diff --git a/src/lib/pulse/Error.cxx b/src/lib/pulse/Error.cxx
index a9a909e1d7633694ae22993df545f274f3100b7e..37f03ab7851bb6ab3f7fc7a58b2e7a6826993950 100644
--- a/src/lib/pulse/Error.cxx
+++ b/src/lib/pulse/Error.cxx
@@ -19,15 +19,14 @@
 
 #include "config.h"
 #include "Error.hxx"
-#include "Domain.hxx"
-#include "util/Error.hxx"
+#include "util/RuntimeError.hxx"
 
 #include <pulse/context.h>
 #include <pulse/error.h>
 
-void
-SetPulseError(Error &error, pa_context *context, const char *prefix)
+std::runtime_error
+MakePulseError(pa_context *context, const char *prefix)
 {
 	const int e = pa_context_errno(context);
-	error.Format(pulse_domain, e, "%s: %s", prefix, pa_strerror(e));
+	return FormatRuntimeError("%s: %s", prefix, pa_strerror(e));
 }
diff --git a/src/lib/pulse/Error.hxx b/src/lib/pulse/Error.hxx
index db40fb12090790bd67ade2850218f4469eff1f1d..4b2836ba8f350674342f8026e3b43a68bd17a3c6 100644
--- a/src/lib/pulse/Error.hxx
+++ b/src/lib/pulse/Error.hxx
@@ -20,10 +20,11 @@
 #ifndef MPD_PULSE_ERROR_HXX
 #define MPD_PULSE_ERROR_HXX
 
-class Error;
+#include <stdexcept>
+
 struct pa_context;
 
-void
-SetPulseError(Error &error, pa_context *context, const char *prefix);
+std::runtime_error
+MakePulseError(pa_context *context, const char *prefix);
 
 #endif
diff --git a/src/output/plugins/PulseOutputPlugin.cxx b/src/output/plugins/PulseOutputPlugin.cxx
index 20564cba1bc2492edfbbbb0b016edf352af89ab7..541ff1e112d4f569f526c0266ca6cb9406aee81b 100644
--- a/src/output/plugins/PulseOutputPlugin.cxx
+++ b/src/output/plugins/PulseOutputPlugin.cxx
@@ -27,7 +27,6 @@
 #include "../Wrapper.hxx"
 #include "mixer/MixerList.hxx"
 #include "mixer/plugins/PulseMixerPlugin.hxx"
-#include "util/Error.hxx"
 #include "Log.hxx"
 
 #include <pulse/thread-mainloop.h>
@@ -62,8 +61,7 @@ class PulseOutput {
 
 	size_t writable;
 
-	PulseOutput()
-		:base(pulse_output_plugin) {}
+	explicit PulseOutput(const ConfigBlock &block);
 
 public:
 	void SetMixer(PulseMixer &_mixer);
@@ -95,7 +93,6 @@ public:
 	gcc_const
 	static bool TestDefaultDevice();
 
-	bool Configure(const ConfigBlock &block, Error &error);
 	static PulseOutput *Create(const ConfigBlock &block, Error &error);
 
 	bool Enable(Error &error);
@@ -113,18 +110,18 @@ private:
 	/**
 	 * Attempt to connect asynchronously to the PulseAudio server.
 	 *
-	 * @return true on success, false on error
+	 * Throws #std::runtime_error on error.
 	 */
-	bool Connect(Error &error);
+	void Connect();
 
 	/**
 	 * Create, set up and connect a context.
 	 *
 	 * Caller must lock the main loop.
 	 *
-	 * @return true on success, false on error
+	 * Throws #std::runtime_error on error.
 	 */
-	bool SetupContext(Error &error);
+	void SetupContext();
 
 	/**
 	 * Frees and clears the context.
@@ -144,18 +141,18 @@ private:
 	 *
 	 * Caller must lock the main loop.
 	 *
-	 * @return true on success, false on error
+	 * Throws #std::runtime_error on error.
 	 */
-	bool WaitConnection(Error &error);
+	void WaitConnection();
 
 	/**
 	 * Create, set up and connect a context.
 	 *
 	 * Caller must lock the main loop.
 	 *
-	 * @return true on success, false on error
+	 * Throws #std::runtime_error on error.
 	 */
-	bool SetupStream(const pa_sample_spec &ss, Error &error);
+	void SetupStream(const pa_sample_spec &ss);
 
 	/**
 	 * Frees and clears the stream.
@@ -167,16 +164,28 @@ private:
 	 * not.  The mainloop must be locked before calling this
 	 * function.
 	 *
-	 * @return true on success, false on error
+	 * Throws #std::runtime_error on error.
 	 */
-	bool WaitStream(Error &error);
+	void WaitStream();
 
