diff --git a/src/encoder/EncoderInterface.hxx b/src/encoder/EncoderInterface.hxx
index 791752f85..fccb5dff2 100644
--- a/src/encoder/EncoderInterface.hxx
+++ b/src/encoder/EncoderInterface.hxx
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 
 struct AudioFormat;
 struct Tag;
+class Error;
 
 class Encoder {
 	const bool implements_tag;
diff --git a/src/encoder/EncoderPlugin.hxx b/src/encoder/EncoderPlugin.hxx
index 83792f3a7..d404de44e 100644
--- a/src/encoder/EncoderPlugin.hxx
+++ b/src/encoder/EncoderPlugin.hxx
@@ -22,27 +22,27 @@
 
 class PreparedEncoder;
 struct ConfigBlock;
-class Error;
 
 struct EncoderPlugin {
 	const char *name;
 
-	PreparedEncoder *(*init)(const ConfigBlock &block,
-				 Error &error);
+	/**
+	 * Throws #std::runtime_error on error.
+	 */
+	PreparedEncoder *(*init)(const ConfigBlock &block);
 };
 
 /**
  * Creates a new encoder object.
  *
+ * Throws #std::runtime_error on error.
+ *
  * @param plugin the encoder plugin
- * @param error location to store the error occurring, or nullptr to ignore errors.
- * @return an encoder object on success, nullptr on failure
  */
 static inline PreparedEncoder *
-encoder_init(const EncoderPlugin &plugin, const ConfigBlock &block,
-	     Error &error)
+encoder_init(const EncoderPlugin &plugin, const ConfigBlock &block)
 {
-	return plugin.init(block, error);
+	return plugin.init(block);
 }
 
 #endif
diff --git a/src/encoder/plugins/FlacEncoderPlugin.cxx b/src/encoder/plugins/FlacEncoderPlugin.cxx
index f26efd8e0..7f5b3a889 100644
--- a/src/encoder/plugins/FlacEncoderPlugin.cxx
+++ b/src/encoder/plugins/FlacEncoderPlugin.cxx
@@ -89,10 +89,10 @@ private:
 };
 
 class PreparedFlacEncoder final : public PreparedEncoder {
-	unsigned compression;
+	const unsigned compression;
 
 public:
-	bool Configure(const ConfigBlock &block, Error &error);
+	PreparedFlacEncoder(const ConfigBlock &block);
 
 	/* virtual methods from class PreparedEncoder */
 	Encoder *Open(AudioFormat &audio_format, Error &) override;
@@ -104,26 +104,15 @@ public:
 
 static constexpr Domain flac_encoder_domain("vorbis_encoder");
 
-bool
-PreparedFlacEncoder::Configure(const ConfigBlock &block, Error &)
+PreparedFlacEncoder::PreparedFlacEncoder(const ConfigBlock &block)
+	:compression(block.GetBlockValue("compression", 5u))
 {
-	compression = block.GetBlockValue("compression", 5u);
-	return true;
 }
 
 static PreparedEncoder *
-flac_encoder_init(const ConfigBlock &block, Error &error)
+flac_encoder_init(const ConfigBlock &block)
 {
-	auto *encoder = new PreparedFlacEncoder();
-
-	/* load configuration from "block" */
-	if (!encoder->Configure(block, error)) {
-		/* configuration has failed, roll back and return error */
-		delete encoder;
-		return nullptr;
-	}
-
-	return encoder;
+	return new PreparedFlacEncoder(block);
 }
 
 static bool
diff --git a/src/encoder/plugins/LameEncoderPlugin.cxx b/src/encoder/plugins/LameEncoderPlugin.cxx
index 8d4c0b2bf..781672d06 100644
--- a/src/encoder/plugins/LameEncoderPlugin.cxx
+++ b/src/encoder/plugins/LameEncoderPlugin.cxx
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 #include "config/ConfigError.hxx"
 #include "util/NumberParser.hxx"
 #include "util/ReusableArray.hxx"
+#include "util/RuntimeError.hxx"
 #include "util/Error.hxx"
 #include "util/Domain.hxx"
 
