diff --git a/ax_check_qt.m4 b/ax_check_qt.m4
index 1a5dafb..479f65c 100644
--- a/ax_check_qt.m4
+++ b/ax_check_qt.m4
@@ -1,10 +1,10 @@
 # SYNOPSIS
 #
 #   Check if a module exists:
-#     AX_CHECK_QT([qt_prefix], [list-of-qt-modules], [optional-modules])
+#     AX_CHECK_QT([qt_prefix], [list-of-qt-modules], [optional-modules] [flags])
 #
 #   Abort if a module does not exist:
-#     AX_REQUIRE_QT([qt_prefix], [list-of-qt-modules], [optional-modules])
+#     AX_REQUIRE_QT([qt_prefix], [list-of-qt-modules], [optional-modules] [flags])
 #
 # DESCRIPTIONS
 #
@@ -35,6 +35,18 @@
 #      Optional list of more, optional modules, e.g. modules that
 #      exist only in Qt5, but not in Qt4, such as QtWidgets or
 #      QtWebKitWidgets
+#
+#    flags
+#
+#      Optional flages, space separated from this list:
+#
+#          manualflags
+#
+#            CXXFLAGS, CPPFLAGS and LIBS variables are not
+#            automatically expanded, but you need to add the
+#            qt_prefix_CXXFLAGS, qt_prefix_CPPFLAGS and qt_prefix_LIBS
+#            variables manually where you need them. This is useful,
+#            if some build targets need a feature and some don't.
 
