void __list_add(struct list_head *new_, struct list_head *prev, st
  * Insert a new entry after the specified head.
  * This is good for implementing stacks.
  */
-static inline void list_add(struct list_head *new_, struct list_head *head)
+static inline void list_add(struct list_head *new_, struct list_head *head) __THROW
 {
     __list_add(new_, head, head->next);
 }
@@ -127,7 +127,7 @@ static inline void list_add(struct list_head *new_, struct list_head *head)
  * Insert a new entry before the specified head.
  * This is useful for implementing queues.
  */
-static inline void list_add_tail(struct list_head *new_, struct list_head *head)
+static inline void list_add_tail(struct list_head *new_, struct list_head *head) __THROW
 {
     __list_add(new_, head->prev, head);
 }
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ static inline void list_add_tail(struct list_head *new_, struct list_head *head)
  * This is only for internal list manipulation where we know
  * the prev/next entries already!
  */
-static inline void __list_del(struct list_head *prev, struct list_head *next)
+static inline void __list_del(struct list_head *prev, struct list_head *next) __THROW
 {
     next->prev = prev;
     prev->next = next;
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ static inline void __list_del(struct list_head *prev, struct list_head *next)
  * Note: list_empty on entry does not return true after this, the entry is
  * in an undefined state.
  */
-static inline void list_del(struct list_head *entry)
+static inline void list_del(struct list_head *entry) __THROW
 {
     __list_del(entry->prev, entry->next);
     entry->next = (struct list_head*)LIST_POISON1;
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ static inline void list_del(struct list_head *entry)
  * list_del_init - deletes entry from list and reinitialize it.
  * @entry: the element to delete from the list.
  */
-static inline void list_del_init(struct list_head *entry)
+static inline void list_del_init(struct list_head *entry) __THROW
 {
     __list_del(entry->prev, entry->next);
     INIT_LIST_HEAD(entry);
@@ -173,7 +173,7 @@ static inline void list_del_init(struct list_head *entry)
  * @list: the entry to move
  * @head: the head that will precede our entry
  */
-static inline void list_move(struct list_head *list, struct list_head *head)
+static inline void list_move(struct list_head *list, struct list_head *head) __THROW
 {
     __list_del(list->prev, list->next);
     list_add(list, head);
@@ -184,7 +184,7 @@ static inline void list_move(struct list_head *list, struct list_head *head)
  * @list: the entry to move
  * @head: the head that will follow our entry
  */
-static inline void list_move_tail(struct list_head *list, struct list_head *head)
+static inline void list_move_tail(struct list_head *list, struct list_head *head) __THROW
 {
     __list_del(list->prev, list->next);
     list_add_tail(list, head);
@@ -194,7 +194,7 @@ static inline void list_move_tail(struct list_head *list, struct list_head *head
  * list_empty - tests whether a list is empty
  * @head: the list to test.
  */
-static inline int list_empty(const struct list_head *head)
+static inline int list_empty(const struct list_head *head) __THROW
 {
     return head->next == head;
 }
@@ -211,13 +211,13 @@ static inline int list_empty(const struct list_head *head)
  *
  * @head: the list to test.
  */
-static inline int list_empty_careful(const struct list_head *head)
+static inline int list_empty_careful(const struct list_head *head) __THROW
 {
     struct list_head *next = head->next;
     return (next == head) && (next == head->prev);
 }
 
-static inline void __list_splice(struct list_head *list, struct list_head *head)
+static inline void __list_splice(struct list_head *list, struct list_head *head) __THROW
 {
     struct list_head *first = list->next;
     struct list_head *last = list->prev;
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ static inline void __list_splice(struct list_head *list, struct list_head *head)
     at->prev = last;
 }
 
