diff --git a/src/devices/machine/netlist.cpp b/src/devices/machine/netlist.cpp
index ec750ab8613..9b761e2855c 100644
--- a/src/devices/machine/netlist.cpp
+++ b/src/devices/machine/netlist.cpp
@@ -261,8 +261,8 @@ netlist_source_memregion_t::stream_ptr netlist_source_memregion_t::stream(const
 	if (m_dev.has_running_machine())
 	{
 		memory_region *mem = m_dev.memregion(m_name.c_str());
-		stream_ptr ret(std::make_unique<std::istringstream>(pstring(reinterpret_cast<char *>(mem->base()), mem->bytes())));
-		ret->imbue(std::locale::classic());
+		stream_ptr ret(std::make_unique<std::istringstream>(pstring(reinterpret_cast<char *>(mem->base()), mem->bytes())), name);
+		ret.stream().imbue(std::locale::classic());
 		return ret;
 	}
 	else
@@ -302,12 +302,12 @@ netlist_data_memregions_t::stream_ptr netlist_data_memregions_t::stream(const ps
 		memory_region *mem = m_dev.memregion(name.c_str());
 		if (mem != nullptr)
 		{
-			stream_ptr ret(std::make_unique<std::istringstream>(std::string(reinterpret_cast<char *>(mem->base()), mem->bytes()), std::ios_base::binary));
-			ret->imbue(std::locale::classic());
+			stream_ptr ret(std::make_unique<std::istringstream>(std::string(reinterpret_cast<char *>(mem->base()), mem->bytes()), std::ios_base::binary), name);
+			ret.stream().imbue(std::locale::classic());
 			return ret;
 		}
 		else
-			return stream_ptr(nullptr);
+			return stream_ptr();
 	}
 	else
 	{
@@ -315,12 +315,12 @@ netlist_data_memregions_t::stream_ptr netlist_data_memregions_t::stream(const ps
 		if (rom_exists(m_dev.mconfig().root_device(), pstring(m_dev.tag()) + ":" + name))
 		{
 			// Create an empty stream.
-			stream_ptr ret(std::make_unique<std::istringstream>(std::ios_base::binary));
-			ret->imbue(std::locale::classic());
+			stream_ptr ret(std::make_unique<std::istringstream>(std::ios_base::binary), name);
+			ret.stream().imbue(std::locale::classic());
 			return ret;
 		}
 		else
-			return stream_ptr(nullptr);
+			return stream_ptr();
 	}
 }
 
@@ -978,6 +978,8 @@ std::unique_ptr<netlist::netlist_state_t> netlist_mame_device::base_validity_che
 {
 	try
 	{
+		//plib::chrono::timer<plib::chrono::system_ticks> t;
+		//t.start();
 		auto lnetlist = std::make_unique<netlist::netlist_state_t>("netlist",
 			plib::make_unique<netlist_validate_callbacks_t, netlist::host_arena>());
 		// enable validation mode
@@ -995,6 +997,8 @@ std::unique_ptr<netlist::netlist_state_t> netlist_mame_device::base_validity_che
 			}
 		}
 
+		//t.stop();
+		//printf("time %s %f\n", this->mconfig().gamedrv().name, t.as_seconds<double>());
 		return lnetlist;
 	}
 	catch (memregion_not_set &err)
@@ -1015,6 +1019,7 @@ std::unique_ptr<netlist::netlist_state_t> netlist_mame_device::base_validity_che
 
 void netlist_mame_device::device_validity_check(validity_checker &valid) const
 {
+
 	base_validity_check(valid);
 	//rom_exists(mconfig().root_device());
 	LOGDEVCALLS("device_validity_check %s\n", this->mconfig().gamedrv().name);
@@ -1024,7 +1029,6 @@ void netlist_mame_device::device_validity_check(validity_checker &valid) const
 void netlist_mame_device::device_start()
 {
 	LOGDEVCALLS("device_start entry\n");
-
 	m_attotime_per_clock = attotime(0, m_attoseconds_per_clock);
 
