diff --git a/src/uvw/async.h b/src/uvw/async.h
index 84dcdeef..7d864ba4 100644
--- a/src/uvw/async.h
+++ b/src/uvw/async.h
@@ -30,7 +30,7 @@ public:
      * Unlike other handle initialization functions, it immediately starts the
      * handle.
      *
-     * @return Underlying code in case of errors, 0 otherwise.
+     * @return Underlying return value.
      */
     int init() final;
 
diff --git a/src/uvw/check.h b/src/uvw/check.h
index 63a23cf5..09b0401c 100644
--- a/src/uvw/check.h
+++ b/src/uvw/check.h
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ public:
 
     /**
      * @brief Initializes the handle.
-     * @return Underlying code in case of errors, 0 otherwise.
+     * @return Underlying return value.
      */
     int init() final;
 
diff --git a/src/uvw/fs_event.h b/src/uvw/fs_event.h
index e68714f9..6146d232 100644
--- a/src/uvw/fs_event.h
+++ b/src/uvw/fs_event.h
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ public:
 
     /**
      * @brief Initializes the handle.
-     * @return Underlying code in case of errors, 0 otherwise.
+     * @return Underlying return value.
      */
     int init() final;
 
diff --git a/src/uvw/fs_poll.h b/src/uvw/fs_poll.h
index e86b6f2c..7536be16 100644
--- a/src/uvw/fs_poll.h
+++ b/src/uvw/fs_poll.h
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ public:
 
     /**
      * @brief Initializes the handle.
-     * @return Underlying code in case of errors, 0 otherwise.
+     * @return Underlying return value.
      */
     int init() final;
 
diff --git a/src/uvw/idle.cpp b/src/uvw/idle.cpp
index 4456468a..03a0025b 100644
--- a/src/uvw/idle.cpp
+++ b/src/uvw/idle.cpp
@@ -15,16 +15,12 @@ UVW_INLINE int idle_handle::init() {
     return leak_if(uv_idle_init(parent().raw(), raw()));
 }
 
-UVW_INLINE void idle_handle::start() {
-    if(auto err = uv_idle_start(raw(), &start_callback); err != 0) {
-        publish(error_event{err});
-    }
+UVW_INLINE int idle_handle::start() {
+    return uv_idle_start(raw(), &start_callback);
 }
 
-UVW_INLINE void idle_handle::stop() {
-    if(auto err = uv_idle_stop(raw()); err != 0) {
-        publish(error_event{err});
-    }
+UVW_INLINE int idle_handle::stop() {
+    return uv_idle_stop(raw());
 }
 
 } // namespace uvw
diff --git a/src/uvw/idle.h b/src/uvw/idle.h
index 2525b902..ff36ca18 100644
--- a/src/uvw/idle.h
+++ b/src/uvw/idle.h
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ public:
 
     /**
      * @brief Initializes the handle.
-     * @return Underlying code in case of errors, 0 otherwise.
+     * @return Underlying return value.
      */
     int init() final;
 
@@ -43,13 +43,17 @@ public:
      *
      * An idle event will be emitted once per loop iteration, right before
      * polling the prepare handles.
+     *
+     * @return Underlying return value.
      */
-    void start();
+    int start();
 
     /**
      * @brief Stops the handle.
+     *
+     * @return Underlying return value.
      */
-    void stop();
+    int stop();
 };
 
 } // namespace uvw
diff --git a/src/uvw/loop.cpp b/src/uvw/loop.cpp
index 0e8e79c5..442594e9 100644
--- a/src/uvw/loop.cpp
+++ b/src/uvw/loop.cpp
@@ -63,8 +63,8 @@ UVW_INLINE int loop::close() {
     return ret;
 }
 
-bool loop::run(run_mode mode) UVW_NOEXCEPT {
-    return (uv_run(uv_loop.get(), static_cast<uv_run_mode>(mode)) == 0);
+int loop::run(run_mode mode) UVW_NOEXCEPT {
+    return uv_run(uv_loop.get(), static_cast<uv_run_mode>(mode));
 }
 