 
 AC_DEFUN([AX_CXX_QT_TOOL], [
@@ -83,6 +95,7 @@ AC_DEFUN([AX_CXX_QT_TOOLS], [
 AC_DEFUN([AX_CHECK_QT], [
   qt_modules="$2"
   qt_modules_optional="$3"
+  qt_flags="$4"
   AX_CXX_QT_TOOLS
   HAVE_$1=0
   PKG_PROG_PKG_CONFIG
@@ -91,17 +104,37 @@ AC_DEFUN([AX_CHECK_QT], [
     AC_DEFINE([HAVE_$1])
     QTDIR=$(${PKG_CONFIG} --variable=prefix Qt5Core)
     QT_PLUGIN_PATH=${QTDIR}/share/qt5/plugins
-    CPPFLAGS+=" ${[$1]5_CFLAGS}"
     MOC_FLAGS+=" -DHAVE_$1=1 ${[$1]5_CFLAGS}"
-    CXXFLAGS+=" ${[$1]5_CFLAGS}"
-    LIBS+=" ${[$1]5_LIBS}"
+    [$1]_CPPFLAGS="${[$1]5_CFLAGS}"
+    [$1]_CXXFLAGS="${[$1]5_CFLAGS}"
+    [$1]_LIBS="${[$1]5_LIBS}"
+    AC_SUBST([$1]_CPPFLAGS)
+    AC_SUBST([$1]_CXXFLAGS)
+    if test "${qt_flags/manualflags/}" = "${qt_flags}"; then
+      CPPFLAGS+=" ${[$1]_CPPFLAGS}"
+      CXXFLAGS+=" ${[$1]_CXXFLAGS}"
+      LIBS+=" ${[$1]_LIBS}"
+      AC_MSG_NOTICE([Adding flags for $1])
+    else
+      AC_MSG_NOTICE([To enable $1, add $1_CPPFLAGS, $1_CXXFLAGS and $1_LIBS])
+    fi
     PKG_REQUIREMENTS+=" ${qt_modules//Qt/Qt5}"
     if test -n "${qt_modules_optional}"; then
       PKG_CHECK_MODULES([$1]5_OPTIONAL, [${qt_modules_optional//Qt/Qt5}], [
-        CPPFLAGS+=" ${[$1]5_OPTIONAL_CFLAGS}"
         MOC_FLAGS+=" ${[$1]5_OPTIONAL_CFLAGS}"
-        CXXFLAGS+=" ${[$1]5_OPTIONAL_CFLAGS}"
-        LIBS+=" ${[$1]5_OPTIONAL_LIBS}"
+        [$1]_CPPFLAGS+=" ${[$1]5_OPTIONAL_CFLAGS}"
+        [$1]_CXXFLAGS+=" ${[$1]5_OPTIONAL_CFLAGS}"
+        [$1]_LIBS+=" ${[$1]5_OPTIONAL_LIBS}"
+        AC_SUBST([$1]_CPPFLAGS)
+        AC_SUBST([$1]_CXXFLAGS)
+        if test "${qt_flags/manualflags/}" = "${qt_flags}"; then
+          CPPFLAGS+=" ${[$1]5_OPTIONAL_CFLAGS}"
+          CXXFLAGS+=" ${[$1]5_OPTIONAL_CFLAGS}"
+          LIBS+=" ${[$1]5_OPTIONAL_LIBS}"
+          AC_MSG_NOTICE([Adding flags for $1])
+        else
+          AC_MSG_NOTICE([To enable $1, add $1_CPPFLAGS, $1_CXXFLAGS and $1_LIBS])
+        fi
         PKG_REQUIREMENTS+=" ${qt_modules_optional//Qt/Qt5}"
       ], [
         AC_MSG_NOTICE([Not found: ${qt_modules_optional//Qt/Qt5}])
@@ -113,17 +146,36 @@ AC_DEFUN([AX_CHECK_QT], [
       AC_DEFINE([HAVE_$1])
       QTDIR=$(${PKG_CONFIG} --variable=prefix QtCore)
       QT_PLUGIN_PATH=${QTDIR}/share/qt/plugins
-      CPPFLAGS+=" ${$1_CFLAGS}"
       MOC_FLAGS+=" -DHAVE_$1=1 ${$1_CFLAGS}"
-      CXXFLAGS+=" ${$1_CFLAGS}"
-      LIBS+=" ${$1_LIBS}"
+      [$1]_CPPFLAGS="${[$1]_CFLAGS}"
+      [$1]_CXXFLAGS="${[$1]_CFLAGS}"
+      AC_SUBST([$1]_CPPFLAGS)
+      AC_SUBST([$1]_CXXFLAGS)
+      if test "${qt_flags/manualflags/}" = "${qt_flags}"; then
+        CPPFLAGS+=" ${[$1]_CPPFLAGS}"
+        CXXFLAGS+=" ${[$1]_CXXFLAGS}"
+        LIBS+=" ${[$1]_LIBS}"
+          AC_MSG_NOTICE([Adding flags for $1])
+        else
+          AC_MSG_NOTICE([To enable $1, add $1_CPPFLAGS, $1_CXXFLAGS and $1_LIBS])
+      fi
       PKG_REQUIREMENTS+=" ${qt_modules}"
       if test -n "$3"; then
         PKG_CHECK_MODULES($1_OPTIONAL, [${qt_modules_optional}], [
-          CPPFLAGS+=" ${$1_OPTIONAL_CFLAGS}"
-          MOC_FLAGS+=" ${$1_OPTIONAL_CFLAGS}"
-          CXXFLAGS+=" ${$1_OPTIONAL_CFLAGS}"
-          LIBS+=" ${$1_OPTIONAL_LIBS}"
+          MOC_FLAGS+="${$1_OPTIONAL_CFLAGS}"
+          [$1]_CPPFLAGS+=" ${$1_OPTIONAL_CFLAGS}"
+          [$1]_CXXFLAGS+=" ${$1_OPTIONAL_CFLAGS}"
+          [$1]_LIBS+=" ${$1_OPTIONAL_LIBS}"
+          AC_SUBST([$1]_CPPFLAGS)
+          AC_SUBST([$1]_CXXFLAGS)
+          if test "${qt_flags/manualflags/}" = "${qt_flags}"; then
+            CPPFLAGS+=" ${$1_OPTIONAL_CFLAGS}"
+            CXXFLAGS+=" ${$1_OPTIONAL_CFLAGS}"
+            LIBS+=" ${$1_OPTIONAL_LIBS}"
+            AC_MSG_NOTICE([Adding flags for $1])
+          else
+            AC_MSG_NOTICE([To enable $1, add $1_CPPFLAGS, $1_CXXFLAGS and $1_LIBS])
+          fi
           PKG_REQUIREMENTS+=" ${qt_modules_optional}"
         ], [
           AC_MSG_NOTICE([Not found: ${qt_modules_optional}])
@@ -133,7 +185,7 @@ AC_DEFUN([AX_CHECK_QT], [
   ])
   AM_CONDITIONAL(HAVE_$1, test $HAVE_[$1] -eq 1)
   AX_CHECK_VALID_CXX_FLAG([-fPIC -fPIE], [position independent code flag])
-  if test "${MINGW}" != "no"; then
+  if test -n "${MINGW}"; then
     AX_CHECK_VALID_CXX_FLAG([-Wl,-subsystem,windows], [windows console flag])
   fi
   AC_SUBST(QTDIR)
@@ -169,42 +221,8 @@ qrc_%.cxx: %.qrc
 
