diff --git a/source/frontends/common2/fileregistry.cpp b/source/frontends/common2/fileregistry.cpp
index f040cb78..6a70fbb0 100644
--- a/source/frontends/common2/fileregistry.cpp
+++ b/source/frontends/common2/fileregistry.cpp
@@ -60,7 +60,6 @@ namespace
     }
     else
     {
-      mySaveOnExit = false;
       LogFileOutput("Registry: configuration file '%s' not found\n", filename.c_str());
     }
   }
@@ -69,7 +68,14 @@ namespace
   {
     if (mySaveOnExit)
     {
-      boost::property_tree::ini_parser::write_ini(myFilename, myINI);
+      try
+      {
+        boost::property_tree::ini_parser::write_ini(myFilename, myINI);
+      }
+      catch(const std::exception& e)
+      {
+        LogFileOutput("Registry: cannot save settings to '%s': %s\n", myFilename.c_str(), e.what());
+      }
     }
   }
 
@@ -104,7 +110,7 @@ namespace common2
     }
   }
 
-  void InitializeFileRegistry(const EmulatorOptions & options)
+  std::shared_ptr<Registry> CreateFileRegistry(const EmulatorOptions & options)
   {
     const std::string homeDir = getHomeDir();
 
@@ -125,7 +131,7 @@ namespace common2
     std::shared_ptr<Configuration> config(new Configuration(filename, saveOnExit));
     config->addExtraOptions(options.registryOptions);
 
-    Registry::instance = config;
+    return config;
   }
 
 }
diff --git a/source/frontends/common2/fileregistry.h b/source/frontends/common2/fileregistry.h
index 4d51a665..4fc73bde 100644
--- a/source/frontends/common2/fileregistry.h
+++ b/source/frontends/common2/fileregistry.h
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
 #pragma once
 
 #include <string>
+#include <memory>
+
+class Registry;
 
 namespace common2
 {
@@ -8,6 +11,6 @@ namespace common2
   struct EmulatorOptions;
 
   std::string GetConfigFile(const std::string & filename);
-  void InitializeFileRegistry(const EmulatorOptions & options);
+  std::shared_ptr<Registry> CreateFileRegistry(const EmulatorOptions & options);
 
 }
diff --git a/source/frontends/common2/utils.cpp b/source/frontends/common2/utils.cpp
index cb35072f..b64e6e4f 100644
--- a/source/frontends/common2/utils.cpp
+++ b/source/frontends/common2/utils.cpp
@@ -123,9 +123,9 @@ namespace common2
     HD_Destroy();
     PrintDestroy();
     CpuDestroy();
+    DebugDestroy();
 
     GetCardMgr().GetDisk2CardMgr().Destroy();
-    LogDone();
     RiffFinishWriteFile();
   }
 
diff --git a/source/frontends/libretro/game.cpp b/source/frontends/libretro/game.cpp
index 3f880525..b512d0dd 100644
--- a/source/frontends/libretro/game.cpp
+++ b/source/frontends/libretro/game.cpp
@@ -54,11 +54,13 @@ namespace ra2
 
   unsigned Game::ourInputDevices[MAX_PADS] = {RETRO_DEVICE_NONE};
 
-  Game::Game(const std::shared_ptr<RetroFrame> & frame)
-    : myFrame(frame), mySpeed(true), myButtonStates(RETRO_DEVICE_ID_JOYPAD_R3 + 1)
+  Game::Game()
+    : myLogger(true)
+    , myFrame(new ra2::RetroFrame())
+    , mySpeed(true)
+    , myButtonStates(RETRO_DEVICE_ID_JOYPAD_R3 + 1)
   {
-    LogInit();
-    InitialiseRetroRegistry();
+    Registry::instance = CreateRetroRegistry();
     SetFrame(myFrame);
     myFrame->Initialize();
 
diff --git a/source/frontends/libretro/game.h b/source/frontends/libretro/game.h
index 386f7915..7f831cee 100644
--- a/source/frontends/libretro/game.h
+++ b/source/frontends/libretro/game.h
@@ -3,6 +3,8 @@
 #include "frontends/common2/speed.h"
 #include "frontends/libretro/environment.h"
 
