diff --git a/Lib/ctypes/__init__.py b/Lib/ctypes/__init__.py
index 7223fc499..0b84a27f8 100644
--- a/Lib/ctypes/__init__.py
+++ b/Lib/ctypes/__init__.py
@@ -2,15 +2,13 @@
 
 import os as _os
 import sys as _sys
-import sysconfig as _sysconfig
 import types as _types
 
-__version__ = "1.1.0"
+lazy import sysconfig as _sysconfig
 
 from _ctypes import Union, Structure, Array
 from _ctypes import _Pointer
 from _ctypes import CFuncPtr as _CFuncPtr
-from _ctypes import __version__ as _ctypes_version
 from _ctypes import RTLD_LOCAL, RTLD_GLOBAL
 from _ctypes import ArgumentError
 from _ctypes import SIZEOF_TIME_T
@@ -18,9 +16,6 @@ from _ctypes import CField
 
 from struct import calcsize as _calcsize
 
-if __version__ != _ctypes_version:
-    raise Exception("Version number mismatch", __version__, _ctypes_version)
-
 if _os.name == "nt":
     from _ctypes import COMError, CopyComPointer, FormatError
 
@@ -211,13 +206,13 @@ if sizeof(c_longdouble) == sizeof(c_double):
 
 try:
     class c_double_complex(_SimpleCData):
-        _type_ = "D"
+        _type_ = "Zd"
     _check_size(c_double_complex)
     class c_float_complex(_SimpleCData):
-        _type_ = "F"
+        _type_ = "Zf"
     _check_size(c_float_complex)
     class c_longdouble_complex(_SimpleCData):
-        _type_ = "G"
+        _type_ = "Zg"
 except AttributeError:
     pass
 
@@ -381,12 +376,6 @@ def create_unicode_buffer(init, size=None):
         return buf
     raise TypeError(init)
 
-
-def SetPointerType(pointer, cls):
-    import warnings
-    warnings._deprecated("ctypes.SetPointerType", remove=(3, 15))
-    pointer.set_type(cls)
-
 def ARRAY(typ, len):
     return typ * len
 
@@ -681,3 +670,12 @@ else:
     raise SystemError(f"Unexpected sizeof(time_t): {SIZEOF_TIME_T=}")
 
 _reset_cache()
+
+
+def __getattr__(name):
+    if name == "__version__":
+        from warnings import _deprecated
+
+        _deprecated("__version__", remove=(3, 20))
+        return "1.1.0"  # Do not change
+    raise AttributeError(f"module {__name__!r} has no attribute {name!r}")
diff --git a/Lib/ctypes/_layout.py b/Lib/ctypes/_layout.py
index 2048ccb6a..61b4c6c70 100644
--- a/Lib/ctypes/_layout.py
+++ b/Lib/ctypes/_layout.py
@@ -5,11 +5,12 @@ may change at any time.
 """
 
 import sys
-import warnings
 
 from _ctypes import CField, buffer_info
 import ctypes
 
+lazy import warnings
+
 def round_down(n, multiple):
     assert n >= 0
     assert multiple > 0
diff --git a/Lib/ctypes/util.py b/Lib/ctypes/util.py
index 3b2165843..015c62b31 100644
--- a/Lib/ctypes/util.py
+++ b/Lib/ctypes/util.py
@@ -1,8 +1,9 @@
 import os
-import shutil
-import subprocess
 import sys
 
+lazy import shutil
+lazy import subprocess
+
 # find_library(name) returns the pathname of a library, or None.
 if os.name == "nt":
 
@@ -421,8 +422,7 @@ elif os.name == "posix":
             result = None
             try:
                 p = subprocess.Popen(cmd, stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
-                                     stderr=subprocess.PIPE,
-                                     universal_newlines=True)
+                                     stderr=subprocess.PIPE)
                 out, _ = p.communicate()
                 res = re.findall(expr, os.fsdecode(out))
                 for file in res:
@@ -442,53 +442,12 @@ elif os.name == "posix":
                    _get_soname(_findLib_gcc(name)) or _get_soname(_findLib_ld(name))
 
