diff --git a/userspace/falco/app_actions/create_signal_handlers.cpp b/userspace/falco/app_actions/create_signal_handlers.cpp
index 7b7ce54f..7e295a65 100644
--- a/userspace/falco/app_actions/create_signal_handlers.cpp
+++ b/userspace/falco/app_actions/create_signal_handlers.cpp
@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@ static void restart_falco(int signal)
 
 bool application::create_handler(int sig, void (*func)(int), run_result &ret)
 {
+	ret = run_result::ok();
 	if(signal(sig, func) == SIG_ERR)
 	{
 		char errbuf[1024];
@@ -59,13 +60,10 @@ bool application::create_handler(int sig, void (*func)(int), run_result &ret)
 			snprintf(errbuf, sizeof(errbuf)-1, "Errno %d", errno);
 		}
 
-		ret.success = false;
-		ret.errstr = std::string("Could not create signal handler for ") +
+		ret = run_result::fatal(std::string("Could not create signal handler for ") +
 			   strsignal(sig) +
 			   ": " +
-			   errbuf;
-
-		ret.proceed = false;
+			   errbuf);
 	}
 
 	return ret.success;
@@ -74,7 +72,6 @@ bool application::create_handler(int sig, void (*func)(int), run_result &ret)
 application::run_result application::create_signal_handlers()
 {
 	run_result ret;
-
 	if(! create_handler(SIGINT, ::signal_callback, ret) ||
 	   ! create_handler(SIGTERM, ::signal_callback, ret) ||
 	   ! create_handler(SIGUSR1, ::reopen_outputs, ret) ||
@@ -84,22 +81,17 @@ application::run_result application::create_signal_handlers()
 	}
 
 	s_app = *this;
-
 	return ret;
 }
 
 application::run_result application::attach_inotify_signals()
 {
-	run_result ret;
         if (m_state->config->m_watch_config_files)
 	{
-		ret.proceed = false;
-		ret.success = false;
 		inot_fd = inotify_init();
 		if (inot_fd == -1)
 		{
-			ret.errstr = std::string("Could not create inotify handler.");
-			return ret;
+			return run_result::fatal("Could not create inotify handler.");
 		}
 
 		struct sigaction sa;
@@ -108,15 +100,13 @@ application::run_result application::attach_inotify_signals()
 		sa.sa_handler = restart_falco;
 		if (sigaction(SIGIO, &sa, NULL) == -1)
 		{
-			ret.errstr = std::string("Failed to link SIGIO to inotify handler.");
-			return ret;
+			return run_result::fatal("Failed to link SIGIO to inotify handler.");
 		}
 
 		/* Set owner process that is to receive "I/O possible" signal */
 		if (fcntl(inot_fd, F_SETOWN, getpid()) == -1)
 		{
-			ret.errstr = std::string("Failed to setting owner on inotify handler.");
-			return ret;
+			return run_result::fatal("Failed to setting owner on inotify handler.");
 		}
 
 		/*
@@ -126,16 +116,14 @@ application::run_result application::attach_inotify_signals()
 		int flags = fcntl(inot_fd, F_GETFL);
 		if (fcntl(inot_fd, F_SETFL, flags | O_ASYNC | O_NONBLOCK) == -1)
 		{
-			ret.errstr = std::string("Failed to setting flags on inotify handler.");
-			return ret;
+			return run_result::fatal("Failed to setting flags on inotify handler.");
 		}
 
 		// Watch conf file
 		int wd = inotify_add_watch(inot_fd, m_options.conf_filename.c_str(), IN_CLOSE_WRITE);
 		if (wd == -1)
 		{
-			ret.errstr = std::string("Failed to watch conf file.");
-			return ret;
+			return run_result::fatal("Failed to watch conf file.");
 		}
 		falco_logger::log(LOG_DEBUG, "Watching " + m_options.conf_filename +"\n");
 
