diff --git a/src/EventHandler.zig b/src/EventHandler.zig
index 879ba12..0d5f1d7 100644
--- a/src/EventHandler.zig
+++ b/src/EventHandler.zig
@@ -118,6 +118,7 @@ pub fn send(self: Self, from_: tp.pid_ref, m: tp.message) tp.result {
 pub fn empty(allocator: Allocator) !Self {
     const child: type = struct {};
     const widget = try allocator.create(child);
+    errdefer allocator.destroy(widget);
     widget.* = .{};
     return .{
         .ptr = widget,
diff --git a/src/LSP.zig b/src/LSP.zig
index b224f4f..4fe9952 100644
--- a/src/LSP.zig
+++ b/src/LSP.zig
@@ -144,6 +144,7 @@ const Process = struct {
             return error.InvalidLspCommand;
         }
         const self = try allocator.create(Process);
+        errdefer allocator.destroy(self);
         var sp_tag_ = std.ArrayList(u8).init(allocator);
         defer sp_tag_.deinit();
         try sp_tag_.appendSlice(tag);
diff --git a/src/buffer/Buffer.zig b/src/buffer/Buffer.zig
index 0c8e5c4..9e8f09b 100644
--- a/src/buffer/Buffer.zig
+++ b/src/buffer/Buffer.zig
@@ -159,6 +159,7 @@ pub const Leaf = struct {
         if (piece.len == 0)
             return if (!bol and !eol) &empty_leaf else if (bol and !eol) &empty_bol_leaf else if (!bol and eol) &empty_eol_leaf else &empty_line_leaf;
         const node = try allocator.create(Node);
+        errdefer allocator.destroy(node);
         node.* = .{ .leaf = .{ .buf = piece, .bol = bol, .eol = eol } };
         return node;
     }
@@ -267,6 +268,7 @@ const Node = union(enum) {
 
     fn new(allocator: Allocator, l: *const Node, r: *const Node) !*const Node {
         const node = try allocator.create(Node);
+        errdefer allocator.destroy(node);
         const l_weights_sum = l.weights_sum();
         var weights_sum_ = Weights{};
         weights_sum_.add(l_weights_sum);
@@ -1065,6 +1067,7 @@ const Node = union(enum) {
 
 pub fn create(allocator: Allocator) error{OutOfMemory}!*Self {
     const self = try allocator.create(Self);
+    errdefer allocator.destroy(self);
     const arena_a = if (builtin.is_test) allocator else std.heap.page_allocator;
     self.* = .{
         .arena = std.heap.ArenaAllocator.init(arena_a),
diff --git a/src/diff.zig b/src/diff.zig
index abb2bd6..6c2a970 100644
--- a/src/diff.zig
+++ b/src/diff.zig
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ const Process = struct {
 
     pub fn create() !tp.pid {
         const self = try allocator.create(Process);
+        errdefer allocator.destroy(self);
         self.* = .{
             .receiver = Receiver.init(Process.receive, self),
         };
diff --git a/src/keybind/keybind.zig b/src/keybind/keybind.zig
index 9ffb43b..f45ef52 100644
--- a/src/keybind/keybind.zig
+++ b/src/keybind/keybind.zig
@@ -65,7 +65,7 @@ const Handler = struct {
     bindings: *const BindingSet,
 
     fn create(mode_name: []const u8, allocator: std.mem.Allocator, opts: anytype) !Mode {
-        const self: *@This() = try allocator.create(@This());
+        const self = try allocator.create(@This());
         errdefer allocator.destroy(self);
         self.* = .{
             .allocator = allocator,
diff --git a/src/project_manager.zig b/src/project_manager.zig
index 78dde81..c7eadd5 100644
--- a/src/project_manager.zig
+++ b/src/project_manager.zig
@@ -263,6 +263,7 @@ const Process = struct {
     fn create() SpawnError!tp.pid {
         const allocator = std.heap.c_allocator;
         const self = try allocator.create(Process);
+        errdefer allocator.destroy(self);
         self.* = .{
             .allocator = allocator,
             .parent = tp.self_pid().clone(),
@@ -755,6 +756,7 @@ fn request_path_files_async(a_: std.mem.Allocator, parent_: tp.pid_ref, project_
 
         fn spawn_link(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, parent: tp.pid_ref, project: *Project, max: usize, path: []const u8) (SpawnError || std.fs.Dir.OpenError)!void {
             const self = try allocator.create(path_files);
+            errdefer allocator.destroy(self);
             self.* = .{
                 .allocator = allocator,
                 .project_name = try allocator.dupe(u8, project.name),
diff --git a/src/ripgrep.zig b/src/ripgrep.zig
index c6c14a3..4ea7bd6 100644
--- a/src/ripgrep.zig
+++ b/src/ripgrep.zig
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ const Process = struct {
 