-static inline void __list_splice_tail(struct list_head *list, struct list_head *head)
+static inline void __list_splice_tail(struct list_head *list, struct list_head *head) __THROW
 {
     struct list_head *first = list->next;
     struct list_head *last = list->prev;
@@ -248,7 +248,7 @@ static inline void __list_splice_tail(struct list_head *list, struct list_head *
  * @list: the new list to add.
  * @head: the place to add it in the first list.
  */
-static inline void list_splice(struct list_head *list, struct list_head *head)
+static inline void list_splice(struct list_head *list, struct list_head *head) __THROW
 {
     if (!list_empty(list))
         __list_splice(list, head);
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ static inline void list_splice(struct list_head *list, struct list_head *head)
  *
  * @list goes to the end (at head->prev)
  */
-static inline void list_splice_tail(struct list_head *list, struct list_head *head)
+static inline void list_splice_tail(struct list_head *list, struct list_head *head) __THROW
 {
     if (!list_empty(list))
         __list_splice_tail(list, head);
@@ -274,7 +274,7 @@ static inline void list_splice_tail(struct list_head *list, struct list_head *he
  *
  * The list at @list is reinitialised
  */
-static inline void list_splice_init(struct list_head *list, struct list_head *head)
+static inline void list_splice_init(struct list_head *list, struct list_head *head) __THROW
 {
     if (!list_empty(list)) {
         __list_splice(list, head);
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ static inline void list_splice_init(struct list_head *list, struct list_head *he
  * The list at @list is reinitialised
  * @list goes to the end (at head->prev)
  */
-static inline void list_splice_tail_init(struct list_head *list, struct list_head *head)
+static inline void list_splice_tail_init(struct list_head *list, struct list_head *head) __THROW
 {
     if (!list_empty(list)) {
         __list_splice_tail(list, head);
diff --git a/source/utils/CarlaLibCounter.hpp b/source/utils/CarlaLibCounter.hpp
index 981cb541b..903f7da26 100644
--- a/source/utils/CarlaLibCounter.hpp
+++ b/source/utils/CarlaLibCounter.hpp
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 /*
  * Carla library counter
- * Copyright (C) 2013 Filipe Coelho <falktx@falktx.com>
+ * Copyright (C) 2013-2014 Filipe Coelho <falktx@falktx.com>
  *
  * This program is free software; you can redistribute it and/or
  * modify it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as
@@ -27,12 +27,22 @@
 class LibCounter
 {
 public:
-    LibCounter() {}
+    LibCounter() noexcept {}
 
-    void* open(const char* const filename)
+    void* open(const char* const filename) noexcept
     {
         CARLA_SAFE_ASSERT_RETURN(filename != nullptr && filename[0] != '\0', nullptr);
 
+        // try duplicating filename first, it can throw
+        const char* dfilename = nullptr;
+
+        try {
+            dfilename = carla_strdup(filename);
+        }
+        catch(...) {
+            return nullptr;
+        }
+
         const CarlaMutexLocker sl(fMutex);
 
         for (LinkedList<Lib>::Itenerator it = fLibs.begin(); it.valid(); it.next())
@@ -55,7 +65,7 @@ public:
 
         Lib lib;
         lib.lib      = libPtr;
-        lib.filename = carla_strdup(filename);
+        lib.filename = dfilename;
         lib.count    = 1;
 
         fLibs.append(lib);
@@ -63,7 +73,7 @@ public:
         return libPtr;
     }
 
-    bool close(void* const libPtr)
+    bool close(void* const libPtr) noexcept
     {
         CARLA_SAFE_ASSERT_RETURN(libPtr != nullptr, false);
 
diff --git a/source/utils/LinkedList.hpp b/source/utils/LinkedList.hpp
index 4afcbfb75..03b214213 100644
--- a/source/utils/LinkedList.hpp
+++ b/source/utils/LinkedList.hpp
@@ -46,6 +46,8 @@ typedef struct list_head k_list_head;
 // Abstract Linked List class
 // _allocate() and _deallocate are virtual calls provided by subclasses
 
+// NOTE: classes are allowed to throw on creation, but NOT on deletion!
+
 template<typename T>
 class AbstractLinkedList
 {
@@ -55,7 +57,7 @@ protected:
         k_list_head siblings;
     };
 
-    AbstractLinkedList()
+    AbstractLinkedList() noexcept
         : fDataSize(sizeof(Data)),
           fCount(0)
     {
@@ -63,7 +65,7 @@ protected:
     }
 
 public:
-    virtual ~AbstractLinkedList()
+    virtual ~AbstractLinkedList() noexcept
     {
         CARLA_SAFE_ASSERT(fCount == 0);
     }
@@ -113,7 +115,7 @@ public:
         return Itenerator(&fQueue);
     }
 
-    void clear()
+    void clear() noexcept
     {
         if (fCount != 0)
         {
@@ -143,11 +145,18 @@ public:
         return (fCount == 0);
     }
 
-    bool append(const T& value)
+    bool append(const T& value) noexcept
     {
         if (Data* const data = _allocate())
         {
-            new(data)Data();
+            try {
+                new(data)Data();
+            }
+            catch(...) {
+                _deallocate(data);
+                return false;
+            }
+
             data->value = value;
             list_add_tail(&data->siblings, &fQueue);
             ++fCount;
@@ -157,11 +166,18 @@ public:
         return false;
     }
 