@@ -145,8 +133,7 @@ application::run_result application::attach_inotify_signals()
 			wd = inotify_add_watch(inot_fd, rule.c_str(), IN_CLOSE_WRITE | IN_ONESHOT);
 			if (wd == -1)
 			{
-				ret.errstr = std::string("Failed to watch rule file: ") + rule;
-				return ret;
+				return run_result::fatal("Failed to watch rule file: " + rule);
 			}
 			falco_logger::log(LOG_DEBUG, "Watching " + rule +".\n");
 		}
@@ -160,24 +147,18 @@ application::run_result application::attach_inotify_signals()
 			wd = inotify_add_watch(inot_fd, fld.c_str(), IN_CREATE | IN_DELETE | IN_ONESHOT);
 			if (wd == -1)
 			{
-				ret.errstr = std::string("Failed to watch rule folder: ") + fld;
-				return ret;
+				return run_result::fatal("Failed to watch rule folder: " + fld);
 			}
 			falco_logger::log(LOG_DEBUG, "Watching " + fld +" folder.\n");
 		}
-
-		ret.success = true;
-		ret.proceed = true;
 	}
-	return ret;
+	return run_result::ok();
 }
 
 bool application::unregister_signal_handlers(std::string &errstr)
 {
 	run_result ret;
-
 	close(inot_fd);
-
 	if(! create_handler(SIGINT, SIG_DFL, ret) ||
 	   ! create_handler(SIGTERM, SIG_DFL, ret) ||
 	   ! create_handler(SIGUSR1, SIG_DFL, ret) ||
@@ -188,6 +169,5 @@ bool application::unregister_signal_handlers(std::string &errstr)
 	}
 
 	s_app = dummy;
-
 	return true;
 }
diff --git a/userspace/falco/app_actions/daemonize.cpp b/userspace/falco/app_actions/daemonize.cpp
index f2323781..f5ba009f 100644
--- a/userspace/falco/app_actions/daemonize.cpp
+++ b/userspace/falco/app_actions/daemonize.cpp
@@ -26,8 +26,6 @@ static bool s_daemonized = false;
 
 application::run_result application::daemonize()
 {
-	run_result ret;
-
 	// If daemonizing, do it here so any init errors will
 	// be returned in the foreground process.
 	if (m_options.daemon && !s_daemonized) {
@@ -36,10 +34,7 @@ application::run_result application::daemonize()
 		pid = fork();
 		if (pid < 0) {
 			// error
-			ret.success = false;
-			ret.errstr = "Could not fork.";
-			ret.proceed = false;
-			return ret;
+			return run_result::fatal("Could not fork.");
 		} else if (pid > 0) {
 			// parent. Write child pid to pidfile and exit
 			std::ofstream pidfile;
@@ -59,10 +54,7 @@ application::run_result application::daemonize()
 		// Become own process group.
 		sid = setsid();
 		if (sid < 0) {
-			ret.success = false;
-			ret.errstr = string("Could not set session id.");
-			ret.proceed = false;
-			return ret;
+			return run_result::fatal("Could not set session id.");
 		}
 
 		// Set umask so no files are world anything or group writable.
@@ -70,10 +62,7 @@ application::run_result application::daemonize()
 
 		// Change working directory to '/'
 		if ((chdir("/")) < 0) {
-			ret.success = false;
-			ret.errstr = string("Could not change working directory to '/'.");
-			ret.proceed = false;
-			return ret;
+			return run_result::fatal("Could not change working directory to '/'.");
 		}
 
 		// Close stdin, stdout, stderr and reopen to /dev/null
@@ -87,5 +76,5 @@ application::run_result application::daemonize()
 		s_daemonized = true;
 	}
 
-	return ret;
+	return run_result::ok();
 }
diff --git a/userspace/falco/app_actions/init_falco_engine.cpp b/userspace/falco/app_actions/init_falco_engine.cpp
index 42b85032..0c4c329b 100644
--- a/userspace/falco/app_actions/init_falco_engine.cpp
+++ b/userspace/falco/app_actions/init_falco_engine.cpp
@@ -52,8 +52,6 @@ void application::configure_output_format()
 
 application::run_result application::init_falco_engine()
 {
-	run_result ret;
-
 	configure_output_format();
 
 	// Create "factories" that can create filters/formatters for syscalls
@@ -75,7 +73,7 @@ application::run_result application::init_falco_engine()
 	{
 		if (m_state->enabled_sources.find(src) == m_state->enabled_sources.end())
 		{
-			throw std::invalid_argument("Attempted disabling unknown event source: " + src);
+			return run_result::fatal("Attempted disabling unknown event source: " + src);
 		}
 		m_state->enabled_sources.erase(src);
 	}
@@ -83,10 +81,10 @@ application::run_result application::init_falco_engine()
 	// todo(jasondellaluce,leogr): change this once we attain multiple active source
 	if(m_state->enabled_sources.empty())
 	{
-		throw std::invalid_argument("At least one event source needs to be enabled");
+		return run_result::fatal("At least one event source needs to be enabled");
 	}
 
 	m_state->engine->set_min_priority(m_state->config->m_min_priority);
 