 
-# Listing loaded libraries on other systems will try to use
-# functions common to Linux and a few other Unix-like systems.
-# See the following for several platforms' documentation of the same API:
-# https://man7.org/linux/man-pages/man3/dl_iterate_phdr.3.html
-# https://man.freebsd.org/cgi/man.cgi?query=dl_iterate_phdr
-# https://man.openbsd.org/dl_iterate_phdr
-# https://docs.oracle.com/cd/E88353_01/html/E37843/dl-iterate-phdr-3c.html
-if (os.name == "posix" and
-    sys.platform not in {"darwin", "ios", "tvos", "watchos"}):
-    import ctypes
-    if hasattr((_libc := ctypes.CDLL(None)), "dl_iterate_phdr"):
-
-        class _dl_phdr_info(ctypes.Structure):
-            _fields_ = [
-                ("dlpi_addr", ctypes.c_void_p),
-                ("dlpi_name", ctypes.c_char_p),
-                ("dlpi_phdr", ctypes.c_void_p),
-                ("dlpi_phnum", ctypes.c_ushort),
-            ]
-
-        _dl_phdr_callback = ctypes.CFUNCTYPE(
-            ctypes.c_int,
-            ctypes.POINTER(_dl_phdr_info),
-            ctypes.c_size_t,
-            ctypes.POINTER(ctypes.py_object),
-        )
-
-        @_dl_phdr_callback
-        def _info_callback(info, _size, data):
-            libraries = data.contents.value
-            name = os.fsdecode(info.contents.dlpi_name)
-            libraries.append(name)
-            return 0
-
-        _dl_iterate_phdr = _libc["dl_iterate_phdr"]
-        _dl_iterate_phdr.argtypes = [
-            _dl_phdr_callback,
-            ctypes.POINTER(ctypes.py_object),
-        ]
-        _dl_iterate_phdr.restype = ctypes.c_int
-
-        def dllist():
-            """Return a list of loaded shared libraries in the current process."""
-            libraries = []
-            _dl_iterate_phdr(_info_callback,
-                             ctypes.byref(ctypes.py_object(libraries)))
-            return libraries
+# On platforms which provide dl_iterate_phdr(), dllist() is implemented
+# in _ctypes.
+try:
+    from _ctypes import dllist
+except ImportError:
+    pass
 
 ################################################################
 # test code
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_ctypes/__init__.py b/Lib/test/test_ctypes/__init__.py
index eb9126cbe..d848beb1f 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_ctypes/__init__.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_ctypes/__init__.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import os
+import unittest
 from test import support
 from test.support import import_helper
 
@@ -6,5 +7,21 @@ from test.support import import_helper
 # skip tests if the _ctypes extension was not built
 import_helper.import_module('ctypes')
 
+
+class TestModule(unittest.TestCase):
+    def test_deprecated__version__(self):
+        import ctypes
+        import _ctypes
+
+        for mod in (ctypes, _ctypes):
+            with self.subTest(mod=mod):
+                with self.assertWarnsRegex(
+                    DeprecationWarning,
+                    "'__version__' is deprecated and slated for removal in Python 3.20",
+                ) as cm:
+                    getattr(mod, "__version__")
+                self.assertEqual(cm.filename, __file__)
+
+
 def load_tests(*args):
     return support.load_package_tests(os.path.dirname(__file__), *args)
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_ctypes/_support.py b/Lib/test/test_ctypes/_support.py
index 946d654a1..700657a4e 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_ctypes/_support.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_ctypes/_support.py
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@
 import ctypes
 from _ctypes import Structure, Union, _Pointer, Array, _SimpleCData, CFuncPtr
 import sys
-from test import support
 
 
 _CData = Structure.__base__
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_ctypes/test_as_parameter.py b/Lib/test/test_ctypes/test_as_parameter.py
index 2da1acfcf..abbfb6efd 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_ctypes/test_as_parameter.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_ctypes/test_as_parameter.py
@@ -5,7 +5,8 @@ from ctypes import (Structure, CDLL, CFUNCTYPE,
                     c_short, c_int, c_long, c_longlong,
                     c_byte, c_wchar, c_float, c_double,
                     ArgumentError)
-from test.support import import_helper, skip_if_sanitizer
+from test.support import (import_helper, skip_if_sanitizer,
+                          skip_emscripten_stack_overflow, skip_if_huge_c_stack)
 _ctypes_test = import_helper.import_module("_ctypes_test")
 
 
@@ -193,6 +194,8 @@ class BasicWrapTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
                              (9*2, 8*3, 7*4, 6*5, 5*6, 4*7, 3*8, 2*9))
 
     @skip_if_sanitizer('requires deep stack', thread=True)
+    @skip_if_huge_c_stack()
+    @skip_emscripten_stack_overflow()
     def test_recursive_as_param(self):
         class A:
             pass
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_ctypes/test_c_simple_type_meta.py b/Lib/test/test_ctypes/test_c_simple_type_meta.py
index fd261acf4..3b4fcf9c4 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_ctypes/test_c_simple_type_meta.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_ctypes/test_c_simple_type_meta.py
@@ -213,14 +213,12 @@ class PyCSimpleTypeAsMetaclassTest(unittest.TestCase):
             class F(metaclass=PyCSimpleType):
                 _type_ = "\0"
         message = str(cm.exception)
-        expected_type_chars = list('cbBhHiIlLdDFGfuzZqQPXOv?g')
-        if not hasattr(ctypes, 'c_float_complex'):
-            expected_type_chars.remove('F')
-            expected_type_chars.remove('D')
-            expected_type_chars.remove('G')
+        expected_type_chars = list('cbBhHiIlLdfuzZqQPXOv?g')
         if not MS_WINDOWS:
             expected_type_chars.remove('X')
         self.assertIn("'" + ''.join(expected_type_chars) + "'", message)
+        if hasattr(ctypes, 'c_float_complex'):
+            self.assertIn("'Zf', 'Zd', 'Zg'", message)
 
     def test_creating_pointer_in_dunder_init_3(self):
         """Check if interfcase subclasses properly creates according internal
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_ctypes/test_callbacks.py b/Lib/test/test_ctypes/test_callbacks.py
index 6c7c2e527..d1ac62816 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_ctypes/test_callbacks.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_ctypes/test_callbacks.py
@@ -328,6 +328,21 @@ class SampleCallbacksTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
                              f"of ctypes callback function {func!r}")
             self.assertIsNone(cm.unraisable.object)
 
