diff --git a/src/logic/scripting/lua/libcore.cpp b/src/logic/scripting/lua/libcore.cpp
index dcfc93e7..86b4e9f6 100644
--- a/src/logic/scripting/lua/libcore.cpp
+++ b/src/logic/scripting/lua/libcore.cpp
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ static int l_reopen_world(lua_State*) {
 
 static int l_close_world(lua_State* L) {
     if (scripting::controller == nullptr) {
-        luaL_error(L, "no world open");
+        throw std::runtime_error("no world open");
     }
     bool save_world = lua_toboolean(L, 1);
     if (save_world) {
@@ -69,12 +69,15 @@ static int l_delete_world(lua_State* L) {
 
 static int l_reconfig_packs(lua_State* L) {
     if (!lua_istable(L, 1)) {
-        luaL_error(L, "strings array expected as the first argument");
+        throw std::runtime_error("strings array expected as the first argument");
     }
     if (!lua_istable(L, 2)) {
-        luaL_error(L, "strings array expected as the second argument");
+        throw std::runtime_error("strings array expected as the second argument");
     }
     std::vector<std::string> addPacks;
+    if (!lua_istable(L, 1)) {
+        throw std::runtime_error("an array expected as argument 1");
+    }
     int addLen = lua_objlen(L, 1);
     for (int i = 0; i < addLen; i++) {
         lua_rawgeti(L, 1, i+1);
@@ -83,6 +86,9 @@ static int l_reconfig_packs(lua_State* L) {
     }
 
     std::vector<std::string> remPacks;
+    if (!lua_istable(L, 2)) {
+        throw std::runtime_error("an array expected as argument 2");
+    }
     int remLen = lua_objlen(L, 2);
     for (int i = 0; i < remLen; i++) {
         lua_rawgeti(L, 2, i+1);
@@ -147,8 +153,7 @@ static int l_get_setting_info(lua_State* L) {
         return 1;
     }
     lua_pop(L, 1);
-    luaL_error(L, "unsupported setting type");
-    return 0;
+    throw std::runtime_error("unsupported setting type");
 }
 
 static int l_quit(lua_State*) {
diff --git a/src/logic/scripting/lua/libfile.cpp b/src/logic/scripting/lua/libfile.cpp
index 67023891..9c6ebe97 100644
--- a/src/logic/scripting/lua/libfile.cpp
+++ b/src/logic/scripting/lua/libfile.cpp
@@ -4,19 +4,15 @@
 #include "../../../engine.hpp"
 #include "../../../files/files.hpp"
 #include "../../../files/engine_paths.hpp"
+#include "../../../util/stringutil.hpp"
 
 #include <string>
 #include <filesystem>
 
 namespace fs = std::filesystem;
 
-static fs::path resolve_path(lua_State* L, const std::string& path) {
-    try {
-        return scripting::engine->getPaths()->resolve(path);
-    } catch (const files_access_error& err) {
-        luaL_error(L, err.what());
-        abort(); // unreachable
-    }
+static fs::path resolve_path(lua_State*, const std::string& path) {
+    return scripting::engine->getPaths()->resolve(path);
 }
 
 static int l_file_find(lua_State* L) {
@@ -37,7 +33,7 @@ static int l_file_read(lua_State* L) {
         lua_pushstring(L, files::read_string(path).c_str());
         return 1;
     }
-    return luaL_error(L, "file does not exists '%s'", path.u8string().c_str());
+    throw std::runtime_error("file does not exists "+util::quote(path.u8string()));
 }
 
 static int l_file_write(lua_State* L) {
@@ -103,27 +99,22 @@ static int l_file_read_bytes(lua_State* L) {
         }
         return 1;
     }
-    return luaL_error(L, "file does not exists '%s'", path.u8string().c_str());   
+    throw std::runtime_error("file does not exists "+util::quote(path.u8string()));   
 }
 
 static int read_bytes_from_table(lua_State* L, int tableIndex, std::vector<ubyte>& bytes) {
     if(!lua_istable(L, tableIndex)) {
-        return luaL_error(L, "table expected");
+        throw std::runtime_error("table expected");
     } else {
         lua_pushnil(L);
-
         while(lua_next(L, tableIndex - 1) != 0) {
             const int byte = lua_tointeger(L, -1);
-
             if(byte < 0 || byte > 255) {
-                return luaL_error(L, "invalid byte '%i'", byte);
+                throw std::runtime_error("invalid byte '"+std::to_string(byte)+"'");
             }
-
-            bytes.push_back(byte);
-                
+            bytes.push_back(byte);  
             lua_pop(L, 1);
         }
-
         return 1;
     }
 }
@@ -132,7 +123,7 @@ static int l_file_write_bytes(lua_State* L) {
     int pathIndex = 1;
 
     if(!lua_isstring(L, pathIndex)) {
-        return luaL_error(L, "string expected");
+        throw std::runtime_error("string expected");
     }
 
     fs::path path = resolve_path(L, lua_tostring(L, pathIndex));
diff --git a/src/logic/scripting/lua/libgui.cpp b/src/logic/scripting/lua/libgui.cpp
index b224c138..84973805 100644
--- a/src/logic/scripting/lua/libgui.cpp
+++ b/src/logic/scripting/lua/libgui.cpp
@@ -34,14 +34,14 @@ struct DocumentNode {
 
 using namespace scripting;
 
