diff --git a/src/output/Interface.hxx b/src/output/Interface.hxx
index 70e47b273..ddc6ffa4b 100644
--- a/src/output/Interface.hxx
+++ b/src/output/Interface.hxx
@@ -140,8 +140,11 @@ public:
 	 *
 	 * @return false on error (output will be closed by caller),
 	 * true for continue to pause
+	 *
+	 * Instead of returning false, the method may throw an
+	 * exception, which will be logged.
 	 */
-	virtual bool Pause() noexcept {
+	virtual bool Pause() {
 		/* fail because this method is not implemented */
 		return false;
 	}
diff --git a/src/output/plugins/JackOutputPlugin.cxx b/src/output/plugins/JackOutputPlugin.cxx
index a1778888d..70a588610 100644
--- a/src/output/plugins/JackOutputPlugin.cxx
+++ b/src/output/plugins/JackOutputPlugin.cxx
@@ -135,7 +135,7 @@ struct JackOutput final : AudioOutput {
 
 	size_t Play(const void *chunk, size_t size) override;
 
-	bool Pause() noexcept override;
+	bool Pause() override;
 };
 
 static constexpr Domain jack_output_domain("jack_output");
@@ -661,7 +661,7 @@ JackOutput::Play(const void *chunk, size_t size)
 }
 
 inline bool
-JackOutput::Pause() noexcept
+JackOutput::Pause()
 {
 	if (shutdown)
 		return false;
diff --git a/src/output/plugins/PulseOutputPlugin.cxx b/src/output/plugins/PulseOutputPlugin.cxx
index fa603d5f7..11fd960e9 100644
--- a/src/output/plugins/PulseOutputPlugin.cxx
+++ b/src/output/plugins/PulseOutputPlugin.cxx
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ public:
 	std::chrono::steady_clock::duration Delay() const noexcept override;
 	size_t Play(const void *chunk, size_t size) override;
 	void Cancel() noexcept override;
-	bool Pause() noexcept override;
+	bool Pause() override;
 
 private:
 	/**
@@ -826,7 +826,7 @@ PulseOutput::Cancel() noexcept
 }
 
 bool
-PulseOutput::Pause() noexcept
+PulseOutput::Pause()
 {
 	assert(mainloop != nullptr);
 	assert(stream != nullptr);
diff --git a/src/output/plugins/ShoutOutputPlugin.cxx b/src/output/plugins/ShoutOutputPlugin.cxx
index b2aa904b4..70c9fc284 100644
--- a/src/output/plugins/ShoutOutputPlugin.cxx
+++ b/src/output/plugins/ShoutOutputPlugin.cxx
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ struct ShoutOutput final : AudioOutput {
 	void SendTag(const Tag &tag) override;
 	size_t Play(const void *chunk, size_t size) override;
 	void Cancel() noexcept override;
-	bool Pause() noexcept override;
+	bool Pause() override;
 
 private:
 	void WritePage();
@@ -378,16 +378,12 @@ ShoutOutput::Play(const void *chunk, size_t size)
 }
 
 bool
-ShoutOutput::Pause() noexcept
+ShoutOutput::Pause()
 {
 	static char silence[1020];
 
-	try {
-		encoder->Write(silence, sizeof(silence));
-		WritePage();
-	} catch (const std::runtime_error &) {
-		return false;
-	}
+	encoder->Write(silence, sizeof(silence));
+	WritePage();
 
 	return true;
 }
diff --git a/src/output/plugins/httpd/HttpdInternal.hxx b/src/output/plugins/httpd/HttpdInternal.hxx
index f7df99c57..5e6a39dbe 100644
--- a/src/output/plugins/httpd/HttpdInternal.hxx
+++ b/src/output/plugins/httpd/HttpdInternal.hxx
@@ -252,7 +252,7 @@ public:
 	void CancelAllClients();
 
 	void Cancel() noexcept override;
-	bool Pause() noexcept override;
+	bool Pause() override;
 
 private:
 	virtual void RunDeferred() override;
diff --git a/src/output/plugins/httpd/HttpdOutputPlugin.cxx b/src/output/plugins/httpd/HttpdOutputPlugin.cxx
index bfffb6354..95e3edaab 100644
--- a/src/output/plugins/httpd/HttpdOutputPlugin.cxx
+++ b/src/output/plugins/httpd/HttpdOutputPlugin.cxx
@@ -371,7 +371,7 @@ HttpdOutput::Play(const void *chunk, size_t size)
 }
 
 bool
-HttpdOutput::Pause() noexcept
+HttpdOutput::Pause()
 {
 	pause = true;
 
diff --git a/src/output/plugins/sles/SlesOutputPlugin.cxx b/src/output/plugins/sles/SlesOutputPlugin.cxx
index d1ba818f7..9ae6ea584 100644
--- a/src/output/plugins/sles/SlesOutputPlugin.cxx
+++ b/src/output/plugins/sles/SlesOutputPlugin.cxx
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ private:
 
 	void Drain() override;
 	void Cancel() noexcept override;
-	bool Pause() noexcept override;
+	bool Pause() override;
 
 private:
 	void PlayedCallback();
@@ -368,7 +368,7 @@ SlesOutput::Cancel() noexcept
 }
 
 bool
-SlesOutput::Pause() noexcept
+SlesOutput::Pause()
 {
 	cancel = false;
 
@@ -378,10 +378,8 @@ SlesOutput::Pause() noexcept
 	pause = true;
 
 	SLresult result = play.SetPlayState(SL_PLAYSTATE_PAUSED);
-	if (result != SL_RESULT_SUCCESS) {
-		FormatError(sles_domain, "Play.SetPlayState(PAUSED) failed");
-		return false;
-	}
+	if (result != SL_RESULT_SUCCESS)
+		throw std::runtime_error("Play.SetPlayState(PAUSED) failed");
 
 	return true;
 }