diff --git a/include/mdbtools.h b/include/mdbtools.h
index fdb5a08..43c2ecd 100644
--- a/include/mdbtools.h
+++ b/include/mdbtools.h
@@ -416,8 +416,8 @@ typedef struct {
 } MdbSarg;
 
 /* mem.c */
-extern void mdb_init();
-extern void mdb_exit();
+extern void mdb_init(); // DEPRECATED
+extern void mdb_exit(); // DEPRECATED
 
 /* file.c */
 extern ssize_t mdb_read_pg(MdbHandle *mdb, unsigned long pg);
diff --git a/src/gmdb/main.c b/src/gmdb/main.c
index b16de52..c4fb495 100644
--- a/src/gmdb/main.c
+++ b/src/gmdb/main.c
@@ -246,8 +246,6 @@ gint nmenu_items = sizeof (menu_items) / sizeof (menu_items[0]);
     /* initialize the SQL engine */
     sql = mdb_sql_init();
 #endif
-	/* initialize MDB Tools library */
-	mdb_init();
 
 #ifdef HAVE_GNOME
 	/* Initialize GNOME */
@@ -320,7 +318,6 @@ gint nmenu_items = sizeof (menu_items) / sizeof (menu_items[0]);
 	/* free MDB Tools library */
 	mdb_sql_exit(sql);
 #endif
-	mdb_exit();
         
 	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/src/gmdb2/main2.c b/src/gmdb2/main2.c
index 14a1e46..415b507 100644
--- a/src/gmdb2/main2.c
+++ b/src/gmdb2/main2.c
@@ -158,8 +158,6 @@ GtkWidget *gmdb;
 	/* initialize the SQL engine */
 	sql = mdb_sql_init();
 #endif
-	/* initialize MDB Tools library */
-	mdb_init();
 
 	/* Initialize GNOME */
 	/* Initialize gnome program */
@@ -196,7 +194,6 @@ GtkWidget *gmdb;
 	/* free MDB Tools library */
 	mdb_sql_exit(sql);
 #endif
-	mdb_exit();
 
 	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/src/libmdb/mem.c b/src/libmdb/mem.c
index 8ee289d..183f9a6 100644
--- a/src/libmdb/mem.c
+++ b/src/libmdb/mem.c
@@ -16,37 +16,23 @@
  * Foundation, Inc., 51 Franklin Street, Fifth Floor, Boston, MA  02110-1301  USA
  */
 
-#ifdef JAVA
-#include "javadefines.h"
-#else
 #include "mdbtools.h"
-#include <locale.h>
 
-#ifdef DMALLOC
-#include "dmalloc.h"
-#endif
-#endif  /* JAVA */
-/**
- * mdb_init:
- *
- * Initializes the LibMDB library.  This function should be called exactly once
- * by calling program and prior to any other function.
- *
- **/
-/* METHOD */ void mdb_init()
+void __attribute__ ((constructor)) _mdb_init()
 {
 	mdb_init_backends();
 }
-
-/**
- * mdb_exit:
- *
- * Cleans up the LibMDB library.  This function should be called exactly once
- * by the calling program prior to exiting (or prior to final use of LibMDB 
- * functions).
- *
- **/
-/* METHOD */ void mdb_exit()
+void __attribute__ ((destructor)) _mdb_exit()
 {
 	mdb_remove_backends();
 }
+
+void mdb_init()
+{
+	fprintf(stderr, "mdb_init() is DEPRECATED and does nothing. Stop calling it.\n");
+}
+
+void mdb_exit()
+{
+	fprintf(stderr, "mdb_exit() is DEPRECATED and does nothing. Stop calling it.\n");
+}
diff --git a/src/sql/mdbsql.c b/src/sql/mdbsql.c
index 8c90dbc..e01e567 100644
--- a/src/sql/mdbsql.c
+++ b/src/sql/mdbsql.c
@@ -74,7 +74,6 @@ MdbSQL *mdb_sql_init()
 {
 MdbSQL *sql;
 
-	mdb_init();
 	sql = (MdbSQL *) g_malloc0(sizeof(MdbSQL));
 	sql->columns = g_ptr_array_new();
 	sql->tables = g_ptr_array_new();
diff --git a/src/util/mdb-array.c b/src/util/mdb-array.c
index 1adff9e..862354e 100644
--- a/src/util/mdb-array.c
+++ b/src/util/mdb-array.c
@@ -45,7 +45,6 @@ int started;
      exit (1);
    }
 
- mdb_init();
  mdb = mdb_open (argv [1], MDB_NOFLAGS);
  
  table = mdb_read_table_by_name (mdb, argv[2], MDB_TABLE);
@@ -117,12 +116,11 @@ int started;
        }
  
  mdb_close (mdb);
- mdb_exit();
 
  fprintf (stdout, "const int %s_array_length = %d;\n", 
 	  argv [2],
 	  count);
 