 	/**
 	 * Sets cork mode on the stream.
+	 *
+	 * Throws #std::runtime_error on error.
 	 */
-	bool StreamPause(bool pause, Error &error);
+	void StreamPause(bool pause);
 };
 
+PulseOutput::PulseOutput(const ConfigBlock &block)
+	:base(pulse_output_plugin, block),
+	 name(block.GetBlockValue("name", "mpd_pulse")),
+	 server(block.GetBlockValue("server")),
+	 sink(block.GetBlockValue("sink"))
+{
+	setenv("PULSE_PROP_media.role", "music", true);
+	setenv("PULSE_PROP_application.icon_name", "mpd", true);
+}
+
 struct pa_threaded_mainloop *
 pulse_output_get_mainloop(PulseOutput &po)
 {
@@ -343,19 +352,15 @@ pulse_output_subscribe_cb(gcc_unused pa_context *context,
 	po.OnServerLayoutChanged(t, idx);
 }
 
-inline bool
-PulseOutput::Connect(Error &error)
+inline void
+PulseOutput::Connect()
 {
 	assert(context != nullptr);
 
 	if (pa_context_connect(context, server,
-			       (pa_context_flags_t)0, nullptr) < 0) {
-		SetPulseError(error, context,
-			      "pa_context_connect() has failed");
-		return false;
-	}
-
-	return true;
+			       (pa_context_flags_t)0, nullptr) < 0)
+		throw MakePulseError(context,
+				     "pa_context_connect() has failed");
 }
 
 void
@@ -386,72 +391,45 @@ PulseOutput::DeleteContext()
 	context = nullptr;
 }
 
-bool
-PulseOutput::SetupContext(Error &error)
+void
+PulseOutput::SetupContext()
 {
 	assert(mainloop != nullptr);
 
 	context = pa_context_new(pa_threaded_mainloop_get_api(mainloop),
 				 MPD_PULSE_NAME);
-	if (context == nullptr) {
-		error.Set(pulse_domain, "pa_context_new() has failed");
-		return false;
-	}
+	if (context == nullptr)
+		throw std::runtime_error("pa_context_new() has failed");
 
 	pa_context_set_state_callback(context,
 				      pulse_output_context_state_cb, this);
 	pa_context_set_subscribe_callback(context,
 					  pulse_output_subscribe_cb, this);
 
-	if (!Connect(error)) {
+	try {
+		Connect();
+	} catch (...) {
 		DeleteContext();
-		return false;
+		throw;
 	}
-
-	return true;
-}
-
-inline bool
-PulseOutput::Configure(const ConfigBlock &block, Error &error)
-{
-	if (!base.Configure(block, error))
-		return false;
-
-	name = block.GetBlockValue("name", "mpd_pulse");
-	server = block.GetBlockValue("server");
-	sink = block.GetBlockValue("sink");
-
-	return true;
 }
 
 PulseOutput *
-PulseOutput::Create(const ConfigBlock &block, Error &error)
+PulseOutput::Create(const ConfigBlock &block, gcc_unused Error &error)
 {
-	setenv("PULSE_PROP_media.role", "music", true);
-	setenv("PULSE_PROP_application.icon_name", "mpd", true);
-
-	auto *po = new PulseOutput();
-	if (!po->Configure(block, error)) {
-		delete po;
-		return nullptr;
-	}
-
-	return po;
+	return new PulseOutput(block);
 }
 
 inline bool
-PulseOutput::Enable(Error &error)
+PulseOutput::Enable(gcc_unused Error &error)
 {
 	assert(mainloop == nullptr);
 
 	/* create the libpulse mainloop and start the thread */
 
 	mainloop = pa_threaded_mainloop_new();
-	if (mainloop == nullptr) {
-		error.Set(pulse_domain,
-			  "pa_threaded_mainloop_new() has failed");
-		return false;
-	}
+	if (mainloop == nullptr)
+		throw std::runtime_error("pa_threaded_mainloop_new() has failed");
 
 	pa_threaded_mainloop_lock(mainloop);
 
@@ -460,19 +438,19 @@ PulseOutput::Enable(Error &error)
 		pa_threaded_mainloop_free(mainloop);
 		mainloop = nullptr;
 
-		error.Set(pulse_domain,
-			  "pa_threaded_mainloop_start() has failed");
-		return false;
+		throw std::runtime_error("pa_threaded_mainloop_start() has failed");
 	}
 