 UVW_INLINE bool loop::alive() const UVW_NOEXCEPT {
@@ -96,10 +96,8 @@ UVW_INLINE void loop::update() const UVW_NOEXCEPT {
     return uv_update_time(uv_loop.get());
 }
 
-UVW_INLINE void loop::fork() UVW_NOEXCEPT {
-    if(auto err = uv_loop_fork(uv_loop.get()); err) {
-        publish(error_event{err});
-    }
+UVW_INLINE int loop::fork() UVW_NOEXCEPT {
+    return uv_loop_fork(uv_loop.get());
 }
 
 UVW_INLINE void loop::data(std::shared_ptr<void> ud) {
diff --git a/src/uvw/loop.h b/src/uvw/loop.h
index 7305ffc4..a0452007 100644
--- a/src/uvw/loop.h
+++ b/src/uvw/loop.h
@@ -132,12 +132,12 @@ public:
      * See the official
      * [documentation](http://docs.libuv.org/en/v1.x/loop.html#c.uv_loop_configure)
      * for further details.
+     *
+     * @return Underlying return value.
      */
     template<typename... Args>
-    void configure(option flag, Args &&...args) {
-        if(auto err = uv_loop_configure(uv_loop.get(), static_cast<uv_loop_option>(flag), std::forward<Args>(args)...); err) {
-            publish(error_event{err});
-        }
+    int configure(option flag, Args &&...args) {
+        return uv_loop_configure(uv_loop.get(), static_cast<uv_loop_option>(flag), std::forward<Args>(args)...);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ public:
      * Call this function only when the loop has finished executing and all open
      * handles and requests have been closed, or the loop will emit an error.
      *
-     * @return Underlying code in case of errors, 0 otherwise.
+     * @return Underlying return value.
      */
     int close();
 
@@ -192,9 +192,9 @@ public:
      * [documentation](http://docs.libuv.org/en/v1.x/loop.html#c.uv_run)
      * for further details.
      *
-     * @return True when done, false in all other cases.
+     * @return Underlying return value.
      */
-    bool run(run_mode mode = run_mode::DEFAULT) UVW_NOEXCEPT;
+    int run(run_mode mode = run_mode::DEFAULT) UVW_NOEXCEPT;
 
     /**
      * @brief Checks if there are active resources.
@@ -358,8 +358,10 @@ public:
      * See the official
      * [documentation](http://docs.libuv.org/en/v1.x/loop.html#c.uv_loop_fork)
      * for further details.
+     *
+     * @return Underlying return value.
      */
-    void fork() UVW_NOEXCEPT;
+    int fork() UVW_NOEXCEPT;
 
     /**
      * @brief Gets user-defined data. `uvw` won't use this field in any case.
diff --git a/src/uvw/pipe.h b/src/uvw/pipe.h
index f38e557a..f7505374 100644
--- a/src/uvw/pipe.h
+++ b/src/uvw/pipe.h
@@ -43,7 +43,7 @@ public:
 
     /**
      * @brief Initializes the handle.
-     * @return Underlying code in case of errors, 0 otherwise.
+     * @return Underlying return value.
      */
     int init() final;
 
diff --git a/src/uvw/poll.h b/src/uvw/poll.h
index 667fdc9d..0f37fa26 100644
--- a/src/uvw/poll.h
+++ b/src/uvw/poll.h
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ public:
 
     /**
      * @brief Initializes the handle.
-     * @return Underlying code in case of errors, 0 otherwise.
+     * @return Underlying return value.
      */
     int init() final;
 
diff --git a/src/uvw/prepare.cpp b/src/uvw/prepare.cpp
index 93bae205..dee7186e 100644
--- a/src/uvw/prepare.cpp
+++ b/src/uvw/prepare.cpp
@@ -15,16 +15,12 @@ UVW_INLINE int prepare_handle::init() {
     return leak_if(uv_prepare_init(parent().raw(), raw()));
 }
 