 '])
 
-# SYNOPSIS
-#
-#   AX_CHECK_QT([qt_prefix], [list-of-qt-modules], [optional-modules])
-#
-# DESCRIPTIONS
-#
-#    qt_prefix
-#
-#      Each call to AX_CHECK_QT should have a different prefix
-#      value (with a few exceptions discussed later on). This value,
-#      usually provided in uppercase, is used as prefix to the
-#      variables holding the compiler flags and libraries reported by
-#      pkg-config.
-#
-#      For instance, if your prefix was to be FOO you'll be provided
-#      two variables FOO_CFLAGS and FOO_LIBS.
-#
-#      This will also be used as message during the configure checks:
-#      checking for FOO....
-#
-#    list-of-modules
-#
-#      A single call to the macro can check for the presence of one or
-#      more qt modules; you'll see later how to make good use of this
-#      feature. Each entry in the list can have a version comparison
-#      specifier, with the same syntax as the Requires keyword in the
-#      data files themselves.
-#
-#    optional-modules
-#
-#      Optional list of more, optional modules, e.g. modules that
-#      exist only in Qt5, but not in Qt4, such as QtWidgets or
-#      QtWebKitWidgets
-
 AC_DEFUN([AX_REQUIRE_QT], [
-  AX_CHECK_QT([$1], [$2], [$3])
+  AX_CHECK_QT([$1], [$2], [$3], [$4])
   if ! test "$HAVE_$1" -eq 1; then
      AC_MSG_ERROR([Required Qt modules not found: $2])
   fi
@@ -213,7 +231,6 @@ AC_DEFUN([AX_REQUIRE_QT], [
 
 #   Omit Qt Keywords
 #     AX_QT_NO_KEYWORDS
-
 AC_DEFUN([AX_QT_NO_KEYWORDS], [
   CPPFLAGS+=" -DQT_NO_KEYWORDS"
 ])
diff --git a/ax_init_standard_project.m4 b/ax_init_standard_project.m4
index eb2753d..d4126d1 100644
--- a/ax_init_standard_project.m4
+++ b/ax_init_standard_project.m4
@@ -8,17 +8,26 @@ m4_define([mrw_esyscmd_s], [m4_normalize(m4_esyscmd([$1]))])
 