 	/* create the libpulse context and connect it */
 
-	if (!SetupContext(error)) {
+	try {
+		SetupContext();
+	} catch (...) {
 		pa_threaded_mainloop_unlock(mainloop);
 		pa_threaded_mainloop_stop(mainloop);
 		pa_threaded_mainloop_free(mainloop);
 		mainloop = nullptr;
-		return false;
+		throw;
 	}
 
 	pa_threaded_mainloop_unlock(mainloop);
@@ -492,30 +470,33 @@ PulseOutput::Disable()
 	mainloop = nullptr;
 }
 
-bool
-PulseOutput::WaitConnection(Error &error)
+void
+PulseOutput::WaitConnection()
 {
 	assert(mainloop != nullptr);
 
 	pa_context_state_t state;
 
-	if (context == nullptr && !SetupContext(error))
-		return false;
+	if (context == nullptr)
+		SetupContext();
 
 	while (true) {
 		state = pa_context_get_state(context);
 		switch (state) {
 		case PA_CONTEXT_READY:
 			/* nothing to do */
-			return true;
+			return;
 
 		case PA_CONTEXT_UNCONNECTED:
 		case PA_CONTEXT_TERMINATED:
 		case PA_CONTEXT_FAILED:
 			/* failure */
-			SetPulseError(error, context, "failed to connect");
-			DeleteContext();
-			return false;
+			{
+				auto e = MakePulseError(context,
+							"failed to connect");
+				DeleteContext();
+				throw e;
+			}
 
 		case PA_CONTEXT_CONNECTING:
 		case PA_CONTEXT_AUTHORIZING:
@@ -602,8 +583,8 @@ pulse_output_stream_write_cb(gcc_unused pa_stream *stream, size_t nbytes,
 	return po.OnStreamWrite(nbytes);
 }
 
-inline bool
-PulseOutput::SetupStream(const pa_sample_spec &ss, Error &error)
+inline void
+PulseOutput::SetupStream(const pa_sample_spec &ss)
 {
 	assert(context != nullptr);
 
@@ -612,11 +593,9 @@ PulseOutput::SetupStream(const pa_sample_spec &ss, Error &error)
 	pa_channel_map_init_auto(&chan_map, ss.channels,
 				 PA_CHANNEL_MAP_WAVEEX);
 	stream = pa_stream_new(context, name, &ss, &chan_map);
-	if (stream == nullptr) {
-		SetPulseError(error, context,
-			      "pa_stream_new() has failed");
-		return false;
-	}
+	if (stream == nullptr)
+		throw MakePulseError(context,
+				     "pa_stream_new() has failed");
 
 	pa_stream_set_suspended_callback(stream,
 					 pulse_output_stream_suspended_cb,
@@ -626,12 +605,10 @@ PulseOutput::SetupStream(const pa_sample_spec &ss, Error &error)
 				     pulse_output_stream_state_cb, this);
 	pa_stream_set_write_callback(stream,
 				     pulse_output_stream_write_cb, this);
-
-	return true;
 }
 
 inline bool
-PulseOutput::Open(AudioFormat &audio_format, Error &error)
+PulseOutput::Open(AudioFormat &audio_format, gcc_unused Error &error)
 {
 	assert(mainloop != nullptr);
 
@@ -656,8 +633,7 @@ PulseOutput::Open(AudioFormat &audio_format, Error &error)
 		}
 	}
 
-	if (!WaitConnection(error))
-		return false;
+	WaitConnection();
 
 	/* Use the sample formats that our version of PulseAudio and MPD
 	   have in common, otherwise force MPD to send 16 bit */
@@ -688,8 +664,7 @@ PulseOutput::Open(AudioFormat &audio_format, Error &error)
 
 	/* create a stream .. */
 
-	if (!SetupStream(ss, error))
-		return false;
+	SetupStream(ss);
 
 	/* .. and connect it (asynchronously) */
 
@@ -698,9 +673,8 @@ PulseOutput::Open(AudioFormat &audio_format, Error &error)
 				       nullptr, nullptr) < 0) {
 		DeleteStream();
 
-		SetPulseError(error, context,
-			      "pa_stream_connect_playback() has failed");
-		return false;
+		throw MakePulseError(context,
+				     "pa_stream_connect_playback() has failed");
 	}
 
 	return true;
@@ -731,20 +705,19 @@ PulseOutput::Close()
 		DeleteContext();
 }
 
-bool
-PulseOutput::WaitStream(Error &error)
+void
+PulseOutput::WaitStream()
 {
 	while (true) {
 		switch (pa_stream_get_state(stream)) {
 		case PA_STREAM_READY:
-			return true;
+			return;
 
 		case PA_STREAM_FAILED:
 		case PA_STREAM_TERMINATED:
 		case PA_STREAM_UNCONNECTED:
-			SetPulseError(error, context,
-				      "failed to connect the stream");
-			return false;
+			throw MakePulseError(context,
+					     "failed to connect the stream");
 
 		case PA_STREAM_CREATING:
 			pa_threaded_mainloop_wait(mainloop);
@@ -753,8 +726,8 @@ PulseOutput::WaitStream(Error &error)
 	}
 }
 