-	return ret;
+	return run_result::ok();
 }
diff --git a/userspace/falco/app_actions/init_inspector.cpp b/userspace/falco/app_actions/init_inspector.cpp
index cffdd5e5..444c06a2 100644
--- a/userspace/falco/app_actions/init_inspector.cpp
+++ b/userspace/falco/app_actions/init_inspector.cpp
@@ -20,8 +20,6 @@ using namespace falco::app;
 
 application::run_result application::init_inspector()
 {
-	run_result ret;
-
 	m_state->inspector->set_buffer_format(m_options.event_buffer_format);
 
 	// If required, set the CRI paths
@@ -108,5 +106,5 @@ application::run_result application::init_inspector()
 	}
 
 #endif
-	return ret;
+	return run_result::ok();
 }
diff --git a/userspace/falco/app_actions/init_outputs.cpp b/userspace/falco/app_actions/init_outputs.cpp
index 29b309cd..8b6fd354 100644
--- a/userspace/falco/app_actions/init_outputs.cpp
+++ b/userspace/falco/app_actions/init_outputs.cpp
@@ -23,8 +23,6 @@ using namespace falco::app;
 
 application::run_result application::init_outputs()
 {
-	run_result ret;
-
 	// read hostname
 	std::string hostname;
 	if(char* env_hostname = getenv("FALCO_GRPC_HOSTNAME"))
@@ -37,9 +35,7 @@ application::run_result application::init_outputs()
 		int err = gethostname(c_hostname, 256);
 		if(err != 0)
 		{
-			ret.success = false;
-			ret.errstr = "Failed to get hostname";
-			ret.proceed = false;
+			return run_result::fatal("Failed to get hostname");
 		}
 		hostname = c_hostname;
 	}
@@ -59,5 +55,5 @@ application::run_result application::init_outputs()
 		m_state->outputs->add_output(output);
 	}
 
-	return ret;
+	return run_result::ok();
 }
diff --git a/userspace/falco/app_actions/list_fields.cpp b/userspace/falco/app_actions/list_fields.cpp
index 5d3980b0..8666b0a7 100644
--- a/userspace/falco/app_actions/list_fields.cpp
+++ b/userspace/falco/app_actions/list_fields.cpp
@@ -22,29 +22,23 @@ using namespace falco::app;
 
 application::run_result application::list_fields()
 {
-	run_result ret;
-
 	if(m_options.list_fields)
 	{
 		if(m_options.list_source_fields != "" &&
 		   !m_state->engine->is_source_valid(m_options.list_source_fields))
 		{
-			ret.success = false;
-			ret.errstr = "Value for --list must be a valid source type";
-			ret.proceed = false;
-			return ret;
+			return run_result::fatal("Value for --list must be a valid source type");
 		}
 		m_state->engine->list_fields(m_options.list_source_fields, m_options.verbose, m_options.names_only, m_options.markdown);
-
-		ret.proceed = false;
+		return run_result::exit();
 	}
 
 	if(m_options.list_syscall_events)
 	{
 		// We know this function doesn't hold into the raw pointer value
 		list_events(m_state->inspector.get(), m_options.markdown);
-		ret.proceed = false;
+		return run_result::exit();
 	}
 
-	return ret;
+	return run_result::ok();
 }
diff --git a/userspace/falco/app_actions/list_plugins.cpp b/userspace/falco/app_actions/list_plugins.cpp
index 5c6e70cd..f9d60440 100644
--- a/userspace/falco/app_actions/list_plugins.cpp
+++ b/userspace/falco/app_actions/list_plugins.cpp
@@ -21,8 +21,6 @@ using namespace falco::app;
 
 application::run_result application::list_plugins()
 {
-	run_result ret;
-
 	if(m_options.list_plugins)
 	{
 		std::ostringstream os;
@@ -48,8 +46,8 @@ application::run_result application::list_plugins()
 		}
 
 		printf("%lu Plugins Loaded:\n\n%s\n", plugins.size(), os.str().c_str());
-		ret.proceed = false;
+		return run_result::exit();
 	}
 
