diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/bin/rocprofv3.py b/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/bin/rocprofv3.py
index 806fc454bb..7c621f760b 100755
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/bin/rocprofv3.py
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/bin/rocprofv3.py
@@ -546,6 +546,23 @@ For MPI applications (or other job launchers such as SLURM), place rocprofv3 ins
         nargs="*",
     )
 
+    advanced_options.add_argument(
+        "--rocm-root",
+        help="Use the given path as the root ROCm path instead of the relative path of this script",
+        type=str,
+        metavar="PATH",
+        default=None,
+    )
+    add_parser_bool_argument(
+        advanced_options,
+        "--readlink",
+        help=argparse.SUPPRESS,
+    )
+    add_parser_bool_argument(
+        advanced_options,
+        "--realpath",
+        help=argparse.SUPPRESS,
+    )
     # below is available for CI because LD_PRELOADing a library linked to a sanitizer library
     # causes issues in apps where HIP is part of shared library.
     add_parser_bool_argument(
@@ -874,6 +891,8 @@ def run(app_args, args, **kwargs):
 
     ROCPROFV3_DIR = os.path.dirname(os.path.realpath(__file__))
     ROCM_DIR = os.path.dirname(ROCPROFV3_DIR)
+    if args.rocm_root is not None:
+        ROCM_DIR = os.path.abspath(args.rocm_root)
     ROCPROF_TOOL_LIBRARY = f"{ROCM_DIR}/lib/rocprofiler-sdk/librocprofiler-sdk-tool.so"
     ROCPROF_SDK_LIBRARY = f"{ROCM_DIR}/lib/librocprofiler-sdk.so"
     ROCPROF_ROCTX_LIBRARY = f"{ROCM_DIR}/lib/librocprofiler-sdk-roctx.so"
@@ -884,6 +903,22 @@ def run(app_args, args, **kwargs):
         f"{ROCM_DIR}/libexec/rocprofiler-sdk/librocprofv3-list-avail.so"
     )
 
+    def resolve_path(val):
+        if not os.path.exists(val):
+            fatal_error(f"{val} does not exist")
+        if os.path.islink(val):
+            if args.readlink:
+                val = os.path.abspath(os.readlink(val))
+            if args.realpath:
+                val = os.path.realpath(val)
+        return val
+
+    ROCPROF_TOOL_LIBRARY = resolve_path(ROCPROF_TOOL_LIBRARY)
+    ROCPROF_SDK_LIBRARY = resolve_path(ROCPROF_SDK_LIBRARY)
+    ROCPROF_ROCTX_LIBRARY = resolve_path(ROCPROF_ROCTX_LIBRARY)
+    ROCPROF_KOKKOSP_LIBRARY = resolve_path(ROCPROF_KOKKOSP_LIBRARY)
+    ROCPROF_LIST_AVAIL_TOOL_LIBRARY = resolve_path(ROCPROF_LIST_AVAIL_TOOL_LIBRARY)
+
     prepend_preload = [itr for itr in args.preload if itr]
     append_preload = [
         ROCPROF_TOOL_LIBRARY,
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/bin/rocprofv3_avail.py b/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/bin/rocprofv3_avail.py
old mode 100644
new mode 100755
index 98b6f8edc2..64a5a166bd
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/bin/rocprofv3_avail.py
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/bin/rocprofv3_avail.py
@@ -69,10 +69,21 @@ class pc_config:
         self.max_interval = max_interval
 
 
+ROCPROFV3_AVAIL_DIR = os.path.dirname(os.path.realpath(__file__))
+ROCM_DIR = os.path.dirname(ROCPROFV3_AVAIL_DIR)
+ROCPROF_LIST_AVAIL_TOOL_LIBRARY = (
+    f"{ROCM_DIR}/libexec/rocprofiler-sdk/librocprofv3-list-avail.so"
+)
+
 MAX_STR = 256
-libname = os.environ.get("ROCPROF_LIST_AVAIL_TOOL_LIBRARY")
+libname = os.environ.get(
+    "ROCPROF_LIST_AVAIL_TOOL_LIBRARY", ROCPROF_LIST_AVAIL_TOOL_LIBRARY
+)
 c_lib = ctypes.CDLL(libname)
 
+if c_lib is None:
+    fatal_error(f"Error opening {libname}")
+
 c_lib.get_number_of_counters.restype = ctypes.c_ulong
 c_lib.get_number_of_pc_sample_configs.restype = ctypes.c_ulong
 c_lib.get_number_of_dimensions.restype = ctypes.c_ulong
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/common/container/ring_buffer.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/common/container/ring_buffer.cpp
index fd4f3155f4..f42bd339c2 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/common/container/ring_buffer.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/common/container/ring_buffer.cpp
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@
 #include "lib/common/environment.hpp"
 #include "lib/common/units.hpp"
 
+#include <fmt/format.h>
+
 #include <sys/mman.h>
 #include <atomic>
 #include <cerrno>
@@ -71,9 +73,8 @@ ring_buffer::operator=(ring_buffer&& rhs) noexcept
 void
 ring_buffer::init(size_t _size)
 {
-    if(m_init)
-        throw std::runtime_error("rocprofiler::common::container::base::ring_buffer::init(size_t) "
-                                 ":: already initialized");
+    ROCP_FATAL_IF(m_init)
+        << "rocprofiler::common::container::base::ring_buffer::init(size_t) :: already initialized";
 
     m_init = true;
 