     pub fn create(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, query: []const u8, tag: [:0]const u8, stdin_behavior: std.process.Child.StdIo) !tp.pid {
         const self = try allocator.create(Process);
+        errdefer allocator.destroy(self);
         self.* = .{
             .allocator = allocator,
             .query = try allocator.dupe(u8, query),
diff --git a/src/service_template.zig b/src/service_template.zig
index 17f0a83..92cc265 100644
--- a/src/service_template.zig
+++ b/src/service_template.zig
@@ -45,6 +45,7 @@ const Process = struct {
 
     pub fn create(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) Error!tp.pid {
         const self = try allocator.create(Process);
+        errdefer allocator.destroy(self);
         self.* = .{
             .allocator = allocator,
             .parent = tp.self_pid().clone(),
diff --git a/src/shell.zig b/src/shell.zig
index cb27221..5869a3d 100644
--- a/src/shell.zig
+++ b/src/shell.zig
@@ -156,6 +156,7 @@ const Process = struct {
             return error.InvalidShellArg0;
 
         const self = try allocator.create(Process);
+        errdefer allocator.destroy(self);
         self.* = .{
             .allocator = allocator,
             .argv = argv,
diff --git a/src/syntax/src/QueryCache.zig b/src/syntax/src/QueryCache.zig
index 816d8bc..7b011d5 100644
--- a/src/syntax/src/QueryCache.zig
+++ b/src/syntax/src/QueryCache.zig
@@ -62,6 +62,7 @@ pub const Error = CacheError || QueryParseError || QuerySerializeError;
 
 pub fn create(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, opts: struct { lock: bool = false }) !*Self {
     const self = try allocator.create(Self);
+    errdefer allocator.destroy(self);
     self.* = .{
         .allocator = allocator,
         .mutex = if (opts.lock) .{} else null,
diff --git a/src/syntax/src/syntax.zig b/src/syntax/src/syntax.zig
index bd67ccf..5225155 100644
--- a/src/syntax/src/syntax.zig
+++ b/src/syntax/src/syntax.zig
@@ -29,9 +29,13 @@ tree: ?*treez.Tree = null,
 
 pub fn create(file_type: FileType, allocator: std.mem.Allocator, query_cache: *QueryCache) !*Self {
     const query = try query_cache.get(file_type, .highlights);
+    errdefer query_cache.release(query, .highlights);
     const errors_query = try query_cache.get(file_type, .errors);
+    errdefer query_cache.release(errors_query, .highlights);
     const injections = try query_cache.get(file_type, .injections);
+    errdefer if (injections) |injections_| query_cache.release(injections_, .injections);
     const self = try allocator.create(Self);
+    errdefer allocator.destroy(self);
     self.* = .{
         .allocator = allocator,
         .lang = file_type.lang_fn() orelse std.debug.panic("tree-sitter parser function failed for language: {s}", .{file_type.name}),
@@ -40,7 +44,6 @@ pub fn create(file_type: FileType, allocator: std.mem.Allocator, query_cache: *Q
         .errors_query = errors_query,
         .injections = injections,
     };
-    errdefer self.destroy(query_cache);
     try self.parser.setLanguage(self.lang);
     return self;
 }
@@ -58,6 +61,7 @@ pub fn static_create_guess_file_type_static(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, conten
 pub fn destroy(self: *Self, query_cache: *QueryCache) void {
     if (self.tree) |tree| tree.destroy();
     query_cache.release(self.query, .highlights);
+    query_cache.release(self.errors_query, .highlights);
     if (self.injections) |injections| query_cache.release(injections, .injections);
     self.parser.destroy();
     self.allocator.destroy(self);
diff --git a/src/syntax/src/ts_serializer.zig b/src/syntax/src/ts_serializer.zig
index 90c5865..928f60b 100644
--- a/src/syntax/src/ts_serializer.zig
+++ b/src/syntax/src/ts_serializer.zig
@@ -285,6 +285,7 @@ pub const DeserializeError = error{
 
