diff --git a/source/backend/engine/CarlaEngine.cpp b/source/backend/engine/CarlaEngine.cpp
index 348cf553d..3de857ab8 100644
--- a/source/backend/engine/CarlaEngine.cpp
+++ b/source/backend/engine/CarlaEngine.cpp
@@ -647,7 +647,7 @@ const char* CarlaEngine::getDriverName(const uint index2)
 # endif
 #endif
 
-    carla_stderr("CarlaEngine::getDriverName(%i) - invalid index", index);
+    carla_stderr("CarlaEngine::getDriverName(%i) - invalid index", index2);
     return nullptr;
 }
 
@@ -675,7 +675,7 @@ const char* const* CarlaEngine::getDriverDeviceNames(const uint index2)
 # endif
 #endif
 
-    carla_stderr("CarlaEngine::getDriverDeviceNames(%i) - invalid index", index);
+    carla_stderr("CarlaEngine::getDriverDeviceNames(%i) - invalid index", index2);
     return nullptr;
 }
 
@@ -707,7 +707,7 @@ const EngineDriverDeviceInfo* CarlaEngine::getDriverDeviceInfo(const uint index2
 # endif
 #endif
 
-    carla_stderr("CarlaEngine::getDriverDeviceNames(%i, \"%s\") - invalid index", index, deviceName);
+    carla_stderr("CarlaEngine::getDriverDeviceNames(%i, \"%s\") - invalid index", index2, deviceName);
     return nullptr;
 }
 
@@ -809,125 +809,33 @@ uint CarlaEngine::getMaxPluginNumber() const noexcept
 
 bool CarlaEngine::init(const char* const clientName)
 {
-    CARLA_SAFE_ASSERT_RETURN_ERR(pData->name.isEmpty(), "Invalid engine internal data (err #1)");
-    CARLA_SAFE_ASSERT_RETURN_ERR(pData->oscData == nullptr, "Invalid engine internal data (err #2)");
-    CARLA_SAFE_ASSERT_RETURN_ERR(pData->plugins == nullptr, "Invalid engine internal data (err #3)");
-    CARLA_SAFE_ASSERT_RETURN_ERR(pData->events.in  == nullptr, "Invalid engine internal data (err #4)");
-    CARLA_SAFE_ASSERT_RETURN_ERR(pData->events.out == nullptr, "Invalid engine internal data (err #5)");
-    CARLA_SAFE_ASSERT_RETURN_ERR(clientName != nullptr && clientName[0] != '\0', "Invalid client name");
     carla_debug("CarlaEngine::init(\"%s\")", clientName);
 
