diff --git a/ioc/group.cpp b/ioc/group.cpp
index 1c444b2..f4182c1 100644
--- a/ioc/group.cpp
+++ b/ioc/group.cpp
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ static
 IOCGroupConfig* configInstance;
 
 static
-void onceConfigInstance(void*)
+void onceConfigInstance()
 {
     try {
         configInstance = new IOCGroupConfig;
@@ -32,12 +32,9 @@ void onceConfigInstance(void*)
     }
 }
 
-static
-epicsThreadOnceId onceConfig = EPICS_THREAD_ONCE_INIT;
-
 IOCGroupConfig& IOCGroupConfig::instance()
 {
-    epicsThreadOnce(&onceConfig, &onceConfigInstance, nullptr);
+    threadOnce<&onceConfigInstance>();
     return *configInstance;
 }
 
diff --git a/ioc/iochooks.cpp b/ioc/iochooks.cpp
index a48fda9..020a119 100644
--- a/ioc/iochooks.cpp
+++ b/ioc/iochooks.cpp
@@ -56,9 +56,7 @@ struct pvxServer_t {
     server::Server srv;
 } *pvxServer;
 
-epicsThreadOnceId pvxServerID = EPICS_THREAD_ONCE_INIT;
-
-void pvxServerInit(void*) {
+void pvxServerInit() {
     pvxServer = new pvxServer_t();
 }
 } // namespace
@@ -69,7 +67,7 @@ void pvxServerInit(void*) {
  * @return the pvxs server instance
  */
 server::Server server() {
-    threadOnce(&pvxServerID, &pvxServerInit);
+    threadOnce<&pvxServerInit>();
     Guard (pvxServer->lock);
     if(pvxServer->srv)
         return pvxServer->srv;
@@ -84,7 +82,7 @@ void initialisePvxsServer() {
     Config conf = ::pvxs::impl::inUnitTest() ? Config::isolated() : Config::from_env();
     Server newsrv(conf);
 
-    threadOnce(&pvxServerID, &pvxServerInit);
+    threadOnce<&pvxServerInit>();
     Guard G(pvxServer->lock);
     if(pvxServer->srv)
         throw std::logic_error(SB()<<__func__<<" found existing server?!?");
@@ -182,14 +180,12 @@ struct RefTrack {
     std::map<std::string, size_t> refs;
 } *refTrack;
 
-epicsThreadOnceId refSavedOnce = EPICS_THREAD_ONCE_INIT;
-
-void refSavedInit(void *) {
+void refSavedInit() {
     refTrack = new RefTrack();
 }
 
 void pvxrefsave() {
-    epicsThreadOnce(&refSavedOnce, &refSavedInit, nullptr);
+    threadOnce<&refSavedInit>();
     epicsGuard<epicsMutex> G(refTrack->lock);
     refTrack->refs = instanceSnapshot();
 }
@@ -198,7 +194,7 @@ void pvxrefdiff() {
     auto cur(instanceSnapshot());
     std::map<std::string, int64_t> diff;
 
-    epicsThreadOnce(&refSavedOnce, &refSavedInit, nullptr);
+    threadOnce<&refSavedInit>();
     {
         epicsGuard<epicsMutex> G(refTrack->lock);
 
diff --git a/src/evhelper.cpp b/src/evhelper.cpp
index 88c8a10..2b2cff1 100644
--- a/src/evhelper.cpp
+++ b/src/evhelper.cpp
@@ -52,10 +52,7 @@ VFunctor0::~VFunctor0() {}
 }
 
 static
-epicsThreadOnceId evthread_once = EPICS_THREAD_ONCE_INIT;
-
-static
-void evthread_init(void* unused)
+void evthread_init()
 {
 #if defined(EVTHREAD_USE_WINDOWS_THREADS_IMPLEMENTED)
     evthread_use_windows_threads();
@@ -147,7 +144,7 @@ struct evbase::Pvt final : public epicsThreadRunable
                 epicsThreadGetStackSize(epicsThreadStackBig),
                 prio)
     {
-        threadOnce(&evthread_once, &evthread_init, nullptr);
+        threadOnce<&evthread_init>();
 
         worker.start();
         start_sync.wait();
@@ -699,19 +696,17 @@ bool evsocket::init_canIPv6() noexcept
 #  define getMonotonic getCurrent
 #endif
 
-static epicsThreadOnceId mapOnce = EPICS_THREAD_ONCE_INIT;
-
 static IfaceMap* theinstance;
 
 static
-void mapInit(void*)
+void mapInit()
 {
     theinstance = new IfaceMap();
 }
 
 IfaceMap& IfaceMap::instance()
 {
-    threadOnce(&mapOnce, &mapInit);
+    threadOnce<&mapInit>();
     assert(theinstance);
     return *theinstance;
 }
diff --git a/src/log.cpp b/src/log.cpp
index 9f69fe2..cdac0cc 100644
--- a/src/log.cpp
+++ b/src/log.cpp
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ struct logger_gbl_t {
     }
 } *logger_gbl;
 