-UVW_INLINE void prepare_handle::start() {
-    if(auto err = uv_prepare_start(raw(), &start_callback); err != 0) {
-        publish(error_event{err});
-    }
+UVW_INLINE int prepare_handle::start() {
+    return uv_prepare_start(raw(), &start_callback);
 }
 
-UVW_INLINE void prepare_handle::stop() {
-    if(auto err = uv_prepare_stop(raw()); err != 0) {
-        publish(error_event{err});
-    }
+UVW_INLINE int prepare_handle::stop() {
+    return uv_prepare_stop(raw());
 }
 
 } // namespace uvw
diff --git a/src/uvw/prepare.h b/src/uvw/prepare.h
index 06d0d813..891e1bc8 100644
--- a/src/uvw/prepare.h
+++ b/src/uvw/prepare.h
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ public:
 
     /**
      * @brief Initializes the handle.
-     * @return Underlying code in case of errors, 0 otherwise.
+     * @return Underlying return value.
      */
     int init() final;
 
@@ -37,13 +37,16 @@ public:
      * polling for I/O.
      *
      * The handle will start emitting prepare events when needed.
+     *
+     * @return Underlying return value.
      */
-    void start();
+    int start();
 
     /**
      * @brief Stops the handle.
+     * @return Underlying return value.
      */
-    void stop();
+    int stop();
 };
 
 } // namespace uvw
diff --git a/src/uvw/process.h b/src/uvw/process.h
index 472da40c..1320b46b 100644
--- a/src/uvw/process.h
+++ b/src/uvw/process.h
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ public:
 
     /**
      * @brief Initializes the handle.
-     * @return Underlying code in case of errors, 0 otherwise.
+     * @return Underlying return value.
      */
     int init() final;
 
diff --git a/src/uvw/signal.h b/src/uvw/signal.h
index 0a0bedb1..ec20a43a 100644
--- a/src/uvw/signal.h
+++ b/src/uvw/signal.h
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ public:
 
     /**
      * @brief Initializes the handle.
-     * @return Underlying code in case of errors, 0 otherwise.
+     * @return Underlying return value.
      */
     int init() final;
 
diff --git a/src/uvw/tcp.h b/src/uvw/tcp.h
index da4466b3..694019a3 100644
--- a/src/uvw/tcp.h
+++ b/src/uvw/tcp.h
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ public:
 
     /**
      * @brief Initializes the handle. No socket is created as of yet.
-     * @return Underlying code in case of errors, 0 otherwise.
+     * @return Underlying return value.
      */
     int init() final;
 
diff --git a/src/uvw/timer.cpp b/src/uvw/timer.cpp
index 1de0b02c..6db6dec6 100644
--- a/src/uvw/timer.cpp
+++ b/src/uvw/timer.cpp
@@ -15,22 +15,16 @@ UVW_INLINE int timer_handle::init() {
     return leak_if(uv_timer_init(parent().raw(), raw()));
 }
 
-UVW_INLINE void timer_handle::start(timer_handle::time timeout, timer_handle::time repeat) {
-    if(auto err = uv_timer_start(raw(), &start_callback, timeout.count(), repeat.count()); err != 0) {
-        publish(error_event{err});
-    }
+UVW_INLINE int timer_handle::start(timer_handle::time timeout, timer_handle::time repeat) {
+    return uv_timer_start(raw(), &start_callback, timeout.count(), repeat.count());
 }
 
-UVW_INLINE void timer_handle::stop() {
-    if(auto err = uv_timer_stop(raw()); err != 0) {
-        publish(error_event{err});
-    }
+UVW_INLINE int timer_handle::stop() {
+    return uv_timer_stop(raw());
 }
 
-UVW_INLINE void timer_handle::again() {
-    if(auto err = uv_timer_again(raw()); err != 0) {
-        publish(error_event{err});
-    }
+UVW_INLINE int timer_handle::again() {
+    return uv_timer_again(raw());
 }
 