@@ -85,9 +86,10 @@ ring_buffer::init(size_t _size)
     if((_size % units::get_page_size()) > 0)
     {
         std::ostringstream _oss{};
-        _oss << "Error! size is not a multiple of page size: " << _size << " % "
-             << units::get_page_size() << " = " << (_size % units::get_page_size());
-        throw std::runtime_error(_oss.str());
+        ROCP_FATAL << fmt::format("Error! size is not a multiple of page size: {} % {} = {}",
+                                  _size,
+                                  units::get_page_size(),
+                                  (_size % units::get_page_size()));
     }
 
     m_size        = _size;
@@ -101,7 +103,7 @@ ring_buffer::init(size_t _size)
     {
         destroy();
         auto _err = errno;
-        throw std::runtime_error(strerror(_err));
+        ROCP_FATAL << fmt::format("mmap failed with errno {} :: {}", _err, strerror(_err));
     }
 }
 
@@ -256,10 +258,9 @@ ring_buffer::can_clear() const
 bool
 ring_buffer::clear()
 {
-    if(!can_clear())
-        throw std::runtime_error(
-            "ring_buffer does not permit invoking clear() member function when the read "
-            "pointer is non-zero because this introduces thread-safety issues");
+    ROCP_CI_LOG_IF(WARNING, !can_clear())
+        << "ring_buffer does not permit invoking clear() member function when the read pointer is "
+           "non-zero because this introduces thread-safety issues";
 
     m_write_count.store(0, std::memory_order_release);
     return true;
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/common/elf_utils.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/common/elf_utils.cpp
index c73b6ce19d..e4d4a8c7f0 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/common/elf_utils.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/common/elf_utils.cpp
@@ -22,6 +22,9 @@
 
 #include "lib/common/elf_utils.hpp"
 
+#include <rocprofiler-sdk/cxx/utility.hpp>
+
+#include <fmt/format.h>
 #include <elfio/elfio.hpp>
 
 #include <sys/stat.h>
@@ -47,22 +50,14 @@ namespace
 {
 const ELFIO::Elf_Xword PAGE_SIZE = sysconf(_SC_PAGESIZE);
 
-template <typename Tp>
-std::string
-as_hex_string(Tp&& _v, size_t _w = 16)
-{
-    auto _ss = std::stringstream{};
-    _ss.fill('0');
-    _ss << "0x" << std::hex << std::setw(_w) << std::forward<Tp>(_v);
-    return _ss.str();
-}
+using ::rocprofiler::sdk::utility::as_hex;
 }  // namespace
 
 SymbolEntry::SymbolEntry(unsigned int _idx, const accessor_type& _accessor)
 : index{_idx}
 {
     if(!_accessor.get_symbol(index, name, value, size, bind, type, section_index, other))
-        throw std::runtime_error("Error in ELFIO::symbol_section_accessor::get_symbol");
+        ROCP_WARNING << "ELFIO::symbol_section_accessor::get_symbol failed of symbol " << _idx;
 }
 
 DynamicEntry::DynamicEntry(unsigned int _idx, const accessor_type& _accessor)
@@ -75,7 +70,7 @@ RelocationEntry::RelocationEntry(unsigned int _idx, const accessor_type& _access
 : index{_idx}
 {
     if(!_accessor.get_entry(_idx, offset, symbol, type, addend))
-        throw std::runtime_error("Error in ELFIO::relocation_section_accessor::get_entry");
+        ROCP_WARNING << "ELFIO::relocation_section_accessor::get_entry failed for symbol " << _idx;
 }
 
 ElfInfo::ElfInfo(std::string _fname)
@@ -111,24 +106,25 @@ read(const std::string& _inp)
 
     ROCP_TRACE << "\nReading " << _inp;
 
-    if(!reader.load(_inp)) throw std::runtime_error("Could not load elf file " + _inp);
+    if(!reader.load(_inp))
+        ROCP_WARNING << fmt::format("ELF parsing for '{}' did not succeed", _inp);
 
     if(reader.get_class() == ELFIO::ELFCLASS32)
-        ROCP_TRACE << "ELF 32-bit";
+        ROCP_TRACE << "  - ELF 32-bit";
     else
-        ROCP_TRACE << "ELF 64-bit";
+        ROCP_TRACE << "  - ELF 64-bit";
 
-    ROCP_TRACE << "ELF file encoding: "
+    ROCP_TRACE << "  - ELF file encoding: "
                << ((reader.get_encoding() == ELFIO::ELFDATA2LSB) ? std::string_view{"Little endian"}
                                                                  : std::string_view{"Big endian"});
 
-    ROCP_TRACE << "ELF version: " << reader.get_elf_version();
-    ROCP_TRACE << "ELF header size: " << reader.get_header_size();
-    ROCP_TRACE << "ELF OS ABI: " << reader.get_os_abi();
+    ROCP_TRACE << "  - ELF version: " << reader.get_elf_version();
+    ROCP_TRACE << "  - ELF header size: " << reader.get_header_size();
+    ROCP_TRACE << "  - ELF OS ABI: " << reader.get_os_abi();
 