 	//netlist().save(*this, m_cur_time, pstring(this->name()), "m_cur_time");
diff --git a/src/lib/netlist/core/param.h b/src/lib/netlist/core/param.h
index 87741765815..9b353d0bdef 100644
--- a/src/lib/netlist/core/param.h
+++ b/src/lib/netlist/core/param.h
@@ -28,6 +28,7 @@
 #include "../plib/palloc.h"
 #include "../plib/pstream.h"
 #include "../plib/pstring.h"
+#include "../plib/putil.h" // psource_t
 
 #include <memory>
 
@@ -241,7 +242,7 @@ namespace netlist
 		{
 		}
 
-		std::unique_ptr<std::istream> stream();
+		plib::psource_t::stream_ptr stream();
 	protected:
 		void changed() noexcept override { }
 	};
@@ -261,7 +262,7 @@ namespace netlist
 	protected:
 		void changed() noexcept override
 		{
-			plib::istream_read(*stream(), m_data.data(), 1<<AW);
+			plib::istream_read(stream().stream(), m_data.data(), 1<<AW);
 		}
 
 	private:
diff --git a/src/lib/netlist/nl_base.cpp b/src/lib/netlist/nl_base.cpp
index 6eb2ec8c6c3..f5fe2597c2b 100644
--- a/src/lib/netlist/nl_base.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/netlist/nl_base.cpp
@@ -903,7 +903,7 @@ namespace netlist
 	}
 
 
-	std::unique_ptr<std::istream> param_data_t::stream()
+	plib::psource_t::stream_ptr param_data_t::stream()
 	{
 		return device().state().parser().get_data_stream(str());
 	}
diff --git a/src/lib/netlist/nl_base.h b/src/lib/netlist/nl_base.h
index cf2acfd9d54..0cbe58c1a92 100644
--- a/src/lib/netlist/nl_base.h
+++ b/src/lib/netlist/nl_base.h
@@ -735,10 +735,10 @@ namespace netlist
 	param_rom_t<ST, AW, DW>::param_rom_t(core_device_t &device, const pstring &name)
 	: param_data_t(device, name)
 	{
-		auto f = stream();
-		if (f != nullptr)
+		auto f = this->stream();
+		if (!f.empty())
 		{
-			plib::istream_read(*f, m_data.data(), 1<<AW);
+			plib::istream_read(f.stream(), m_data.data(), 1<<AW);
 			// FIXME: check for failbit if not in validation.
 		}
 		else
diff --git a/src/lib/netlist/nl_errstr.h b/src/lib/netlist/nl_errstr.h
index 93225a99023..52746d29b03 100644
--- a/src/lib/netlist/nl_errstr.h
+++ b/src/lib/netlist/nl_errstr.h
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ namespace netlist
 	PERRMSGV(MF_NULLPTR_FAMILY,                     2, "Unable to determine family for device {1} from model {2}")
 	PERRMSGV(MF_REMOVE_TERMINAL_1_FROM_NET_2,       2, "Can not remove terminal {1} from net {2}.")
 	PERRMSGV(MF_UNKNOWN_PARAM_TYPE,                 1, "Can not determine param_type for {1}")
-	PERRMSGV(MF_ERROR_CONNECTING_1_TO_2,            2, "Error connecting {1} to {2}")
+	//PERRMSGV(MF_ERROR_CONNECTING_1_TO_2,            2, "Error connecting {1} to {2}")
 	PERRMSGV(ME_HND_VAL_NOT_SUPPORTED,              1, "HINT_NO_DEACTIVATE value not supported: <{1}>")
 	PERRMSGV(MW_ROM_NOT_FOUND,                      1, "Rom {1} not found")
 
