diff --git a/docs/Tutorial.md b/docs/Tutorial.md
index a7b0e21..ba44d67 100644
--- a/docs/Tutorial.md
+++ b/docs/Tutorial.md
@@ -178,11 +178,12 @@ struct convert<Vec3> {
     return node;
   }
 
-  static bool decode(const Node& node, Vec3& rhs) {
+  static Vec3 decode(const Node& node) {
     if(!node.IsSequence() || node.size() != 3) {
-      return false;
+      throw YAML::conversion::DecodeException("");
     }
 
+    Vec3 rhs;
     rhs.x = node[0].as<double>();
     rhs.y = node[1].as<double>();
     rhs.z = node[2].as<double>();
diff --git a/include/yaml-cpp/exceptions.h b/include/yaml-cpp/exceptions.h
index f6b2602..4788418 100644
--- a/include/yaml-cpp/exceptions.h
+++ b/include/yaml-cpp/exceptions.h
@@ -298,6 +298,15 @@ class YAML_CPP_API BadFile : public Exception {
   BadFile(const BadFile&) = default;
   ~BadFile() YAML_CPP_NOEXCEPT override;
 };
+
+
+namespace conversion{
+  class DecodeException : public std::runtime_error {
+  public:
+    DecodeException(const std::string& s="") : std::runtime_error(s) {};
+  };
+}
+
 }  // namespace YAML
 
 #endif  // EXCEPTIONS_H_62B23520_7C8E_11DE_8A39_0800200C9A66
diff --git a/include/yaml-cpp/node/convert.h b/include/yaml-cpp/node/convert.h
index 21619a4..4182bd9 100644
--- a/include/yaml-cpp/node/convert.h
+++ b/include/yaml-cpp/node/convert.h
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 #include <sstream>
 #include <type_traits>
 #include <vector>
+#include <stdexcept>
 
 #include "yaml-cpp/binary.h"
 #include "yaml-cpp/node/impl.h"
@@ -28,10 +29,14 @@
 namespace YAML {
 class Binary;
 struct _Null;
+
 template <typename T>
 struct convert;
 }  // namespace YAML
 
+#define BAD_DECODE_EXCEPTION throw YAML::conversion::DecodeException();
+
+
 namespace YAML {
 namespace conversion {
 inline bool IsInfinity(const std::string& input) {
@@ -53,9 +58,11 @@ template <>
 struct convert<Node> {
   static Node encode(const Node& rhs) { return rhs; }
 
-  static bool decode(const Node& node, Node& rhs) {
+  static Node decode(const Node& node) { //FIXME, this is dangerous
+    throw std::runtime_error("this should not have been encountered");
+    Node rhs;
     rhs.reset(node);
-    return true;
+    return rhs;
   }
 };
 
@@ -64,12 +71,12 @@ template <>
 struct convert<std::string> {
   static Node encode(const std::string& rhs) { return Node(rhs); }
 
-  static bool decode(const Node& node, std::string& rhs) {
+  static std::string decode(const Node& node) {
     if (!node.IsScalar())
-      return false;
-    rhs = node.Scalar();
-    return true;
+      BAD_DECODE_EXCEPTION
+    return node.Scalar();
   }
+
 };
 
 // C-strings can only be encoded
@@ -92,8 +99,10 @@ template <>
 struct convert<_Null> {
   static Node encode(const _Null& /* rhs */) { return Node(); }
 
-  static bool decode(const Node& node, _Null& /* rhs */) {
-    return node.IsNull();
+  static _Null decode(const Node& node) {
+    if (!node.IsNull())
+      BAD_DECODE_EXCEPTION
+    return _Null();
   }
 };
 
