diff --git a/src/OT/Color/CBDT/CBDT.hh b/src/OT/Color/CBDT/CBDT.hh
index b287ea98f..457039bfc 100644
--- a/src/OT/Color/CBDT/CBDT.hh
+++ b/src/OT/Color/CBDT/CBDT.hh
@@ -397,7 +397,6 @@ struct IndexSubtableRecord
     TRACE_SERIALIZE (this);
 
     auto *subtable = c->serializer->start_embed<IndexSubtable> ();
-    if (unlikely (!subtable)) return_trace (false);
     if (unlikely (!c->serializer->extend_min (subtable))) return_trace (false);
 
     auto *old_subtable = get_subtable (base);
@@ -577,9 +576,6 @@ struct IndexSubtableArray
   {
     TRACE_SUBSET (this);
 
-    auto *dst = c->serializer->start_embed<IndexSubtableArray> ();
-    if (unlikely (!dst)) return_trace (false);
-
     hb_vector_t<hb_pair_t<hb_codepoint_t, const IndexSubtableRecord*>> lookup;
     build_lookup (c, bitmap_size_context, &lookup);
     if (unlikely (!c->serializer->propagate_error (lookup)))
@@ -994,12 +990,10 @@ CBLC::subset (hb_subset_context_t *c) const
 {
   TRACE_SUBSET (this);
 
-  auto *cblc_prime = c->serializer->start_embed<CBLC> ();
-
   // Use a vector as a secondary buffer as the tables need to be built in parallel.
   hb_vector_t<char> cbdt_prime;
 
-  if (unlikely (!cblc_prime)) return_trace (false);
+  auto *cblc_prime = c->serializer->start_embed<CBLC> ();
   if (unlikely (!c->serializer->extend_min (cblc_prime))) return_trace (false);
   cblc_prime->version = version;
 
diff --git a/src/OT/Color/COLR/COLR.hh b/src/OT/Color/COLR/COLR.hh
index 2a4798429..c6776beb3 100644
--- a/src/OT/Color/COLR/COLR.hh
+++ b/src/OT/Color/COLR/COLR.hh
@@ -409,7 +409,6 @@ struct ColorLine
   {
     TRACE_SUBSET (this);
     auto *out = c->serializer->start_embed (this);
-    if (unlikely (!out)) return_trace (false);
     if (unlikely (!c->serializer->extend_min (out))) return_trace (false);
 
     if (!c->serializer->check_assign (out->extend, extend, HB_SERIALIZE_ERROR_INT_OVERFLOW)) return_trace (false);
@@ -2167,7 +2166,7 @@ struct COLR
     if (version == 0 && (!base_it || !layer_it))
       return_trace (false);
 
-    COLR *colr_prime = c->serializer->start_embed<COLR> ();
+    auto *colr_prime = c->serializer->start_embed<COLR> ();
     if (unlikely (!c->serializer->extend_min (colr_prime)))  return_trace (false);
 
     if (version == 0)
diff --git a/src/OT/Color/sbix/sbix.hh b/src/OT/Color/sbix/sbix.hh
index 46ad3fd58..ce8693cfb 100644
--- a/src/OT/Color/sbix/sbix.hh
+++ b/src/OT/Color/sbix/sbix.hh
@@ -48,7 +48,6 @@ struct SBIXGlyph
   {
     TRACE_SERIALIZE (this);
     SBIXGlyph* new_glyph = c->start_embed<SBIXGlyph> ();
-    if (unlikely (!new_glyph)) return_trace (nullptr);
     if (unlikely (!c->extend_min (new_glyph))) return_trace (nullptr);
 
     new_glyph->xOffset = xOffset;
@@ -143,7 +142,6 @@ struct SBIXStrike
     unsigned int num_output_glyphs = c->plan->num_output_glyphs ();
 