     // Print ELF file sections info
     ELFIO::Elf_Half sec_num = reader.sections.size();
-    ROCP_TRACE << "Number of sections: " << sec_num;
+    ROCP_TRACE << "  - Number of sections: " << sec_num;
 
     for(ELFIO::Elf_Half j = 0; j < sec_num; ++j)
     {
@@ -143,85 +139,85 @@ read(const std::string& _inp)
     for(ELFIO::Elf_Half j = 0; j < sec_num; ++j)
     {
         Section* psec = sections.at(j);
-        ROCP_TRACE << "  [" << j << "] \t" << std::setw(20) << psec->get_name() << "\t : \t"
+        ROCP_TRACE << "      [" << j << "] \t" << std::setw(20) << psec->get_name() << "\t : \t"
                    << "size / entry-size = " << std::setw(6) << psec->get_size() << " / "
                    << std::setw(3) << psec->get_entry_size()
-                   << " | addr: " << as_hex_string(psec->get_address())
-                   << " | offset: " << as_hex_string(psec->get_offset());
+                   << " | addr: " << as_hex(psec->get_address(), 16)
+                   << " | offset: " << as_hex(psec->get_offset(), 16);
 
         if(psec->get_size() == 0) continue;
 
         if(psec->get_type() == ELFIO::SHT_SYMTAB)
         {
             const ELFIO::symbol_section_accessor _symbols(reader, psec);
-            ROCP_TRACE << "   Number of symbol entries: " << _symbols.get_symbols_num();
+            ROCP_TRACE << "  - Number of symbol entries: " << _symbols.get_symbols_num();
             for(ELFIO::Elf_Xword k = 0; k < _symbols.get_symbols_num(); ++k)
                 symbol_entries.emplace_back(k, _symbols);
         }
         else if(psec->get_type() == ELFIO::SHT_DYNSYM)
         {
             const ELFIO::symbol_section_accessor _symbols(reader, psec);
-            ROCP_TRACE << "   Number of dynamic symbol entries: " << _symbols.get_symbols_num();
+            ROCP_TRACE << "  - Number of dynamic symbol entries: " << _symbols.get_symbols_num();
             for(ELFIO::Elf_Xword k = 0; k < _symbols.get_symbols_num(); ++k)
                 dynamic_symbol_entries.emplace_back(k, _symbols);
         }
         else if(psec->get_type() == ELFIO::SHT_DYNAMIC)
         {
             const ELFIO::dynamic_section_accessor dynamic{reader, psec};
-            ROCP_TRACE << "   Number of dynamic entries: " << dynamic.get_entries_num();
+            ROCP_TRACE << "  - Number of dynamic entries: " << dynamic.get_entries_num();
             for(ELFIO::Elf_Xword k = 0; k < dynamic.get_entries_num(); ++k)
                 dynamic_entries.emplace_back(k, dynamic);
         }
         else if(psec->get_type() == ELFIO::SHT_REL || psec->get_type() == ELFIO::SHT_RELA)
         {
             const ELFIO::relocation_section_accessor reloc{reader, psec};
-            ROCP_TRACE << "   Number of relocation entries: " << reloc.get_entries_num();
+            ROCP_TRACE << "  - Number of relocation entries: " << reloc.get_entries_num();
             for(ELFIO::Elf_Xword k = 0; k < reloc.get_entries_num(); ++k)
                 reloc_entries.emplace_back(k, reloc);
         }
     }
 
-    ROCP_TRACE << "Symbols:";
+    ROCP_TRACE << "  - Symbols:";
     for(size_t k = 0; k < symbol_entries.size(); ++k)
     {
         if(!symbol_entries.at(k).name.empty())
-            ROCP_TRACE << "      [" << k << "] " << symbol_entries.at(k).name;
+            ROCP_TRACE << "          [" << k << "] " << symbol_entries.at(k).name;
     }
 
-    ROCP_TRACE << "Dynamic Symbols:";
+    ROCP_TRACE << "  - Dynamic Symbols:";
     for(size_t k = 0; k < dynamic_symbol_entries.size(); ++k)
     {
         if(!dynamic_symbol_entries.at(k).name.empty())
-            ROCP_TRACE << "      [" << k << "] " << dynamic_symbol_entries.at(k).name;
+            ROCP_TRACE << "          [" << k << "] " << dynamic_symbol_entries.at(k).name;
     }
 
-    ROCP_TRACE << "Dynamic entries:";
+    ROCP_TRACE << "  - Dynamic entries:";
     for(size_t k = 0; k < dynamic_entries.size(); ++k)
     {
         if(!dynamic_entries.at(k).name.empty())
-            ROCP_TRACE << "      [" << k << "] " << dynamic_entries.at(k).name;
+            ROCP_TRACE << "          [" << k << "] " << dynamic_entries.at(k).name;
     }
 
-    ROCP_TRACE << "Relocation entries:";
+    ROCP_TRACE << "  - Relocation entries:";
     for(size_t k = 0; k < reloc_entries.size(); ++k)
     {
         auto _sym_idx = reloc_entries.at(k).symbol;
         auto _name    = std::string{};
         if(_sym_idx < symbol_entries.size()) _name = symbol_entries.at(_sym_idx).name;
-        if(!_name.empty()) ROCP_TRACE << "      [" << k << "] " << _name;
+        if(!_name.empty()) ROCP_TRACE << "          [" << k << "] " << _name;
     }
 