@@ -157,37 +166,35 @@ ConvertStreamTo(std::stringstream& stream, T& rhs) {
       return Node(stream.str());                                           \
     }                                                                      \
                                                                            \
-    static bool decode(const Node& node, type& rhs) {                      \
+    static type decode(const Node& node) {     \
       if (node.Type() != NodeType::Scalar) {                               \
-        return false;                                                      \
+        BAD_DECODE_EXCEPTION;                             \
       }                                                                    \
       const std::string& input = node.Scalar();                            \
       std::stringstream stream(input);                                     \
       stream.unsetf(std::ios::dec);                                        \
       if ((stream.peek() == '-') && std::is_unsigned<type>::value) {       \
-        return false;                                                      \
+        BAD_DECODE_EXCEPTION                             \
       }                                                                    \
+      type rhs;                                                            \
       if (conversion::ConvertStreamTo(stream, rhs)) {                      \
-        return true;                                                       \
+        return rhs;                             \
       }                                                                    \
       if (std::numeric_limits<type>::has_infinity) {                       \
         if (conversion::IsInfinity(input)) {                               \
-          rhs = std::numeric_limits<type>::infinity();                     \
-          return true;                                                     \
+          return std::numeric_limits<type>::infinity();                    \
         } else if (conversion::IsNegativeInfinity(input)) {                \
-          rhs = negative_op std::numeric_limits<type>::infinity();         \
-          return true;                                                     \
+          return negative_op std::numeric_limits<type>::infinity();        \
         }                                                                  \
       }                                                                    \
                                                                            \
       if (std::numeric_limits<type>::has_quiet_NaN) {                      \
         if (conversion::IsNaN(input)) {                                    \
-          rhs = std::numeric_limits<type>::quiet_NaN();                    \
-          return true;                                                     \
+          return std::numeric_limits<type>::quiet_NaN();                   \
         }                                                                  \
       }                                                                    \
                                                                            \
-      return false;                                                        \
+      BAD_DECODE_EXCEPTION                               \
     }                                                                      \
   }
 
@@ -223,7 +230,7 @@ template <>
 struct convert<bool> {
   static Node encode(bool rhs) { return rhs ? Node("true") : Node("false"); }
 
-  YAML_CPP_API static bool decode(const Node& node, bool& rhs);
+  YAML_CPP_API static bool decode(const Node& node);
 };
 
 // std::map
@@ -236,11 +243,11 @@ struct convert<std::map<K, V, C, A>> {
     return node;
   }
 
-  static bool decode(const Node& node, std::map<K, V, C, A>& rhs) {
+  static std::map<K, V, C, A> decode(const Node& node) {
     if (!node.IsMap())
-      return false;
+      BAD_DECODE_EXCEPTION
 
-    rhs.clear();
+    std::map<K, V, C, A> rhs;
     for (const auto& element : node)
 #if defined(__GNUC__) && __GNUC__ < 4
       // workaround for GCC 3:
@@ -248,7 +255,7 @@ struct convert<std::map<K, V, C, A>> {
 #else
       rhs[element.first.as<K>()] = element.second.as<V>();
 #endif
-    return true;
+    return rhs;
   }
 };
 
@@ -288,11 +295,11 @@ struct convert<std::vector<T, A>> {
     return node;
   }
 
-  static bool decode(const Node& node, std::vector<T, A>& rhs) {
+  static std::vector<T, A> decode(const Node& node) {
     if (!node.IsSequence())
-      return false;
+      BAD_DECODE_EXCEPTION
 
-    rhs.clear();
+    std::vector<T, A> rhs;
     for (const auto& element : node)
 #if defined(__GNUC__) && __GNUC__ < 4
       // workaround for GCC 3:
@@ -300,7 +307,7 @@ struct convert<std::vector<T, A>> {
 #else
       rhs.push_back(element.as<T>());
 #endif
-    return true;
+    return rhs;
   }
 };
 
@@ -314,11 +321,11 @@ struct convert<std::list<T,A>> {
     return node;
   }
 
-  static bool decode(const Node& node, std::list<T,A>& rhs) {
+  static std::list<T,A> decode(const Node& node) {
     if (!node.IsSequence())
-      return false;
+      BAD_DECODE_EXCEPTION
 
-    rhs.clear();
+    std::list<T,A> rhs;
     for (const auto& element : node)
 #if defined(__GNUC__) && __GNUC__ < 4
       // workaround for GCC 3:
@@ -326,7 +333,7 @@ struct convert<std::list<T,A>> {
 #else
       rhs.push_back(element.as<T>());
 #endif
-    return true;
+    return rhs;
   }
 };
 