 UVW_INLINE void timer_handle::repeat(timer_handle::time repeat) {
diff --git a/src/uvw/timer.h b/src/uvw/timer.h
index d120da6b..a7aef680 100644
--- a/src/uvw/timer.h
+++ b/src/uvw/timer.h
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@ public:
 
     /**
      * @brief Initializes the handle.
-     * @return Underlying code in case of errors, 0 otherwise.
+     * @return Underlying return value.
      */
     int init() final;
 
@@ -44,13 +44,16 @@ public:
      * `std::chrono::duration<uint64_t, std::milli>`).
      * @param repeat Milliseconds between successive events (use
      * `std::chrono::duration<uint64_t, std::milli>`).
+     *
+     * @return Underlying return value.
      */
-    void start(time timeout, time repeat);
+    int start(time timeout, time repeat);
 
     /**
      * @brief Stops the handle.
+     * @return Underlying return value.
      */
-    void stop();
+    int stop();
 
     /**
      * @brief Stops the timer and restarts it if it was repeating.
@@ -58,8 +61,10 @@ public:
      * Stop the timer, and if it is repeating restart it using the repeat value
      * as the timeout.<br/>
      * If the timer has never been started before it emits an error event.
+     *
+     * @return Underlying return value.
      */
-    void again();
+    int again();
 
     /**
      * @brief Sets the repeat interval value.
diff --git a/src/uvw/tty.h b/src/uvw/tty.h
index e07d1a5e..e7b10ebf 100644
--- a/src/uvw/tty.h
+++ b/src/uvw/tty.h
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ public:
 
     /**
      * @brief Initializes the handle.
-     * @return Underlying code in case of errors, 0 otherwise.
+     * @return Underlying return value.
      */
     int init() final;
 
diff --git a/src/uvw/udp.h b/src/uvw/udp.h
index 7377c579..57243a19 100644
--- a/src/uvw/udp.h
+++ b/src/uvw/udp.h
@@ -92,7 +92,7 @@ public:
 
     /**
      * @brief Initializes the handle. The actual socket is created lazily.
-     * @return Underlying code in case of errors, 0 otherwise.
+     * @return Underlying return value.
      */
     int init() final;
 
diff --git a/src/uvw/uv_type.hpp b/src/uvw/uv_type.hpp
index 94dae083..64d65e2c 100644
--- a/src/uvw/uv_type.hpp
+++ b/src/uvw/uv_type.hpp
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ struct uv_type {
 
     /**
      * @brief Initializes the handle.
-     * @return Underlying code in case of errors, 0 otherwise.
+     * @return Underlying return value.
      */
     virtual int init() {
         return 0;
diff --git a/src/uvw/work.cpp b/src/uvw/work.cpp
index 2a27f467..f6fc68d0 100644
--- a/src/uvw/work.cpp
+++ b/src/uvw/work.cpp
@@ -23,10 +23,8 @@ UVW_INLINE void work_req::after_work_callback(uv_work_t* req, int status) {
     }
 }
 
-UVW_INLINE void work_req::queue() {
-    if(auto err = this->leak_if(uv_queue_work(parent().raw(), raw(), &work_callback, &after_work_callback)); err != 0) {
-        publish(error_event{err});
-    }
+UVW_INLINE int work_req::queue() {
+    return this->leak_if(uv_queue_work(parent().raw(), raw(), &work_callback, &after_work_callback));
 }
 
 } // namespace uvw
diff --git a/src/uvw/work.h b/src/uvw/work.h
index 3c100ca9..d6a4c1e2 100644
--- a/src/uvw/work.h
+++ b/src/uvw/work.h
@@ -41,8 +41,10 @@ public:
      * A work event will be emitted on the loop thread when the task is
      * finished.<br/>
      * This request can be cancelled with `cancel()`.
+     *
+     * @return Underlying return value.
      */
-    void queue();
+    int queue();
 
 private:
     task func{};
diff --git a/test/uvw/idle.cpp b/test/uvw/idle.cpp
index bd600dc3..5d51cc60 100644
--- a/test/uvw/idle.cpp
+++ b/test/uvw/idle.cpp
@@ -11,14 +11,17 @@ TEST(Idle, StartAndStop) {
 
     handle->on<uvw::idle_event>([&checkIdleEvent](const auto &, auto &hndl) {
         ASSERT_FALSE(checkIdleEvent);
+
         checkIdleEvent = true;
-        hndl.stop();
+
+        ASSERT_EQ(0, hndl.stop());
+
         hndl.close();
+
         ASSERT_TRUE(hndl.closing());
     });
 