-	return ret;
+	return run_result::ok();
 }
diff --git a/userspace/falco/app_actions/load_config.cpp b/userspace/falco/app_actions/load_config.cpp
index 574d0ba8..769b6938 100644
--- a/userspace/falco/app_actions/load_config.cpp
+++ b/userspace/falco/app_actions/load_config.cpp
@@ -20,8 +20,6 @@ using namespace falco::app;
 
 application::run_result application::load_config()
 {
-	run_result ret;
-
 	if (!m_options.conf_filename.empty())
 	{
 		m_state->config->init(m_options.conf_filename, m_options.cmdline_config_options);
@@ -33,17 +31,14 @@ application::run_result application::load_config()
 	}
 	else
 	{
-		ret.success = false;
-		ret.proceed = false;
-
 #ifndef BUILD_TYPE_RELEASE
-		ret.errstr = std::string("You must create a config file at ")  + FALCO_SOURCE_CONF_FILE + ", " + FALCO_INSTALL_CONF_FILE + " or by passing -c";
+		return run_result::fatal(std::string("You must create a config file at ")  + FALCO_SOURCE_CONF_FILE + ", " + FALCO_INSTALL_CONF_FILE + " or by passing -c");
 #else
-		ret.errstr = std::string("You must create a config file at ")  + FALCO_INSTALL_CONF_FILE + " or by passing -c";
+		return run_result::fatal(std::string("You must create a config file at ")  + FALCO_INSTALL_CONF_FILE + " or by passing -c");
 #endif
 	}
 
 	m_state->config->m_buffered_outputs = !m_options.unbuffered_outputs;
 
-	return ret;
+	return run_result::ok();
 }
diff --git a/userspace/falco/app_actions/load_plugins.cpp b/userspace/falco/app_actions/load_plugins.cpp
index 08c492d0..283498ba 100644
--- a/userspace/falco/app_actions/load_plugins.cpp
+++ b/userspace/falco/app_actions/load_plugins.cpp
@@ -21,14 +21,10 @@ using namespace falco::app;
 
 application::run_result application::load_plugins()
 {
-	run_result ret;
-
 #ifdef MUSL_OPTIMIZED
 	if (!m_state->config->m_plugins.empty())
 	{
-		ret.success = ret.proceed = false;
-		ret.errstr = "Can not load/use plugins with musl optimized build";
-		return ret;
+		return run_result::fatal("Can not load/use plugins with musl optimized build");
 	}
 #endif
 
@@ -48,12 +44,9 @@ application::run_result application::load_plugins()
 				// todo(jasondellaluce): change this once we support multiple enabled event sources
 				if(loaded_plugin)
 				{
-					ret.success = false;
-					ret.errstr = "Can not load multiple plugins with event sourcing capability: '"
+					return run_result::fatal("Can not load multiple plugins with event sourcing capability: '"
 						+ loaded_plugin->name()
-						+ "' already loaded";
-					ret.proceed = false;
-					return ret;
+						+ "' already loaded");
 				}
 				loaded_plugin = plugin;
 				m_state->enabled_sources = {plugin->event_source()};
@@ -78,7 +71,7 @@ application::run_result application::load_plugins()
 			// stands because the plugin manager stores sources in a vector, and
 			// the syscall source is appended in the engine *after* the sources
 			// coming from plugins. Since this is an implementation-based
-			// assumption, we check this and throw an exception to spot
+			// assumption, we check this and return an error to spot
 			// regressions in the future. We keep it like this for to avoid the
 			// overhead of additional mappings at runtime, but we may consider
 			// mapping the two indexes under something like std::unordered_map in the future.
@@ -87,9 +80,7 @@ application::run_result application::load_plugins()
 			auto source_idx_engine = m_state->engine->add_source(plugin->event_source(), filter_factory, formatter_factory);
 			if (!added || source_idx != source_idx_engine)
 			{
-				ret.success = ret.proceed = false;
-				ret.errstr = "Could not add event source in the engine: " + plugin->event_source();
-				return ret;
+				return run_result::fatal("Could not add event source in the engine: " + plugin->event_source());
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -124,12 +115,10 @@ application::run_result application::load_plugins()
 						{
 							if (std::string(f.m_name) == fname)
 							{
-								ret.success = ret.proceed = false;
-								ret.errstr =
+								return run_result::fatal(
 									"Plugin '" + p->name()
 									+ "' supports extraction of field '" + fname
-									+ "' that is overlapping for source '" + it.first + "'";
-								return ret;
+									+ "' that is overlapping for source '" + it.first + "'");
 							}
 						}
 					}
@@ -142,12 +131,10 @@ application::run_result application::load_plugins()
 		}
 		if (!used)
 		{
-			ret.success = ret.proceed = false;
-			ret.errstr = "Plugin '" + p->name()
-				+ "' has field extraction capability but is not compatible with any enabled event source";
-			return ret;
+			return run_result::fatal("Plugin '" + p->name()
+				+ "' has field extraction capability but is not compatible with any enabled event source");
 		}
 	}
 