-bool
-PulseOutput::StreamPause(bool pause, Error &error)
+void
+PulseOutput::StreamPause(bool pause)
 {
 	assert(mainloop != nullptr);
 	assert(context != nullptr);
@@ -762,19 +735,13 @@ PulseOutput::StreamPause(bool pause, Error &error)
 
 	pa_operation *o = pa_stream_cork(stream, pause,
 					 pulse_output_stream_success_cb, this);
-	if (o == nullptr) {
-		SetPulseError(error, context,
-			      "pa_stream_cork() has failed");
-		return false;
-	}
-
-	if (!pulse_wait_for_operation(mainloop, o)) {
-		SetPulseError(error, context,
-			      "pa_stream_cork() has failed");
-		return false;
-	}
+	if (o == nullptr)
+		throw MakePulseError(context,
+				     "pa_stream_cork() has failed");
 
-	return true;
+	if (!pulse_wait_for_operation(mainloop, o))
+		throw MakePulseError(context,
+				     "pa_stream_cork() has failed");
 }
 
 inline unsigned
@@ -792,7 +759,7 @@ PulseOutput::Delay()
 }
 
 inline size_t
-PulseOutput::Play(const void *chunk, size_t size, Error &error)
+PulseOutput::Play(const void *chunk, size_t size, gcc_unused Error &error)
 {
 	assert(mainloop != nullptr);
 	assert(stream != nullptr);
@@ -801,30 +768,25 @@ PulseOutput::Play(const void *chunk, size_t size, Error &error)
 
 	/* check if the stream is (already) connected */
 
-	if (!WaitStream(error))
-		return 0;
+	WaitStream();
 
 	assert(context != nullptr);
 
 	/* unpause if previously paused */
 
-	if (pa_stream_is_corked(stream) && !StreamPause(false, error))
-		return 0;
+	if (pa_stream_is_corked(stream))
+		StreamPause(false);
 
 	/* wait until the server allows us to write */
 
 	while (writable == 0) {
-		if (pa_stream_is_suspended(stream)) {
-			error.Set(pulse_domain, "suspended");
-			return 0;
-		}
+		if (pa_stream_is_suspended(stream))
+			throw std::runtime_error("suspended");
 
 		pa_threaded_mainloop_wait(mainloop);
 
-		if (pa_stream_get_state(stream) != PA_STREAM_READY) {
-			error.Set(pulse_domain, "disconnected");
-			return 0;
-		}
+		if (pa_stream_get_state(stream) != PA_STREAM_READY)
+			throw std::runtime_error("disconnected");
 	}
 
 	/* now write */
@@ -837,10 +799,8 @@ PulseOutput::Play(const void *chunk, size_t size, Error &error)
 
 	int result = pa_stream_write(stream, chunk, size, nullptr,
 				     0, PA_SEEK_RELATIVE);
-	if (result < 0) {
-		SetPulseError(error, context, "pa_stream_write() failed");
-		return 0;
-	}
+	if (result < 0)
+		throw MakePulseError(context, "pa_stream_write() failed");
 
 	return size;
 }
@@ -882,35 +842,27 @@ PulseOutput::Pause()
 
 	/* check if the stream is (already/still) connected */
 
-	Error error;
-	if (!WaitStream(error)) {
-		LogError(error);
-		return false;
-	}
+	WaitStream();
 
 	assert(context != nullptr);
 
 	/* cork the stream */
 
-	if (!pa_stream_is_corked(stream) && !StreamPause(true, error)) {
-		LogError(error);
-		return false;
-	}
+	if (!pa_stream_is_corked(stream))
+		StreamPause(true);
 
 	return true;
 }
 
 inline bool
 PulseOutput::TestDefaultDevice()
-{
+try {
 	const ConfigBlock empty;
-	PulseOutput *po = PulseOutput::Create(empty, IgnoreError());
-	if (po == nullptr)
-		return false;
-
-	bool success = po->WaitConnection(IgnoreError());
-	delete po;
-	return success;
+	PulseOutput po(empty);
+	po.WaitConnection();
+	return true;
+} catch (const std::runtime_error &e) {
+	return false;
 }
 
 static bool