-    handle->start();
-
+    ASSERT_EQ(0, handle->start());
     ASSERT_TRUE(handle->active());
     ASSERT_FALSE(handle->closing());
 
diff --git a/test/uvw/loop.cpp b/test/uvw/loop.cpp
index 97d80859..a0b273be 100644
--- a/test/uvw/loop.cpp
+++ b/test/uvw/loop.cpp
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ TEST(Loop, Functionalities) {
 
 #ifndef _MSC_VER
     // fork isn't implemented on Windows in libuv and it returns an error by default
-    ASSERT_NO_THROW(loop->fork());
+    ASSERT_EQ(0, loop->fork());
 #endif
 
     ASSERT_FALSE(loop->alive());
@@ -50,12 +50,12 @@ TEST(Loop, Functionalities) {
     });
 
     ASSERT_TRUE(loop->alive());
-    ASSERT_NO_THROW(loop->run());
+    ASSERT_EQ(0, loop->run());
 
     loop->walk([](auto &) { FAIL(); });
 
-    ASSERT_NO_THROW(loop->run(uvw::loop::run_mode::ONCE));
-    ASSERT_NO_THROW(loop->run(uvw::loop::run_mode::NOWAIT));
+    ASSERT_EQ(0, loop->run(uvw::loop::run_mode::ONCE));
+    ASSERT_EQ(0, loop->run(uvw::loop::run_mode::NOWAIT));
 
     ASSERT_FALSE(loop->alive());
 }
@@ -106,8 +106,8 @@ TEST(Loop, UserData) {
 
 TEST(Loop, Configure) {
     auto loop = uvw::loop::create();
-    ASSERT_NO_THROW(loop->configure(uvw::loop::option::BLOCK_SIGNAL, 9));
-    ASSERT_NO_THROW(loop->run());
+    ASSERT_EQ(0, loop->configure(uvw::loop::option::IDLE_TIME));
+    ASSERT_EQ(0, loop->run());
 }
 
 TEST(Loop, IdleTime) {
diff --git a/test/uvw/prepare.cpp b/test/uvw/prepare.cpp
index 97f556e7..b66920bd 100644
--- a/test/uvw/prepare.cpp
+++ b/test/uvw/prepare.cpp
@@ -11,14 +11,17 @@ TEST(Prepare, StartAndStop) {
 
     handle->on<uvw::prepare_event>([&checkPrepareEvent](const auto &, auto &hndl) {
         ASSERT_FALSE(checkPrepareEvent);
+
         checkPrepareEvent = true;
-        hndl.stop();
+
+        ASSERT_EQ(0, hndl.stop());
+
         hndl.close();
+
         ASSERT_TRUE(hndl.closing());
     });
 
-    handle->start();
-
+    ASSERT_EQ(0, handle->start());
     ASSERT_TRUE(handle->active());
     ASSERT_FALSE(handle->closing());
 
diff --git a/test/uvw/timer.cpp b/test/uvw/timer.cpp
index fc30245e..0ab1c4ff 100644
--- a/test/uvw/timer.cpp
+++ b/test/uvw/timer.cpp
@@ -14,16 +14,22 @@ TEST(Timer, StartAndStop) {
 