-	return ret;
+	return run_result::ok();
 }
diff --git a/userspace/falco/app_actions/load_rules_files.cpp b/userspace/falco/app_actions/load_rules_files.cpp
index 4e26b435..83a338b1 100644
--- a/userspace/falco/app_actions/load_rules_files.cpp
+++ b/userspace/falco/app_actions/load_rules_files.cpp
@@ -70,8 +70,6 @@ void application::check_for_ignored_events()
 
 application::run_result application::load_rules_files()
 {
-	run_result ret;
-
 	string all_rules;
 
 	if (!m_options.rules_filenames.empty())
@@ -81,10 +79,7 @@ application::run_result application::load_rules_files()
 
 	if(m_state->config->m_rules_filenames.empty())
 	{
-		ret.success = false;
-		ret.errstr = "You must specify at least one rules file/directory via -r or a rules_file entry in falco.yaml";
-		ret.proceed = false;
-		return ret;
+		return run_result::fatal("You must specify at least one rules file/directory via -r or a rules_file entry in falco.yaml");
 	}
 
 	falco_logger::log(LOG_DEBUG, "Configured rules filenames:\n");
@@ -108,10 +103,7 @@ application::run_result application::load_rules_files()
 		}
 		catch(falco_exception &e)
 		{
-			ret.success = false;
-			ret.errstr = string("Could not load rules file ") + filename + ": " + e.what();
-			ret.proceed = false;
-			return ret;
+			return run_result::fatal(string("Could not load rules file ") + filename + ": " + e.what());
 		}
 		m_state->required_engine_versions[filename] = required_engine_version;
 	}
@@ -128,10 +120,7 @@ application::run_result application::load_rules_files()
  	}
 	if (!m_state->engine->check_plugin_requirements(plugin_reqs, plugin_vers_err))
 	{
-		ret.success = false;
-		ret.errstr = plugin_vers_err;
-		ret.proceed = false;
-		return ret;
+		return run_result::fatal(plugin_vers_err);
 	}
 
 	// Free-up memory for the rule loader, which is not used from now on
@@ -175,16 +164,14 @@ application::run_result application::load_rules_files()
 	if (m_options.describe_all_rules)
 	{
 		m_state->engine->describe_rule(NULL);
-		ret.proceed = false;
-		return ret;
+		return run_result::exit();
 	}
 
 	if (!m_options.describe_rule.empty())
 	{
 		m_state->engine->describe_rule(&(m_options.describe_rule));
-		ret.proceed = false;
-		return ret;
+		return run_result::exit();
 	}
 
-	return ret;
+	return run_result::ok();
 }
diff --git a/userspace/falco/app_actions/open_inspector.cpp b/userspace/falco/app_actions/open_inspector.cpp
index dc1b58bd..bbb2e20b 100644
--- a/userspace/falco/app_actions/open_inspector.cpp
+++ b/userspace/falco/app_actions/open_inspector.cpp
@@ -26,8 +26,6 @@ typedef std::function<void(std::shared_ptr<sinsp> inspector)> open_t;
 
 application::run_result application::open_inspector()
 {
-	run_result ret;
-
 	if(is_capture_mode())
 	{
 		// Try to open the trace file as a
@@ -38,10 +36,7 @@ application::run_result application::open_inspector()
 		}
 		catch(sinsp_exception &e)
 		{
-			ret.success = false;
-			ret.errstr = std::string("Could not open trace filename ") + m_options.trace_filename + " for reading: " + e.what();
-			ret.proceed = false;
-			return ret;
+			return run_result::fatal("Could not open trace filename " + m_options.trace_filename + " for reading: " + e.what());
 		}
 	}
 	else
@@ -75,10 +70,7 @@ application::run_result application::open_inspector()
 			}
 			else
 			{
-				ret.success = false;
-				ret.errstr = e.what();
-				ret.proceed = false;
-				return ret;
+				return run_result::fatal(e.what());
 			}
 		}
 	}
@@ -89,7 +81,7 @@ application::run_result application::open_inspector()
 		m_state->inspector->start_dropping_mode(1);
 	}
 