-static DocumentNode getDocumentNode(lua_State* L, const std::string& name, const std::string& nodeName) {
+static DocumentNode getDocumentNode(lua_State*, const std::string& name, const std::string& nodeName) {
     auto doc = engine->getAssets()->getLayout(name);
     if (doc == nullptr) {
-        luaL_error(L, "document '%s' not found", name.c_str());
+        throw std::runtime_error("document '"+name+"' not found");
     }
     auto node = doc->get(nodeName);
     if (node == nullptr) {
-        luaL_error(L, "document '%s' has no element with id '%s'", name.c_str(), nodeName.c_str());
+        throw std::runtime_error("document '"+name+"' has no element with id '"+nodeName+"'");
     }
     return {doc, node};
 }
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ static int l_container_add(lua_State* L) {
         node->add(subnode);
         UINode::getIndices(subnode, docnode.document->getMapWriteable());
     } catch (const std::exception& err) {
-        luaL_error(L, err.what());
+        throw std::runtime_error(err.what());
     }
     return 0;
 }
@@ -418,7 +418,7 @@ static int l_gui_get_env(lua_State* L) {
     auto name = lua_tostring(L, 1);
     auto doc = scripting::engine->getAssets()->getLayout(name);
     if (doc == nullptr) {
-        luaL_error(L, "document '%s' not found", name);
+        throw std::runtime_error("document '"+std::string(name)+"' not found");
     }
     lua_getglobal(L, lua::LuaState::envName(*doc->getEnvironment()).c_str());
     return 1;
@@ -439,7 +439,7 @@ static int l_gui_reindex(lua_State* L) {
     auto name = lua_tostring(L, 1);
     auto doc = scripting::engine->getAssets()->getLayout(name);
     if (doc == nullptr) {
-        luaL_error(L, "document '%s' not found", name);
+        throw std::runtime_error("document '"+std::string(name)+"' not found");
     }
     doc->rebuildIndices();
     return 0;
diff --git a/src/logic/scripting/lua/libhud.cpp b/src/logic/scripting/lua/libhud.cpp
index 270980e0..9c03a9b8 100644
--- a/src/logic/scripting/lua/libhud.cpp
+++ b/src/logic/scripting/lua/libhud.cpp
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
 #include "../../../graphics/ui/elements/InventoryView.hpp"
 #include "../../../items/Inventories.hpp"
 #include "../../../logic/BlocksController.hpp"
+#include "../../../util/stringutil.hpp"
 #include "../../../voxels/Block.hpp"
 #include "../../../voxels/Chunks.hpp"
 #include "../../../voxels/voxel.hpp"
@@ -45,17 +46,18 @@ static int l_hud_open_block(lua_State* L) {
 
     voxel* vox = scripting::level->chunks->get(x, y, z);
     if (vox == nullptr) {
-        luaL_error(L, "block does not exists at %d %d %d", x, y, z);
+        throw std::runtime_error("block does not exists at "+
+            std::to_string(x) + " " + std::to_string(y) + " " + std::to_string(z)
+        );
     }
     auto def = scripting::content->getIndices()->getBlockDef(vox->id);
     auto assets = scripting::engine->getAssets();
     auto layout = assets->getLayout(def->uiLayout);
     if (layout == nullptr) {
-        luaL_error(L, "block '%s' has no ui layout", def->name.c_str());
+        throw std::runtime_error("block '"+def->name+"' has no ui layout");
     }
 