     auto* out = c->serializer->start_embed<SBIXStrike> ();
-    if (unlikely (!out)) return_trace (false);
     auto snap = c->serializer->snapshot ();
     if (unlikely (!c->serializer->extend (out, num_output_glyphs + 1))) return_trace (false);
     out->ppem = ppem;
@@ -388,7 +386,6 @@ struct sbix
     TRACE_SERIALIZE (this);
 
     auto *out = c->serializer->start_embed<Array32OfOffset32To<SBIXStrike>> ();
-    if (unlikely (!out)) return_trace (false);
     if (unlikely (!c->serializer->extend_min (out))) return_trace (false);
 
     hb_vector_t<Offset32To<SBIXStrike>*> new_strikes;
@@ -423,8 +420,6 @@ struct sbix
   {
     TRACE_SUBSET (this);
 
-    sbix *sbix_prime = c->serializer->start_embed<sbix> ();
-    if (unlikely (!sbix_prime)) return_trace (false);
     if (unlikely (!c->serializer->embed (this->version))) return_trace (false);
     if (unlikely (!c->serializer->embed (this->flags))) return_trace (false);
 
diff --git a/src/OT/Layout/GDEF/GDEF.hh b/src/OT/Layout/GDEF/GDEF.hh
index c1ff79619..d995ba0d4 100644
--- a/src/OT/Layout/GDEF/GDEF.hh
+++ b/src/OT/Layout/GDEF/GDEF.hh
@@ -49,8 +49,6 @@ struct AttachPoint : Array16Of<HBUINT16>
   {
     TRACE_SUBSET (this);
     auto *out = c->serializer->start_embed (*this);
-    if (unlikely (!out)) return_trace (false);
-
     return_trace (out->serialize (c->serializer, + iter ()));
   }
 };
@@ -202,7 +200,6 @@ struct CaretValueFormat3
   {
     TRACE_SUBSET (this);
     auto *out = c->serializer->start_embed (*this);
-    if (unlikely (!out)) return_trace (false);
     if (!c->serializer->embed (caretValueFormat)) return_trace (false);
     if (!c->serializer->embed (coordinate)) return_trace (false);
 
diff --git a/src/OT/Layout/GPOS/AnchorFormat3.hh b/src/OT/Layout/GPOS/AnchorFormat3.hh
index e7e3c5c6d..644d63d8a 100644
--- a/src/OT/Layout/GPOS/AnchorFormat3.hh
+++ b/src/OT/Layout/GPOS/AnchorFormat3.hh
@@ -45,7 +45,6 @@ struct AnchorFormat3
   {
     TRACE_SUBSET (this);
     auto *out = c->serializer->start_embed (*this);
-    if (unlikely (!out)) return_trace (false);
     if (unlikely (!c->serializer->embed (format))) return_trace (false);
     if (unlikely (!c->serializer->embed (xCoordinate))) return_trace (false);
     if (unlikely (!c->serializer->embed (yCoordinate))) return_trace (false);
diff --git a/src/OT/Layout/GPOS/CursivePosFormat1.hh b/src/OT/Layout/GPOS/CursivePosFormat1.hh
index b8773ba0a..a459124df 100644
--- a/src/OT/Layout/GPOS/CursivePosFormat1.hh
+++ b/src/OT/Layout/GPOS/CursivePosFormat1.hh
@@ -278,7 +278,6 @@ struct CursivePosFormat1
     const hb_map_t &glyph_map = *c->plan->glyph_map;
 
     auto *out = c->serializer->start_embed (*this);
-    if (unlikely (!out)) return_trace (false);
 
     auto it =
     + hb_zip (this+coverage, entryExitRecord)
diff --git a/src/OT/Layout/GSUB/ReverseChainSingleSubstFormat1.hh b/src/OT/Layout/GSUB/ReverseChainSingleSubstFormat1.hh
index 2c2e1aa44..916fa281b 100644
--- a/src/OT/Layout/GSUB/ReverseChainSingleSubstFormat1.hh
+++ b/src/OT/Layout/GSUB/ReverseChainSingleSubstFormat1.hh
@@ -191,7 +191,6 @@ struct ReverseChainSingleSubstFormat1
     TRACE_SERIALIZE (this);
 