     // Print ELF file segments info
     ELFIO::Elf_Half seg_num = reader.segments.size();
-    ROCP_TRACE << "Number of segments: " << seg_num;
+    ROCP_TRACE << "  - Number of segments: " << seg_num;
     for(ELFIO::Elf_Half j = 0; j < seg_num; ++j)
     {
         const ELFIO::segment* pseg = reader.segments[j];
-        ROCP_TRACE << "  [" << std::setw(2) << j << "] flags: " << as_hex_string(pseg->get_flags())
-                   << "   offset: " << as_hex_string(pseg->get_offset())
-                   << "   align: " << as_hex_string(pseg->get_align())
-                   << "   virt: " << as_hex_string(pseg->get_virtual_address())
-                   << "   phys: " << as_hex_string(pseg->get_physical_address())
+        ROCP_TRACE << "      [" << std::setw(2) << j << "] flags: " << as_hex(pseg->get_flags(), 16)
+                   << "   offset: " << as_hex(pseg->get_offset(), 16)
+                   << "   align: " << as_hex(pseg->get_align(), 16)
+                   << "   virt: " << as_hex(pseg->get_virtual_address(), 16)
+                   << "   phys: " << as_hex(pseg->get_physical_address(), 16)
                    << "  fsize: " << std::setw(8) << pseg->get_file_size()
                    << "  msize: " << std::setw(8) << pseg->get_memory_size();
     }
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/common/environment.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/common/environment.cpp
index ab727b5666..8f7cd4d045 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/common/environment.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/common/environment.cpp
@@ -24,6 +24,8 @@
 #include "lib/common/demangle.hpp"
 #include "lib/common/logging.hpp"
 
+#include <fmt/format.h>
+
 #include <cctype>
 #include <cstdint>
 #include <cstdio>
@@ -62,8 +64,7 @@ get_env(std::string_view env_id, bool _default)
     {
         if(std::string_view{env_var}.empty())
         {
-            throw std::runtime_error(std::string{"No boolean value provided for "} +
-                                     std::string{env_id});
+            ROCP_FATAL << fmt::format("No boolean value provided for {}", env_id);
         }
 
         if(std::string_view{env_var}.find_first_not_of("0123456789") == std::string_view::npos)
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/common/memory/pool.hpp b/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/common/memory/pool.hpp
index 8890de28a6..6857d40450 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/common/memory/pool.hpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/common/memory/pool.hpp
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@
 #pragma once
 
 #include "lib/common/defines.hpp"
+#include "lib/common/logging.hpp"
 
 #include <cstddef>
 #include <cstdint>
@@ -68,8 +69,7 @@ public:
     {
         if(!(m_addrs.empty() && m_blocks.empty()))
         {
-            throw std::runtime_error{"cannot call pool::rebind() after alloc"};
-            ::abort();
+            ROCP_FATAL << "cannot call pool::rebind() after alloc";
         }
 
         m_size = size;
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/output/generateJSON.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/output/generateJSON.cpp
index 9c8ef7d28e..7826a28515 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/output/generateJSON.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/output/generateJSON.cpp
@@ -124,21 +124,16 @@ write_json(json_output&         json_ar,
         auto code_object_load_info          = tool_metadata.get_code_object_load_info();
         auto att_filenames                  = tool_metadata.get_att_filenames();
         auto code_object_snapshot_filenames = std::vector<std::string>{};
+
         code_object_snapshot_filenames.reserve(code_object_load_info.size());
         for(const auto& info : code_object_load_info)
-        {
             code_object_snapshot_filenames.emplace_back(fs::path(info.name).filename());
-        }
+
         json_ar.setNextName("strings");
         json_ar.startNode();
         json_ar(cereal::make_nvp("callback_records", callback_name_info));
         json_ar(cereal::make_nvp("buffer_records", buffer_name_info));
         json_ar(cereal::make_nvp("marker_api", marker_msg_data));
-        json_ar(
-            cereal::make_nvp("pc_sample_instructions", tool_metadata.get_pc_sample_instructions()));
-        json_ar(cereal::make_nvp("pc_sample_comments", tool_metadata.get_pc_sample_comments()));
-        json_ar(cereal::make_nvp("att_filenames", att_filenames));
-        json_ar(cereal::make_nvp("code_object_snapshot_filenames", code_object_snapshot_filenames));
         {
             auto _extern_corr_id_strings = std::map<size_t, std::string>{};
             if(cfg.kernel_rename)
@@ -166,6 +161,12 @@ write_json(json_output&         json_ar,
             json_ar.finishNode();
         }
 
+        json_ar(
+            cereal::make_nvp("pc_sample_instructions", tool_metadata.get_pc_sample_instructions()));
+        json_ar(cereal::make_nvp("pc_sample_comments", tool_metadata.get_pc_sample_comments()));
+        json_ar(cereal::make_nvp("att_filenames", att_filenames));
+        json_ar(cereal::make_nvp("code_object_snapshot_filenames", code_object_snapshot_filenames));
+
         json_ar.finishNode();
     }
 
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/output/metadata.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/output/metadata.cpp
index a79ab335ba..f48ae04fcd 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/output/metadata.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/output/metadata.cpp
@@ -256,7 +256,7 @@ metadata::get_att_filenames() const
     {
         for(const auto& file : filenames.second.second)
         {
-            data.emplace_back(fs::path(file).filename());
+            data.emplace_back(fs::path{file}.filename());
         }
     }
     return data;
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/rocprofiler-sdk-tool/tool.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/rocprofiler-sdk-tool/tool.cpp
index 6bf7418073..826d1eab47 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/rocprofiler-sdk-tool/tool.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/rocprofiler-sdk-tool/tool.cpp
@@ -1007,9 +1007,11 @@ rocprofiler_pc_sampling_callback(rocprofiler_context_id_t /* context_id*/,
 