@@ -341,11 +348,11 @@ struct convert<std::array<T, N>> {
     return node;
   }
 
-  static bool decode(const Node& node, std::array<T, N>& rhs) {
-    if (!isNodeValid(node)) {
-      return false;
-    }
+  static std::array<T, N> decode(const Node& node) {
+    if (!isNodeValid(node))
+      BAD_DECODE_EXCEPTION
 
+    std::array<T, N> rhs;
     for (auto i = 0u; i < node.size(); ++i) {
 #if defined(__GNUC__) && __GNUC__ < 4
       // workaround for GCC 3:
@@ -354,7 +361,7 @@ struct convert<std::array<T, N>> {
       rhs[i] = node[i].as<T>();
 #endif
     }
-    return true;
+    return rhs;
   }
 
  private:
@@ -373,12 +380,11 @@ struct convert<std::pair<T, U>> {
     return node;
   }
 
-  static bool decode(const Node& node, std::pair<T, U>& rhs) {
-    if (!node.IsSequence())
-      return false;
-    if (node.size() != 2)
-      return false;
+  static std::pair<T, U> decode(const Node& node) {
+    if (!node.IsSequence() or node.size() != 2)
+      BAD_DECODE_EXCEPTION
 
+    std::pair<T, U> rhs;
 #if defined(__GNUC__) && __GNUC__ < 4
     // workaround for GCC 3:
     rhs.first = node[0].template as<T>();
@@ -391,7 +397,7 @@ struct convert<std::pair<T, U>> {
 #else
     rhs.second = node[1].as<U>();
 #endif
-    return true;
+    return rhs;
   }
 };
 
@@ -402,16 +408,17 @@ struct convert<Binary> {
     return Node(EncodeBase64(rhs.data(), rhs.size()));
   }
 
-  static bool decode(const Node& node, Binary& rhs) {
+  static Binary decode(const Node& node) {
     if (!node.IsScalar())
-      return false;
+      BAD_DECODE_EXCEPTION
 
     std::vector<unsigned char> data = DecodeBase64(node.Scalar());
     if (data.empty() && !node.Scalar().empty())
-      return false;
+      BAD_DECODE_EXCEPTION
 
+    Binary rhs;
     rhs.swap(data);
-    return true;
+    return rhs;
   }
 };
 }
diff --git a/include/yaml-cpp/node/detail/impl.h b/include/yaml-cpp/node/detail/impl.h
index b38038d..19dc426 100644
--- a/include/yaml-cpp/node/detail/impl.h
+++ b/include/yaml-cpp/node/detail/impl.h
@@ -98,19 +98,26 @@ struct remove_idx<Key,
 
 template <typename T>
 inline bool node::equals(const T& rhs, shared_memory_holder pMemory) {
-  T lhs;
-  if (convert<T>::decode(Node(*this, pMemory), lhs)) {
-    return lhs == rhs;
+  try {
+    const auto rslt = convert<T>::decode(Node(*this, pMemory));
+    return rslt == rhs;
+  } catch (const conversion::DecodeException& e) {
+    return false;
+  } catch(...) {
+    std::rethrow_exception(std::current_exception());
   }
-  return false;
 }
 
 inline bool node::equals(const char* rhs, shared_memory_holder pMemory) {
-  std::string lhs;
-  if (convert<std::string>::decode(Node(*this, std::move(pMemory)), lhs)) {
-    return lhs == rhs;
+  try {
+    const auto rslt =
+        convert<std::string>::decode(Node(*this, std::move(pMemory)));
+    return rslt == rhs;
+  } catch (const conversion::DecodeException& e) {
+    return false;
+  } catch(...) {
+    std::rethrow_exception(std::current_exception());
   }
-  return false;
 }
 
 // indexing
diff --git a/include/yaml-cpp/node/impl.h b/include/yaml-cpp/node/impl.h
index 312281f..587f4c5 100644
--- a/include/yaml-cpp/node/impl.h
+++ b/include/yaml-cpp/node/impl.h
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 #include <sstream>
 #include <string>
 