     auto *out = c->serializer->start_embed (this);
-    if (unlikely (!c->serializer->check_success (out))) return_trace (false);
     if (unlikely (!c->serializer->embed (this->format))) return_trace (false);
     if (unlikely (!c->serializer->embed (this->coverage))) return_trace (false);
 
diff --git a/src/OT/glyf/glyf.hh b/src/OT/glyf/glyf.hh
index 92387f41a..e1132dfe0 100644
--- a/src/OT/glyf/glyf.hh
+++ b/src/OT/glyf/glyf.hh
@@ -126,9 +126,8 @@ struct glyf
 	padded_offsets.push (g.length ());
     }
 
-    glyf *glyf_prime = c->serializer->start_embed <glyf> ();
-    bool result = glyf_prime &&
-		  glyf_prime->serialize (c->serializer, hb_iter (glyphs), use_short_loca, c->plan);
+    auto *glyf_prime = c->serializer->start_embed <glyf> ();
+    bool result = glyf_prime->serialize (c->serializer, hb_iter (glyphs), use_short_loca, c->plan);
     if (c->plan->normalized_coords && !c->plan->pinned_at_default)
       _free_compiled_subset_glyphs (glyphs);
 
diff --git a/src/OT/name/name.hh b/src/OT/name/name.hh
index c1839f3b6..708e495e9 100644
--- a/src/OT/name/name.hh
+++ b/src/OT/name/name.hh
@@ -386,8 +386,7 @@ struct name
   {
     TRACE_SUBSET (this);
 
-    name *name_prime = c->serializer->start_embed<name> ();
-    if (unlikely (!name_prime)) return_trace (false);
+    auto *name_prime = c->serializer->start_embed<name> ();
 
 #ifdef HB_EXPERIMENTAL_API
     const hb_hashmap_t<hb_ot_name_record_ids_t, hb_bytes_t> *name_table_overrides =
diff --git a/src/hb-ot-cff-common.hh b/src/hb-ot-cff-common.hh
index f22824fc6..19b35af1f 100644
--- a/src/hb-ot-cff-common.hh
+++ b/src/hb-ot-cff-common.hh
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ struct CFFIndexOf : CFFIndex<COUNT>
     for (unsigned int i = 0; i < dataArrayLen; i++)
     {
       TYPE *dest = c->start_embed<TYPE> ();
-      if (unlikely (!dest || !dest->serialize (c, dataArray[i], param1, param2)))
+      if (unlikely (!dest->serialize (c, dataArray[i], param1, param2)))
 	return_trace (false);
     }
     return_trace (true);
diff --git a/src/hb-ot-cmap-table.hh b/src/hb-ot-cmap-table.hh
index e4aa3075c..462696cd5 100644
--- a/src/hb-ot-cmap-table.hh
+++ b/src/hb-ot-cmap-table.hh
@@ -924,8 +924,7 @@ struct DefaultUVS : SortedArray32Of<UnicodeValueRange>
   DefaultUVS* copy (hb_serialize_context_t *c,
 		    const hb_set_t *unicodes) const
   {
-    DefaultUVS *out = c->start_embed<DefaultUVS> ();
-    if (unlikely (!out)) return nullptr;
+    auto *out = c->start_embed<DefaultUVS> ();
     auto snap = c->snapshot ();
 