 pub fn fromCbor(cb: []const u8, allocator: std.mem.Allocator) DeserializeError!struct { *TSQuery, *std.heap.ArenaAllocator } {
     var arena = try allocator.create(std.heap.ArenaAllocator);
+    errdefer allocator.destroy(arena);
     arena.* = std.heap.ArenaAllocator.init(allocator);
     errdefer arena.deinit();
     const query = try arena.allocator().create(TSQuery);
diff --git a/src/tui/Button.zig b/src/tui/Button.zig
index 60fbc41..1ca9704 100644
--- a/src/tui/Button.zig
+++ b/src/tui/Button.zig
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ pub fn Options(context: type) type {
 pub fn create(ctx_type: type, allocator: std.mem.Allocator, parent: Plane, opts: Options(ctx_type)) error{OutOfMemory}!*State(ctx_type) {
     const Self = State(ctx_type);
     const self = try allocator.create(Self);
+    errdefer allocator.destroy(self);
     var n = try Plane.init(&opts.pos.opts(@typeName(Self)), parent);
     errdefer n.deinit();
     self.* = .{
@@ -57,6 +58,7 @@ pub fn create(ctx_type: type, allocator: std.mem.Allocator, parent: Plane, opts:
         .opts = opts,
     };
     self.opts.label = try self.allocator.dupe(u8, opts.label);
+    errdefer allocator.free(self.opts.label);
     try self.init();
     return self;
 }
diff --git a/src/tui/InputBox.zig b/src/tui/InputBox.zig
index 71d79b7..1efd3d2 100644
--- a/src/tui/InputBox.zig
+++ b/src/tui/InputBox.zig
@@ -58,9 +58,10 @@ pub fn Options(context: type) type {
 
 pub fn create(ctx_type: type, allocator: std.mem.Allocator, parent: Plane, opts: Options(ctx_type)) !Widget {
     const Self = State(ctx_type);
-    const self = try allocator.create(Self);
     var n = try Plane.init(&opts.pos.opts(@typeName(Self)), parent);
     errdefer n.deinit();
+    const self = try allocator.create(Self);
+    errdefer allocator.destroy(self);
     self.* = .{
         .parent = parent,
         .plane = n,
diff --git a/src/tui/Menu.zig b/src/tui/Menu.zig
index 14f68f1..284dc03 100644
--- a/src/tui/Menu.zig
+++ b/src/tui/Menu.zig
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@ pub fn Options(context: type) type {
 
 pub fn create(ctx_type: type, allocator: std.mem.Allocator, parent: Plane, opts: Options(ctx_type)) !*State(ctx_type) {
     const self = try allocator.create(State(ctx_type));
+    errdefer allocator.destroy(self);
     const container = try WidgetList.createH(allocator, parent, @typeName(@This()), .dynamic);
     self.* = .{
         .allocator = allocator,
diff --git a/src/tui/ModalBackground.zig b/src/tui/ModalBackground.zig
index 63444c0..4bc1630 100644
--- a/src/tui/ModalBackground.zig
+++ b/src/tui/ModalBackground.zig
@@ -59,6 +59,7 @@ pub fn Options(context: type) type {
 
 pub fn create(ctx_type: type, allocator: std.mem.Allocator, parent: Widget, opts: Options(ctx_type)) !*State(ctx_type) {
     const self = try allocator.create(State(ctx_type));
+    errdefer allocator.destroy(self);
     self.* = .{
         .allocator = allocator,
         .plane = parent.plane.*,
diff --git a/src/tui/Widget.zig b/src/tui/Widget.zig
index 40060f6..0f0c96f 100644
--- a/src/tui/Widget.zig
+++ b/src/tui/Widget.zig
@@ -224,6 +224,7 @@ pub fn hover(self: *Self) bool {
 pub fn empty(allocator: Allocator, parent: Plane, layout_: Layout) !Self {
     const child: type = struct { plane: Plane, layout: Layout };
     const widget = try allocator.create(child);
+    errdefer allocator.destroy(widget);
     const n = try Plane.init(&(Box{}).opts("empty"), parent);
     widget.* = .{ .plane = n, .layout = layout_ };
     return .{
diff --git a/src/tui/WidgetList.zig b/src/tui/WidgetList.zig
index 98808a9..1024ece 100644
--- a/src/tui/WidgetList.zig
+++ b/src/tui/WidgetList.zig
@@ -32,21 +32,24 @@ after_render: *const fn (ctx: ?*anyopaque, theme: *const Widget.Theme) void = on
 on_resize: *const fn (ctx: ?*anyopaque, self: *Self, pos_: Widget.Box) void = on_resize_default,
 