- exit(0);
+ return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/util/mdb-check.c b/src/util/mdb-check.c
index 3be5896..0ffbd98 100644
--- a/src/util/mdb-check.c
+++ b/src/util/mdb-check.c
@@ -59,8 +59,6 @@ int opt;
      }
   }
  
- mdb_init();
-
  /* open the database */
 
  mdb = mdb_open (argv[optind], MDB_NOFLAGS);
@@ -101,8 +99,7 @@ int opt;
 
 	g_free(tabname);
 	mdb_close (mdb);
-	mdb_exit();
 
-	exit(0);
+	return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/util/mdb-export.c b/src/util/mdb-export.c
index e06f40b..6045ac3 100644
--- a/src/util/mdb-export.c
+++ b/src/util/mdb-export.c
@@ -155,14 +155,11 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 		exit(1);
 	}
 
-	mdb_init();
-
 	if (!(mdb = mdb_open(argv[optind], MDB_NOFLAGS))) {
 		g_free (delimiter);
 		g_free (row_delimiter);
 		g_free (quote_char);
 		if (escape_char) g_free (escape_char);
-		mdb_exit();
 		exit(1);
 	}
 
@@ -170,7 +167,6 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 		if (!mdb_set_default_backend(mdb, insert_dialect)) {
 			fprintf(stderr, "Invalid backend type\n");
 			if (escape_char) g_free (escape_char);
-			mdb_exit();
 			exit(1);
 		}
 
@@ -182,7 +178,6 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 		g_free (quote_char);
 		if (escape_char) g_free (escape_char);
 		mdb_close(mdb);
-		mdb_exit();
 		exit(1);
 	}
 
@@ -255,9 +250,8 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 	g_free (row_delimiter);
 	g_free (quote_char);
 	if (escape_char) g_free (escape_char);
+	
 	mdb_close(mdb);
-	mdb_exit();
-
 	return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/util/mdb-header.c b/src/util/mdb-header.c
index 2cda338..ab776f0 100644
--- a/src/util/mdb-header.c
+++ b/src/util/mdb-header.c
@@ -50,13 +50,10 @@ FILE *cfile;
    exit (1);
  }
 
- mdb_init();
-
  /* open the database */
 
  mdb = mdb_open (argv[1], MDB_NOFLAGS);
  if (!mdb) {
- 	mdb_exit();
 	exit(1);
  }
 
@@ -148,7 +145,6 @@ FILE *cfile;
  fclose (cfile);
  
  mdb_close (mdb);
- mdb_exit();
 
  if (unsupported)
   fputs("ERROR: unsupported type.\n", stderr);
diff --git a/src/util/mdb-import.c b/src/util/mdb-import.c
index 26e0b8b..7af0027 100644
--- a/src/util/mdb-import.c
+++ b/src/util/mdb-import.c
@@ -185,8 +185,6 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 		exit(1);
 	}
 
-	mdb_init();
-
 	if (!(mdb = mdb_open(argv[optind], MDB_WRITABLE))) {
 		exit(1);
 	}
@@ -230,8 +228,6 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 	mdb_free_tabledef(table);
 	fclose(in);
 	mdb_close(mdb);
-	mdb_exit();
-
-	exit(0);
+	return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/util/mdb-parsecsv.c b/src/util/mdb-parsecsv.c
index f7978af..b98af91 100644
--- a/src/util/mdb-parsecsv.c
+++ b/src/util/mdb-parsecsv.c
@@ -164,6 +164,5 @@ main (int argc, char **argv)
 
   fprintf (stdout, "count = %d\n", count);
 
-
-  exit(0);
+  return 0;
 }
diff --git a/src/util/mdb-prop.c b/src/util/mdb-prop.c
index 85b3c72..e9cfa06 100644
--- a/src/util/mdb-prop.c
+++ b/src/util/mdb-prop.c
@@ -41,18 +41,14 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 	else
 		propColName = argv[3];
 
-	mdb_init();
-
 	mdb = mdb_open(argv[1], MDB_NOFLAGS);
 	if (!mdb) {
-		mdb_exit();
 		return 1;
 	}
 
 	table = mdb_read_table_by_name(mdb, "MSysObjects", MDB_ANY);
 	if (!table) {
 		mdb_close(mdb);
-		mdb_exit();
 		return 1;
 	}
 	mdb_read_columns(table);
@@ -65,7 +61,6 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 		g_free(buf);
 		mdb_free_tabledef(table);
 		mdb_close(mdb);
-		mdb_exit();
 		printf("Column %s not found in MSysObjects!\n", argv[3]);
 		return 1;
 	}
@@ -91,8 +86,7 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 	g_free(buf);
 	mdb_free_tabledef(table);
 	mdb_close(mdb);
-	mdb_exit();
-
+	
 	return 0;
 }
 void dump_kkd(MdbHandle *mdb, void *kkd, size_t len)
diff --git a/src/util/mdb-schema.c b/src/util/mdb-schema.c
index b47b9db..46f6ff4 100644
--- a/src/util/mdb-schema.c
+++ b/src/util/mdb-schema.c
@@ -143,20 +143,16 @@ main (int argc, char **argv)
 		}
 	}
  