     HBUINT32 len;
@@ -1074,9 +1073,7 @@ struct NonDefaultUVS : SortedArray32Of<UVSMapping>
 		       const hb_set_t *glyphs_requested,
 		       const hb_map_t *glyph_map) const
   {
-    NonDefaultUVS *out = c->start_embed<NonDefaultUVS> ();
-    if (unlikely (!out)) return nullptr;
-
+    auto *out = c->start_embed<NonDefaultUVS> ();
     auto it =
     + as_array ()
     | hb_filter ([&] (const UVSMapping& _)
@@ -1774,7 +1771,6 @@ struct cmap
     TRACE_SUBSET (this);
 
     cmap *cmap_prime = c->serializer->start_embed<cmap> ();
-    if (unlikely (!c->serializer->check_success (cmap_prime))) return_trace (false);
 
     auto encodingrec_iter =
     + hb_iter (encodingRecord)
diff --git a/src/hb-ot-hdmx-table.hh b/src/hb-ot-hdmx-table.hh
index 4870dfb41..f30d3c3e2 100644
--- a/src/hb-ot-hdmx-table.hh
+++ b/src/hb-ot-hdmx-table.hh
@@ -116,8 +116,7 @@ struct hdmx
   {
     TRACE_SUBSET (this);
 
-    hdmx *hdmx_prime = c->serializer->start_embed <hdmx> ();
-    if (unlikely (!hdmx_prime)) return_trace (false);
+    auto *hdmx_prime = c->serializer->start_embed <hdmx> ();
 
     unsigned num_input_glyphs = get_num_glyphs ();
     auto it =
diff --git a/src/hb-ot-hmtx-table.hh b/src/hb-ot-hmtx-table.hh
index 1f838e9f5..fed6ca1c7 100644
--- a/src/hb-ot-hmtx-table.hh
+++ b/src/hb-ot-hmtx-table.hh
@@ -190,8 +190,7 @@ struct hmtxvmtx
   {
     TRACE_SUBSET (this);
 
-    T *table_prime = c->serializer->start_embed <T> ();
-    if (unlikely (!table_prime)) return_trace (false);
+    auto *table_prime = c->serializer->start_embed <T> ();
 
     accelerator_t _mtx (c->plan->source);
     unsigned num_long_metrics;
diff --git a/src/hb-ot-layout-common.hh b/src/hb-ot-layout-common.hh
index 7c7f9bcbf..9041198e2 100644
--- a/src/hb-ot-layout-common.hh
+++ b/src/hb-ot-layout-common.hh
@@ -810,7 +810,7 @@ struct Feature
   {
     TRACE_SUBSET (this);
     auto *out = c->serializer->start_embed (*this);
-    if (unlikely (!out || !c->serializer->extend_min (out))) return_trace (false);
+    if (unlikely (!c->serializer->extend_min (out))) return_trace (false);
 
     out->featureParams.serialize_subset (c, featureParams, this, tag);
 
@@ -984,7 +984,7 @@ struct RecordListOfFeature : RecordListOf<Feature>
   {
     TRACE_SUBSET (this);
     auto *out = c->serializer->start_embed (*this);
-    if (unlikely (!out || !c->serializer->extend_min (out))) return_trace (false);
+    if (unlikely (!c->serializer->extend_min (out))) return_trace (false);
 
     + hb_enumerate (*this)
     | hb_filter (l->feature_index_map, hb_first)
@@ -1081,7 +1081,7 @@ struct LangSys
   {
     TRACE_SUBSET (this);
     auto *out = c->serializer->start_embed (*this);
-    if (unlikely (!out || !c->serializer->extend_min (out))) return_trace (false);
+    if (unlikely (!c->serializer->extend_min (out))) return_trace (false);
 
     const uint32_t *v;
     out->reqFeatureIndex = l->feature_index_map->has (reqFeatureIndex, &v) ? *v : 0xFFFFu;
@@ -1191,7 +1191,7 @@ struct Script
       return false;
 
     auto *out = c->serializer->start_embed (*this);
-    if (unlikely (!out || !c->serializer->extend_min (out))) return_trace (false);
+    if (unlikely (!c->serializer->extend_min (out))) return_trace (false);
 