     auto id = scripting::blocks->createBlockInventory(x, y, z);
-
     scripting::hud->openInventory(
         glm::ivec3(x, y, z), layout, scripting::level->inventories->get(id), playerInventory
     );
@@ -72,7 +74,7 @@ static int l_hud_show_overlay(lua_State* L) {
     auto assets = scripting::engine->getAssets();
     auto layout = assets->getLayout(name);
     if (layout == nullptr) {
-        luaL_error(L, "there is no ui layout '%s'", name);
+        throw std::runtime_error("there is no ui layout "+util::quote(name));
     }
     scripting::hud->showOverlay(layout, playerInventory);
     return 0;
@@ -82,7 +84,7 @@ static UiDocument* require_layout(lua_State* L, const char* name) {
     auto assets = scripting::engine->getAssets();
     auto layout = assets->getLayout(name);
     if (layout == nullptr) {
-        luaL_error(L, "layout '%s' is not found", name);
+        throw std::runtime_error("layout '"+std::string(name)+"' is not found");
     }
     return layout;
 }
diff --git a/src/logic/scripting/lua/libinput.cpp b/src/logic/scripting/lua/libinput.cpp
index 56977498..f654dc47 100644
--- a/src/logic/scripting/lua/libinput.cpp
+++ b/src/logic/scripting/lua/libinput.cpp
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 
 #include "../../../window/input.hpp"
 #include "../../../window/Events.hpp"
+#include "../../../util/stringutil.hpp"
 #include "../../../frontend/screens/Screen.hpp"
 #include "../../../frontend/hud.hpp"
 #include "../../../engine.hpp"
@@ -26,7 +27,7 @@ static int l_add_callback(lua_State* L) {
     auto bindname = lua_tostring(L, 1);
     const auto& bind = Events::bindings.find(bindname);
     if (bind == Events::bindings.end()) {
-        luaL_error(L, "unknown binding %q", bindname);
+        throw std::runtime_error("unknown binding "+util::quote(bindname));
     }
     state->pushvalue(2);
     runnable callback = state->createRunnable();
diff --git a/src/logic/scripting/lua/libinventory.cpp b/src/logic/scripting/lua/libinventory.cpp
index 6fe9ced7..067c7943 100644
--- a/src/logic/scripting/lua/libinventory.cpp
+++ b/src/logic/scripting/lua/libinventory.cpp
@@ -8,22 +8,40 @@
 #include "../../../items/Inventories.hpp"
 #include "../../../logic/BlocksController.hpp"
 
-static void validate_itemid(lua_State* L, itemid_t id) {
+static void validate_itemid(itemid_t id) {
     if (id >= scripting::indices->countItemDefs()) {
-        luaL_error(L, "invalid item id");
+        throw std::runtime_error("invalid item id");
+    }
+}
+
+static std::shared_ptr<Inventory> get_inventory(int64_t id) {
+    auto inv = scripting::level->inventories->get(id);
+    if (inv == nullptr) {
+        throw std::runtime_error("inventory not found: "+std::to_string(id));
+    }
+    return inv;
+}
+
+static std::shared_ptr<Inventory> get_inventory(int64_t id, int arg) {
+    auto inv = scripting::level->inventories->get(id);
+    if (inv == nullptr) {
+        throw std::runtime_error("inventory not found: "+std::to_string(id)+
+            " argument "+std::to_string(arg));
+    }
+    return inv;
+}
+
+static void validate_slotid(int slotid, Inventory* inv) {
+    if (slotid < 0 || uint64_t(slotid) >= inv->size()) {
+        throw std::runtime_error("slot index is out of range [0..inventory.size(invid)]");
     }
 }
 
 static int l_inventory_get(lua_State* L) {
     lua::luaint invid = lua_tointeger(L, 1);
     lua::luaint slotid = lua_tointeger(L, 2);
-    auto inv = scripting::level->inventories->get(invid);
-    if (inv == nullptr) {
-        luaL_error(L, "inventory does not exists in runtime: %d", invid);
-    }
-    if (slotid < 0 || uint64_t(slotid) >= inv->size()) {
-        luaL_error(L, "slot index is out of range [0, inventory.size(invid)]");
-    }
+    auto inv = get_inventory(invid);
+    validate_slotid(slotid, inv.get());
     const ItemStack& item = inv->getSlot(slotid);
     lua_pushinteger(L, item.getItemId());
     lua_pushinteger(L, item.getCount());
@@ -35,15 +53,11 @@ static int l_inventory_set(lua_State* L) {
     lua::luaint slotid = lua_tointeger(L, 2);
     lua::luaint itemid = lua_tointeger(L, 3);
     lua::luaint count = lua_tointeger(L, 4);
-    validate_itemid(L, itemid);
+    validate_itemid(itemid);
 