@@ -58,7 +59,7 @@ class PreparedLameEncoder final : public PreparedEncoder {
 	int bitrate;
 
 public:
-	bool Configure(const ConfigBlock &block, Error &error);
+	PreparedLameEncoder(const ConfigBlock &block);
 
 	/* virtual methods from class PreparedEncoder */
 	Encoder *Open(AudioFormat &audio_format, Error &) override;
@@ -70,8 +71,7 @@ public:
 
 static constexpr Domain lame_encoder_domain("lame_encoder");
 
-bool
-PreparedLameEncoder::Configure(const ConfigBlock &block, Error &error)
+PreparedLameEncoder::PreparedLameEncoder(const ConfigBlock &block)
 {
 	const char *value;
 	char *endptr;
@@ -82,55 +82,32 @@ PreparedLameEncoder::Configure(const ConfigBlock &block, Error &error)
 
 		quality = ParseDouble(value, &endptr);
 
-		if (*endptr != '\0' || quality < -1.0 || quality > 10.0) {
-			error.Format(config_domain,
-				     "quality \"%s\" is not a number in the "
-				     "range -1 to 10",
-				     value);
-			return false;
-		}
+		if (*endptr != '\0' || quality < -1.0 || quality > 10.0)
+			throw FormatRuntimeError("quality \"%s\" is not a number in the "
+						 "range -1 to 10",
+						 value);
 
-		if (block.GetBlockValue("bitrate") != nullptr) {
-			error.Set(config_domain,
-				  "quality and bitrate are both defined");
-			return false;
-		}
+		if (block.GetBlockValue("bitrate") != nullptr)
+			throw std::runtime_error("quality and bitrate are both defined");
 	} else {
 		/* a bit rate was configured */
 
 		value = block.GetBlockValue("bitrate");
-		if (value == nullptr) {
-			error.Set(config_domain,
-				  "neither bitrate nor quality defined");
-			return false;
-		}
+		if (value == nullptr)
+			throw std::runtime_error("neither bitrate nor quality defined");
 
 		quality = -2.0;
 		bitrate = ParseInt(value, &endptr);
 
-		if (*endptr != '\0' || bitrate <= 0) {
-			error.Set(config_domain,
-				  "bitrate should be a positive integer");
-			return false;
-		}
+		if (*endptr != '\0' || bitrate <= 0)
+			throw std::runtime_error("bitrate should be a positive integer");
 	}
-
-	return true;
 }
 
 static PreparedEncoder *
-lame_encoder_init(const ConfigBlock &block, Error &error)
+lame_encoder_init(const ConfigBlock &block)
 {
-	auto *encoder = new PreparedLameEncoder();
-
-	/* load configuration from "block" */
-	if (!encoder->Configure(block, error)) {
-		/* configuration has failed, roll back and return error */
-		delete encoder;
-		return nullptr;
-	}
-
-	return encoder;
+	return new PreparedLameEncoder(block);
 }
 
 static bool
diff --git a/src/encoder/plugins/NullEncoderPlugin.cxx b/src/encoder/plugins/NullEncoderPlugin.cxx
index 7f64effbe..aa12d8b06 100644
--- a/src/encoder/plugins/NullEncoderPlugin.cxx
+++ b/src/encoder/plugins/NullEncoderPlugin.cxx
@@ -51,8 +51,7 @@ public:
 };
 
 static PreparedEncoder *
-null_encoder_init(gcc_unused const ConfigBlock &block,
-		  gcc_unused Error &error)
+null_encoder_init(gcc_unused const ConfigBlock &block)
 {
 	return new PreparedNullEncoder();
 }
diff --git a/src/encoder/plugins/OpusEncoderPlugin.cxx b/src/encoder/plugins/OpusEncoderPlugin.cxx
index 63fcf557d..8c1469509 100644
--- a/src/encoder/plugins/OpusEncoderPlugin.cxx
+++ b/src/encoder/plugins/OpusEncoderPlugin.cxx
@@ -30,6 +30,8 @@
 #include <opus.h>
 #include <ogg/ogg.h>
 