         if(cur_header == nullptr)
         {
-            throw std::runtime_error{
-                "rocprofiler provided a null pointer to header. this should never happen"};
+            ROCP_CI_LOG(WARNING) << "rocprofiler provided a null pointer to buffer record header. "
+                                    "this should never happen";
+            continue;
         }
+
         else if(cur_header->category == ROCPROFILER_BUFFER_CATEGORY_PC_SAMPLING)
         {
             if(cur_header->kind == ROCPROFILER_PC_SAMPLING_RECORD_HOST_TRAP_V0_SAMPLE)
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/rocprofiler-sdk/agent.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/rocprofiler-sdk/agent.cpp
index a9948bedf8..94e07c69d7 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/rocprofiler-sdk/agent.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/rocprofiler-sdk/agent.cpp
@@ -207,11 +207,17 @@ read_file(const std::string& fname)
     auto data = std::vector<std::string>{};
 
     if(!is_readable(fs::path{fname}))
-        throw std::runtime_error{fmt::format("file '{}' cannot be read", fname)};
+    {
+        ROCP_CI_LOG(WARNING) << fmt::format("file '{}' cannot be read", fname);
+        return data;
+    }
 
     auto ifs = std::ifstream{fname};
     if(!ifs || !ifs.good())
-        throw std::runtime_error{fmt::format("file '{}' cannot be read", fname)};
+    {
+        ROCP_CI_LOG(WARNING) << fmt::format("file '{}' cannot be read", fname);
+        return data;
+    }
 
     while(true)
     {
@@ -231,11 +237,17 @@ read_map(const std::string& fname)
     auto data = std::unordered_map<std::string, std::string>{};
 
     if(!is_readable(fs::path{fname}))
-        throw std::runtime_error{fmt::format("file '{}' cannot be read", fname)};
+    {
+        ROCP_CI_LOG(WARNING) << fmt::format("file '{}' cannot be read", fname);
+        return data;
+    }
 
     auto ifs = std::ifstream{fname};
     if(!ifs || !ifs.good())
-        throw std::runtime_error{fmt::format("file '{}' cannot be read", fname)};
+    {
+        ROCP_CI_LOG(WARNING) << fmt::format("file '{}' cannot be read", fname);
+        return data;
+    }
 
     auto last_label = std::string{};
     while(true)
@@ -247,17 +259,23 @@ read_map(const std::string& fname)
         auto entry = std::string{};
         ifs >> entry;
         if(ifs.eof())
-            throw std::runtime_error{
-                fmt::format("unexpected file format in '{}' at {}", fname, label)};
+        {
+            ROCP_CI_LOG(WARNING) << fmt::format(
+                "unexpected file format in '{}' at {}", fname, label);
+            continue;
+        }
 
         auto ret = data.emplace(label, entry);
         if(!ret.second)
-            throw std::runtime_error{
-                fmt::format("duplicate entry in '{}': '{}' (='{}'). last label was '{}'",
-                            fname,
-                            label,
-                            entry,
-                            last_label)};
+        {
+            ROCP_CI_LOG(WARNING) << fmt::format(
+                "duplicate entry in '{}': '{}' (='{}'). last label was '{}'",
+                fname,
+                label,
+                entry,
+                last_label);
+            continue;
+        }
 
         if(!label.empty()) last_label = std::move(label);
     }
@@ -305,21 +323,22 @@ read_property(const MapT& data, const std::string& label, Tp& value)
         constexpr auto max_value = std::numeric_limits<Tp>::max();
         if(local_value < min_value)
         {
-            throw std::runtime_error{
-                fmt::format("data with label {} has a value (={}) which is less "
-                            "than the min value for the type (={})",
-                            label,
-                            local_value,
-                            min_value)};
+            ROCP_CI_LOG(WARNING) << fmt::format(
+                "data with label {} has a value (={}) which is less "
+                "than the min value for the type (={})",
+                label,
+                local_value,
+                min_value);
+            return;
         }
         else if(local_value > max_value)
         {
-            throw std::runtime_error{fmt::format("data with label {} has a value (={}) which is "
-                                                 "greater "
-                                                 "than the max value for the type (={})",
-                                                 label,
-                                                 local_value,
-                                                 max_value)};
+            ROCP_CI_LOG(WARNING) << fmt::format("data with label {} has a value (={}) which is "
+                                                "greater than the max value for the type (={})",
+                                                label,
+                                                local_value,
+                                                max_value);
+            return;
         }
 
         if constexpr(std::is_const<Tp>::value)
@@ -544,13 +563,17 @@ using unique_agent_t = std::unique_ptr<rocprofiler_agent_t, void (*)(rocprofiler
 auto
 read_topology()
 {
-    auto sysfs_nodes_path = fs::path{"/sys/class/kfd/kfd/topology/nodes/"};
+    auto data = std::vector<unique_agent_t>{};
+
+    const auto sysfs_nodes_path = fs::path{"/sys/class/kfd/kfd/topology/nodes"};
     if(!fs::exists(sysfs_nodes_path))
-        throw std::runtime_error{
-            fmt::format("sysfs nodes path '{}' does not exist", sysfs_nodes_path.string())};
+    {
+        ROCP_CI_LOG(WARNING) << fmt::format("sysfs nodes path '{}' does not exist",
+                                            sysfs_nodes_path.string());
+        return data;
+    }
 