-    pData->aboutToClose    = false;
-    pData->curPluginCount  = 0;
-    pData->maxPluginNumber = 0;
-    pData->nextPluginId    = 0;
-
-    switch (pData->options.processMode)
-    {
-    case ENGINE_PROCESS_MODE_SINGLE_CLIENT:
-    case ENGINE_PROCESS_MODE_MULTIPLE_CLIENTS:
-        pData->maxPluginNumber = MAX_DEFAULT_PLUGINS;
-        break;
-
-    case ENGINE_PROCESS_MODE_CONTINUOUS_RACK:
-        pData->maxPluginNumber = MAX_RACK_PLUGINS;
-        pData->events.in  = new EngineEvent[kMaxEngineEventInternalCount];
-        pData->events.out = new EngineEvent[kMaxEngineEventInternalCount];
-        break;
-
-    case ENGINE_PROCESS_MODE_PATCHBAY:
-        pData->maxPluginNumber = MAX_PATCHBAY_PLUGINS;
-        break;
-
-    case ENGINE_PROCESS_MODE_BRIDGE:
-        pData->maxPluginNumber = 1;
-        pData->events.in  = new EngineEvent[kMaxEngineEventInternalCount];
-        pData->events.out = new EngineEvent[kMaxEngineEventInternalCount];
-        break;
-    }
-
-    CARLA_SAFE_ASSERT_RETURN_ERR(pData->maxPluginNumber != 0, "Invalid engine process mode");
-
-    pData->nextPluginId = pData->maxPluginNumber;
-
-    pData->name = clientName;
-    pData->name.toBasic();
-
-    pData->timeInfo.clear();
-
-    pData->plugins = new EnginePluginData[pData->maxPluginNumber];
-
-    for (uint i=0; i < pData->maxPluginNumber; ++i)
-        pData->plugins[i].clear();
-
-    pData->osc.init(clientName);
-
-#ifndef BUILD_BRIDGE
-    pData->oscData = pData->osc.getControlData();
-
-    if (pData->options.processMode == ENGINE_PROCESS_MODE_CONTINUOUS_RACK || pData->options.processMode == ENGINE_PROCESS_MODE_PATCHBAY)
-    {
-        pData->graph.isRack = (pData->options.processMode == ENGINE_PROCESS_MODE_CONTINUOUS_RACK);
-        pData->graph.create();
-    }
-#endif
-
-    pData->nextAction.ready();
-    pData->thread.startThread();
-
-    callback(ENGINE_CALLBACK_ENGINE_STARTED, 0, 0, 0, 0.0f, getCurrentDriverName());
+    if (! pData->init(clientName))
+        return false;
 
+    callback(ENGINE_CALLBACK_ENGINE_STARTED, 0, pData->options.processMode, pData->options.transportMode, 0.0f, getCurrentDriverName());
     return true;
 }
 
 bool CarlaEngine::close()
 {
-    CARLA_SAFE_ASSERT_RETURN_ERR(pData->name.isNotEmpty(), "Invalid engine internal data (err #6)");
-    CARLA_SAFE_ASSERT_RETURN_ERR(pData->plugins != nullptr, "Invalid engine internal data (err #7)");
-    CARLA_SAFE_ASSERT_RETURN_ERR(pData->nextPluginId == pData->maxPluginNumber, "Invalid engine internal data (err #8)");
-    CARLA_SAFE_ASSERT_RETURN_ERR(pData->nextAction.opcode == kEnginePostActionNull, "Invalid engine internal data (err #9)");
     carla_debug("CarlaEngine::close()");
 
-    pData->aboutToClose = true;
-
     if (pData->curPluginCount != 0)
-        removeAllPlugins();
-
-    pData->thread.stopThread(500);
-    pData->nextAction.ready();
-
-#ifndef BUILD_BRIDGE
-    if (pData->options.processMode == ENGINE_PROCESS_MODE_CONTINUOUS_RACK || pData->options.processMode == ENGINE_PROCESS_MODE_PATCHBAY)
     {
-        pData->graph.clear();
+        pData->aboutToClose = true;
+        removeAllPlugins();
     }
 
+#ifndef BUILD_BRIDGE
     if (pData->osc.isControlRegistered())
         oscSend_control_exit();
 #endif
 
-    pData->osc.close();
-    pData->oscData = nullptr;
-
-    pData->curPluginCount = 0;
-    pData->maxPluginNumber = 0;
-    pData->nextPluginId = 0;
-
-    if (pData->plugins != nullptr)
-    {
-        delete[] pData->plugins;
-        pData->plugins = nullptr;
-    }
-
-    pData->events.clear();
-#ifndef BUILD_BRIDGE
-    pData->audio.clear();
-#endif
-
-    pData->name.clear();
+    pData->close();
 
     callback(ENGINE_CALLBACK_ENGINE_STOPPED, 0, 0, 0, 0.0f, nullptr);
-
     return true;
 }
 
diff --git a/source/backend/engine/CarlaEngineInternal.cpp b/source/backend/engine/CarlaEngineInternal.cpp
index f307fbbf7..d77093f86 100644
--- a/source/backend/engine/CarlaEngineInternal.cpp
+++ b/source/backend/engine/CarlaEngineInternal.cpp
@@ -21,6 +21,12 @@
 