 # define least version number from subversion's revision number:
 # it is taken modulo 256 due to a bug on Apple's MacOSX
-m4_define(x_least, mrw_esyscmd_s([
+m4_define(x_least, m4_ifdef([x_least_diff], mrw_esyscmd_s([
   SVN_REVISION="ERROR-UNDEFINED-REVISION-to-be-built-in-subdirectory-of-svn-checkout"
   for path in . .. ../..; do
     if svn info $path 2>&1 > /dev/null; then
-      SVN_REVISION=$(LANG= svn info $path | sed -n 's/Last Changed Rev: //p')
+      SVN_REVISION=$(LANG= svn info $path | sed -n 's/^Revision: //p')
+      break;
+    fi
+  done
+  echo $ECHO_N $(($SVN_REVISION))
+]),  mrw_esyscmd_s([
+  SVN_REVISION="ERROR-UNDEFINED-REVISION-to-be-built-in-subdirectory-of-svn-checkout"
+  for path in . .. ../..; do
+    if svn info $path 2>&1 > /dev/null; then
+      SVN_REVISION=$(LANG= svn info $path | sed -n 's/^Revision: //p')
       break;
     fi
   done
   # Mac does not support LEAST > 255
   echo $ECHO_N $(($SVN_REVISION%256))
-]))
+])))
 # define version number from subversion's revision number:
 # it is taken modulo 256 due to a bug on Apple's MacOSX
 # add to x_minor if revision number is > 256
@@ -26,15 +35,15 @@ m4_define(x_minor_diff, mrw_esyscmd_s([
   SVN_REVISION="ERROR-UNDEFINED-REVISION-to-be-built-in-subdirectory-of-svn-checkout"
   for path in . .. ../..; do
     if svn info $path 2>&1 > /dev/null; then
-      SVN_REVISION=$(LANG= svn info $path | sed -n 's/Last Changed Rev: //p')
+      SVN_REVISION=$(LANG= svn info $path | sed -n 's/^Revision: //p')
       break;
     fi;
   done
   # Mac does not support LEAST > 255
   echo $ECHO_N $(($SVN_REVISION/256))
-]))
+])))
 # setup version number
-m4_define(x_version, [x_major.m4_eval(x_minor+x_minor_diff).x_least])
+m4_define(x_version, [x_major.m4_ifdef([x_least_diff], x_minor, m4_eval(x_minor+x_minor_diff)).m4_eval(m4_ifdef([x_least_diff], [x_least-x_least_diff], [x_least]))])
 
 ## bugreport mail address is taken from <user@host> in first line of AUTHORS
 m4_define(x_bugreport, mrw_esyscmd_s([
@@ -107,14 +116,27 @@ AC_DEFUN([AX_SUBST], [
 #
 # configures the basic environment
 AC_DEFUN([AX_INIT_STANDARD_PROJECT], [
-  MINGW=no
-  MAC=no
-  case $host in
-    *mingw*) MINGW=yes;;
-    *darwin* | *rhapsody* | *macosx*) MAC=yes;;
-  esac
-  AM_CONDITIONAL(MINGW, test "$MINGW" = "yes")
-  AM_CONDITIONAL(MAC, test "$MAC" = "yes")
+  AC_MSG_CHECKING([target platfrom])
+  UNIX=1
+  MINGW=
+  MACOSX=
+  for h in ${target} ${target_os} ${host} ${host_os} \
+           ${build} ${build_os} $(uname -s 2> /dev/null); do
+    p="$h is generic Unix"
+    case "$h" in
+      (*mingw*)
+        UNIX=; MINGW=1; p="MinGW"; break;;
+      (*Darwin*|*darwin*|*rhapsody*|*macosx*)
+        UNIX=; MACOSX=1; p="MacOSX"; break;;
+    esac
+  done
+  AC_MSG_RESULT($p)
+  AM_CONDITIONAL(UNIX, test "$UNIX" = "1")
+  AM_CONDITIONAL(MINGW, test "$MINGW" = "1")
+  AM_CONDITIONAL(MACOSX, test "$MACOSX" = "1")
+  AX_SUBST(UNIX)
+  AX_SUBST(MINGW)
+  AX_SUBST(MACOSX)
   AM_CPPFLAGS+=" '-DMAKE_STRING(X)=\#X' '-DNAMESPACE=${PACKAGE_TARNAME//[^a-zA-Z0-9]/_}'"
   AX_SUBST(NUMBERS)
   AX_SUBST(HOME)
@@ -127,7 +149,7 @@ AC_DEFUN([AX_INIT_STANDARD_PROJECT], [
   AUTHOR=$(head -1 AUTHORS)
   AX_SUBST(AUTHOR)
   _AM_SUBST_NOTMAKE([AUTHOR])
-  DISTRO=$(lsb_release -sc)
+  DISTRO=$(lsb_release -sc 2>/dev/null || uname -s 2>/dev/null)
   AX_SUBST(DISTRO)
   BUILD_NUMBER=${BUILD_NUMBER:-1}
   AX_SUBST(BUILD_NUMBER)
@@ -156,11 +178,24 @@ AC_DEFUN([AX_INIT_STANDARD_PROJECT], [
      - all warnings result in an error
      - doxygen warnings are treated as error too]); fi
 