+
 namespace YAML {
 inline Node::Node()
     : m_isValid(true), m_invalidKey{}, m_pMemory(nullptr), m_pNode(nullptr) {}
@@ -97,10 +98,35 @@ struct as_if {
     if (!node.m_pNode)
       return fallback;
 
-    T t;
-    if (convert<T>::decode(node, t))
-      return t;
-    return fallback;
+    try {
+      return convert<T>::decode(node);
+    } catch (const conversion::DecodeException& e) {
+      return fallback;
+    } catch (...) {
+      std::rethrow_exception(std::current_exception());
+    }
+  }
+};
+
+//specialize for Node
+template <typename S>
+struct as_if<Node, S> {
+  explicit as_if(const Node& node_) : node(node_) {}
+  const Node& node;
+
+  Node operator()(const S& fallback) const {
+    if (!node.m_pNode)
+      return fallback;
+
+    try {
+      Node n;
+      n.reset(node);
+      return node;
+    } catch (const conversion::DecodeException& e) {
+      return fallback;
+    } catch (...) {
+      std::rethrow_exception(std::current_exception());
+    }
   }
 };
 
@@ -127,11 +153,14 @@ struct as_if<T, void> {
     if (!node.m_pNode)
       throw TypedBadConversion<T>(node.Mark());
 
-    T t;
-    if (convert<T>::decode(node, t))
-      return t;
-    throw TypedBadConversion<T>(node.Mark());
-  }
+    try {
+      return convert<T>::decode(node);
+    } catch(const conversion::DecodeException& e) {
+      throw TypedBadConversion<T>(node.Mark());
+    } catch (...) {
+      std::rethrow_exception(std::current_exception());
+    }
+  };
 };
 
 template <>
@@ -321,6 +350,16 @@ std::string key_to_string(const Key& key) {
 }
 
 // indexing
+template <typename Key>
+inline bool Node::ContainsKey(const Key& key) const {
+  EnsureNodeExists();
+  if (! IsMap())
+    return false;
+  detail::node* value =
+      static_cast<const detail::node&>(*m_pNode).get(key, m_pMemory);
+  return (bool)value;
+}
+
 template <typename Key>
 inline const Node Node::operator[](const Key& key) const {
   EnsureNodeExists();
diff --git a/include/yaml-cpp/node/node.h b/include/yaml-cpp/node/node.h
index c9e9a0a..634f09d 100644
--- a/include/yaml-cpp/node/node.h
+++ b/include/yaml-cpp/node/node.h
@@ -99,6 +99,8 @@ class YAML_CPP_API Node {
 
   // indexing
   template <typename Key>
+  bool ContainsKey(const Key& key) const;
+  template <typename Key>
   const Node operator[](const Key& key) const;
   template <typename Key>
   Node operator[](const Key& key);
diff --git a/src/convert.cpp b/src/convert.cpp
index 9658b36..7dda819 100644
--- a/src/convert.cpp
+++ b/src/convert.cpp
@@ -38,9 +38,9 @@ bool IsFlexibleCase(const std::string& str) {
 }  // namespace
 
 namespace YAML {
-bool convert<bool>::decode(const Node& node, bool& rhs) {
+bool convert<bool>::decode(const Node& node) {
   if (!node.IsScalar())
-    return false;
+    BAD_DECODE_EXCEPTION
 
   // we can't use iostream bool extraction operators as they don't
   // recognize all possible values in the table below (taken from
@@ -55,20 +55,18 @@ bool convert<bool>::decode(const Node& node, bool& rhs) {
   };
 
   if (!IsFlexibleCase(node.Scalar()))
-    return false;
+    BAD_DECODE_EXCEPTION
 
   for (const auto& name : names) {
     if (name.truename == tolower(node.Scalar())) {
-      rhs = true;
       return true;
     }
 
     if (name.falsename == tolower(node.Scalar())) {
-      rhs = false;
-      return true;
+      return false;
     }
   }
 
-  return false;
+  BAD_DECODE_EXCEPTION
 }
 }  // namespace YAML