diff --git a/src/lib/netlist/nl_setup.cpp b/src/lib/netlist/nl_setup.cpp
index e399d5c28a9..ffddffeb594 100644
--- a/src/lib/netlist/nl_setup.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/netlist/nl_setup.cpp
@@ -422,10 +422,10 @@ namespace netlist
 	plib::psource_t::stream_ptr nlparse_t::get_data_stream(const pstring &name)
 	{
 		auto strm = m_sources.get_stream<source_data_t>(name);
-		if (strm)
+		if (!strm.empty())
 			return strm;
 		log().warning(MW_DATA_1_NOT_FOUND(name));
-		return plib::psource_t::stream_ptr(nullptr);
+		return plib::psource_t::stream_ptr();
 	}
 
 	// ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
@@ -1650,30 +1650,35 @@ void setup_t::prepare_to_run()
 bool source_netlist_t::parse(nlparse_t &setup, const pstring &name)
 {
 	auto strm(stream(name));
-	return (strm) ? setup.parse_stream(std::move(strm), name) : false;
+	return (!strm.empty()) ? setup.parse_stream(std::move(strm), name) : false;
 }
 
 source_string_t::stream_ptr source_string_t::stream(const pstring &name)
 {
 	plib::unused_var(name);
-	source_string_t::stream_ptr ret(std::make_unique<std::istringstream>(m_str));
-	ret->imbue(std::locale::classic());
+	source_string_t::stream_ptr ret(std::make_unique<std::istringstream>(m_str), name);
+	ret.stream().imbue(std::locale::classic());
 	return ret;
 }
 
 source_mem_t::stream_ptr source_mem_t::stream(const pstring &name)
 {
 	plib::unused_var(name);
-	source_mem_t::stream_ptr ret(std::make_unique<std::istringstream>(m_str, std::ios_base::binary));
-	ret->imbue(std::locale::classic());
+	source_mem_t::stream_ptr ret(std::make_unique<std::istringstream>(m_str, std::ios_base::binary), name);
+	ret.stream().imbue(std::locale::classic());
 	return ret;
 }
 
 source_file_t::stream_ptr source_file_t::stream(const pstring &name)
 {
 	plib::unused_var(name);
-	auto ret(std::make_unique<plib::ifstream>(plib::filesystem::u8path(m_filename)));
-	return (ret->is_open()) ? std::move(ret) : stream_ptr(nullptr);
+	auto f = std::make_unique<plib::ifstream>(plib::filesystem::u8path(m_filename));
+	if (f->is_open())
+	{
+		return stream_ptr(std::move(f), m_filename);
+	}
+	else
+		return stream_ptr();
 }
 
 bool source_proc_t::parse(nlparse_t &setup, const pstring &name)
@@ -1690,8 +1695,7 @@ bool source_proc_t::parse(nlparse_t &setup, const pstring &name)
 source_proc_t::stream_ptr source_proc_t::stream(const pstring &name)
 {
 	plib::unused_var(name);
-	stream_ptr p(nullptr);
-	return p;
+	return stream_ptr();
 }
 
 } // namespace netlist
diff --git a/src/lib/netlist/plib/pchrono.h b/src/lib/netlist/plib/pchrono.h
index 03edeeebe6f..6695f238290 100644
--- a/src/lib/netlist/plib/pchrono.h
+++ b/src/lib/netlist/plib/pchrono.h
@@ -219,8 +219,8 @@ namespace plib {
 			guard_t guard() noexcept { return guard_t(*this); }
 