     bool defaultLang = false;
     if (has_default_lang_sys ())
@@ -1250,7 +1250,7 @@ struct RecordListOfScript : RecordListOf<Script>
   {
     TRACE_SUBSET (this);
     auto *out = c->serializer->start_embed (*this);
-    if (unlikely (!out || !c->serializer->extend_min (out))) return_trace (false);
+    if (unlikely (!c->serializer->extend_min (out))) return_trace (false);
 
     for (auto _ : + hb_enumerate (*this))
     {
@@ -1370,7 +1370,7 @@ struct Lookup
   {
     TRACE_SUBSET (this);
     auto *out = c->serializer->start_embed (*this);
-    if (unlikely (!out || !c->serializer->extend_min (out))) return_trace (false);
+    if (unlikely (!c->serializer->extend_min (out))) return_trace (false);
     out->lookupType = lookupType;
     out->lookupFlag = lookupFlag;
 
@@ -1459,7 +1459,7 @@ struct LookupOffsetList : List16OfOffsetTo<TLookup, OffsetType>
   {
     TRACE_SUBSET (this);
     auto *out = c->serializer->start_embed (this);
-    if (unlikely (!out || !c->serializer->extend_min (out))) return_trace (false);
+    if (unlikely (!c->serializer->extend_min (out))) return_trace (false);
 
     + hb_enumerate (*this)
     | hb_filter (l->lookup_index_map, hb_first)
diff --git a/src/hb-ot-layout-gsubgpos.hh b/src/hb-ot-layout-gsubgpos.hh
index 8e5be92d1..841ff1942 100644
--- a/src/hb-ot-layout-gsubgpos.hh
+++ b/src/hb-ot-layout-gsubgpos.hh
@@ -3014,8 +3014,6 @@ struct ChainRule
 		  const hb_map_t *lookahead_map = nullptr) const
   {
     TRACE_SERIALIZE (this);
-    auto *out = c->start_embed (this);
-    if (unlikely (!out)) return_trace (false);
 
     const hb_map_t *mapping = backtrack_map;
     serialize_array (c, backtrack.len, + backtrack.iter ()
@@ -3849,8 +3847,6 @@ struct ChainContextFormat3
   {
     TRACE_SUBSET (this);
 
-    auto *out = c->serializer->start_embed (this);
-    if (unlikely (!out)) return_trace (false);
     if (unlikely (!c->serializer->embed (this->format))) return_trace (false);
 
     if (!serialize_coverage_offsets (c, backtrack.iter (), this))
@@ -3974,7 +3970,7 @@ struct ExtensionFormat1
     TRACE_SUBSET (this);
 
     auto *out = c->serializer->start_embed (this);
-    if (unlikely (!out || !c->serializer->extend_min (out))) return_trace (false);
+    if (unlikely (!c->serializer->extend_min (out))) return_trace (false);
 
     out->format = format;
     out->extensionLookupType = extensionLookupType;
diff --git a/src/hb-ot-math-table.hh b/src/hb-ot-math-table.hh
index dccf720f4..62ed13b26 100644
--- a/src/hb-ot-math-table.hh
+++ b/src/hb-ot-math-table.hh
@@ -73,7 +73,6 @@ struct MathConstants
   {
     TRACE_SERIALIZE (this);
     auto *out = c->start_embed (this);
-    if (unlikely (!out)) return_trace (nullptr);
 
     HBINT16 *p = c->allocate_size<HBINT16> (HBINT16::static_size * 2);
     if (unlikely (!p)) return_trace (nullptr);
@@ -310,7 +309,6 @@ struct MathKern
   {
     TRACE_SERIALIZE (this);
     auto *out = c->start_embed (this);
-    if (unlikely (!out)) return_trace (nullptr);
 
     if (unlikely (!c->embed (heightCount))) return_trace (nullptr);
 