     const auto& cpu_info_v = get_cpu_info();
-    auto        data       = std::vector<unique_agent_t>{};
     uint64_t    idcount    = 0;
     uint64_t    nodecount  = 0;
     uint64_t    cpucount   = 0;
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/rocprofiler-sdk/buffer.hpp b/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/rocprofiler-sdk/buffer.hpp
index 7524f08d5a..f0c249c84d 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/rocprofiler-sdk/buffer.hpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/rocprofiler-sdk/buffer.hpp
@@ -124,11 +124,12 @@ rocprofiler::buffer::instance::emplace(uint32_t category, uint32_t kind, Tp& val
     {
         if(buffers.at(idx).capacity() < sizeof(value))
         {
-            auto msg = std::stringstream{};
-            msg << "buffer " << buffer_id << " to small (size=" << buffers.at(idx).capacity()
-                << ") to hold an object of type " << common::cxx_demangle(typeid(value).name())
-                << " with size " << sizeof(value);
-            throw std::runtime_error(msg.str());
+            ROCP_CI_LOG(ERROR) << "buffer " << buffer_id
+                               << " too small (size=" << buffers.at(idx).capacity()
+                               << ") to hold an object of type "
+                               << common::cxx_demangle(typeid(value).name()) << " with size "
+                               << sizeof(value);
+            return false;
         }
 
         if(policy == ROCPROFILER_BUFFER_POLICY_LOSSLESS)
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/rocprofiler-sdk/hsa/agent_cache.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/rocprofiler-sdk/hsa/agent_cache.cpp
index 63d8c301dc..c705b2201a 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/rocprofiler-sdk/hsa/agent_cache.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/rocprofiler-sdk/hsa/agent_cache.cpp
@@ -91,18 +91,14 @@ init_cpu_pool(const AmdExtTable& api, rocprofiler::hsa::AgentCache& agent)
 
     auto status =
         api.hsa_amd_agent_iterate_memory_pools_fn(agent.near_cpu(), FindStandardPool, &params);
-    if(status != HSA_STATUS_SUCCESS && status != HSA_STATUS_INFO_BREAK)
-    {
-        throw std::runtime_error("Error: Command Buffer Pool is not initialized");
-    }
+    ROCP_FATAL_IF(status != HSA_STATUS_SUCCESS && status != HSA_STATUS_INFO_BREAK)
+        << "HSA Command Buffer Pool is not initialized";
 
     params.second = &agent.kernarg_pool();
     status =
         api.hsa_amd_agent_iterate_memory_pools_fn(agent.near_cpu(), FindKernArgPool, &(params));
-    if(status != HSA_STATUS_SUCCESS && status != HSA_STATUS_INFO_BREAK)
-    {
-        throw std::runtime_error("Error: Output Buffer Pool is not initialized");
-    }
+    ROCP_FATAL_IF(status != HSA_STATUS_SUCCESS && status != HSA_STATUS_INFO_BREAK)
+        << "HSA Output Buffer Pool is not initialized";
 }
 
 void
@@ -113,10 +109,8 @@ init_gpu_pool(const AmdExtTable& api, rocprofiler::hsa::AgentCache& agent)
     auto status =
         api.hsa_amd_agent_iterate_memory_pools_fn(agent.get_hsa_agent(), FindStandardPool, &params);
 
-    if(status != HSA_STATUS_SUCCESS && status != HSA_STATUS_INFO_BREAK)
-    {
-        throw std::runtime_error("Error: GPU Pool is not initialized");
-    }
+    ROCP_FATAL_IF(status != HSA_STATUS_SUCCESS && status != HSA_STATUS_INFO_BREAK)
+        << "HSA GPU Pool is not initialized";
 }
 
 }  // namespace
@@ -153,10 +147,8 @@ AgentCache::init_device_counting_service_queue(const CoreApiTable& api,
                                           UINT32_MAX,
                                           UINT32_MAX,
                                           &m_profile_queue);
-    if(status != HSA_STATUS_SUCCESS && status != HSA_STATUS_INFO_BREAK)
-    {
-        throw std::runtime_error("Error: Queue is not initialized");
-    }
+    ROCP_FATAL_IF(status != HSA_STATUS_SUCCESS && status != HSA_STATUS_INFO_BREAK)
+        << "HSA Queue is not initialized";
 
     CHECK(ext.hsa_amd_queue_set_priority_fn) << "no hsa_amd_queue_set_priority_fn in api table";
     ext.hsa_amd_queue_set_priority_fn(m_profile_queue, HSA_AMD_QUEUE_PRIORITY_HIGH);
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/rocprofiler-sdk/page_migration/page_migration.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/rocprofiler-sdk/page_migration/page_migration.cpp
index a78120f0f5..23b3b28cfa 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/rocprofiler-sdk/page_migration/page_migration.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/rocprofiler-sdk/page_migration/page_migration.cpp
@@ -424,8 +424,8 @@ parse_event<ROCPROFILER_PAGE_MIGRATION_DROPPED_EVENT>(std::string_view str)
 template <>
 page_migration_record_t parse_event<ROCPROFILER_PAGE_MIGRATION_NONE>(std::string_view)
 {
-    throw std::runtime_error(
-        "ROCPROFILER_PAGE_MIGRATION_NONE for parsing page migration events should not happen");
+    ROCP_CI_LOG(WARNING)
+        << "ROCPROFILER_PAGE_MIGRATION_NONE for parsing page migration events should not happen";
 }
 
 template <size_t OpInx, size_t... OpInxs>
@@ -648,10 +648,11 @@ struct poll_kfd_t
 