-    auto inv = scripting::level->inventories->get(invid);
-    if (inv == nullptr) {
-        luaL_error(L, "inventory does not exists in runtime: %d", invid);
-    }
-    if (slotid < 0 || uint64_t(slotid) >= inv->size()) {
-        luaL_error(L, "slot index is out of range [0, inventory.size(invid)]");
-    }
+    auto inv = get_inventory(invid);
+
+    validate_slotid(slotid, inv.get());
     ItemStack& item = inv->getSlot(slotid);
     item.set(ItemStack(itemid, count));
     return 0;
@@ -51,10 +65,7 @@ static int l_inventory_set(lua_State* L) {
 
 static int l_inventory_size(lua_State* L) {
     lua::luaint invid = lua_tointeger(L, 1);
-    auto inv = scripting::level->inventories->get(invid);
-    if (inv == nullptr) {
-        luaL_error(L, "inventory does not exists in runtime: %d", invid);
-    }
+    auto inv = get_inventory(invid);
     lua_pushinteger(L, inv->size());
     return 1;
 }
@@ -63,12 +74,9 @@ static int l_inventory_add(lua_State* L) {
     lua::luaint invid = lua_tointeger(L, 1);
     lua::luaint itemid = lua_tointeger(L, 2);
     lua::luaint count = lua_tointeger(L, 3);
-    validate_itemid(L, itemid);
+    validate_itemid(itemid);
 
-    auto inv = scripting::level->inventories->get(invid);
-    if (inv == nullptr) {
-        luaL_error(L, "inventory does not exists in runtime: %d", invid);
-    }
+    auto inv = get_inventory(invid);
     ItemStack item(itemid, count);
     inv->move(item, scripting::indices);
     lua_pushinteger(L, item.getCount());
@@ -115,17 +123,12 @@ static int l_inventory_clone(lua_State* L) {
 static int l_inventory_move(lua_State* L) {
     lua::luaint invAid = lua_tointeger(L, 1);
     lua::luaint slotAid = lua_tointeger(L, 2);
-    auto invA = scripting::level->inventories->get(invAid);
-    if (invA == nullptr) {
-        luaL_error(L, "inventory A does not exists in runtime: %d", invAid);
-    }
+    auto invA = get_inventory(invAid, 1);
+    validate_slotid(slotAid, invA.get());
 
     lua::luaint invBid = lua_tointeger(L, 3);
     lua::luaint slotBid = lua_isnil(L, 4) ? -1 : lua_tointeger(L, 4);
-    auto invB = scripting::level->inventories->get(invBid);
-    if (invB == nullptr) {
-        luaL_error(L, "inventory B does not exists in runtime: %d", invBid);
-    }
+    auto invB = get_inventory(invBid, 3);
     auto& slot = invA->getSlot(slotAid);
     if (slotBid == -1) {
         invB->move(slot, scripting::content->getIndices());
diff --git a/src/logic/scripting/lua/libjson.cpp b/src/logic/scripting/lua/libjson.cpp
index bce8b1b6..2c72a75e 100644
--- a/src/logic/scripting/lua/libjson.cpp
+++ b/src/logic/scripting/lua/libjson.cpp
@@ -18,8 +18,7 @@ static int l_json_stringify(lua_State* L) {
         lua_pushstring(L, string.c_str());
         return 1;
     } else {
-        luaL_error(L, "table expected");
-        return 0;
+        throw std::runtime_error("table expected");
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/logic/scripting/lua/lua_util.hpp b/src/logic/scripting/lua/lua_util.hpp
index 33176c95..4d9e37bf 100644
--- a/src/logic/scripting/lua/lua_util.hpp
+++ b/src/logic/scripting/lua/lua_util.hpp
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@
 #endif
 #include <glm/glm.hpp>
 
+#include <stdexcept>
+
 namespace lua {
     inline int pushivec3(lua_State* L, luaint x, luaint y, luaint z) {
         lua_pushinteger(L, x);
@@ -94,6 +96,9 @@ namespace lua {
 
     inline glm::vec2 tovec2(lua_State* L, int idx) {
         lua_pushvalue(L, idx);
+        if (!lua_istable(L, idx) || lua_objlen(L, idx) < 2) {
+            throw std::runtime_error("value must be an array of two numbers");
+        }
         lua_rawgeti(L, -1, 1);
         lua::luanumber x = lua_tonumber(L, -1); lua_pop(L, 1);
         lua_rawgeti(L, -1, 2);
@@ -104,8 +109,8 @@ namespace lua {
 
     inline glm::vec4 tocolor(lua_State* L, int idx) {
         lua_pushvalue(L, idx);
-        if (!lua_istable(L, -1)) {
-            luaL_error(L, "RGBA array required");
+        if (!lua_istable(L, -1) || lua_objlen(L, idx) < 4) {
+            throw std::runtime_error("RGBA array required");
         }
         lua_rawgeti(L, -1, 1);
         lua::luanumber r = lua_tonumber(L, -1); lua_pop(L, 1);
diff --git a/src/util/stringutil.hpp b/src/util/stringutil.hpp
index 3270c92e..ebfd6664 100644
--- a/src/util/stringutil.hpp
+++ b/src/util/stringutil.hpp
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 
 #include <string>
 #include <vector>
+#include <stdexcept>
 
 namespace util {
     /// @brief Function used for string serialization in text formats