@@ -757,8 +755,6 @@ struct MathGlyphAssembly
   bool subset (hb_subset_context_t *c) const
   {
     TRACE_SUBSET (this);
-    auto *out = c->serializer->start_embed (*this);
-    if (unlikely (!out)) return_trace (false);
 
     if (!c->serializer->copy (italicsCorrection, this)) return_trace (false);
     if (!c->serializer->copy<HBUINT16> (partRecords.len)) return_trace (false);
diff --git a/src/hb-ot-post-table.hh b/src/hb-ot-post-table.hh
index 676196244..761e49d11 100644
--- a/src/hb-ot-post-table.hh
+++ b/src/hb-ot-post-table.hh
@@ -96,8 +96,7 @@ struct post
   bool subset (hb_subset_context_t *c) const
   {
     TRACE_SUBSET (this);
-    post *post_prime = c->serializer->start_embed<post> ();
-    if (unlikely (!post_prime)) return_trace (false);
+    auto *post_prime = c->serializer->start_embed<post> ();
 
     bool glyph_names = c->plan->flags & HB_SUBSET_FLAGS_GLYPH_NAMES;
     if (!serialize (c->serializer, glyph_names))
diff --git a/src/hb-ot-stat-table.hh b/src/hb-ot-stat-table.hh
index 8bf3ac090..f7bb3791c 100644
--- a/src/hb-ot-stat-table.hh
+++ b/src/hb-ot-stat-table.hh
@@ -448,8 +448,6 @@ struct AxisValueOffsetArray: UnsizedArrayOf<Offset16To<AxisValue>>
                const hb_array_t<const StatAxisRecord> axis_records) const
   {
     TRACE_SUBSET (this);
-    auto *out = c->serializer->start_embed (this);
-    if (unlikely (!out)) return_trace (false);
 
     auto axisValueOffsets = as_array (axisValueCount);
     count = 0;
diff --git a/src/hb-ot-var-common.hh b/src/hb-ot-var-common.hh
index da056efb8..e49e2159d 100644
--- a/src/hb-ot-var-common.hh
+++ b/src/hb-ot-var-common.hh
@@ -41,7 +41,6 @@ struct DeltaSetIndexMapFormat01
   {
     TRACE_SERIALIZE (this);
     auto *out = c->start_embed (this);
-    if (unlikely (!out)) return_trace (nullptr);
 
     unsigned total_size = min_size + mapCount * get_width ();
     HBUINT8 *p = c->allocate_size<HBUINT8> (total_size);
diff --git a/src/hb-ot-vorg-table.hh b/src/hb-ot-vorg-table.hh
index 811e13919..671b6d2c2 100644
--- a/src/hb-ot-vorg-table.hh
+++ b/src/hb-ot-vorg-table.hh
@@ -90,7 +90,7 @@ struct VORG
   bool subset (hb_subset_context_t *c) const
   {
     TRACE_SUBSET (this);
-    VORG *vorg_prime = c->serializer->start_embed<VORG> ();
+    auto *vorg_prime = c->serializer->start_embed<VORG> ();
     if (unlikely (!c->serializer->check_success (vorg_prime))) return_trace (false);
 
     auto it =
diff --git a/src/hb-subset-cff1.cc b/src/hb-subset-cff1.cc
index 63fb144ab..005f88edd 100644
--- a/src/hb-subset-cff1.cc
+++ b/src/hb-subset-cff1.cc
@@ -745,8 +745,7 @@ static bool _serialize_cff1 (hb_serialize_context_t *c,
       objidx_t	subrs_link = 0;
       if (plan.subset_localsubrs[i].length > 0)
       {
-	CFF1Subrs *dest = c->start_embed <CFF1Subrs> ();
-	if (unlikely (!dest)) return false;
+	auto *dest = c->start_embed <CFF1Subrs> ();
 	c->push ();
 	if (likely (dest && dest->serialize (c, plan.subset_localsubrs[i])))
 	  subrs_link = c->pop_pack ();
@@ -757,8 +756,7 @@ static bool _serialize_cff1 (hb_serialize_context_t *c,
 	}
       }
 