         [&]() {
             const auto retcode = pipe2(&thread_pipes[0], DEFAULT_FLAGS);
-
-            if(retcode != 0)
-                throw std::runtime_error{
-                    fmt::format("Pipe creation for thread notify failed with {} code\n", retcode)};
+            const auto _err    = errno;
+            ROCP_FATAL_IF(retcode != 0)
+                << fmt::format("Pipe creation for page-migration thread notify returned {} :: {}\n",
+                               retcode,
+                               strerror(_err));
         }();
 
         thread_notify = pollfd{
@@ -792,7 +793,11 @@ poll_events(small_vector<pollfd> file_handles)
         auto poll_ret = poll(file_handles.data(), file_handles.size(), -1);
 
         if(poll_ret == -1)
-            throw std::runtime_error{"Background thread file descriptors are invalid"};
+        {
+            ROCP_CI_LOG(WARNING)
+                << "Background thread file descriptors for page-migration are invalid";
+            return;
+        }
 
         if((exitfd.revents & POLLIN) != 0)
         {
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/rocprofiler-sdk/pc_sampling/hsa_adapter.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/rocprofiler-sdk/pc_sampling/hsa_adapter.cpp
index b3db988d4a..93b2711569 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/rocprofiler-sdk/pc_sampling/hsa_adapter.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/rocprofiler-sdk/pc_sampling/hsa_adapter.cpp
@@ -78,14 +78,16 @@ amd_intercept_marker_handler_callback(const struct amd_aql_intercept_marker_s* p
     if(ext_table_->hsa_amd_queue_get_info_fn(queue, HSA_AMD_QUEUE_INFO_AGENT, &hsa_agent) !=
        HSA_STATUS_SUCCESS)
     {
-        throw std::runtime_error("Cannot map hsa_queue_t* to hsa_agent_t");
+        ROCP_CI_LOG(WARNING) << "Cannot map hsa_queue_t* to hsa_agent_t";
+        return;
     }
 
     uint64_t doorbell_id = 0;
     if(ext_table_->hsa_amd_queue_get_info_fn(queue, HSA_AMD_QUEUE_INFO_DOORBELL_ID, &doorbell_id) !=
        HSA_STATUS_SUCCESS)
     {
-        throw std::runtime_error("Cannot map hsa_queue_t* to doorbell_id");
+        ROCP_CI_LOG(WARNING) << "Cannot map hsa_queue_t* to doorbell id";
+        return;
     }
 
     auto internal_correlation = packet->user_data[0];
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/rocprofiler-sdk/pc_sampling/ioctl/ioctl_adapter.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/rocprofiler-sdk/pc_sampling/ioctl/ioctl_adapter.cpp
index 3bc27ae97f..cb912b9ff8 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/rocprofiler-sdk/pc_sampling/ioctl/ioctl_adapter.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/rocprofiler-sdk/pc_sampling/ioctl/ioctl_adapter.cpp
@@ -21,12 +21,12 @@
 // SOFTWARE.
 
 #include "lib/rocprofiler-sdk/pc_sampling/ioctl/ioctl_adapter.hpp"
-
-#include "lib/rocprofiler-sdk/details/kfd_ioctl.h"
-
 #include "lib/common/logging.hpp"
+#include "lib/rocprofiler-sdk/details/kfd_ioctl.h"
 #include "lib/rocprofiler-sdk/pc_sampling/ioctl/ioctl_adapter_types.hpp"
 
+#include <rocprofiler-sdk/fwd.h>
+
 #include <sys/ioctl.h>
 
 #include <fcntl.h>
@@ -61,14 +61,15 @@ struct pc_sampling_ioctl_version_t
 int
 kfd_open()
 {
-    int               fd                = -1;
-    static const char kfd_device_name[] = "/dev/kfd";
+    int             fd              = -1;
+    constexpr auto* kfd_device_name = "/dev/kfd";
 
     fd = open(kfd_device_name, O_RDWR | O_CLOEXEC);
 
     if(fd == -1)
     {
-        throw std::runtime_error("Cannot open /dev/kfd");
+        ROCP_CI_LOG(WARNING) << fmt::format("Cannot open {} for pc sampling", kfd_device_name);
+        return -1;
     }
 
     return fd;
@@ -485,6 +486,8 @@ ioctl_pcs_create(const rocprofiler_agent_t*       agent,
     args.num_sample_info = 1;
     args.trace_id        = INVALID_TRACE_ID;
 
+    if(get_kfd_fd() == -1) return ROCPROFILER_STATUS_ERROR_NOT_AVAILABLE;
+
     auto ioctl_ret = ioctl(get_kfd_fd(), AMDKFD_IOC_PC_SAMPLE, &args);
     *ioctl_pcs_id  = args.trace_id;
 
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/rocprofiler-sdk/pc_sampling/utils.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/rocprofiler-sdk/pc_sampling/utils.cpp
index a8f59d464a..407729d7eb 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/rocprofiler-sdk/pc_sampling/utils.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/rocprofiler-sdk/pc_sampling/utils.cpp
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@
 // SOFTWARE.
 