 pub fn createH(allocator: Allocator, parent: Plane, name: [:0]const u8, layout_: Layout) error{OutOfMemory}!*Self {
-    const self: *Self = try allocator.create(Self);
+    const self = try allocator.create(Self);
+    errdefer allocator.destroy(self);
     self.* = try init(allocator, parent, name, .horizontal, layout_, Box{});
     self.plane.hide();
     return self;
 }
 
 pub fn createV(allocator: Allocator, parent: Plane, name: [:0]const u8, layout_: Layout) !*Self {
-    const self: *Self = try allocator.create(Self);
+    const self = try allocator.create(Self);
+    errdefer allocator.destroy(self);
     self.* = try init(allocator, parent, name, .vertical, layout_, Box{});
     self.plane.hide();
     return self;
 }
 
 pub fn createBox(allocator: Allocator, parent: Plane, name: [:0]const u8, dir: Direction, layout_: Layout, box: Box) !*Self {
-    const self: *Self = try allocator.create(Self);
+    const self = try allocator.create(Self);
+    errdefer allocator.destroy(self);
     self.* = try init(allocator, parent, name, dir, layout_, box);
     self.plane.hide();
     return self;
diff --git a/src/tui/editor.zig b/src/tui/editor.zig
index c4bd75b..dd4c0b4 100644
--- a/src/tui/editor.zig
+++ b/src/tui/editor.zig
@@ -5941,7 +5941,8 @@ pub const EditorWidget = struct {
 
     fn create(allocator: Allocator, parent: Plane, buffer_manager: *Buffer.Manager) !Widget {
         const container = try WidgetList.createH(allocator, parent, "editor.container", .dynamic);
-        const self: *Self = try allocator.create(Self);
+        const self = try allocator.create(Self);
+        errdefer allocator.destroy(self);
         try self.init(allocator, container.plane, buffer_manager);
         try self.commands.init(&self.editor);
         const editorWidget = Widget.to(self);
diff --git a/src/tui/editor_gutter.zig b/src/tui/editor_gutter.zig
index f8045d8..77ed19b 100644
--- a/src/tui/editor_gutter.zig
+++ b/src/tui/editor_gutter.zig
@@ -43,7 +43,8 @@ const Kind = enum { insert, modified, delete };
 const Symbol = struct { kind: Kind, line: usize };
 
 pub fn create(allocator: Allocator, parent: Widget, event_source: Widget, editor: *ed.Editor) !Widget {
-    const self: *Self = try allocator.create(Self);
+    const self = try allocator.create(Self);
+    errdefer allocator.destroy(self);
     self.* = .{
         .allocator = allocator,
         .plane = try Plane.init(&(Widget.Box{}).opts(@typeName(Self)), parent.plane.*),
diff --git a/src/tui/filelist_view.zig b/src/tui/filelist_view.zig
index 4465e8a..6f4e824 100644
--- a/src/tui/filelist_view.zig
+++ b/src/tui/filelist_view.zig
@@ -47,7 +47,8 @@ const Entry = struct {
 };
 
 pub fn create(allocator: Allocator, parent: Plane) !Widget {
-    const self: *Self = try allocator.create(Self);
+    const self = try allocator.create(Self);
+    errdefer allocator.destroy(self);
     self.* = .{
         .allocator = allocator,
         .plane = try Plane.init(&(Widget.Box{}).opts(name), parent),
diff --git a/src/tui/home.zig b/src/tui/home.zig
index 42406d0..e00a16a 100644
--- a/src/tui/home.zig
+++ b/src/tui/home.zig
@@ -81,7 +81,8 @@ const Self = @This();
 
 pub fn create(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, parent: Widget) !Widget {
     const logger = log.logger("home");
-    const self: *Self = try allocator.create(Self);
+    const self = try allocator.create(Self);
+    errdefer allocator.destroy(self);
     var n = try Plane.init(&(Widget.Box{}).opts("editor"), parent.plane.*);
     errdefer n.deinit();
 
@@ -303,6 +304,8 @@ pub fn render(self: *Self, theme: *const Widget.Theme) bool {
         self.position_menu(self.v_center(5, self.menu_len, 5), self.center(x, self.menu_w));
     }
 