-	return ret;
+	return run_result::ok();
 }
 
 bool application::close_inspector(std::string &errstr)
diff --git a/userspace/falco/app_actions/print_help.cpp b/userspace/falco/app_actions/print_help.cpp
index 9c1cf66f..fe8fd0dd 100644
--- a/userspace/falco/app_actions/print_help.cpp
+++ b/userspace/falco/app_actions/print_help.cpp
@@ -20,13 +20,10 @@ using namespace falco::app;
 
 application::run_result application::print_help()
 {
-	run_result ret;
-
 	if(m_options.help)
 	{
 		printf("%s", m_options.usage().c_str());
-		ret.proceed = false;
+		return run_result::exit();
 	}
-
-	return ret;
+	return run_result::ok();
 }
diff --git a/userspace/falco/app_actions/print_ignored_events.cpp b/userspace/falco/app_actions/print_ignored_events.cpp
index 53fb4804..12db9bef 100644
--- a/userspace/falco/app_actions/print_ignored_events.cpp
+++ b/userspace/falco/app_actions/print_ignored_events.cpp
@@ -61,13 +61,10 @@ void application::print_all_ignored_events()
 
 application::run_result application::print_ignored_events()
 {
-	run_result ret;
-
 	if(m_options.print_ignored_events)
 	{
 		print_all_ignored_events();
-		ret.proceed = false;
+		return run_result::exit();
 	}
-
-	return ret;
+	return run_result::ok();
 }
diff --git a/userspace/falco/app_actions/print_support.cpp b/userspace/falco/app_actions/print_support.cpp
index 593b7ba6..33ecdfa3 100644
--- a/userspace/falco/app_actions/print_support.cpp
+++ b/userspace/falco/app_actions/print_support.cpp
@@ -32,8 +32,6 @@ static std::string read_file(std::string &filename)
 
 application::run_result application::print_support()
 {
-	run_result ret;
-
 	if(m_options.print_support)
 	{
 		nlohmann::json support;
@@ -42,10 +40,7 @@ application::run_result application::print_support()
 
 		if(uname(&sysinfo) != 0)
 		{
-			ret.success = false;
-			ret.errstr = string("Could not uname() to find system info: ") + strerror(errno);
-			ret.proceed = false;
-			return ret;
+			return run_result::fatal(string("Could not uname() to find system info: ") + strerror(errno));
 		}
 
 		support["version"] = FALCO_VERSION;
@@ -70,8 +65,8 @@ application::run_result application::print_support()
 		}
 		printf("%s\n", support.dump().c_str());
 
-		ret.proceed = false;
+		return run_result::exit();
 	}
 
-	return ret;
+	return run_result::ok();
 }
diff --git a/userspace/falco/app_actions/print_version.cpp b/userspace/falco/app_actions/print_version.cpp
index cb6e2bdb..4db1f81e 100644
--- a/userspace/falco/app_actions/print_version.cpp
+++ b/userspace/falco/app_actions/print_version.cpp
@@ -21,14 +21,11 @@ using namespace falco::app;
 
 application::run_result application::print_version()
 {
-	run_result ret;
-
 	if(m_options.print_version_info)
 	{
 		printf("Falco version: %s\n", FALCO_VERSION);
 		printf("Driver version: %s\n", DRIVER_VERSION);
-		ret.proceed = false;
+		return run_result::exit();
 	}
-
-	return ret;
+	return run_result::ok();
 }
diff --git a/userspace/falco/app_actions/process_events.cpp b/userspace/falco/app_actions/process_events.cpp
index 20e0b55b..a936f214 100644
--- a/userspace/falco/app_actions/process_events.cpp
+++ b/userspace/falco/app_actions/process_events.cpp
@@ -36,11 +36,10 @@ using namespace falco::app;
 //
 // Event processing loop
 //
-uint64_t application::do_inspect(syscall_evt_drop_mgr &sdropmgr,
+application::run_result application::do_inspect(syscall_evt_drop_mgr &sdropmgr,
 				 uint64_t duration_to_tot_ns,
-				 application::run_result &result)
+				 uint64_t &num_evts)
 {
-	uint64_t num_evts = 0;
 	int32_t rc;
 	sinsp_evt* ev;
 	StatsFileWriter writer;
@@ -49,6 +48,8 @@ uint64_t application::do_inspect(syscall_evt_drop_mgr &sdropmgr,
 	std::size_t source_idx;
 	bool source_idx_found = false;
 
+	num_evts = 0;
+
 	sdropmgr.init(m_state->inspector,
 		      m_state->outputs,
 		      m_state->config->m_syscall_evt_drop_actions,
@@ -63,7 +64,7 @@ uint64_t application::do_inspect(syscall_evt_drop_mgr &sdropmgr,
 
 		if (!writer.init(m_state->inspector, m_options.stats_filename, m_options.stats_interval, errstr))
 		{
-			throw falco_exception(errstr);
+			return run_result::fatal(errstr);
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -131,7 +132,7 @@ uint64_t application::do_inspect(syscall_evt_drop_mgr &sdropmgr,
 			// Event read error.
 			//
 			cerr << "rc = " << rc << endl;
-			throw sinsp_exception(m_state->inspector->getlasterr().c_str());
+			return run_result::fatal(m_state->inspector->getlasterr());
 		}
 