 #include "lib/rocprofiler-sdk/pc_sampling/utils.hpp"
+#include "lib/common/logging.hpp"
 #include "lib/rocprofiler-sdk/pc_sampling/defines.hpp"
 
 #if ROCPROFILER_SDK_HSA_PC_SAMPLING > 0
@@ -49,7 +50,7 @@ get_matching_hsa_pcs_method(rocprofiler_pc_sampling_method_t method)
         case ROCPROFILER_PC_SAMPLING_METHOD_LAST: break;
     }
 
-    throw std::runtime_error("Illegal pc sampling method\n");
+    ROCP_FATAL << "Illegal pc sampling method " << method;
 }
 
 hsa_ven_amd_pcs_units_t
@@ -66,7 +67,7 @@ get_matching_hsa_pcs_units(rocprofiler_pc_sampling_unit_t unit)
         case ROCPROFILER_PC_SAMPLING_UNIT_LAST: break;
     }
 
-    throw std::runtime_error("Illegal pc sampling units\n");
+    ROCP_FATAL << "Illegal pc sampling unit " << unit;
 }
 }  // namespace utils
 }  // namespace pc_sampling
diff --git a/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/rocprofiler-sdk/registration.cpp b/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/rocprofiler-sdk/registration.cpp
index ac84a9d80e..14c6532d02 100644
--- a/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/rocprofiler-sdk/registration.cpp
+++ b/projects/rocprofiler-sdk/source/lib/rocprofiler-sdk/registration.cpp
@@ -77,6 +77,7 @@
 #include <stdexcept>
 #include <string>
 #include <string_view>
+#include <system_error>
 #include <thread>
 #include <unordered_set>
 #include <vector>
@@ -101,6 +102,49 @@ namespace
 {
 namespace fs = ::rocprofiler::common::filesystem;
 
+bool
+resolved_exists(std::string_view fname)
+{
+    if(fs::is_symlink(fname))
+    {
+        // NOTE: Use of ROCP_CI_LOG(WARNING) causes segfault. Likely bc glog is not fully
+        // initialized
+        auto _errc      = std::error_code{};
+        auto _symlinked = fs::read_symlink(fname, _errc);
+        if(_errc && _symlinked.empty())
+        {
+            ROCP_WARNING << fmt::format("Symbolic link '{}' returned error code {} :: {}",
+                                        fname,
+                                        _errc.value(),
+                                        _errc.message());
+            return false;
+        }
+        else if(_errc && !_symlinked.empty())
+        {
+            ROCP_WARNING << fmt::format("Symbolic link '{}' -> '{}' returned error code {} :: {}",
+                                        fname,
+                                        _symlinked.string(),
+                                        _errc.value(),
+                                        _errc.message());
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        if(_symlinked.is_relative()) _symlinked = fs::path{fname}.parent_path() / _symlinked;
+
+        ROCP_TRACE << fmt::format("Symbolic link:\n\t{}\n\t\t-> {}", fname, _symlinked.string());
+
+        if(!fs::exists(_symlinked))
+        {
+            ROCP_WARNING << fmt::format("{} is broken symbolic link", fname);
+            return false;
+        }
+
+        return resolved_exists(fs::absolute(_symlinked).string());
+    }
+
+    return fs::exists(fname);
+}
+
 // invoke all rocprofiler_configure symbols
 bool
 invoke_client_configures();
@@ -257,14 +301,17 @@ find_clients()
         {
             ROCP_INFO << "[ROCP_TOOL_LIBRARIES] searching " << itr << " for rocprofiler_configure";
 
-            if(fs::exists(itr))
+            if(fs::exists(itr) && resolved_exists(itr))
             {
                 auto elfinfo = common::elf_utils::read(itr);
                 if(!elfinfo.has_symbol(std::regex{"^rocprofiler_configure$"}))
                 {
-                    ROCP_FATAL << "[ROCP_TOOL_LIBRARIES] rocprofiler-sdk tool library '" << itr
-                               << "' did not contain rocprofiler_configure symbol (search method: "
-                                  "ELF parsing)";
+                    ROCP_CI_LOG(WARNING) << fmt::format(
+                        "[ROCP_TOOL_LIBRARIES] rocprofiler-sdk tool library '{}' did not "
+                        "contain rocprofiler_configure symbol (search method: ELF parsing). "
+                        "Attempting dlopen anyway since the library was explicitly listed in "
+                        "ROCP_TOOL_LIBRARIES",
+                        itr);
                 }
             }
 
@@ -295,10 +342,10 @@ find_clients()
             {
                 auto _sym = rocprofiler_configure_dlsym(handle);
                 // FATAL bc they explicitly said this was a tool library
-                ROCP_FATAL_IF(!_sym)
+                ROCP_CI_LOG_IF(WARNING, !_sym)
                     << "[ROCP_TOOL_LIBRARIES] rocprofiler-sdk tool library '" << itr
                     << "' did not contain rocprofiler_configure symbol (search method: dlsym)";
-                if(is_unique_configure_func(_sym)) emplace_client(itr, handle, _sym);
+                if(_sym && is_unique_configure_func(_sym)) emplace_client(itr, handle, _sym);
             }
         }
     }
@@ -323,13 +370,22 @@ find_clients()
         {
             ROCP_INFO << "searching " << itr << " for rocprofiler_configure";
 
-            if(fs::exists(itr))
+            if(fs::exists(itr) && resolved_exists(itr))
             {
                 auto elfinfo = common::elf_utils::read(itr);
-                if(!elfinfo.has_symbol(std::regex{"^rocprofiler_configure$"})) continue;
+                if(!elfinfo.has_symbol(std::regex{"^rocprofiler_configure$"}))
+                {
+                    ROCP_INFO << fmt::format(
+                        "Shared library '{}' did not contain the 'rocprofiler_configure' symbol "
+                        "(search method: ELF parsing) required by rocprofiler-sdk for tools",
+                        itr);
+                    continue;
+                }
             }
             else
             {
+                ROCP_INFO << fmt::format(
+                    "Shared library '{}' either does not exist or is a broken symbolic link", itr);
                 continue;
             }