-      PrivateDict *pd = c->start_embed<PrivateDict> ();
-      if (unlikely (!pd)) return false;
+      auto *pd = c->start_embed<PrivateDict> ();
       c->push ();
       cff1_private_dict_op_serializer_t privSzr (plan.desubroutinize, plan.drop_hints);
       /* N.B. local subrs immediately follows its corresponding private dict. i.e., subr offset == private dict size */
@@ -787,9 +785,7 @@ static bool _serialize_cff1 (hb_serialize_context_t *c,
     if (unlikely (!c->start_zerocopy (total_size)))
        return false;
 
-    CFF1CharStrings  *cs = c->start_embed<CFF1CharStrings> ();
-    if (unlikely (!cs)) return false;
-
+    auto *cs = c->start_embed<CFF1CharStrings> ();
     if (likely (cs->serialize (c, plan.subset_charstrings)))
       plan.info.char_strings_link = c->pop_pack (false);
     else
@@ -802,8 +798,7 @@ static bool _serialize_cff1 (hb_serialize_context_t *c,
   /* FDArray (FD Index) */
   if (acc.fdArray != &Null (CFF1FDArray))
   {
-    CFF1FDArray *fda = c->start_embed<CFF1FDArray> ();
-    if (unlikely (!fda)) return false;
+    auto *fda = c->start_embed<CFF1FDArray> ();
     c->push ();
     cff1_font_dict_op_serializer_t  fontSzr;
     auto it = + hb_zip (+ hb_iter (plan.fontdicts_mod), + hb_iter (plan.fontdicts_mod));
@@ -834,8 +829,7 @@ static bool _serialize_cff1 (hb_serialize_context_t *c,
   /* Charset */
   if (plan.subset_charset)
   {
-    Charset *dest = c->start_embed<Charset> ();
-    if (unlikely (!dest)) return false;
+    auto *dest = c->start_embed<Charset> ();
     c->push ();
     if (likely (dest->serialize (c,
 				 plan.subset_charset_format,
@@ -852,8 +846,7 @@ static bool _serialize_cff1 (hb_serialize_context_t *c,
   /* Encoding */
   if (plan.subset_encoding)
   {
-    Encoding *dest = c->start_embed<Encoding> ();
-    if (unlikely (!dest)) return false;
+    auto *dest = c->start_embed<Encoding> ();
     c->push ();
     if (likely (dest->serialize (c,
 				 plan.subset_enc_format,
@@ -871,8 +864,7 @@ static bool _serialize_cff1 (hb_serialize_context_t *c,
   /* global subrs */
   {
     c->push ();
-    CFF1Subrs *dest = c->start_embed <CFF1Subrs> ();
-    if (unlikely (!dest)) return false;
+    auto *dest = c->start_embed <CFF1Subrs> ();
     if (likely (dest->serialize (c, plan.subset_globalsubrs)))
       c->pop_pack (false);
     else
@@ -884,8 +876,7 @@ static bool _serialize_cff1 (hb_serialize_context_t *c,
 