+    if (self.plane.dim_y() < 3 or self.plane.dim_x() < root.version.len + 4) return false;
+
     self.plane.cursor_move_yx(
         @intCast(self.plane.dim_y() - 2),
         @intCast(@max(self.plane.dim_x(), root.version.len + 3) - root.version.len - 3),
@@ -311,6 +314,7 @@ pub fn render(self: *Self, theme: *const Widget.Theme) bool {
     _ = self.plane.print("{s}", .{root.version}) catch return false;
     if (builtin.mode == .Debug) {
         const debug_warning_text = "debug build";
+        if (self.plane.dim_y() < 4 or self.plane.dim_x() < debug_warning_text.len + 4) return false;
         self.plane.cursor_move_yx(
             @intCast(self.plane.dim_y() - 3),
             @intCast(@max(self.plane.dim_x(), debug_warning_text.len + 3) - debug_warning_text.len - 3),
diff --git a/src/tui/info_view.zig b/src/tui/info_view.zig
index de43f50..f67e2df 100644
--- a/src/tui/info_view.zig
+++ b/src/tui/info_view.zig
@@ -14,7 +14,8 @@ view_rows: usize = 0,
 lines: std.ArrayList([]const u8),
 
 pub fn create(allocator: Allocator, parent: Plane) !Widget {
-    const self: *Self = try allocator.create(Self);
+    const self = try allocator.create(Self);
+    errdefer allocator.destroy(self);
     self.* = .{
         .allocator = allocator,
         .plane = try Plane.init(&(Widget.Box{}).opts(name), parent),
diff --git a/src/tui/inputview.zig b/src/tui/inputview.zig
index a8be882..a955189 100644
--- a/src/tui/inputview.zig
+++ b/src/tui/inputview.zig
@@ -30,9 +30,10 @@ const Entry = struct {
 const Buffer = ArrayList(Entry);
 
 pub fn create(allocator: Allocator, parent: Plane) !Widget {
-    const self: *Self = try allocator.create(Self);
     var n = try Plane.init(&(Widget.Box{}).opts_vscroll(@typeName(Self)), parent);
     errdefer n.deinit();
+    const self = try allocator.create(Self);
+    errdefer allocator.destroy(self);
     self.* = .{
         .allocator = allocator,
         .parent = parent,
diff --git a/src/tui/inspector_view.zig b/src/tui/inspector_view.zig
index 967648e..6d314d7 100644
--- a/src/tui/inspector_view.zig
+++ b/src/tui/inspector_view.zig
@@ -26,7 +26,8 @@ const Self = @This();
 
 pub fn create(allocator: Allocator, parent: Plane) !Widget {
     const editor = tui.get_active_editor() orelse return error.NotFound;
-    const self: *Self = try allocator.create(Self);
+    const self = try allocator.create(Self);
+    errdefer allocator.destroy(self);
     self.* = .{
         .plane = try Plane.init(&(Widget.Box{}).opts_vscroll(name), parent),
         .editor = editor,
diff --git a/src/tui/logview.zig b/src/tui/logview.zig
index 02776e0..4c70457 100644
--- a/src/tui/logview.zig
+++ b/src/tui/logview.zig
@@ -38,7 +38,8 @@ const Level = enum {
 };
 
 pub fn create(allocator: Allocator, parent: Plane) !Widget {
-    const self: *Self = try allocator.create(Self);
+    const self = try allocator.create(Self);
+    errdefer allocator.destroy(self);
     self.* = .{ .plane = try Plane.init(&(Widget.Box{}).opts(name), parent) };
     return Widget.to(self);
 }
diff --git a/src/tui/mainview.zig b/src/tui/mainview.zig
index 7fafc9d..f32b90a 100644
--- a/src/tui/mainview.zig
+++ b/src/tui/mainview.zig
@@ -66,6 +66,7 @@ pub const CreateError = error{ OutOfMemory, ThespianSpawnFailed };
 
 pub fn create(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) CreateError!Widget {
     const self = try allocator.create(Self);
+    errdefer allocator.destroy(self);
     self.* = .{
         .allocator = allocator,
         .plane = tui.plane(),
diff --git a/src/tui/mode/mini/buffer.zig b/src/tui/mode/mini/buffer.zig
index 35af902..3875d1a 100644
--- a/src/tui/mode/mini/buffer.zig
+++ b/src/tui/mode/mini/buffer.zig
@@ -21,7 +21,8 @@ pub fn Create(options: type) type {
         const Self = @This();
 
         pub fn create(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, _: command.Context) !struct { tui.Mode, tui.MiniMode } {
-            const self: *Self = try allocator.create(Self);
+            const self = try allocator.create(Self);
+            errdefer allocator.destroy(self);
             self.* = .{
                 .allocator = allocator,
                 .input = std.ArrayList(u8).init(allocator),
diff --git a/src/tui/mode/mini/file_browser.zig b/src/tui/mode/mini/file_browser.zig
index 4b5da15..ea6fee7 100644
--- a/src/tui/mode/mini/file_browser.zig
+++ b/src/tui/mode/mini/file_browser.zig
@@ -35,7 +35,8 @@ pub fn Create(options: type) type {
         };
 