+#include <stdexcept>
+
 #include <assert.h>
 #include <stdlib.h>
 
@@ -78,7 +80,7 @@ class PreparedOpusEncoder final : public PreparedEncoder {
 	int signal;
 
 public:
-	bool Configure(const ConfigBlock &block, Error &error);
+	PreparedOpusEncoder(const ConfigBlock &block);
 
 	/* virtual methods from class PreparedEncoder */
 	Encoder *Open(AudioFormat &audio_format, Error &) override;
@@ -90,8 +92,7 @@ public:
 
 static constexpr Domain opus_encoder_domain("opus_encoder");
 
-bool
-PreparedOpusEncoder::Configure(const ConfigBlock &block, Error &error)
+PreparedOpusEncoder::PreparedOpusEncoder(const ConfigBlock &block)
 {
 	const char *value = block.GetBlockValue("bitrate", "auto");
 	if (strcmp(value, "auto") == 0)
@@ -102,17 +103,13 @@ PreparedOpusEncoder::Configure(const ConfigBlock &block, Error &error)
 		char *endptr;
 		bitrate = strtoul(value, &endptr, 10);
 		if (endptr == value || *endptr != 0 ||
-		    bitrate < 500 || bitrate > 512000) {
-			error.Set(config_domain, "Invalid bit rate");
-			return false;
-		}
+		    bitrate < 500 || bitrate > 512000)
+			throw std::runtime_error("Invalid bit rate");
 	}
 
 	complexity = block.GetBlockValue("complexity", 10u);
-	if (complexity > 10) {
-		error.Format(config_domain, "Invalid complexity");
-		return false;
-	}
+	if (complexity > 10)
+		throw std::runtime_error("Invalid complexity");
 
 	value = block.GetBlockValue("signal", "auto");
 	if (strcmp(value, "auto") == 0)
@@ -121,27 +118,14 @@ PreparedOpusEncoder::Configure(const ConfigBlock &block, Error &error)
 		signal = OPUS_SIGNAL_VOICE;
 	else if (strcmp(value, "music") == 0)
 		signal = OPUS_SIGNAL_MUSIC;
-	else {
-		error.Format(config_domain, "Invalid signal");
-		return false;
-	}
-
-	return true;
+	else
+		throw std::runtime_error("Invalid signal");
 }
 
 static PreparedEncoder *
-opus_encoder_init(const ConfigBlock &block, Error &error)
+opus_encoder_init(const ConfigBlock &block)
 {
-	auto *encoder = new PreparedOpusEncoder();
-
-	/* load configuration from "block" */
-	if (!encoder->Configure(block, error)) {
-		/* configuration has failed, roll back and return error */
-		delete encoder;
-		return nullptr;
-	}
-
-	return encoder;
+	return new PreparedOpusEncoder(block);
 }
 
 OpusEncoder::OpusEncoder(AudioFormat &_audio_format, ::OpusEncoder *_enc)
diff --git a/src/encoder/plugins/ShineEncoderPlugin.cxx b/src/encoder/plugins/ShineEncoderPlugin.cxx
index 39f30d060..b05de32f6 100644
--- a/src/encoder/plugins/ShineEncoderPlugin.cxx
+++ b/src/encoder/plugins/ShineEncoderPlugin.cxx
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ class PreparedShineEncoder final : public PreparedEncoder {
 	shine_config_t config;
 
 public:
-	bool Configure(const ConfigBlock &block, Error &error);
+	PreparedShineEncoder(const ConfigBlock &block);
 
 	/* virtual methods from class PreparedEncoder */
 	Encoder *Open(AudioFormat &audio_format, Error &) override;
@@ -98,28 +98,16 @@ public:
 	}
 };
 
-inline bool
-PreparedShineEncoder::Configure(const ConfigBlock &block, Error &)
+PreparedShineEncoder::PreparedShineEncoder(const ConfigBlock &block)
 {
 	shine_set_config_mpeg_defaults(&config.mpeg);
 	config.mpeg.bitr = block.GetBlockValue("bitrate", 128);
-
-	return true;
 }
 
 static PreparedEncoder *
-shine_encoder_init(const ConfigBlock &block, Error &error)
+shine_encoder_init(const ConfigBlock &block)
 {
-	auto *encoder = new PreparedShineEncoder();
-
-	/* load configuration from "block" */
-	if (!encoder->Configure(block, error)) {
-		/* configuration has failed, roll back and return error */
-		delete encoder;
-		return nullptr;
-	}
-
-	return encoder;
+	return new PreparedShineEncoder(block);
 }
 