-void logger_prepare(void *unused)
+void logger_prepare()
 {
     logger_gbl = new logger_gbl_t;
 
@@ -260,8 +260,6 @@ void logger_prepare(void *unused)
     }
 }
 
-epicsThreadOnceId logger_once = EPICS_THREAD_ONCE_INIT;
-
 } // namespace
 
 Level logger::init()
@@ -274,7 +272,7 @@ Level logger::init()
         if(this->lvl.compare_exchange_strong(lvl, Level::Warn)) {
             // logger now has default config of Level::Err
             // we will fully initialize
-            threadOnce(&logger_once, &logger_prepare, nullptr);
+            threadOnce<&logger_prepare>();
             assert(logger_gbl);
 
             Guard G(logger_gbl->lock);
@@ -326,7 +324,7 @@ void xerrlogHexPrintf(const void *buf, size_t buflen)
 
 void logger_level_set(const char *name, int lvl)
 {
-    threadOnce(&logger_once, &logger_prepare, nullptr);
+    threadOnce<&logger_prepare>();
     assert(logger_gbl);
 
     Guard G(logger_gbl->lock);
@@ -335,7 +333,7 @@ void logger_level_set(const char *name, int lvl)
 
 void logger_level_clear()
 {
-    threadOnce(&logger_once, &logger_prepare, nullptr);
+    threadOnce<&logger_prepare>();
     assert(logger_gbl);
 
     Guard G(logger_gbl->lock);
@@ -348,7 +346,7 @@ void logger_config_env()
     if(!env || !*env)
         return;
 
-    threadOnce(&logger_once, &logger_prepare, nullptr);
+    threadOnce<&logger_prepare>();
 
     Guard G(logger_gbl->lock);
 
@@ -397,7 +395,7 @@ namespace pvxs {namespace impl {
 
 void logger_shutdown()
 {
-    threadOnce(&logger_once, &logger_prepare, nullptr);
+    threadOnce<&logger_prepare>();
 
     errlogFlush();
 
diff --git a/src/os/WIN32/osdSockExt.cpp b/src/os/WIN32/osdSockExt.cpp
index da35894..46ea752 100644
--- a/src/os/WIN32/osdSockExt.cpp
+++ b/src/os/WIN32/osdSockExt.cpp
@@ -38,10 +38,7 @@ static
 LPFN_WSARECVMSG WSARecvMsg;
 
 static
-epicsThreadOnceId oseOnce = EPICS_THREAD_ONCE_INIT;
-
-static
-void oseDoOnce(void*)
+void oseDoOnce()
 {
     evsocket dummy(AF_INET, SOCK_DGRAM, 0);
     GUID guid      = WSAID_WSARECVMSG;
@@ -64,7 +61,7 @@ void oseDoOnce(void*)
 void osiSockAttachExt()
 {
     osiSockAttach();
-    epicsThreadOnce(&oseOnce, &oseDoOnce, nullptr);
+    threadOnce<&oseDoOnce>();
 }
 
 void evsocket::enable_SO_RXQ_OVFL() const {}
diff --git a/src/os/default/osdSockExt.cpp b/src/os/default/osdSockExt.cpp
index dba66df..5f0550c 100644
--- a/src/os/default/osdSockExt.cpp
+++ b/src/os/default/osdSockExt.cpp
@@ -38,10 +38,7 @@ DEFINE_LOGGER(log, "pvxs.util");
 DEFINE_LOGGER(logiface, "pvxs.iface");
 
 static
-epicsThreadOnceId oseOnce = EPICS_THREAD_ONCE_INIT;
-
-static
-void oseDoOnce(void*)
+void oseDoOnce()
 {
     evsocket::canIPv6 = evsocket::init_canIPv6();
 #ifdef __linux__
@@ -54,7 +51,7 @@ void oseDoOnce(void*)
 
 void osiSockAttachExt() {
     osiSockAttach();
-    epicsThreadOnce(&oseOnce, &oseDoOnce, nullptr);
+    threadOnce<&oseDoOnce>();
 }
 
 void evsocket::enable_SO_RXQ_OVFL() const
diff --git a/src/udp_collector.cpp b/src/udp_collector.cpp
index 94b0c7d..8e0366e 100644
--- a/src/udp_collector.cpp
+++ b/src/udp_collector.cpp
@@ -519,17 +519,15 @@ evbase& UDPManager::loop()
 }
 
 namespace {
-epicsThreadOnceId collector_once = EPICS_THREAD_ONCE_INIT;
-void collector_init(void *unused)
+void collector_init()
 {
-    (void)unused;
     udp_gbl = new udp_gbl_t;
 }
 } // namespace
 
 UDPManager UDPManager::instance(bool share)
 {
-    threadOnce(&collector_once, &collector_init, nullptr);
+    threadOnce<&collector_init>();
     assert(udp_gbl);
 