         pub fn create(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, _: command.Context) !struct { tui.Mode, tui.MiniMode } {
-            const self: *Self = try allocator.create(Self);
+            const self = try allocator.create(Self);
+            errdefer allocator.destroy(self);
             self.* = .{
                 .allocator = allocator,
                 .file_path = std.ArrayList(u8).init(allocator),
diff --git a/src/tui/mode/mini/find.zig b/src/tui/mode/mini/find.zig
index 30b4976..e04adc0 100644
--- a/src/tui/mode/mini/find.zig
+++ b/src/tui/mode/mini/find.zig
@@ -28,7 +28,8 @@ commands: Commands = undefined,
 
 pub fn create(allocator: Allocator, _: command.Context) !struct { tui.Mode, tui.MiniMode } {
     const editor = tui.get_active_editor() orelse return error.NotFound;
-    const self: *Self = try allocator.create(Self);
+    const self = try allocator.create(Self);
+    errdefer allocator.destroy(self);
     self.* = .{
         .allocator = allocator,
         .input_ = ArrayList(u8).init(allocator),
diff --git a/src/tui/mode/mini/find_in_files.zig b/src/tui/mode/mini/find_in_files.zig
index 4680d22..839cd1b 100644
--- a/src/tui/mode/mini/find_in_files.zig
+++ b/src/tui/mode/mini/find_in_files.zig
@@ -25,7 +25,8 @@ last_input: []u8 = "",
 commands: Commands = undefined,
 
 pub fn create(allocator: Allocator, _: command.Context) !struct { tui.Mode, tui.MiniMode } {
-    const self: *Self = try allocator.create(Self);
+    const self = try allocator.create(Self);
+    errdefer allocator.destroy(self);
     self.* = .{ .allocator = allocator };
     try self.commands.init(self);
     if (tui.get_active_selection(self.allocator)) |text| {
diff --git a/src/tui/mode/mini/goto.zig b/src/tui/mode/mini/goto.zig
index c71a0bd..94d5c6d 100644
--- a/src/tui/mode/mini/goto.zig
+++ b/src/tui/mode/mini/goto.zig
@@ -24,8 +24,9 @@ start: usize,
 commands: Commands = undefined,
 
 pub fn create(allocator: Allocator, _: command.Context) !struct { tui.Mode, tui.MiniMode } {
-    const self: *Self = try allocator.create(Self);
     const editor = tui.get_active_editor() orelse return error.NotFound;
+    const self = try allocator.create(Self);
+    errdefer allocator.destroy(self);
     self.* = .{
         .allocator = allocator,
         .start = editor.get_primary().cursor.row + 1,
diff --git a/src/tui/mode/mini/move_to_char.zig b/src/tui/mode/mini/move_to_char.zig
index 950b35e..d32f00c 100644
--- a/src/tui/mode/mini/move_to_char.zig
+++ b/src/tui/mode/mini/move_to_char.zig
@@ -38,7 +38,8 @@ pub fn create(allocator: Allocator, ctx: command.Context) !struct { tui.Mode, tu
     const direction: Direction = if (std.mem.indexOf(u8, operation_command, "_left")) |_| .left else .right;
     const operation: Operation = if (tui.get_active_editor()) |editor| if (editor.get_primary().selection) |_| .select else .move else .move;
 
-    const self: *Self = try allocator.create(Self);
+    const self = try allocator.create(Self);
+    errdefer allocator.destroy(self);
     self.* = .{
         .allocator = allocator,
         .direction = direction,
diff --git a/src/tui/mode/overlay/open_recent.zig b/src/tui/mode/overlay/open_recent.zig
index e6a22e9..0c5d687 100644
--- a/src/tui/mode/overlay/open_recent.zig
+++ b/src/tui/mode/overlay/open_recent.zig
@@ -38,7 +38,8 @@ buffer_manager: ?*BufferManager,
 
 pub fn create(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) !tui.Mode {
     const mv = tui.mainview() orelse return error.NotFound;
-    const self: *Self = try allocator.create(Self);
+    const self = try allocator.create(Self);
+    errdefer allocator.destroy(self);
     self.* = .{
         .allocator = allocator,
         .modal = try ModalBackground.create(*Self, allocator, tui.mainview_widget(), .{ .ctx = self }),
diff --git a/src/tui/mode/overlay/palette.zig b/src/tui/mode/overlay/palette.zig
index bde1217..926dc65 100644
--- a/src/tui/mode/overlay/palette.zig
+++ b/src/tui/mode/overlay/palette.zig
@@ -47,7 +47,8 @@ pub fn Create(options: type) type {
 
