Index: util.c
===================================================================
RCS file: /local/perl/build/CVSROOT/perl/util.c,v
retrieving revision 1.1.1.1
diff -u -p -u -p -r1.1.1.1 util.c
--- util.c	2000/05/22 14:58:14	1.1.1.1
+++ util.c	2000/05/25 12:33:00
@@ -1580,14 +1580,20 @@ Perl_vcroak(pTHX_ const char* pat, va_li
     SV *msv;
     STRLEN msglen;
 
-    msv = vmess(pat, args);
-    if (PL_errors && SvCUR(PL_errors)) {
-	sv_catsv(PL_errors, msv);
-	message = SvPV(PL_errors, msglen);
-	SvCUR_set(PL_errors, 0);
+    if (pat) {
+	msv = vmess(pat, args);
+	if (PL_errors && SvCUR(PL_errors)) {
+	    sv_catsv(PL_errors, msv);
+	    message = SvPV(PL_errors, msglen);
+	    SvCUR_set(PL_errors, 0);
+	}
+	else
+	    message = SvPV(msv,msglen);
+    }
+    else {
+	message = Nullch;
+	msglen = 0;
     }
-    else
-	message = SvPV(msv,msglen);
 
     DEBUG_S(PerlIO_printf(Perl_debug_log, "croak: 0x%"UVxf" %s",
 			  PTR2UV(thr), message));
@@ -1606,9 +1612,14 @@ Perl_vcroak(pTHX_ const char* pat, va_li
 
 	    ENTER;
 	    save_re_context();
-	    msg = newSVpvn(message, msglen);
-	    SvREADONLY_on(msg);
-	    SAVEFREESV(msg);
+	    if (message) {
+		msg = newSVpvn(message, msglen);
+		SvREADONLY_on(msg);
+		SAVEFREESV(msg);
+	    }
+	    else {
+		msg = ERRSV;
+	    }
 
 	    PUSHSTACKi(PERLSI_DIEHOOK);
 	    PUSHMARK(SP);
@@ -1654,10 +1665,16 @@ Perl_croak_nocontext(const char *pat, ..
 
 /*
 =for apidoc croak
+
+This is the XSUB-writer's interface to Perl's C<die> function.
+Normally use this function the same way you use the C C<printf>
+function.  See C<warn>.
+
+If you want to throw object exceptions, assign the object reference to
+ERRSV and then pass C<Nullch> to croak():
 
-This is the XSUB-writer's interface to Perl's C<die> function.  Use this
-function the same way you use the C C<printf> function.  See
-C<warn>.
+   sv_setsv(ERRSV, exception);
+   croak(Nullch);
 
 =cut
 */