 static shine_t
diff --git a/src/encoder/plugins/TwolameEncoderPlugin.cxx b/src/encoder/plugins/TwolameEncoderPlugin.cxx
index 7ef02addb..ba980b05c 100644
--- a/src/encoder/plugins/TwolameEncoderPlugin.cxx
+++ b/src/encoder/plugins/TwolameEncoderPlugin.cxx
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 #include "AudioFormat.hxx"
 #include "config/ConfigError.hxx"
 #include "util/NumberParser.hxx"
+#include "util/RuntimeError.hxx"
 #include "util/Error.hxx"
 #include "util/Domain.hxx"
 #include "Log.hxx"
@@ -77,7 +78,7 @@ class PreparedTwolameEncoder final : public PreparedEncoder {
 	int bitrate;
 
 public:
-	bool Configure(const ConfigBlock &block, Error &error);
+	PreparedTwolameEncoder(const ConfigBlock &block);
 
 	/* virtual methods from class PreparedEncoder */
 	Encoder *Open(AudioFormat &audio_format, Error &) override;
@@ -89,8 +90,7 @@ public:
 
 static constexpr Domain twolame_encoder_domain("twolame_encoder");
 
-bool
-PreparedTwolameEncoder::Configure(const ConfigBlock &block, Error &error)
+PreparedTwolameEncoder::PreparedTwolameEncoder(const ConfigBlock &block)
 {
 	const char *value;
 	char *endptr;
@@ -101,58 +101,35 @@ PreparedTwolameEncoder::Configure(const ConfigBlock &block, Error &error)
 
 		quality = ParseDouble(value, &endptr);
 
-		if (*endptr != '\0' || quality < -1.0 || quality > 10.0) {
-			error.Format(config_domain,
-				     "quality \"%s\" is not a number in the "
-				     "range -1 to 10",
-				     value);
-			return false;
-		}
+		if (*endptr != '\0' || quality < -1.0 || quality > 10.0)
+			throw FormatRuntimeError("quality \"%s\" is not a number in the "
+						 "range -1 to 10",
+						 value);
 
-		if (block.GetBlockValue("bitrate") != nullptr) {
-			error.Set(config_domain,
-				  "quality and bitrate are both defined");
-			return false;
-		}
+		if (block.GetBlockValue("bitrate") != nullptr)
+			throw std::runtime_error("quality and bitrate are both defined");
 	} else {
 		/* a bit rate was configured */
 
 		value = block.GetBlockValue("bitrate");
-		if (value == nullptr) {
-			error.Set(config_domain,
-				  "neither bitrate nor quality defined");
-			return false;
-		}
+		if (value == nullptr)
+			throw std::runtime_error("neither bitrate nor quality defined");
 
 		quality = -2.0;
 		bitrate = ParseInt(value, &endptr);
 
-		if (*endptr != '\0' || bitrate <= 0) {
-			error.Set(config_domain,
-				  "bitrate should be a positive integer");
-			return false;
-		}
+		if (*endptr != '\0' || bitrate <= 0)
+			throw std::runtime_error("bitrate should be a positive integer");
 	}
-
-	return true;
 }
 
 static PreparedEncoder *
-twolame_encoder_init(const ConfigBlock &block, Error &error_r)
+twolame_encoder_init(const ConfigBlock &block)
 {
 	FormatDebug(twolame_encoder_domain,
 		    "libtwolame version %s", get_twolame_version());
 
-	auto *encoder = new PreparedTwolameEncoder();
-
-	/* load configuration from "block" */
-	if (!encoder->Configure(block, error_r)) {
-		/* configuration has failed, roll back and return error */
-		delete encoder;
-		return nullptr;
-	}
-
-	return encoder;
+	return new PreparedTwolameEncoder(block);
 }
 
 static bool
diff --git a/src/encoder/plugins/VorbisEncoderPlugin.cxx b/src/encoder/plugins/VorbisEncoderPlugin.cxx
index 5ca2346a0..94c7ff80b 100644
--- a/src/encoder/plugins/VorbisEncoderPlugin.cxx
+++ b/src/encoder/plugins/VorbisEncoderPlugin.cxx
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@
 #include "config/ConfigError.hxx"
 #include "util/StringUtil.hxx"
 #include "util/NumberParser.hxx"
+#include "util/RuntimeError.hxx"
 #include "util/Error.hxx"
 #include "util/Domain.hxx"
 