         pub fn create(allocator: std.mem.Allocator) !tui.Mode {
             const mv = tui.mainview() orelse return error.NotFound;
-            const self: *Self = try allocator.create(Self);
+            const self = try allocator.create(Self);
+            errdefer allocator.destroy(self);
             self.* = .{
                 .allocator = allocator,
                 .modal = try ModalBackground.create(*Self, allocator, tui.mainview_widget(), .{
diff --git a/src/tui/scrollbar_v.zig b/src/tui/scrollbar_v.zig
index 4f83b1b..8f0911a 100644
--- a/src/tui/scrollbar_v.zig
+++ b/src/tui/scrollbar_v.zig
@@ -27,7 +27,8 @@ style_factory: ?*const fn (self: *Self, theme: *const Widget.Theme) Widget.Theme
 const Self = @This();
 
 pub fn create(allocator: Allocator, parent: Plane, event_source: ?Widget, event_sink: EventHandler) !Widget {
-    const self: *Self = try allocator.create(Self);
+    const self = try allocator.create(Self);
+    errdefer allocator.destroy(self);
     self.* = .{
         .plane = try Plane.init(&(Widget.Box{}).opts(@typeName(Self)), parent),
         .event_sink = event_sink,
diff --git a/src/tui/status/blank.zig b/src/tui/status/blank.zig
index 8901fd0..50e143b 100644
--- a/src/tui/status/blank.zig
+++ b/src/tui/status/blank.zig
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@ pub fn Create(comptime layout_: Widget.Layout) @import("widget.zig").CreateFunct
                     break :blk Widget.Layout{ .static = size };
                 } else break :blk layout_;
             } else layout_;
-            const self: *Self = try allocator.create(Self);
+            const self = try allocator.create(Self);
+            errdefer allocator.destroy(self);
             self.* = .{
                 .plane = try Plane.init(&(Widget.Box{}).opts(@typeName(Self)), parent),
                 .layout_ = layout__,
diff --git a/src/tui/status/clock.zig b/src/tui/status/clock.zig
index d6e8391..fe5b6cd 100644
--- a/src/tui/status/clock.zig
+++ b/src/tui/status/clock.zig
@@ -30,7 +30,8 @@ pub fn create(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, parent: Plane, event_handler: ?Event
         return error.WidgetInitFailed;
     };
     defer env.deinit();
-    const self: *Self = try allocator.create(Self);
+    const self = try allocator.create(Self);
+    errdefer allocator.destroy(self);
     self.* = .{
         .allocator = allocator,
         .plane = try Plane.init(&(Widget.Box{}).opts(@typeName(Self)), parent),
diff --git a/src/tui/status/keybindstate.zig b/src/tui/status/keybindstate.zig
index 3253c19..ea6e709 100644
--- a/src/tui/status/keybindstate.zig
+++ b/src/tui/status/keybindstate.zig
@@ -12,7 +12,8 @@ plane: Plane,
 const Self = @This();
 
 pub fn create(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, parent: Plane, _: ?EventHandler, _: ?[]const u8) @import("widget.zig").CreateError!Widget {
-    const self: *Self = try allocator.create(Self);
+    const self = try allocator.create(Self);
+    errdefer allocator.destroy(self);
     self.* = .{
         .allocator = allocator,
         .plane = try Plane.init(&(Widget.Box{}).opts(@typeName(Self)), parent),
diff --git a/src/tui/status/keystate.zig b/src/tui/status/keystate.zig
index ca674a8..afa9ff3 100644
--- a/src/tui/status/keystate.zig
+++ b/src/tui/status/keystate.zig
@@ -31,7 +31,8 @@ pub const width = idle_msg.len + 20;
 
 pub fn create(allocator: Allocator, parent: Plane, _: ?EventHandler, _: ?[]const u8) @import("widget.zig").CreateError!Widget {
     const frame_rate = tp.env.get().num("frame-rate");
-    const self: *Self = try allocator.create(Self);
+    const self = try allocator.create(Self);
+    errdefer allocator.destroy(self);
     self.* = .{
         .plane = try Plane.init(&(Widget.Box{}).opts(@typeName(Self)), parent),
         .wipe_after_frames = @divTrunc(frame_rate, 2),
diff --git a/src/tui/status/minilog.zig b/src/tui/status/minilog.zig
index a2644fb..400ac60 100644
--- a/src/tui/status/minilog.zig
+++ b/src/tui/status/minilog.zig
@@ -27,7 +27,8 @@ const Level = enum {
 };
 