+  AC_ARG_ENABLE(debug,
+    [AS_HELP_STRING([--enable-debug],
+                    [compile for debugger])],
+    [have_debug="$enableval"; test "$enableval" = "yes" &&  \
+       AM_CPPFLAGS="${AM_CPPFLAGS} -DDEBUG" && \
+       AM_CXXFLAGS="${AM_CXXFLAGS:-} -ggdb3 -O0" && \
+       AM_LDFLAGS="${AM_LDFLAGS} -ggdb3 -O0"])
+  AM_CONDITIONAL(DEBUG, test "$enableval" = "yes")
+  if test "$have_debug" == "yes"; then
+    AC_MSG_NOTICE([Debug compile mode enabled]);
+  fi
+
   AC_CONFIG_FILES([makefile])
   AX_ADD_MAKEFILE_TARGET_DEP([clean-am], [clean-standard-project-targets], [makefile.in])
   AX_ADD_MAKEFILE_TARGET_DEP([distclean-am], [distclean-standard-project-targets], [makefile.in])
   AX_ADD_MAKEFILE_TARGET_DEP([maintainer-clean-am], [maintainer-clean-standard-project-targets], [makefile.in])
-  test -f makefile.in && sed -i '1iEXTRA_DIST = ' makefile.in
+  test -f makefile.in && TMP_MAKEFILE="$(<makefile.in)" && \
+    (echo "EXTRA_DIST ="; echo "$TMP_MAKEFILE") > makefile.in
   test -f makefile.in && cat >> makefile.in <<EOF
 #### Begin: Appended by $0
 EXTRA_DIST += bootstrap.sh
@@ -387,6 +422,8 @@ EOF
 #     $2 = module name (optional, if different from id)
 #     $3 = a header file to find (optional)
 #     $4 = alternative module names (space separated, optional)
+#     $5 = optional flags:
+#            manualflags if CXXFLAGS, CPPFLAGS, LIBS should remain unchanged
 #
 # uses PKG_CHECK_MODULES to test for a module
 # then, if given, looks for the header file
@@ -395,6 +432,7 @@ EOF
 # fails if not found
 AC_DEFUN([AX_PKG_REQUIRE], [
   PKG_PROG_PKG_CONFIG
+  optional_flags="$5"
   $1_found=no
   secondpar="m4_default([$2], [$1])"
   PKG_CHECK_MODULES([$1], [m4_default([$2], [$1])], [
@@ -474,26 +512,47 @@ AC_DEFUN([AX_PKG_REQUIRE], [
       AC_MSG_ERROR([Feature $1 not found please install module $secondpar])
     fi
   fi
-  CPPFLAGS+=" ${$1_CFLAGS}"
-  CXXFLAGS+=" ${$1_CFLAGS}"
-  LIBS+=" ${$1_LIBS}"
+  [$1]_CPPFLAGS="${$1_CFLAGS}"
+  [$1]_CXXFLAGS="${$1_CFLAGS}"
+  AC_SUBST([$1]_CPPFLAGS)
+  AC_SUBST([$1]_CXXFLAGS)
+  if test "${optional_flags/manualflags/}" = "${optional_flags}"; then
+    CPPFLAGS+=" ${$1_CPPFLAGS}"
+    CXXFLAGS+=" ${$1_CXXFLAGS}"
+    LIBS+=" ${$1_LIBS}"
+    AC_MSG_NOTICE([Adding flags for $1])
+  else
+    AC_MSG_NOTICE([To enable $1, add $1_CPPFLAGS, $1_CXXFLAGS and $1_LIBS])
+  fi
 ])
 