@@ -73,7 +74,7 @@ class PreparedVorbisEncoder final : public PreparedEncoder {
 	int bitrate;
 
 public:
-	bool Configure(const ConfigBlock &block, Error &error);
+	PreparedVorbisEncoder(const ConfigBlock &block);
 
 	/* virtual methods from class PreparedEncoder */
 	Encoder *Open(AudioFormat &audio_format, Error &) override;
@@ -85,8 +86,7 @@ public:
 
 static constexpr Domain vorbis_encoder_domain("vorbis_encoder");
 
-bool
-PreparedVorbisEncoder::Configure(const ConfigBlock &block, Error &error)
+PreparedVorbisEncoder::PreparedVorbisEncoder(const ConfigBlock &block)
 {
 	const char *value = block.GetBlockValue("quality");
 	if (value != nullptr) {
@@ -95,56 +95,33 @@ PreparedVorbisEncoder::Configure(const ConfigBlock &block, Error &error)
 		char *endptr;
 		quality = ParseDouble(value, &endptr);
 
-		if (*endptr != '\0' || quality < -1.0 || quality > 10.0) {
-			error.Format(config_domain,
-				     "quality \"%s\" is not a number in the "
-				     "range -1 to 10",
-				     value);
-			return false;
-		}
+		if (*endptr != '\0' || quality < -1.0 || quality > 10.0)
+			throw FormatRuntimeError("quality \"%s\" is not a number in the "
+						 "range -1 to 10",
+						 value);
 
-		if (block.GetBlockValue("bitrate") != nullptr) {
-			error.Set(config_domain,
-				  "quality and bitrate are both defined");
-			return false;
-		}
+		if (block.GetBlockValue("bitrate") != nullptr)
+			throw std::runtime_error("quality and bitrate are both defined");
 	} else {
 		/* a bit rate was configured */
 
 		value = block.GetBlockValue("bitrate");
-		if (value == nullptr) {
-			error.Set(config_domain,
-				  "neither bitrate nor quality defined");
-			return false;
-		}
+		if (value == nullptr)
+			throw std::runtime_error("neither bitrate nor quality defined");
 
 		quality = -2.0;
 
 		char *endptr;
 		bitrate = ParseInt(value, &endptr);
-		if (*endptr != '\0' || bitrate <= 0) {
-			error.Set(config_domain,
-				  "bitrate should be a positive integer");
-			return false;
-		}
+		if (*endptr != '\0' || bitrate <= 0)
+			throw std::runtime_error("bitrate should be a positive integer");
 	}
-
-	return true;
 }
 
 static PreparedEncoder *
-vorbis_encoder_init(const ConfigBlock &block, Error &error)
+vorbis_encoder_init(const ConfigBlock &block)
 {
-	auto *encoder = new PreparedVorbisEncoder();
-
-	/* load configuration from "block" */
-	if (!encoder->Configure(block, error)) {
-		/* configuration has failed, roll back and return error */
-		delete encoder;
-		return nullptr;
-	}
-
-	return encoder;
+	return new PreparedVorbisEncoder(block);
 }
 
 bool
diff --git a/src/encoder/plugins/WaveEncoderPlugin.cxx b/src/encoder/plugins/WaveEncoderPlugin.cxx
index 140266984..90be1d296 100644
--- a/src/encoder/plugins/WaveEncoderPlugin.cxx
+++ b/src/encoder/plugins/WaveEncoderPlugin.cxx
@@ -98,8 +98,7 @@ fill_wave_header(WaveHeader *header, int channels, int bits,
 }
 
 static PreparedEncoder *
-wave_encoder_init(gcc_unused const ConfigBlock &block,
-		  gcc_unused Error &error)
+wave_encoder_init(gcc_unused const ConfigBlock &block)
 {
 	return new PreparedWaveEncoder();
 }
diff --git a/src/output/plugins/RecorderOutputPlugin.cxx b/src/output/plugins/RecorderOutputPlugin.cxx
index da03668ca..6cf3af624 100644
--- a/src/output/plugins/RecorderOutputPlugin.cxx
+++ b/src/output/plugins/RecorderOutputPlugin.cxx
@@ -148,9 +148,7 @@ RecorderOutput::Configure(const ConfigBlock &block, Error &error)
 