-    bool appendAt(const T& value, const Itenerator& it)
+    bool appendAt(const T& value, const Itenerator& it) noexcept
     {
         if (Data* const data = _allocate())
         {
-            new(data)Data();
+            try {
+                new(data)Data();
+            }
+            catch(...) {
+                _deallocate(data);
+                return false;
+            }
+
             data->value = value;
             list_add_tail(&data->siblings, it.fEntry->next);
             ++fCount;
@@ -171,11 +187,18 @@ public:
         return false;
     }
 
-    bool insert(const T& value)
+    bool insert(const T& value) noexcept
     {
         if (Data* const data = _allocate())
         {
-            new(data)Data();
+            try {
+                new(data)Data();
+            }
+            catch(...) {
+                _deallocate(data);
+                return false;
+            }
+
             data->value = value;
             list_add(&data->siblings, &fQueue);
             ++fCount;
@@ -185,11 +208,18 @@ public:
         return false;
     }
 
-    bool insertAt(const T& value, const Itenerator& it)
+    bool insertAt(const T& value, const Itenerator& it) noexcept
     {
         if (Data* const data = _allocate())
         {
-            new(data)Data();
+            try {
+                new(data)Data();
+            }
+            catch(...) {
+                _deallocate(data);
+                return false;
+            }
+
             data->value = value;
             list_add(&data->siblings, it.fEntry->prev);
             ++fCount;
@@ -225,7 +255,7 @@ public:
         return fRetValue;
     }
 
-    T& getAt(const size_t index, const bool removeObj)
+    T& getAt(const size_t index, const bool removeObj) noexcept
     {
         if (fCount == 0 || index >= fCount)
             return fRetValue;
@@ -263,17 +293,17 @@ public:
         return fRetValue;
     }
 
-    T& getFirst(const bool removeObj = false)
+    T& getFirst(const bool removeObj = false) noexcept
     {
         return _getFirstOrLast(true, removeObj);
     }
 
-    T& getLast(const bool removeObj = false)
+    T& getLast(const bool removeObj = false) noexcept
     {
         return _getFirstOrLast(false, removeObj);
     }
 
-    void remove(Itenerator& it)
+    void remove(Itenerator& it) noexcept
     {
         CARLA_SAFE_ASSERT_RETURN(it.fEntry != nullptr,);
 
@@ -286,7 +316,7 @@ public:
         _deallocate(it.fData);
     }
 
-    bool removeOne(const T& value)
+    bool removeOne(const T& value) noexcept
     {
         Data* data = nullptr;
         k_list_head* entry;
@@ -312,7 +342,7 @@ public:
         return (data != nullptr);
     }
 
-    void removeAll(const T& value)
+    void removeAll(const T& value) noexcept
     {
         Data* data;
         k_list_head* entry;
@@ -370,8 +400,8 @@ protected:
           size_t fCount;
     k_list_head  fQueue;
 
-    virtual Data* _allocate() = 0;
-    virtual void  _deallocate(Data*& dataPtr) = 0;
+    virtual Data* _allocate() noexcept = 0;
+    virtual void  _deallocate(Data*& dataPtr) noexcept = 0;
 
 private:
     mutable T fRetValue;
@@ -382,7 +412,7 @@ private:
         INIT_LIST_HEAD(&fQueue);
     }
 
-    T& _getFirstOrLast(const bool first, const bool removeObj)
+    T& _getFirstOrLast(const bool first, const bool removeObj) noexcept
     {
         if (fCount == 0)
             return fRetValue;
@@ -421,12 +451,12 @@ public:
     LinkedList() {}
 
 private:
-    typename AbstractLinkedList<T>::Data* _allocate() override
+    typename AbstractLinkedList<T>::Data* _allocate() noexcept override
     {
         return (typename AbstractLinkedList<T>::Data*)std::malloc(this->fDataSize);
     }
 
-    void _deallocate(typename AbstractLinkedList<T>::Data*& dataPtr) override
+    void _deallocate(typename AbstractLinkedList<T>::Data*& dataPtr) noexcept override
     {
         CARLA_SAFE_ASSERT_RETURN(dataPtr != nullptr,);
 
diff --git a/source/utils/RtLinkedList.hpp b/source/utils/RtLinkedList.hpp
index 3dda1783b..cf8e541e8 100644
--- a/source/utils/RtLinkedList.hpp
+++ b/source/utils/RtLinkedList.hpp
@@ -37,14 +37,14 @@ public:
     class Pool
     {
     public:
-        Pool(const size_t minPreallocated, const size_t maxPreallocated)
+        Pool(const size_t minPreallocated, const size_t maxPreallocated) noexcept
             : fHandle(nullptr),
               fDataSize(sizeof(typename AbstractLinkedList<T>::Data))
         {
             resize(minPreallocated, maxPreallocated);
         }
 