+#include "linux/context.h"
+
 #include <string>
 #include <vector>
 
@@ -14,7 +16,7 @@ namespace ra2
   class Game
   {
   public:
-    Game(const std::shared_ptr<RetroFrame> & frame);
+    Game();
     ~Game();
 
     bool loadGame(const std::string & path);
@@ -33,6 +35,7 @@ namespace ra2
     static retro_usec_t ourFrameTime;
 
   private:
+    const Logger myLogger;
     const std::shared_ptr<RetroFrame> myFrame;
 
     common2::Speed mySpeed;  // fixed speed
diff --git a/source/frontends/libretro/libretro.cpp b/source/frontends/libretro/libretro.cpp
index 1d6e3d59..5a2fb8f1 100644
--- a/source/frontends/libretro/libretro.cpp
+++ b/source/frontends/libretro/libretro.cpp
@@ -14,7 +14,6 @@
 #include "frontends/libretro/environment.h"
 #include "frontends/libretro/rdirectsound.h"
 #include "frontends/libretro/retroregistry.h"
-#include "frontends/libretro/retroframe.h"
 
 namespace
 {
@@ -180,8 +179,7 @@ bool retro_load_game(const retro_game_info *info)
 
   try
   {
-    std::shared_ptr<ra2::RetroFrame> frame(new ra2::RetroFrame());
-    std::unique_ptr<ra2::Game> game(new ra2::Game(frame));
+    std::unique_ptr<ra2::Game> game(new ra2::Game());
 
     const std::string snapshotEnding = ".aws.yaml";
     const std::string gamePath = info->path;
diff --git a/source/frontends/libretro/retroregistry.cpp b/source/frontends/libretro/retroregistry.cpp
index da3f989d..30b65fd9 100644
--- a/source/frontends/libretro/retroregistry.cpp
+++ b/source/frontends/libretro/retroregistry.cpp
@@ -133,7 +133,7 @@ namespace ra2
     environ_cb(RETRO_ENVIRONMENT_SET_VARIABLES, retroVariables.data());
   }
 
-  void InitialiseRetroRegistry()
+  std::shared_ptr<Registry> CreateRetroRegistry()
   {
     const auto registry = std::make_shared<common2::PTreeRegistry>();
 
@@ -158,7 +158,7 @@ namespace ra2
       }
     }
 
-    Registry::instance = registry;
+    return registry;
   }
 
 }
diff --git a/source/frontends/libretro/retroregistry.h b/source/frontends/libretro/retroregistry.h
index 1e21d09d..64580295 100644
--- a/source/frontends/libretro/retroregistry.h
+++ b/source/frontends/libretro/retroregistry.h
@@ -1,9 +1,13 @@
 #pragma once
 
+#include <memory>
+
+class Registry;
+
 namespace ra2
 {
 
   void SetupRetroVariables();
-  void InitialiseRetroRegistry();
+  std::shared_ptr<Registry> CreateRetroRegistry();
 
 }
diff --git a/source/frontends/ncurses/main.cpp b/source/frontends/ncurses/main.cpp
index 8fdbf253..53a1c59b 100644
--- a/source/frontends/ncurses/main.cpp
+++ b/source/frontends/ncurses/main.cpp
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 #include "frontends/common2/utils.h"
 #include "frontends/ncurses/world.h"
 #include "frontends/ncurses/nframe.h"
+#include "frontends/ncurses/evdevpaddle.h"
 
 namespace
 {
@@ -132,7 +133,6 @@ namespace
 
   void EnterMessageLoop(const common2::EmulatorOptions & options, const std::shared_ptr<na2::NFrame> & frame)
   {
-    LogFileTimeUntilFirstKeyReadReset();
     while (ContinueExecution(options, frame))
     {
     }
@@ -146,16 +146,14 @@ namespace
     if (!run)
       return 1;
 
-    if (options.log)
-    {
-      LogInit();
-    }
-
-    InitializeFileRegistry(options);
+    const Logger logger(options.log);
+    const std::shared_ptr<Registry> registry = CreateFileRegistry(options);
     g_nMemoryClearType = options.memclear;
 
-    std::shared_ptr<na2::NFrame> frame(new na2::NFrame(options.paddleDeviceName));
-    Initialisation init(frame);
+    const std::shared_ptr<na2::EvDevPaddle> paddle(new na2::EvDevPaddle(options.paddleDeviceName));
+
+    const std::shared_ptr<na2::NFrame> frame(new na2::NFrame(paddle));
+    const Initialisation init(registry, frame, paddle);
 
     na2::SetCtrlCHandler(options.headless);
     applyOptions(options);
diff --git a/source/frontends/ncurses/nframe.cpp b/source/frontends/ncurses/nframe.cpp
index e3f0f24f..c2231a9f 100644
--- a/source/frontends/ncurses/nframe.cpp
+++ b/source/frontends/ncurses/nframe.cpp
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 #include "frontends/ncurses/colors.h"
 #include "frontends/ncurses/asciiart.h"
 #include "frontends/ncurses/evdevpaddle.h"
-
 #include "Interface.h"
 #include "Memory.h"
 #include "Log.h"
@@ -39,8 +38,8 @@ namespace na2
     std::shared_ptr<GraphicsColors> colors;
   };
 