     Guard G(udp_gbl->lock);
diff --git a/src/util.cpp b/src/util.cpp
index 7007bf7..9ebab35 100644
--- a/src/util.cpp
+++ b/src/util.cpp
@@ -77,13 +77,12 @@ unsigned long version_abi_int()
 }
 
 namespace {
-epicsThreadOnceId ICountOnce = EPICS_THREAD_ONCE_INIT;
 struct ICountGbl_t {
     RWLock lock;
     std::map<std::string, std::atomic<size_t>*> counters;
 } *ICountGbl;
 
-void ICountInit(void*)
+void ICountInit()
 {
     ICountGbl = new ICountGbl_t;
 }
@@ -92,7 +91,7 @@ void ICountInit(void*)
 
 void registerICount(const char *name, std::atomic<size_t>& Cnt)
 {
-    epicsThreadOnce(&ICountOnce, &ICountInit, nullptr);
+    threadOnce<&ICountInit>();
     auto& gbl = *ICountGbl;
     try {
         auto L(gbl.lock.lockWriter());
@@ -110,7 +109,7 @@ std::map<std::string, size_t> instanceSnapshot()
     std::map<std::string, size_t> ret;
 
     {
-        epicsThreadOnce(&ICountOnce, &ICountInit, nullptr);
+        threadOnce<&ICountInit>();
         auto& gbl = *ICountGbl;
         auto L(gbl.lock.lockReader());
         for(auto& pair : gbl.counters) {
@@ -729,28 +728,31 @@ void compat_make_socket_nonblocking(SOCKET sock)
 
 namespace pvxs {namespace impl {
 struct onceArgs {
-    EPICSTHREADFUNC fn;
-    void *arg;
+    threadOnceInfo *info;
     std::exception_ptr err;
 };
 
 static
-void onceWrapper(void *raw)
+void onceWrapper(void *raw) noexcept
 {
     auto args = static_cast<onceArgs*>(raw);
     try {
-        args->fn(args->arg);
+        args->info->fn();
+        args->info->ok = true;
     }catch(...){
         args->err = std::current_exception();
+        args->info->ok = false;
     }
 }
 
-void threadOnce(epicsThreadOnceId *id, EPICSTHREADFUNC fn, void *arg)
+void threadOnce_(threadOnceInfo *info)
 {
-    onceArgs args{fn, arg};
-    epicsThreadOnce(id, &onceWrapper, &args);
+    onceArgs args{info};
+    epicsThreadOnce(&info->id, &onceWrapper, &args);
     if(args.err)
         std::rethrow_exception(args.err);
+    if(!info->ok)
+        throw std::logic_error("threadOnce() : Previous failure");
 }
 
 template<>
diff --git a/src/utilpvt.h b/src/utilpvt.h
index 9a95349..e8ffb81 100644
--- a/src/utilpvt.h
+++ b/src/utilpvt.h
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 #include <event2/util.h>
 
 #include <compilerDependencies.h>
+#include <epicsThread.h>
 
 #include <pvxs/version.h>
 #include <pvxs/util.h>
@@ -90,8 +91,23 @@ void strDiff(std::ostream& out,
              const char *lhs,
              const char *rhs);
 
+struct threadOnceInfo {
+    epicsThreadOnceId id = EPICS_THREAD_ONCE_INIT;
+    void (* const fn)();
+    bool ok = false;
+    explicit constexpr threadOnceInfo(void (*fn)()) :fn(fn) {}
+};
+
 PVXS_API
-void threadOnce(epicsThreadOnceId *id, EPICSTHREADFUNC fn, void *arg=nullptr);
+void threadOnce_(threadOnceInfo *info) ;
+
+template<void (*onceFn)()>
+void threadOnce() noexcept {
+    // global name qualified by onceFn address.
+    // effectively replicated for each onceFn
+    static threadOnceInfo info{onceFn};
+    threadOnce_(&info);
+}
 
 namespace idetail {
 template <typename I>
diff --git a/test/testutil.cpp b/test/testutil.cpp
index 93336a3..5857363 100644
--- a/test/testutil.cpp
+++ b/test/testutil.cpp
@@ -267,11 +267,31 @@ void testStrDiff()
           "+ \" yyy\"\n");
 }
 
+size_t onceCount[2];
+
+template<size_t I>
+void onceInc() {
+    onceCount[I]++;
+}
+
+void testOnce()
+{
+    testShow()<<__func__;
+
+    threadOnce<onceInc<0>>();
+    threadOnce<onceInc<1>>();
+    threadOnce<onceInc<0>>();
+    threadOnce<onceInc<1>>();
+
+    testEq(onceCount[0], 1u);
+    testEq(onceCount[1], 1u);
+}
+
 } // namespace
 
 MAIN(testutil)
 {
-    testPlan(33);
+    testPlan(35);
     testTrue(version_abi_check())<<" 0x"<<std::hex<<PVXS_VERSION<<" ~= 0x"<<std::hex<<PVXS_ABI_VERSION;
     testServerGUID();
     testFill();
@@ -280,5 +300,6 @@ MAIN(testutil)
     testAccount();
     testTestEq();
     testStrDiff();
+    testOnce();
     return testDone();
 }