 # check if a specific package exists
 #  - parameter:
 #     $1 = unique id (no special characters)
 #     $2 = module name (optional, if different from id)
+#     $3 = optional flags:
+#          manualflags if CXXFLAGS, CPPFLAGS, LIBS should remain unchanged
 #
 # uses PKG_CHECK_MODULES to test for a module
 # sets automake conditional HAVE_$1 to 0 (not found) or 1 (found)
 # sets all flags, so that the module can be used everywhere
 AC_DEFUN([AX_PKG_CHECK], [
+  optional_flags="$3"
   PKG_PROG_PKG_CONFIG
   PKG_CHECK_MODULES([$1], [m4_default([$2], [$1])], [
     HAVE_$1=1
-    CPPFLAGS+=" ${$1_CFLAGS}"
-    CXXFLAGS+=" ${$1_CFLAGS}"
-    LIBS+=" ${$1_LIBS}"
+    [$1]_CPPFLAGS="${$1_CFLAGS}"
+    [$1]_CXXFLAGS="${$1_CFLAGS}"
+    AC_SUBST([$1]_CPPFLAGS)
+    AC_SUBST([$1]_CXXFLAGS)
+    if test "${optional_flags/manualflags/}" = "${optional_flags}"; then
+      CPPFLAGS+=" ${$1_CPPFLAGS}"
+      CXXFLAGS+=" ${$1_CXXFLAGS}"
+      LIBS+=" ${$1_LIBS}"
+      AC_MSG_NOTICE([Adding flags for $1])
+    else
+      AC_MSG_NOTICE([To enable $1, add $1_CPPFLAGS, $1_CXXFLAGS and $1_LIBS])
+    fi
     if test -z "$PKG_REQUIREMENTS"; then
       PKG_REQUIREMENTS="m4_default([$2], [$1])"
     else
diff --git a/configure.ac b/configure.ac
index a89d5a8..ab2a93a 100644
--- a/configure.ac
+++ b/configure.ac
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ AC_ARG_ENABLE(pkcs11-download,
      for f in $(wget -q -O- ftp://ftp.rsasecurity.com/pub/pkcs/pkcs-11/v2-20/ 2>&1 | html2 | sed -n 's,.*/a/@href=\(.*\.h\)$,\1,gp'); do
        wget --unlink $f
      done
-     AM_CPPFLAGS+="-I$(pwd)"
+     AM_CPPFLAGS+=" -I$(pwd)"
      cd -
    fi
   ])
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ AX_CHECK_QT([QTNETWORK], [Qt5Network >= 5.2])
 CPPFLAGS="${CPPFLAGS} -DQT_NO_KEYWORDS"
 
 # libraries used
-if test "$MINGW" = "no"; then
+if test -z "$MINGW"; then
    AX_PKG_REQUIRE([pcsc], [libpcsclite], [pcsclite.h])
    AX_PKG_REQUIRE([pkcs11], [p11-kit-1], [pkcs11.h], [p11-kit libpkcs11-helper-1])
    AX_PKG_REQUIRE([ssl], [libssl], [openssl/crypto.h], [openssl])
diff --git a/src/cryptoki.cxx b/src/cryptoki.cxx
index acfe17b..2bdfacf 100644
--- a/src/cryptoki.cxx
+++ b/src/cryptoki.cxx
@@ -193,6 +193,8 @@ namespace cryptoki {
 