-  NFrame::NFrame(const std::string & paddleDevice)
-    : myPaddleDevice(paddleDevice)
+  NFrame::NFrame(const std::shared_ptr<EvDevPaddle> & paddle)
+    : myPaddle(paddle)
     , myRows(-1)
     , myColumns(-1)
   {
@@ -54,8 +53,6 @@ namespace na2
     myTextFlashCounter = 0;
     myTextFlashState = 0;
     myAsciiArt.reset(new ASCIIArt());
-    myPaddle.reset(new EvDevPaddle(myPaddleDevice));
-    Paddle::instance = myPaddle;
   }
 
   void NFrame::Destroy()
@@ -67,9 +64,6 @@ namespace na2
     myStatus.reset();
     myAsciiArt.reset();
 
-    myPaddle.reset();
-    Paddle::instance.reset();
-
     myNCurses.reset();
   }
 
diff --git a/source/frontends/ncurses/nframe.h b/source/frontends/ncurses/nframe.h
index eab965b8..fdfb912c 100644
--- a/source/frontends/ncurses/nframe.h
+++ b/source/frontends/ncurses/nframe.h
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ namespace na2
   class NFrame : public common2::CommonFrame
   {
   public:
-    NFrame(const std::string & paddleDevice);
+    NFrame(const std::shared_ptr<EvDevPaddle> & paddle);
 
     WINDOW * GetWindow();
     WINDOW * GetStatus();
@@ -35,7 +35,8 @@ namespace na2
 
   private:
 
-    const std::string myPaddleDevice;
+    const std::shared_ptr<EvDevPaddle> myPaddle;
+
     int myRows;
     int myColumns;
     int myTextFlashCounter;
@@ -44,7 +45,6 @@ namespace na2
     std::shared_ptr<WINDOW> myFrame;
     std::shared_ptr<WINDOW> myStatus;
     std::shared_ptr<ASCIIArt> myAsciiArt;
-    std::shared_ptr<EvDevPaddle> myPaddle;
     std::shared_ptr<NCurses> myNCurses;
 
     LPBYTE        myTextBank1; // Aux
diff --git a/source/frontends/sdl/main.cpp b/source/frontends/sdl/main.cpp
index 86e9847d..cb5d5607 100644
--- a/source/frontends/sdl/main.cpp
+++ b/source/frontends/sdl/main.cpp
@@ -90,18 +90,11 @@ void run_sdl(int argc, const char * argv [])
   if (!run)
     return;
 
-  InitializeFileRegistry(options);
-
-  if (options.log)
-  {
-    LogInit();
-  }
-
+  const Logger logger(options.log);
+  const std::shared_ptr<Registry> registry = CreateFileRegistry(options);
   g_nMemoryClearType = options.memclear;
-  Paddle::instance.reset(new sa2::Gamepad(0));
 
   std::shared_ptr<sa2::SDLFrame> frame;
-
   if (options.imgui)
   {
     frame.reset(new sa2::SDLImGuiFrame(options));
@@ -111,13 +104,14 @@ void run_sdl(int argc, const char * argv [])
     frame.reset(new sa2::SDLRendererFrame(options));
   }
 
+  std::shared_ptr<Paddle> paddle(new sa2::Gamepad(0));
+  const Initialisation init(registry, frame, paddle);
+
   if (SDL_GL_SetSwapInterval(options.glSwapInterval))
   {
     throw std::runtime_error(SDL_GetError());
   }
 
-  Initialisation init(frame);
-
   applyOptions(options);
 
   const int fps = getRefreshRate();
@@ -230,8 +224,6 @@ int main(int argc, const char * argv [])
     std::cerr << e.what() << std::endl;
   }
 
-  // this must happen BEFORE the SDL_Quit() as otherwise we have a double free (of the game controller).
-  Paddle::instance.reset();
   SDL_Quit();
 
   return exit;
diff --git a/source/linux/context.cpp b/source/linux/context.cpp
index a9c5ab17..00ad45aa 100644
--- a/source/linux/context.cpp
+++ b/source/linux/context.cpp
@@ -1,10 +1,13 @@
 #include "StdAfx.h"
 
 #include "linux/context.h"
+#include "linux/linuxframe.h"
+#include "linux/registry.h"
+#include "linux/paddle.h"
+#include "linux/duplicates/PropertySheet.h"
 
 #include "Interface.h"
-#include "linux/duplicates/PropertySheet.h"
-#include "linux/linuxframe.h"
+#include "Log.h"
 
 namespace
 {
@@ -33,9 +36,16 @@ Video& GetVideo()
   return sg_Video;
 }
 
-Initialisation::Initialisation(const std::shared_ptr<FrameBase> & frame)
+Initialisation::Initialisation(
+  const std::shared_ptr<Registry> & registry,
+  const std::shared_ptr<FrameBase> & frame,
+  const std::shared_ptr<Paddle> & paddle
+  )
 {
+  Registry::instance = registry;
   SetFrame(frame);
+  Paddle::instance = paddle;
+
   frame->Initialize();
 }
 