 #include "CarlaMathUtils.hpp"
 
+// -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+// Engine Internal helper macro, sets lastError and returns false/NULL
+
+#define CARLA_SAFE_ASSERT_RETURN_INTERNAL_ERR(cond, err)  if (! (cond)) { carla_safe_assert(#cond, __FILE__, __LINE__); lastError = err; return false;   }
+#define CARLA_SAFE_ASSERT_RETURN_INTERNAL_ERRN(cond, err) if (! (cond)) { carla_safe_assert(#cond, __FILE__, __LINE__); lastError = err; return nullptr; }
+
 // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 CARLA_BACKEND_START_NAMESPACE
@@ -440,8 +446,15 @@ CarlaEngine::ProtectedData::ProtectedData(CarlaEngine* const engine) noexcept
       aboutToClose(false),
       curPluginCount(0),
       maxPluginNumber(0),
-      nextPluginId(0),
-      plugins(nullptr) {}
+      nextPluginId(0)
+#ifndef BUILD_BRIDGE
+      , plugins(nullptr)
+#endif
+{
+#ifdef BUILD_BRIDGE
+    carla_zeroStruct(plugins, 1);
+#endif
+}
 
 CarlaEngine::ProtectedData::~ProtectedData() noexcept
 {
@@ -453,6 +466,118 @@ CarlaEngine::ProtectedData::~ProtectedData() noexcept
 
 // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+bool CarlaEngine::ProtectedData::init(const char* const clientName)
+{
+    CARLA_SAFE_ASSERT_RETURN_INTERNAL_ERR(name.isEmpty(), "Invalid engine internal data (err #1)");
+    CARLA_SAFE_ASSERT_RETURN_INTERNAL_ERR(oscData == nullptr, "Invalid engine internal data (err #2)");
+    CARLA_SAFE_ASSERT_RETURN_INTERNAL_ERR(plugins == nullptr, "Invalid engine internal data (err #3)");
+    CARLA_SAFE_ASSERT_RETURN_INTERNAL_ERR(events.in  == nullptr, "Invalid engine internal data (err #4)");
+    CARLA_SAFE_ASSERT_RETURN_INTERNAL_ERR(events.out == nullptr, "Invalid engine internal data (err #5)");
+    CARLA_SAFE_ASSERT_RETURN_INTERNAL_ERR(clientName != nullptr && clientName[0] != '\0', "Invalid client name");
+
+    aboutToClose    = false;
+    curPluginCount  = 0;
+    maxPluginNumber = 0;
+    nextPluginId    = 0;
+
+    switch (options.processMode)
+    {
+    case ENGINE_PROCESS_MODE_SINGLE_CLIENT:
+    case ENGINE_PROCESS_MODE_MULTIPLE_CLIENTS:
+        maxPluginNumber = MAX_DEFAULT_PLUGINS;
+        break;
+
+    case ENGINE_PROCESS_MODE_CONTINUOUS_RACK:
+        maxPluginNumber = MAX_RACK_PLUGINS;
+        events.in  = new EngineEvent[kMaxEngineEventInternalCount];
+        events.out = new EngineEvent[kMaxEngineEventInternalCount];
+        break;
+
+    case ENGINE_PROCESS_MODE_PATCHBAY:
+        maxPluginNumber = MAX_PATCHBAY_PLUGINS;
+        break;
+
+    case ENGINE_PROCESS_MODE_BRIDGE:
+        maxPluginNumber = 1;
+        events.in  = new EngineEvent[kMaxEngineEventInternalCount];
+        events.out = new EngineEvent[kMaxEngineEventInternalCount];
+        break;
+    }
+
+    CARLA_SAFE_ASSERT_RETURN_INTERNAL_ERR(maxPluginNumber != 0, "Invalid engine process mode");
+
+    nextPluginId = maxPluginNumber;
+
+    name = clientName;
+    name.toBasic();
+
+    timeInfo.clear();
+
+#ifndef BUILD_BRIDGE
+    plugins = new EnginePluginData[maxPluginNumber];
+    carla_zeroStruct(plugins, maxPluginNumber);
+#endif
+
+    osc.init(clientName);
+
+#ifndef BUILD_BRIDGE
+    oscData = osc.getControlData();
+
+    if (options.processMode == ENGINE_PROCESS_MODE_CONTINUOUS_RACK || options.processMode == ENGINE_PROCESS_MODE_PATCHBAY)
+    {
+        graph.isRack = (options.processMode == ENGINE_PROCESS_MODE_CONTINUOUS_RACK);
+        graph.create();
+    }
+#endif
+
+    nextAction.ready();
+    thread.startThread();
+
+    return true;
+}
+
+void CarlaEngine::ProtectedData::close()
+{
+    CARLA_SAFE_ASSERT(name.isNotEmpty());
+    CARLA_SAFE_ASSERT(plugins != nullptr);
+    CARLA_SAFE_ASSERT(nextPluginId == maxPluginNumber);
+    CARLA_SAFE_ASSERT(nextAction.opcode == kEnginePostActionNull);
+
+    aboutToClose = true;
+
+    thread.stopThread(500);
+    nextAction.ready();
+
+#ifndef BUILD_BRIDGE
+    if (options.processMode == ENGINE_PROCESS_MODE_CONTINUOUS_RACK || options.processMode == ENGINE_PROCESS_MODE_PATCHBAY)
+        graph.clear();
+#endif
+
+    osc.close();
+    oscData = nullptr;
+
+    aboutToClose    = false;
+    curPluginCount  = 0;
+    maxPluginNumber = 0;
+    nextPluginId    = 0;
+
+#ifndef BUILD_BRIDGE
+    if (plugins != nullptr)
+    {
+        delete[] plugins;
+        plugins = nullptr;
+    }
+#endif
+
+    events.clear();
+#ifndef BUILD_BRIDGE
+    audio.clear();
+#endif
+    name.clear();
+}
+
+// -----------------------------------------------------------------------
+
 void CarlaEngine::ProtectedData::doPluginRemove() noexcept
 {
     CARLA_SAFE_ASSERT_RETURN(curPluginCount > 0,);
diff --git a/source/backend/engine/CarlaEngineInternal.hpp b/source/backend/engine/CarlaEngineInternal.hpp
index 79dd32000..c84f5f6fa 100644
--- a/source/backend/engine/CarlaEngineInternal.hpp
+++ b/source/backend/engine/CarlaEngineInternal.hpp
@@ -418,13 +418,6 @@ struct EnginePluginData {
     CarlaPlugin* plugin;
     float insPeak[2];
     float outsPeak[2];
-
-    void clear() noexcept
-    {
-        plugin = nullptr;
-        insPeak[0] = insPeak[1] = 0.0f;
-        outsPeak[0] = outsPeak[1] = 0.0f;
-    }
 };
 
 // -----------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -456,7 +449,11 @@ struct CarlaEngine::ProtectedData {
     EngineOptions  options;
     EngineTimeInfo timeInfo;
 
+#ifdef BUILD_BRIDGE
+    EnginePluginData plugins[1];
+#else
     EnginePluginData* plugins;
+#endif
 
 #ifndef BUILD_BRIDGE
     EngineInternalAudio  audio;
@@ -475,6 +472,11 @@ struct CarlaEngine::ProtectedData {
 
     // -------------------------------------------------------------------
 
+    bool init(const char* const clientName);
+    void close();
+
+    // -------------------------------------------------------------------
+
     void doPluginRemove() noexcept;
     void doPluginsSwitch() noexcept;
     void doNextPluginAction(const bool unlock) noexcept;