 	/* initialize encoder */
 
-	prepared_encoder = encoder_init(*encoder_plugin, block, error);
-	if (prepared_encoder == nullptr)
-		return false;
+	prepared_encoder = encoder_init(*encoder_plugin, block);
 
 	return true;
 }
@@ -160,14 +158,19 @@ RecorderOutput::Create(const ConfigBlock &block, Error &error)
 {
 	RecorderOutput *recorder = new RecorderOutput();
 
-	if (!recorder->Initialize(block, error)) {
-		delete recorder;
-		return nullptr;
-	}
+	try {
+		if (!recorder->Initialize(block, error)) {
+			delete recorder;
+			return nullptr;
+		}
 
-	if (!recorder->Configure(block, error)) {
+		if (!recorder->Configure(block, error)) {
+			delete recorder;
+			return nullptr;
+		}
+	} catch (...) {
 		delete recorder;
-		return nullptr;
+		throw;
 	}
 
 	return recorder;
diff --git a/src/output/plugins/ShoutOutputPlugin.cxx b/src/output/plugins/ShoutOutputPlugin.cxx
index a36444ef9..43f79f6f7 100644
--- a/src/output/plugins/ShoutOutputPlugin.cxx
+++ b/src/output/plugins/ShoutOutputPlugin.cxx
@@ -194,9 +194,7 @@ ShoutOutput::Configure(const ConfigBlock &block, Error &error)
 		return false;
 	}
 
-	prepared_encoder = encoder_init(*encoder_plugin, block, error);
-	if (prepared_encoder == nullptr)
-		return false;
+	prepared_encoder = encoder_init(*encoder_plugin, block);
 
 	unsigned shout_format;
 	if (strcmp(encoding, "mp3") == 0 || strcmp(encoding, "lame") == 0)
@@ -304,9 +302,14 @@ ShoutOutput::Create(const ConfigBlock &block, Error &error)
 		return nullptr;
 	}
 
-	if (!sd->Configure(block, error)) {
+	try {
+		if (!sd->Configure(block, error)) {
+			delete sd;
+			return nullptr;
+		}
+	} catch (...) {
 		delete sd;
-		return nullptr;
+		throw;
 	}
 
 	return sd;
diff --git a/src/output/plugins/httpd/HttpdOutputPlugin.cxx b/src/output/plugins/httpd/HttpdOutputPlugin.cxx
index 15115bb2b..bacc350bc 100644
--- a/src/output/plugins/httpd/HttpdOutputPlugin.cxx
+++ b/src/output/plugins/httpd/HttpdOutputPlugin.cxx
@@ -117,9 +117,7 @@ HttpdOutput::Configure(const ConfigBlock &block, Error &error)
 
 	/* initialize encoder */
 
-	prepared_encoder = encoder_init(*encoder_plugin, block, error);
-	if (prepared_encoder == nullptr)
-		return false;
+	prepared_encoder = encoder_init(*encoder_plugin, block);
 
 	/* determine content type */
 	content_type = prepared_encoder->GetMimeType();
diff --git a/test/run_encoder.cxx b/test/run_encoder.cxx
index 52857c2e8..5775a9b25 100644
--- a/test/run_encoder.cxx
+++ b/test/run_encoder.cxx
@@ -67,11 +67,7 @@ int main(int argc, char **argv)
 
 	try {
 		Error error;
-		std::unique_ptr<PreparedEncoder> p_encoder(encoder_init(*plugin, block, error));
-		if (p_encoder == nullptr) {
-			LogError(error, "Failed to initialize encoder");
-			return EXIT_FAILURE;
-		}
+		std::unique_ptr<PreparedEncoder> p_encoder(encoder_init(*plugin, block));
 