@@ -43,4 +53,20 @@ Initialisation::~Initialisation()
 {
   GetFrame().Destroy();
   SetFrame(std::shared_ptr<FrameBase>());
+
+  Paddle::instance.reset();
+  Registry::instance.reset();
+}
+
+Logger::Logger(const bool log)
+{
+  if (log)
+  {
+    LogInit();
+  }
+}
+
+Logger::~Logger()
+{
+  LogDone();
 }
diff --git a/source/linux/context.h b/source/linux/context.h
index 61ad6cd2..7bcac22f 100644
--- a/source/linux/context.h
+++ b/source/linux/context.h
@@ -3,12 +3,27 @@
 #include <memory>
 
 class FrameBase;
+class Paddle;
+class Registry;
 
 void SetFrame(const std::shared_ptr<FrameBase> & frame);
 
+// RAII around Frame Registry and Paddle
 class Initialisation
 {
 public:
-  Initialisation(const std::shared_ptr<FrameBase> & frame);
+  Initialisation(
+    const std::shared_ptr<Registry> & registry,
+    const std::shared_ptr<FrameBase> & frame,
+    const std::shared_ptr<Paddle> & paddle
+    );
   ~Initialisation();
 };
+
+// RAII around LogInit / LogDone.
+class Logger
+{
+public:
+  Logger(const bool log);
+  ~Logger();
+};
diff --git a/source/linux/linuxframe.cpp b/source/linux/linuxframe.cpp
index 980d8d26..cdbc9cf7 100644
--- a/source/linux/linuxframe.cpp
+++ b/source/linux/linuxframe.cpp
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 #include "linux/linuxframe.h"
 #include "Interface.h"
 #include "Log.h"
+#include "Core.h"
 
 void LinuxFrame::FrameDrawDiskLEDS()
 {
@@ -54,6 +55,7 @@ void LinuxFrame::Initialize()
   const size_t numberOfBytes = sizeof(bgra_t) * numberOfPixels;
   myFramebuffer.resize(numberOfBytes);
   video.Initialize(myFramebuffer.data());
+  LogFileTimeUntilFirstKeyReadReset();
 }
 
 void LinuxFrame::Destroy()
diff --git a/source/linux/windows/time.cpp b/source/linux/windows/time.cpp
index 397a1f59..acadbf59 100644
--- a/source/linux/windows/time.cpp
+++ b/source/linux/windows/time.cpp
@@ -22,10 +22,10 @@ DWORD timeGetTime()
 /// Returns the number of ticks since an undefined time (usually system startup).
 DWORD GetTickCount()
 {
-    struct timespec ts;
-    clock_gettime(CLOCK_MONOTONIC, &ts);
-    const uint64_t ticks = (uint64_t)(ts.tv_nsec / 1000000) + ((uint64_t)ts.tv_sec * 1000ull);
-    return ticks;
+  struct timespec ts;
+  clock_gettime(CLOCK_MONOTONIC, &ts);
+  const uint64_t ticks = (uint64_t)(ts.tv_nsec / 1000000) + ((uint64_t)ts.tv_sec * 1000ull);
+  return ticks;
 }
 
 void GetLocalTime(SYSTEMTIME *t)
@@ -48,18 +48,18 @@ void GetLocalTime(SYSTEMTIME *t)
   t->wYear = local->tm_year;
 }
 
-int GetDateFormat(LCID Locale, DWORD dwFlags, CONST SYSTEMTIME *lpDate, LPCSTR lpFormat, LPSTR lpDateStr, int cchDate)
+int GetDateFormat(LCID /* Locale */, DWORD /* dwFlags */, CONST SYSTEMTIME * /* lpDate */, LPCSTR /* lpFormat */, LPSTR lpDateStr, int cchDate)
 {
   std::time_t t = std::time(nullptr);
   std::tm tm = *std::localtime(&t);
   std::ostringstream ss;
-  ss << std::put_time(&tm, "%D");
+  ss << std::put_time(&tm, "%F");
   const std::string str = ss.str();
   strncpy(lpDateStr, str.c_str(), cchDate);
   return cchDate; // not 100% sure, but it is never used
 }
 
-int GetTimeFormat(LCID Locale, DWORD dwFlags, CONST SYSTEMTIME *lpTime, LPCSTR lpFormat, LPSTR lpTimeStr, int cchTime)
+int GetTimeFormat(LCID /* Locale */, DWORD /* dwFlags */, CONST SYSTEMTIME * /* lpTime */, LPCSTR /* lpFormat */, LPSTR lpTimeStr, int cchTime)
 {
   std::time_t t = std::time(nullptr);
   std::tm tm = *std::localtime(&t);