 pub fn create(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, parent: Plane, event_handler: ?EventHandler, _: ?[]const u8) @import("widget.zig").CreateError!Widget {
-    const self: *Self = try allocator.create(Self);
+    const self = try allocator.create(Self);
+    errdefer allocator.destroy(self);
     self.* = .{
         .plane = try Plane.init(&(Widget.Box{}).opts(@typeName(Self)), parent),
         .msg = std.ArrayList(u8).init(allocator),
diff --git a/src/tui/status/modstate.zig b/src/tui/status/modstate.zig
index 4555cef..2136e7c 100644
--- a/src/tui/status/modstate.zig
+++ b/src/tui/status/modstate.zig
@@ -20,7 +20,8 @@ const Self = @This();
 pub const width = 8;
 
 pub fn create(allocator: Allocator, parent: Plane, _: ?EventHandler, _: ?[]const u8) @import("widget.zig").CreateError!Widget {
-    const self: *Self = try allocator.create(Self);
+    const self = try allocator.create(Self);
+    errdefer allocator.destroy(self);
     self.* = .{
         .plane = try Plane.init(&(Widget.Box{}).opts(@typeName(Self)), parent),
     };
diff --git a/src/tui/status/selectionstate.zig b/src/tui/status/selectionstate.zig
index f606a5c..6e0fec9 100644
--- a/src/tui/status/selectionstate.zig
+++ b/src/tui/status/selectionstate.zig
@@ -19,7 +19,8 @@ on_event: ?EventHandler,
 const Self = @This();
 
 pub fn create(allocator: Allocator, parent: Plane, event_handler: ?EventHandler, _: ?[]const u8) @import("widget.zig").CreateError!Widget {
-    const self: *Self = try allocator.create(Self);
+    const self = try allocator.create(Self);
+    errdefer allocator.destroy(self);
     self.* = .{
         .plane = try Plane.init(&(Widget.Box{}).opts(@typeName(Self)), parent),
         .on_event = event_handler,
diff --git a/src/tui/status/tabs.zig b/src/tui/status/tabs.zig
index 45a2b69..f3af3d1 100644
--- a/src/tui/status/tabs.zig
+++ b/src/tui/status/tabs.zig
@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@ pub const Style = @"style.config";
 
 pub fn create(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, parent: Plane, event_handler: ?EventHandler, _: ?[]const u8) @import("widget.zig").CreateError!Widget {
     const self = try allocator.create(TabBar);
+    errdefer allocator.destroy(self);
     self.* = try TabBar.init(allocator, parent, event_handler);
     return Widget.to(self);
 }
@@ -447,6 +448,7 @@ const spacer = struct {
         event_handler: ?EventHandler,
     ) @import("widget.zig").CreateError!Widget {
         const self: *Self = try allocator.create(Self);
+        errdefer allocator.destroy(self);
         self.* = .{
             .plane = try Plane.init(&(Widget.Box{}).opts(@typeName(Self)), parent),
             .layout_ = .{ .static = self.plane.egc_chunk_width(content, 0, 1) },
diff --git a/src/tui/tui.zig b/src/tui/tui.zig
index 6472742..9b82887 100644
--- a/src/tui/tui.zig
+++ b/src/tui/tui.zig
@@ -120,6 +120,9 @@ fn init(allocator: Allocator) InitError!*Self {
     const frame_clock = try tp.metronome.init(frame_time);
 
     var self = try allocator.create(Self);
+    // don't destroy
+    // if tui fails it is catastrophic anyway and we don't want to cause nock-on errors
+    // errdefer allocator.destroy(self);
     self.* = .{
         .allocator = allocator,
         .config_ = conf,
diff --git a/src/walk_tree.zig b/src/walk_tree.zig
index 5b9a264..ee10d22 100644
--- a/src/walk_tree.zig
+++ b/src/walk_tree.zig
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ pub fn start(a_: std.mem.Allocator, root_path_: []const u8) (SpawnError || std.f
 
         fn spawn_link(allocator: std.mem.Allocator, root_path: []const u8) (SpawnError || std.fs.Dir.OpenError)!tp.pid {
             const self = try allocator.create(tree_walker);
+            errdefer allocator.destroy(self);
             self.* = .{
                 .allocator = allocator,
                 .root_path = try allocator.dupe(u8, root_path),