   /* String INDEX */
   {
-    CFF1StringIndex *dest = c->start_embed<CFF1StringIndex> ();
-    if (unlikely (!dest)) return false;
+    auto *dest = c->start_embed<CFF1StringIndex> ();
     c->push ();
     if (likely (dest->serialize (c, *acc.stringIndex, plan.sidmap)))
       c->pop_pack ();
@@ -912,8 +903,7 @@ static bool _serialize_cff1 (hb_serialize_context_t *c,
   /* top dict INDEX */
   {
     /* serialize singleton TopDict */
-    TopDict *top = c->start_embed<TopDict> ();
-    if (!top) return false;
+    auto *top = c->start_embed<TopDict> ();
     c->push ();
     cff1_top_dict_op_serializer_t topSzr;
     unsigned top_size = 0;
@@ -929,8 +919,7 @@ static bool _serialize_cff1 (hb_serialize_context_t *c,
       return false;
     }
     /* serialize INDEX header for above */
-    CFF1Index *dest = c->start_embed<CFF1Index> ();
-    if (!dest) return false;
+    auto *dest = c->start_embed<CFF1Index> ();
     return dest->serialize_header (c, hb_iter (hb_array_t<unsigned> (&top_size, 1)));
   }
 }
diff --git a/src/hb-subset-cff2.cc b/src/hb-subset-cff2.cc
index 8ab462019..72323f128 100644
--- a/src/hb-subset-cff2.cc
+++ b/src/hb-subset-cff2.cc
@@ -524,8 +524,7 @@ static bool _serialize_cff2 (hb_serialize_context_t *c,
 
       if (plan.subset_localsubrs[i].length > 0)
       {
-	CFF2Subrs *dest = c->start_embed <CFF2Subrs> ();
-	if (unlikely (!dest)) return false;
+	auto *dest = c->start_embed <CFF2Subrs> ();
 	c->push ();
 	if (likely (dest->serialize (c, plan.subset_localsubrs[i])))
 	  subrs_link = c->pop_pack (false);
@@ -535,8 +534,7 @@ static bool _serialize_cff2 (hb_serialize_context_t *c,
 	  return false;
 	}
       }
-      PrivateDict *pd = c->start_embed<PrivateDict> ();
-      if (unlikely (!pd)) return false;
+      auto *pd = c->start_embed<PrivateDict> ();
       c->push ();
       cff2_private_dict_op_serializer_t privSzr (plan.desubroutinize, plan.drop_hints, plan.pinned,
 						 acc.varStore, normalized_coords);
@@ -562,9 +560,7 @@ static bool _serialize_cff2 (hb_serialize_context_t *c,
     if (unlikely (!c->start_zerocopy (total_size)))
        return false;
 
-    CFF2CharStrings  *cs = c->start_embed<CFF2CharStrings> ();
-    if (unlikely (!cs)) return false;
-
+    auto *cs = c->start_embed<CFF2CharStrings> ();
     if (likely (cs->serialize (c, plan.subset_charstrings)))
       plan.info.char_strings_link = c->pop_pack (false);
     else
@@ -593,8 +589,7 @@ static bool _serialize_cff2 (hb_serialize_context_t *c,
   /* FDArray (FD Index) */
   {
     c->push ();
-    CFF2FDArray *fda = c->start_embed<CFF2FDArray> ();
-    if (unlikely (!fda)) return false;
+    auto *fda = c->start_embed<CFF2FDArray> ();
     cff_font_dict_op_serializer_t fontSzr;
     auto it =
     + hb_zip (+ hb_iter (acc.fontDicts)
@@ -611,8 +606,8 @@ static bool _serialize_cff2 (hb_serialize_context_t *c,
       !plan.pinned)
   {
     c->push ();
-    CFF2VariationStore *dest = c->start_embed<CFF2VariationStore> ();
-    if (unlikely (!dest || !dest->serialize (c, acc.varStore))) return false;
+    auto *dest = c->start_embed<CFF2VariationStore> ();
+    if (unlikely (!dest->serialize (c, acc.varStore))) return false;
     plan.info.var_store_link = c->pop_pack (false);
   }
 
@@ -634,8 +629,7 @@ static bool _serialize_cff2 (hb_serialize_context_t *c,
 
   /* global subrs */
   {
-    CFF2Subrs *dest = c->start_embed <CFF2Subrs> ();
-    if (unlikely (!dest)) return false;
+    auto *dest = c->start_embed <CFF2Subrs> ();
     return dest->serialize (c, plan.subset_globalsubrs);
   }
 }