 			// pause must be followed by cont(inue)
-			void pause() noexcept { m_time += T::stop(); }
-			void cont() noexcept { m_time -= T::start(); }
+			void stop() noexcept { m_time += T::stop(); }
+			void start() noexcept { m_time -= T::start(); }
 
 
 		private:
diff --git a/src/lib/netlist/plib/ppreprocessor.cpp b/src/lib/netlist/plib/ppreprocessor.cpp
index d183485789f..7e8c363fbd3 100644
--- a/src/lib/netlist/plib/ppreprocessor.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/netlist/plib/ppreprocessor.cpp
@@ -560,16 +560,16 @@ namespace plib {
 						// first try local context
 						auto l(plib::util::buildpath({m_stack.back().m_local_path, arg}));
 						auto lstrm(m_sources.get_stream(l));
-						if (lstrm)
+						if (!lstrm.empty())
 						{
-							m_stack.emplace_back(input_context(std::move(lstrm), plib::util::path(l), l));
+							m_stack.emplace_back(input_context(lstrm.release_stream(), plib::util::path(l), l));
 						}
 						else
 						{
 							auto strm(m_sources.get_stream(arg));
-							if (strm)
+							if (!strm.empty())
 							{
-								m_stack.emplace_back(input_context(std::move(strm), plib::util::path(arg), arg));
+								m_stack.emplace_back(input_context(strm.release_stream(), plib::util::path(arg), arg));
 							}
 							else
 								error("include not found:" + arg);
diff --git a/src/lib/netlist/plib/ppreprocessor.h b/src/lib/netlist/plib/ppreprocessor.h
index d5dcc3d5fa7..4b460d42ec8 100644
--- a/src/lib/netlist/plib/ppreprocessor.h
+++ b/src/lib/netlist/plib/ppreprocessor.h
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ namespace plib {
 		template <typename T>
 		ppreprocessor & process(T &&istrm, const pstring &filename)
 		{
-			m_stack.emplace_back(input_context(std::forward<T>(istrm),plib::util::path(filename), filename));
+			m_stack.emplace_back(input_context(istrm.release_stream(),plib::util::path(filename), filename));
 			process_stack();
 			return *this;
 		}
diff --git a/src/lib/netlist/plib/putil.h b/src/lib/netlist/plib/putil.h
index 4754730e55e..bc2fd9c82dc 100644
--- a/src/lib/netlist/plib/putil.h
+++ b/src/lib/netlist/plib/putil.h
@@ -154,7 +154,38 @@ namespace plib
 	{
 	public:
 
-		using stream_ptr = std::unique_ptr<std::istream>;
+		struct stream_ext
+		{
+			explicit stream_ext() = default;
+
+			stream_ext(std::unique_ptr<std::istream> &&strm, const pstring &filename)
+			: m_strm(std::move(strm))
+			, m_filename(filename)
+			{
+			}
+			stream_ext(const stream_ext &) = delete;
+			stream_ext &operator=(const stream_ext &) = delete;
+			stream_ext(stream_ext &&rhs) /*noexcept*/
+			{
+				m_strm = std::move(rhs.m_strm);
+				m_filename = rhs.m_filename;
+			}
+			stream_ext &operator=(stream_ext &&) /*noexcept*/ = delete;
+
+			std::istream &stream() noexcept { return *m_strm; }
+			pstring filename() { return m_filename; }
+
+			bool empty() { return m_strm == nullptr; }
+
+			// FIXME: workaround input conext should accept stream_ptr
+
+			std::unique_ptr<std::istream> release_stream() { return std::move(m_strm); }
+		private:
+			std::unique_ptr<std::istream> m_strm;
+			pstring m_filename;
+		};
+
+		using stream_ptr = stream_ext; //FIXME: rename to stream_type
 
 		psource_t() noexcept = default;
 
@@ -184,9 +215,9 @@ namespace plib
 		typename psource_t::stream_ptr stream(const pstring &name) override
 		{
 			if (name == m_name)
-				return std::make_unique<std::stringstream>(m_str);
+				return stream_ptr(std::make_unique<std::stringstream>(m_str), name);
 