-        ~Pool()
+        ~Pool() noexcept
         {
             if (fHandle != nullptr)
             {
@@ -53,22 +53,22 @@ public:
             }
         }
 
-        void* allocate_atomic() const
+        void* allocate_atomic() const noexcept
         {
             return rtsafe_memory_pool_allocate_atomic(fHandle);
         }
 
-        void* allocate_sleepy() const
+        void* allocate_sleepy() const noexcept
         {
             return rtsafe_memory_pool_allocate_sleepy(fHandle);
         }
 
-        void deallocate(void* const dataPtr) const
+        void deallocate(void* const dataPtr) const noexcept
         {
             rtsafe_memory_pool_deallocate(fHandle, dataPtr);
         }
 
-        void resize(const size_t minPreallocated, const size_t maxPreallocated)
+        void resize(const size_t minPreallocated, const size_t maxPreallocated) noexcept
         {
             if (fHandle != nullptr)
             {
@@ -101,43 +101,65 @@ public:
     RtLinkedList(Pool& memPool)
         : fMemPool(memPool) {}
 
-    void append_sleepy(const T& value)
+    bool append_sleepy(const T& value) noexcept
     {
         if (typename AbstractLinkedList<T>::Data* const data = _allocate_sleepy())
         {
-            new(data)typename AbstractLinkedList<T>::Data();
+            try {
+                new(data)typename AbstractLinkedList<T>::Data();
+            }
+            catch(...) {
+                _deallocate(data);
+                return false;
+            }
+
             data->value = value;
             list_add_tail(&data->siblings, &this->fQueue);
             ++(this->fCount);
+
+            return true;
         }
+
+        return false;
     }
 
-    void insert_sleepy(const T& value)
+    bool insert_sleepy(const T& value) noexcept
     {
         if (typename AbstractLinkedList<T>::Data* const data = _allocate_sleepy())
         {
-            new(data)typename AbstractLinkedList<T>::Data();
+            try {
+                new(data)typename AbstractLinkedList<T>::Data();
+            }
+            catch(...) {
+                _deallocate(data);
+                return false;
+            }
+
             data->value = value;
             list_add(&data->siblings, &this->fQueue);
             ++(this->fCount);
+
+            return true;
         }
+
+        return false;
     }
 
-    void resize(const size_t minPreallocated, const size_t maxPreallocated)
+    void resize(const size_t minPreallocated, const size_t maxPreallocated) noexcept
     {
         this->clear();
 
         fMemPool.resize(minPreallocated, maxPreallocated);
     }
 
-    void spliceAppend(RtLinkedList& list, const bool init = true)
+    void spliceAppend(RtLinkedList& list, const bool init = true) noexcept
     {
         CARLA_SAFE_ASSERT_RETURN(fMemPool == list.fMemPool,);
 
         AbstractLinkedList<T>::spliceAppend(list, init);
     }
 
-    void spliceInsert(RtLinkedList& list, const bool init = true)
+    void spliceInsert(RtLinkedList& list, const bool init = true) noexcept
     {
         CARLA_SAFE_ASSERT_RETURN(fMemPool == list.fMemPool,);
 
@@ -147,17 +169,17 @@ public:
 private:
     Pool& fMemPool;
 
-    typename AbstractLinkedList<T>::Data* _allocate() override
+    typename AbstractLinkedList<T>::Data* _allocate() noexcept override
     {
         return (typename AbstractLinkedList<T>::Data*)fMemPool.allocate_atomic();
     }
 
-    typename AbstractLinkedList<T>::Data* _allocate_sleepy()
+    typename AbstractLinkedList<T>::Data* _allocate_sleepy() noexcept
     {
         return (typename AbstractLinkedList<T>::Data*)fMemPool.allocate_sleepy();
     }
 
-    void _deallocate(typename AbstractLinkedList<T>::Data*& dataPtr) override
+    void _deallocate(typename AbstractLinkedList<T>::Data*& dataPtr) noexcept override
     {
         CARLA_SAFE_ASSERT_RETURN(dataPtr != nullptr,);