 		// Reset the timeouts counter, Falco successfully got an event to process
@@ -150,10 +151,7 @@ uint64_t application::do_inspect(syscall_evt_drop_mgr &sdropmgr,
 
 		if(!sdropmgr.process_event(m_state->inspector, ev))
 		{
-			result.success = false;
-			result.errstr = "";
-			result.proceed = false;
-			break;
+			return run_result::fatal("Drop manager internal error");
 		}
 
 		if(!ev->simple_consumer_consider() && !m_options.all_events)
@@ -170,10 +168,7 @@ uint64_t application::do_inspect(syscall_evt_drop_mgr &sdropmgr,
 			source_idx = m_state->inspector->get_plugin_manager()->source_idx_by_plugin_id(*(int32_t *)ev->get_param(0)->m_val, source_idx_found);
 			if (!source_idx_found)
 			{
-				result.success = false;
-				result.errstr = "Unknown plugin ID in inspector: " + std::to_string(*(int32_t *)ev->get_param(0)->m_val);
-				result.proceed = false;
-				break;
+				return run_result::fatal("Unknown plugin ID in inspector: " + std::to_string(*(int32_t *)ev->get_param(0)->m_val));
 			}
 		}
 
@@ -191,7 +186,7 @@ uint64_t application::do_inspect(syscall_evt_drop_mgr &sdropmgr,
 		num_evts++;
 	}
 
-	return num_evts;
+	return run_result::ok();
 }
 
 application::run_result application::process_events()
@@ -200,14 +195,14 @@ application::run_result application::process_events()
 	// Used for stats
 	double duration;
 	scap_stats cstats;
-
+	uint64_t num_evts = 0;
 	run_result ret;
 
 	duration = ((double)clock()) / CLOCKS_PER_SEC;
 
-	uint64_t num_evts = do_inspect(sdropmgr,
+	ret = do_inspect(sdropmgr,
 					uint64_t(m_options.duration_to_tot*ONE_SECOND_IN_NS),
-					ret);
+					num_evts);
 
 	duration = ((double)clock()) / CLOCKS_PER_SEC - duration;
 
diff --git a/userspace/falco/app_actions/start_grpc_server.cpp b/userspace/falco/app_actions/start_grpc_server.cpp
index 2d39292c..a85f60bb 100644
--- a/userspace/falco/app_actions/start_grpc_server.cpp
+++ b/userspace/falco/app_actions/start_grpc_server.cpp
@@ -24,8 +24,6 @@ using namespace falco::app;
 
 application::run_result application::start_grpc_server()
 {
-	run_result ret;
-
 	// gRPC server
 	if(m_state->config->m_grpc_enabled)
 	{
@@ -44,7 +42,7 @@ application::run_result application::start_grpc_server()
 			m_state->grpc_server.run();
 		});
 	}
-	return ret;
+	return run_result::ok();
 }
 
 bool application::stop_grpc_server(std::string &errstr)
diff --git a/userspace/falco/app_actions/start_webserver.cpp b/userspace/falco/app_actions/start_webserver.cpp
index 2a4b7e6a..3da117fe 100644
--- a/userspace/falco/app_actions/start_webserver.cpp
+++ b/userspace/falco/app_actions/start_webserver.cpp
@@ -24,7 +24,6 @@ using namespace falco::app;
 
 application::run_result application::start_webserver()
 {
-	run_result ret;
 	if(!is_capture_mode() && m_state->config->m_webserver_enabled)
 	{
 		std::string ssl_option = (m_state->config->m_webserver_ssl_enabled ? " (SSL)" : "");
@@ -35,7 +34,7 @@ application::run_result application::start_webserver()
 			m_state->config->m_webserver_ssl_certificate, 
 			m_state->config->m_webserver_ssl_enabled);
 	}
-	return ret;
+	return run_result::ok();
 }
 
 bool application::stop_webserver(std::string &errstr)
diff --git a/userspace/falco/app_actions/validate_rules_files.cpp b/userspace/falco/app_actions/validate_rules_files.cpp
index 5235cfd5..08b624ee 100644
--- a/userspace/falco/app_actions/validate_rules_files.cpp
+++ b/userspace/falco/app_actions/validate_rules_files.cpp
@@ -20,8 +20,6 @@ using namespace falco::app;
 
