diff --git a/src/client/pv/pvAccess.h b/src/client/pv/pvAccess.h
index e208845..d43711a 100644
--- a/src/client/pv/pvAccess.h
+++ b/src/client/pv/pvAccess.h
@@ -1237,16 +1237,19 @@ public:
 
     //! Add a new Provider which will be built using SimpleChannelProviderFactory<Provider>
     template<class Provider>
-    bool add(const std::string& name, bool replace=true)
+    ChannelProviderFactory::shared_pointer add(const std::string& name, bool replace=true)
     {
         typedef SimpleChannelProviderFactory<Provider> Factory;
         typename Factory::shared_pointer fact(new Factory(name));
-        return add(fact, replace);
+        return add(fact, replace) ? fact : typename Factory::shared_pointer();
     }
 
-    //! Attempt to remove named factory.  Return Factory which was removed, or NULL if not found.
+    //! Attempt to remove a factory with the given name.  Return Factory which was removed, or NULL if not found.
     ChannelProviderFactory::shared_pointer remove(const std::string& name);
 
+    //! Attempt to remove a factory.  Return true if Factory was previously registered, and now removed.
+    bool remove(const ChannelProviderFactory::shared_pointer& factory);
+
     //! Drop all factories
     void clear()
     {
diff --git a/src/factory/ChannelAccessFactory.cpp b/src/factory/ChannelAccessFactory.cpp
index 150b5ea..f510fb8 100644
--- a/src/factory/ChannelAccessFactory.cpp
+++ b/src/factory/ChannelAccessFactory.cpp
@@ -69,6 +69,7 @@ std::auto_ptr<ChannelProviderRegistry::stringVector_t> ChannelProviderRegistry::
 
 bool ChannelProviderRegistry::add(const ChannelProviderFactory::shared_pointer& fact, bool replace)
 {
+    assert(fact);
     Lock G(mutex);
     std::string name(fact->getFactoryName());
     if(!replace && providers.find(name)!=providers.end())
@@ -79,6 +80,7 @@ bool ChannelProviderRegistry::add(const ChannelProviderFactory::shared_pointer&
 
 ChannelProviderFactory::shared_pointer ChannelProviderRegistry::remove(const std::string& name)
 {
+    Lock G(mutex);
     ChannelProviderFactory::shared_pointer ret;
     providers_t::iterator iter(providers.find(name));
     if(iter!=providers.end()) {
@@ -88,6 +90,18 @@ ChannelProviderFactory::shared_pointer ChannelProviderRegistry::remove(const std
     return ret;
 }
 
+bool ChannelProviderRegistry::remove(const ChannelProviderFactory::shared_pointer& fact)
+{
+    assert(fact);
+    Lock G(mutex);
+    providers_t::iterator iter(providers.find(fact->getFactoryName()));
+    if(iter!=providers.end() && iter->second==fact) {
+        providers.erase(iter);
+        return true;
+    }
+    return false;
+}
+
 ChannelProviderRegistry::shared_pointer getChannelProviderRegistry() {
     static Mutex mutex;
     static ChannelProviderRegistry::shared_pointer global_reg;