 		/* open the encoder */
 
diff --git a/test/test_vorbis_encoder.cxx b/test/test_vorbis_encoder.cxx
index fb4a619dd..054700c2e 100644
--- a/test/test_vorbis_encoder.cxx
+++ b/test/test_vorbis_encoder.cxx
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ static uint8_t zero[256];
 
 int
 main(gcc_unused int argc, gcc_unused char **argv)
-{
+try {
 	gcc_unused bool success;
 
 	/* create the encoder */
@@ -50,65 +50,62 @@ main(gcc_unused int argc, gcc_unused char **argv)
 	ConfigBlock block;
 	block.AddBlockParam("quality", "5.0", -1);
 
-	std::unique_ptr<PreparedEncoder> p_encoder(encoder_init(*plugin, block,
-								IgnoreError()));
+	std::unique_ptr<PreparedEncoder> p_encoder(encoder_init(*plugin, block));
 	assert(p_encoder != nullptr);
 
-	try {
-		/* open the encoder */
+	/* open the encoder */
 
-		AudioFormat audio_format(44100, SampleFormat::S16, 2);
-		std::unique_ptr<Encoder> encoder(p_encoder->Open(audio_format,
-								 IgnoreError()));
-		assert(encoder != nullptr);
+	AudioFormat audio_format(44100, SampleFormat::S16, 2);
+	std::unique_ptr<Encoder> encoder(p_encoder->Open(audio_format,
+							 IgnoreError()));
+	assert(encoder != nullptr);
 
-		StdioOutputStream os(stdout);
+	StdioOutputStream os(stdout);
 
-		EncoderToOutputStream(os, *encoder);
+	EncoderToOutputStream(os, *encoder);
 
-		/* write a block of data */
+	/* write a block of data */
 
-		success = encoder->Write(zero, sizeof(zero), IgnoreError());
-		assert(success);
+	success = encoder->Write(zero, sizeof(zero), IgnoreError());
+	assert(success);
 
-		EncoderToOutputStream(os, *encoder);
+	EncoderToOutputStream(os, *encoder);
 
-		/* write a tag */
+	/* write a tag */
 
-		success = encoder->PreTag(IgnoreError());
-		assert(success);
+	success = encoder->PreTag(IgnoreError());
+	assert(success);
 
-		EncoderToOutputStream(os, *encoder);
+	EncoderToOutputStream(os, *encoder);
 
-		Tag tag;
+	Tag tag;
 
-		{
-			TagBuilder tag_builder;
-			tag_builder.AddItem(TAG_ARTIST, "Foo");
-			tag_builder.AddItem(TAG_TITLE, "Bar");
-			tag_builder.Commit(tag);
-		}
-
-		success = encoder->SendTag(tag, IgnoreError());
-		assert(success);
-
-		EncoderToOutputStream(os, *encoder);
-
-		/* write another block of data */
-
-		success = encoder->Write(zero, sizeof(zero), IgnoreError());
-		assert(success);
-
-		/* finish */
-
-		success = encoder->End(IgnoreError());
-		assert(success);
-
-		EncoderToOutputStream(os, *encoder);
-
-		return EXIT_SUCCESS;
-	} catch (const std::exception &e) {
-		LogError(e);
-		return EXIT_FAILURE;
+	{
+		TagBuilder tag_builder;
+		tag_builder.AddItem(TAG_ARTIST, "Foo");
+		tag_builder.AddItem(TAG_TITLE, "Bar");
+		tag_builder.Commit(tag);
 	}
+
+	success = encoder->SendTag(tag, IgnoreError());
+	assert(success);
+
+	EncoderToOutputStream(os, *encoder);
+
+	/* write another block of data */
+
+	success = encoder->Write(zero, sizeof(zero), IgnoreError());
+	assert(success);
+
+	/* finish */
+
+	success = encoder->End(IgnoreError());
+	assert(success);
+
+	EncoderToOutputStream(os, *encoder);
+
+	return EXIT_SUCCESS;
+} catch (const std::exception &e) {
+	LogError(e);
+	return EXIT_FAILURE;
 }