   Library::Init::~Init() {
     CRYPTOLOG("log");
+    /// ignore failure in disconnect,  possibly smartcard has
+    /// been removed
     try {
       //! calls @c C_Finalize
       check(_fn->C_Finalize(0), CRYPTOKI_FN_LOG("C_Finalize"));
@@ -204,8 +206,10 @@ namespace cryptoki {
       _lib = 0;
 #endif
       _fn = 0;
+    } catch (std::exception& e) {
+      CRYPTOLOG("unloading cryptoki library failed, reason: "+e.what());
     } catch (...) {
-      if (!std::uncaught_exception()) throw;
+      CRYPTOLOG("unloading cryptoki library failed");
     }
   }
   
diff --git a/src/cryptoki.hxx b/src/cryptoki.hxx
index 5c5ef58..48ca777 100644
--- a/src/cryptoki.hxx
+++ b/src/cryptoki.hxx
@@ -1559,25 +1559,22 @@ namespace cryptoki {
       }
 
       ~Session() try {
-        CRYPTOLOG("log "<<(std::uncaught_exception()?"IN EXCEPTION":""));
+        /// ignore failure in disconnect,  possibly smartcard has
+        /// been removed
         try {
           logout();
         } catch (const std::exception& x) {
           CRYPTOLOG("caught: "<<x.what());
           close();
-          if (!std::uncaught_exception()) throw;
         } catch (...) {
           CRYPTOLOG("caught");
           close();
-          if (!std::uncaught_exception()) throw;
         }
         close();
       } catch (const std::exception& x) {
         CRYPTOLOG("caught: "<<x.what());
-        if (!std::uncaught_exception()) throw;
       } catch (...) {
         CRYPTOLOG("caught");
-        if (!std::uncaught_exception()) throw;
       }
       
       /*! @name                                               Comfortable Access
@@ -1879,16 +1876,16 @@ namespace cryptoki {
           }
 
           ~Login() {
+            /// ignore failure in disconnect,  possibly smartcard has
+            /// been removed
             try {
               //! calls @c C_Logout
               _session.check(_session._slot.library()->C_Logout
                              (_session._session),
                              CRYPTOKI_FN_LOG("C_Logout"));
             } catch (const std::exception& x) {
-              if (!std::uncaught_exception()) throw;
               CRYPTOLOG("ERROR during error cleanup: "<<x.what());
             } catch (...) {
-              if (!std::uncaught_exception()) throw;
               CRYPTOLOG("ERROR during error cleanup.");
             }
           }
diff --git a/src/pcsc.hxx b/src/pcsc.hxx
index 513237c..52f8e12 100644
--- a/src/pcsc.hxx
+++ b/src/pcsc.hxx
@@ -219,8 +219,8 @@ namespace pcsc {
           ~Reader() {
             CRYPTOLOG("Disconnect Reader");
             _state = SCardDisconnect(_id, SCARD_RESET_CARD);
-            if (!std::uncaught_exception())
-              _connection->check(_state, "disconnect smartcard");
+            /// ignore failure in disconnect,  possibly smartcard has
+            /// been removed
           }
 
           //! Get reader status.
@@ -495,7 +495,8 @@ namespace pcsc {
       ~Connection() {
         CRYPTOLOG("Close Connection id="<<_id);
         _state = SCardReleaseContext(_id);
-        if (!std::uncaught_exception()) check("smartcard release context");
+        /// ignore failure in disconnect,  possibly smartcard has
+        /// been removed
       }
 
       //! Scans for available readers from a specified list of groups.