-	mdb_init();
-
 	/* open the database */
 	mdb = mdb_open (argv[optind], MDB_NOFLAGS);
 	if (!mdb) {
 		fprintf(stderr, "Could not open file\n");
-		mdb_exit();
 		exit(1);
 	}
 
 	if (argc - optind >= 2) {
 		if (!mdb_set_default_backend(mdb, argv[optind + 1])) {
 			fprintf(stderr, "Invalid backend type\n");
-			mdb_exit();
 			exit(1);
 		}
 	}
@@ -172,7 +168,6 @@ main (int argc, char **argv)
 	g_free(namespace);
 	g_free(tabname);
 	mdb_close (mdb);
-	mdb_exit();
 
 	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/src/util/mdb-sql.c b/src/util/mdb-sql.c
index 1190624..40d2295 100644
--- a/src/util/mdb-sql.c
+++ b/src/util/mdb-sql.c
@@ -490,13 +490,13 @@ char *delimiter = NULL;
 	}
 #endif
 
-	exit(0);
+	return 0;
 }
 #else
 int main(int argc, char **argv)
 {
 	fprintf(stderr,"You must configure using --enable-sql to get SQL support\n");
 
-	exit(-1);
+	return -1;
 }
 #endif
diff --git a/src/util/mdb-tables.c b/src/util/mdb-tables.c
index 0a63b14..4c96e7b 100644
--- a/src/util/mdb-tables.c
+++ b/src/util/mdb-tables.c
@@ -121,9 +121,6 @@ main (int argc, char **argv)
 	}
 
  
- 	/* initialize the library */
- 	mdb_init();
-
  	/* open the database */
  	if (!(mdb = mdb_open (argv[optind], MDB_NOFLAGS))) {
 		fprintf(stderr,"Couldn't open database.\n");
@@ -162,9 +159,8 @@ main (int argc, char **argv)
 		fprintf (stdout, "\n");
  
 	mdb_close(mdb);
-	mdb_exit();
 	g_free(delimiter);
 
-	exit(0);
+	return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/util/mdb-ver.c b/src/util/mdb-ver.c
index 1cd1ac8..6743e2b 100644
--- a/src/util/mdb-ver.c
+++ b/src/util/mdb-ver.c
@@ -59,11 +59,8 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 		exit(1);
 	}
 
-	mdb_init();
-
 	if (!(mdb = mdb_open(argv[optind], MDB_NOFLAGS))) {
 		fprintf(stderr,_("Error: unable to open file %s\n"),argv[optind]);
-		mdb_exit();
 		exit(1);
 	}
 	switch(mdb->f->jet_version) {
@@ -85,8 +82,7 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 	}
 	
 	mdb_close(mdb);
-	mdb_exit();
 
-	exit(0);
+	return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/util/prcat.c b/src/util/prcat.c
index 73ca06e..1cd979c 100644
--- a/src/util/prcat.c
+++ b/src/util/prcat.c
@@ -30,15 +30,12 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 		exit(1);
 	}
 	
-	mdb_init();
-
 	mdb = mdb_open(argv[1], MDB_NOFLAGS);
 
 	mdb_dump_catalog(mdb,(argc > 2) ? atoi(argv[2]) : MDB_TABLE); 
 
 	mdb_close(mdb);
-	mdb_exit();
 
-	exit(0);
+	return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/util/prdata.c b/src/util/prdata.c
index 42866ad..900804e 100644
--- a/src/util/prdata.c
+++ b/src/util/prdata.c
@@ -29,7 +29,6 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 		exit(1);
 	}
 	
-	mdb_init();
 	mdb = mdb_open(argv[1], MDB_NOFLAGS);
 
 	table = mdb_read_table_by_name(mdb, argv[2], MDB_TABLE);
@@ -40,8 +39,7 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 	}
 
 	mdb_close(mdb);
-	mdb_exit();
 
-	exit(0);
+	return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/util/prdump.c b/src/util/prdump.c
index 736024c..313bb7a 100644
--- a/src/util/prdump.c
+++ b/src/util/prdump.c
@@ -30,7 +30,6 @@ int page, start, stop;
 		exit(1);
 	}
 	