     handleNoRepeat->on<uvw::timer_event>([&checkTimerNoRepeatEvent](const auto &, auto &handle) {
         ASSERT_FALSE(checkTimerNoRepeatEvent);
+
         checkTimerNoRepeatEvent = true;
-        handle.stop();
+
+        ASSERT_EQ(0, handle.stop());
+
         handle.close();
+
         ASSERT_TRUE(handle.closing());
     });
 
     handleRepeat->on<uvw::timer_event>([&checkTimerRepeatEvent](const auto &, auto &handle) {
         if(checkTimerRepeatEvent) {
-            handle.stop();
+            ASSERT_EQ(0, handle.stop());
+
             handle.close();
+
             ASSERT_TRUE(handle.closing());
         } else {
             checkTimerRepeatEvent = true;
@@ -31,8 +37,8 @@ TEST(Timer, StartAndStop) {
         }
     });
 
-    handleNoRepeat->start(uvw::timer_handle::time{0}, uvw::timer_handle::time{0});
-    handleRepeat->start(uvw::timer_handle::time{0}, uvw::timer_handle::time{1});
+    ASSERT_EQ(0, handleNoRepeat->start(uvw::timer_handle::time{0}, uvw::timer_handle::time{0}));
+    ASSERT_EQ(0, handleRepeat->start(uvw::timer_handle::time{0}, uvw::timer_handle::time{1}));
 
     ASSERT_TRUE(handleNoRepeat->active());
     ASSERT_FALSE(handleNoRepeat->closing());
@@ -50,13 +56,9 @@ TEST(Timer, Again) {
     auto loop = uvw::loop::get_default();
     auto handle = loop->resource<uvw::timer_handle>();
 
-    bool checkErrorEvent = false;
     bool checkTimerEvent = false;
 
-    handle->on<uvw::error_event>([&checkErrorEvent](const auto &, auto &) {
-        ASSERT_FALSE(checkErrorEvent);
-        checkErrorEvent = true;
-    });
+    handle->on<uvw::error_event>([](const auto &, auto &) { FAIL(); });
 
     handle->on<uvw::timer_event>([&checkTimerEvent](const auto &, auto &hndl) {
         static bool guard = false;
@@ -68,17 +70,15 @@ TEST(Timer, Again) {
             ASSERT_TRUE(hndl.closing());
         } else {
             guard = true;
-            hndl.again();
+            ASSERT_EQ(0, hndl.again());
             ASSERT_EQ(hndl.repeat(), uvw::timer_handle::time{1});
             ASSERT_FALSE(hndl.closing());
         }
     });
 
-    ASSERT_NO_THROW(handle->again());
+    ASSERT_NE(0, handle->again());
     ASSERT_FALSE(handle->active());
-    ASSERT_TRUE(checkErrorEvent);
 
-    checkErrorEvent = false;
     handle->start(uvw::timer_handle::time{0}, uvw::timer_handle::time{1});
 
     ASSERT_TRUE(handle->active());
@@ -86,7 +86,6 @@ TEST(Timer, Again) {
 
     loop->run();
 
-    ASSERT_FALSE(checkErrorEvent);
     ASSERT_TRUE(checkTimerEvent);
 
     handle->close();
@@ -94,9 +93,7 @@ TEST(Timer, Again) {
     ASSERT_FALSE(handle->active());
     ASSERT_TRUE(handle->closing());
 
-    handle->start(uvw::timer_handle::time{0}, uvw::timer_handle::time{1});
-
-    ASSERT_TRUE(checkErrorEvent);
+    ASSERT_NE(0, handle->start(uvw::timer_handle::time{0}, uvw::timer_handle::time{1}));
 }
 
 TEST(Timer, Repeat) {
diff --git a/test/uvw/work.cpp b/test/uvw/work.cpp
index 1246c06d..1d2241b7 100644
--- a/test/uvw/work.cpp
+++ b/test/uvw/work.cpp
@@ -21,7 +21,9 @@ TEST(Work, RunTask) {
     });
 
     handle->start();
-    req->queue();
+    
+    ASSERT_EQ(0, req->queue());
+    
     loop->run();
 
     ASSERT_TRUE(checkTask);