 application::run_result application::validate_rules_files()
 {
-	run_result ret;
-
 	if(m_options.validate_rules_filenames.size() > 0)
 	{
 		falco_logger::log(LOG_INFO, "Validating rules file(s):\n");
@@ -39,15 +37,13 @@ application::run_result application::validate_rules_files()
 			catch(falco_exception &e)
 			{
 				printf("%s%s", prefix.c_str(), e.what());
-				ret.success = false;
-				ret.errstr = prefix +  e.what();
-				ret.proceed = false;
-				return ret;
+				return run_result::fatal(prefix +  e.what());
 			}
 			printf("%sOk\n", prefix.c_str());
 		}
 		falco_logger::log(LOG_INFO, "Ok\n");
+		return run_result::exit();
 	}
 
-	return ret;
+	return run_result::ok();
 }
diff --git a/userspace/falco/application.cpp b/userspace/falco/application.cpp
index 3ae50b6e..25b337dc 100644
--- a/userspace/falco/application.cpp
+++ b/userspace/falco/application.cpp
@@ -139,11 +139,11 @@ bool application::run(std::string &errstr, bool &restart)
 		std::bind(&application::attach_inotify_signals, this),
 		std::bind(&application::daemonize, this),
 		std::bind(&application::init_outputs, this),
-		std::bind(&application::open_inspector, this),
 #ifndef MINIMAL_BUILD
 		std::bind(&application::start_grpc_server, this),
 		std::bind(&application::start_webserver, this),
 #endif
+		std::bind(&application::open_inspector, this),
 		std::bind(&application::process_events, this)
 	};
 
diff --git a/userspace/falco/application.h b/userspace/falco/application.h
index 78eba729..5c6d7f43 100644
--- a/userspace/falco/application.h
+++ b/userspace/falco/application.h
@@ -95,16 +95,41 @@ private:
 
 	// Used in the below methods to indicate how to proceed.
 	struct run_result {
+		// Successful result
+		inline static run_result ok()
+		{
+			run_result r;
+			r.success = true;
+			r.errstr = "";
+			r.proceed = true;
+			return r;
+		}
+
+		// Successful result that causes the program to stop
+		inline static run_result exit()
+		{
+			run_result r = ok();
+			r.proceed = false;
+			return r;
+		}
+
+		// Failure result that causes the program to stop with an error
+		inline static run_result fatal(std::string err)
+		{
+			run_result r;
+			r.success = false;
+			r.errstr = err;
+			r.proceed = false;
+			return r;
+		}
 
 		run_result();
 		virtual ~run_result();
 
 		// If true, the method completed successfully.
 		bool success;
-
 		// If success==false, details on the error.
 		std::string errstr;
-
 		// If true, subsequent methods should be performed. If
 		// false, subsequent methods should *not* be performed
 		// and falco should tear down/exit/restart.
@@ -150,9 +175,9 @@ private:
 	void configure_output_format();
 	void check_for_ignored_events();
 	void print_all_ignored_events();
-	uint64_t do_inspect(syscall_evt_drop_mgr &sdropmgr,
+	run_result do_inspect(syscall_evt_drop_mgr &sdropmgr,
 			    uint64_t duration_to_tot_ns,
-			    run_result &result);
+			    uint64_t &num_events);
 	
 	inline bool is_syscall_source_enabled() const 
 	{
diff --git a/userspace/falco/falco.cpp b/userspace/falco/falco.cpp
index 77bf1171..d758261e 100644
--- a/userspace/falco/falco.cpp
+++ b/userspace/falco/falco.cpp
@@ -43,7 +43,6 @@ static void display_fatal_err(const string &msg)
 int falco_init(int argc, char **argv, bool &restart)
 {
 	falco::app::application app;
-	int result = EXIT_SUCCESS;
 	restart = false;
 
 	std::string errstr;
@@ -64,18 +63,17 @@ int falco_init(int argc, char **argv, bool &restart)
 
 		if(!success)
 		{
-			result = EXIT_FAILURE;
-			fprintf(stderr, "%s\n", errstr.c_str());
+			fprintf(stderr, "Error: %s\n", errstr.c_str());
+			return EXIT_FAILURE;
 		}
 	}
 	catch(exception &e)
 	{
 		display_fatal_err("Runtime error: " + string(e.what()) + ". Exiting.\n");
-
-		result = EXIT_FAILURE;
+		return EXIT_FAILURE;
 	}
 
-	return result;
+	return EXIT_SUCCESS;
 }
 
 //