-			return psource_t::stream_ptr(nullptr);
+			return psource_t::stream_ptr();
 		}
 	private:
 		pstring m_name;
@@ -223,11 +254,11 @@ namespace plib
 				if (source)
 				{
 					auto strm = source->stream(name);
-					if (strm)
+					if (!strm.empty())
 						return strm;
 				}
 			}
-			return typename S::stream_ptr(nullptr);
+			return typename S::stream_ptr();
 		}
 
 		template <typename S, typename F>
diff --git a/src/lib/netlist/prg/nltool.cpp b/src/lib/netlist/prg/nltool.cpp
index eeeabc772c2..f8549655dce 100644
--- a/src/lib/netlist/prg/nltool.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/netlist/prg/nltool.cpp
@@ -216,11 +216,11 @@ public:
 	stream_ptr stream(const pstring &file) override
 	{
 		pstring name = m_folder + "/" + file;
-		stream_ptr strm(std::make_unique<plib::ifstream>(plib::filesystem::u8path(name)));
-		if (strm->fail())
-			return stream_ptr(nullptr);
+		stream_ptr strm(std::make_unique<plib::ifstream>(plib::filesystem::u8path(name)), plib::filesystem::u8path(name));
+		if (strm.stream().fail())
+			return stream_ptr();
 
-		strm->imbue(std::locale::classic());
+		strm.stream().imbue(std::locale::classic());
 		return strm;
 	}
 
@@ -459,32 +459,28 @@ void tool_app_t::run()
 	if (!plib::util::exists(opt_files()[0]))
 		throw netlist::nl_exception("nltool: file doesn't exists: {}", opt_files()[0]);
 
+	t.start();
+
 	netlist_tool_t nt(*this, "netlist", opt_boostlib());
 
-	{
-		auto t_guard(t.guard());
-		//plib::perftime_t<plib::exact_ticks> t;
+	nt.exec().enable_stats(opt_stats());
 
-		nt.exec().enable_stats(opt_stats());
+	if (!opt_verb())
+		nt.log().verbose.set_enabled(false);
+	if (opt_quiet())
+		nt.log().info.set_enabled(false);
 
-		if (!opt_verb())
-			nt.log().verbose.set_enabled(false);
-		if (opt_quiet())
-			nt.log().info.set_enabled(false);
-
-		nt.read_netlist(opt_files()[0], opt_name(),
-				opt_logs(),
-				m_defines, opt_rfolders(), opt_includes());
-
-		// Inputs must be read before reset -> will clear setup and parser
-		inps = read_input(nt.setup(), opt_inp());
-		nt.free_setup_resources();
-		nt.exec().reset();
-
-		ttr = netlist::netlist_time_ext::from_fp(opt_ttr());
-	}
+	nt.read_netlist(opt_files()[0], opt_name(),
+			opt_logs(),
+			m_defines, opt_rfolders(), opt_includes());
 
+	// Inputs must be read before reset -> will clear setup and parser
+	inps = read_input(nt.setup(), opt_inp());
+	nt.free_setup_resources();
+	nt.exec().reset();
 
+	ttr = netlist::netlist_time_ext::from_fp(opt_ttr());
+	t.stop();
 	pout("startup time ==> {1:5.3f}\n", t.as_seconds<netlist::nl_fptype>() );
 
 	// FIXME: error handling
diff --git a/src/lib/netlist/solver/nld_solver.cpp b/src/lib/netlist/solver/nld_solver.cpp
index f429dc66843..53f501ecbd6 100644
--- a/src/lib/netlist/solver/nld_solver.cpp
+++ b/src/lib/netlist/solver/nld_solver.cpp
@@ -81,14 +81,14 @@ namespace devices
 			}
 			else
 			{
-				stats()->m_stat_total_time.pause();
+				stats()->m_stat_total_time.stop();
 				for (std::size_t i = 0; i < p; i++)
 				{
 					tmp[i]->stats()->m_stat_call_count.inc();
 					auto g(tmp[i]->stats()->m_stat_total_time.guard());
 					nt[i] = tmp[i]->solve(now, "no-parallel");
 				}
-				stats()->m_stat_total_time.cont();
+				stats()->m_stat_total_time.start();
 			}
 
 			for (std::size_t i = 0; i < p; i++)