-	mdb_init();
 	mdb = mdb_open(argv[1], MDB_NOFLAGS);
 
 	mdb_read_catalog(mdb, MDB_TABLE);
@@ -45,8 +44,7 @@ int page, start, stop;
 	  }
 
 	mdb_close(mdb);
-	mdb_exit();
 
-	exit(0);
+	return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/util/prfreemap.c b/src/util/prfreemap.c
index f6ca426..2860d2c 100644
--- a/src/util/prfreemap.c
+++ b/src/util/prfreemap.c
@@ -33,7 +33,6 @@ unsigned char *map_buf;
 		exit(1);
 	}
 	
-	mdb_init();
 	mdb = mdb_open(argv[1], MDB_NOFLAGS);
 
 	mdb_read_pg (mdb, 1);
@@ -57,8 +56,6 @@ unsigned char *map_buf;
 	if (coln!=1) printf("\n");
 
 	mdb_close(mdb);
-	mdb_exit();
-
-	exit(0);
+	return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/util/prindex.c b/src/util/prindex.c
index 37459a8..72104ba 100644
--- a/src/util/prindex.c
+++ b/src/util/prindex.c
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 		exit(1);
 	}
 	
-	mdb_init();
 	if (!(mdb = mdb_open(argv[1], MDB_NOFLAGS))) {
 		fprintf(stderr,"Unable to open database.\n");
 		exit(1);
@@ -57,9 +56,7 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 	}
 
 	mdb_close(mdb);
-	mdb_exit();
-
-	exit(0);
+	return 0;
 }
 char *
 page_name(int page_type)
diff --git a/src/util/prkkd.c b/src/util/prkkd.c
index 583ad57..3b06cfe 100644
--- a/src/util/prkkd.c
+++ b/src/util/prkkd.c
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 		exit(1);
 	}
 	
-	mdb_init();
 	mdb = mdb_open(argv[1], MDB_NOFLAGS);
 
 	table = mdb_read_table_by_name(mdb, argv[2], MDB_TABLE);
@@ -43,7 +42,6 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 	mdb_kkd_dump(table->entry);
 
 	mdb_close(mdb);
-	mdb_exit();
 #endif
-	exit(0);
+	return 0;
 }
diff --git a/src/util/prole.c b/src/util/prole.c
index 7c0457a..8f56ee2 100644
--- a/src/util/prole.c
+++ b/src/util/prole.c
@@ -34,7 +34,6 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 		exit(1);
 	}
 	
-	mdb_init();
 	mdb = mdb_open(argv[1], MDB_NOFLAGS);
 	dot = strchr(argv[2],'.');
 	if (argc>3) sargname = argv[3];
@@ -56,9 +55,7 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 	}
 
 	mdb_close(mdb);
-	mdb_exit();
-
-	exit(0);
+	return 0;
 }
 
 void dump_ole(MdbTableDef *table, char *colname, char *sargname)
diff --git a/src/util/prtable.c b/src/util/prtable.c
index 4836ab7..8cbc1e6 100644
--- a/src/util/prtable.c
+++ b/src/util/prtable.c
@@ -32,7 +32,6 @@ int found = 0;
 		exit(1);
 	}
 	
-	mdb_init();
 	mdb = mdb_open(argv[1], MDB_NOFLAGS);
 
 	mdb_read_catalog(mdb, MDB_TABLE);
@@ -50,8 +49,6 @@ int found = 0;
 		fprintf(stderr,"No table named %s found.\n", argv[2]);
 	}
 	mdb_close(mdb);
-	mdb_exit();
-
-	exit(0);
+	return 0;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/util/sargtest.c b/src/util/sargtest.c
index 9dbddc1..1b0a852 100644
--- a/src/util/sargtest.c
+++ b/src/util/sargtest.c
@@ -29,8 +29,6 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 	MdbHandle *mdb;
 	MdbTableDef *table;
 
-	mdb_init();
-
 	if (!(mdb = mdb_open(MDB_FILE, MDB_NOFLAGS))) {
 		exit(1);
 	}
@@ -43,9 +41,7 @@ main(int argc, char **argv)
 	}
 
 	mdb_close(mdb);
-	mdb_exit();
-
-	exit(0);
+	return 0;
 }
 
 void print_table(MdbTableDef *table)
diff --git a/src/util/updrow.c b/src/util/updrow.c
index 6588632..ee43dfe 100644
--- a/src/util/updrow.c
+++ b/src/util/updrow.c
@@ -39,7 +39,6 @@ int len;
 		exit(1);
 	}
 	
-	mdb_init();
 	mdb = mdb_open(argv[1], MDB_WRITABLE);
 	tabname = argv[2];
 	sargname = argv[3];
@@ -64,9 +63,7 @@ int len;
 	}
 
 	mdb_close(mdb);
-	mdb_exit();
-
-	exit(0);
+	return 0;
 }
 
 void read_to_row(MdbTableDef *table, char *sargname)