According to the documentation, on failure new returns undef and $@ contains an appropriate error message. This seems to work as advertised for me:

19:50 >perl -MNet::SMTP -wE "my $smtp = Net::SMTP->new('invalid'); say
+ 'Next'; if (defined $smtp) { say 'SMTP defined' } else { say 'SMTP u
+ndefined'; say $@; } say 'Still alive';"
Next
SMTP undefined
Net::SMTP: Bad hostname 'invalid'
Still alive

19:50 >p5u v Net::SMTP
Net::SMTP
        C:\Perl\Strawberry\strawberry-perl-5.20.0.1-64bit-PDL\perl\lib
+\Net\SMTP.pm: 2.33

19:50 >

[download]

Are you using an old version of the module? Are you sure it’s Net::SMTP->new() that’s causing the crash? Please give a minimal but self-contained script demonstrating the problem, together with the exact error message(s) that result.

Athanasius <°(((>< contra mundum Iustus alius egestas vitae, eros Piratica,

In reply to Re: Net::SMTP halts script by Athanasius
in thread Net::SMTP halts script by nperrins

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