+    def test_narrow_int_return_widened(self):
+        # gh-156933: Narrow integers were not widened on s390x
+        CALLBACK = CFUNCTYPE(c_int)
+
+        dll = CDLL(_ctypes_test.__file__)
+        _testfunc_callback_int_to_longlong = dll._testfunc_callback_int_to_longlong
+        _testfunc_callback_int_to_longlong.argtypes = [CALLBACK]
+        _testfunc_callback_int_to_longlong.restype = c_longlong
+
+        @CALLBACK
+        def cb():
+            return -1
+
+        self.assertEqual(_testfunc_callback_int_to_longlong(cb), -1)
+
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     unittest.main()
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_ctypes/test_dllist.py b/Lib/test/test_ctypes/test_dllist.py
index 53f077be0..10e0f261b 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_ctypes/test_dllist.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_ctypes/test_dllist.py
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ else:
 )
 class ListSharedLibraries(unittest.TestCase):
 
-    @unittest.skipIf(not APPLE, "TODO: RUSTPYTHON")
+    @unittest.skipIf(not APPLE and sys.platform != "linux", "TODO: RUSTPYTHON")
     def test_lists_system(self):
         dlls = ctypes.util.dllist()
 
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_ctypes/test_find.py b/Lib/test/test_ctypes/test_find.py
index 8bc84c3d2..92175cc38 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_ctypes/test_find.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_ctypes/test_find.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import os.path
+import subprocess
 import sys
 import test.support
 import unittest
@@ -78,9 +79,24 @@ class Test_OpenGL_libs(unittest.TestCase):
 @unittest.skipUnless(sys.platform.startswith('linux'),
                      'Test only valid for Linux')
 class FindLibraryLinux(unittest.TestCase):
+    @classmethod
+    def setUpClass(cls):
+        try:
+            p = subprocess.run(['ld', '--version'],
+                               stdout=subprocess.PIPE,
+                               stderr=subprocess.DEVNULL,
+                               text=True)
+        except OSError:
+            pass
+        else:
+            if p.stdout.startswith('mold '):
+                # The mold linker is known to be incompatible with
+                # the soft-deprecated ctypes.util.find_library
+                # (which uses `ld -t`).
+                raise unittest.SkipTest('Fails when ld is mold')
+
     @thread_unsafe('uses setenv')
     def test_find_on_libpath(self):
-        import subprocess
         import tempfile
 
         try:
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_ctypes/test_generated_structs.py b/Lib/test/test_ctypes/test_generated_structs.py
index aa448fad5..1cb46a827 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_ctypes/test_generated_structs.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_ctypes/test_generated_structs.py
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ Run this module to regenerate the files:
 """
 
 import unittest
-from test.support import import_helper, verbose
+from test.support import import_helper
 import re
 from dataclasses import dataclass
 from functools import cached_property
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_ctypes/test_incomplete.py b/Lib/test/test_ctypes/test_incomplete.py
index fefdfe910..8f6316d6f 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_ctypes/test_incomplete.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_ctypes/test_incomplete.py
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import ctypes
 import unittest
-import warnings
-from ctypes import Structure, POINTER, pointer, c_char_p
+from ctypes import Structure, POINTER, pointer, c_char_p, c_int
 
 # String-based "incomplete pointers" were implemented in ctypes 0.6.3 (2003, when
 # ctypes was an external project). They made obsolete by the current
@@ -21,9 +20,7 @@ class TestSetPointerType(unittest.TestCase):
             _fields_ = [("name", c_char_p),
                         ("next", lpcell)]
 
-        with warnings.catch_warnings():
-            warnings.simplefilter('ignore', DeprecationWarning)
-            ctypes.SetPointerType(lpcell, cell)
+        lpcell.set_type(cell)
 
         self.assertIs(POINTER(cell), lpcell)
 
@@ -50,10 +47,32 @@ class TestSetPointerType(unittest.TestCase):
             _fields_ = [("name", c_char_p),
                         ("next", lpcell)]
 
-        with self.assertWarns(DeprecationWarning):
-            ctypes.SetPointerType(lpcell, cell)
-
+        lpcell.set_type(cell)
         self.assertIs(POINTER(cell), lpcell)
 
+    def test_set_type_updates_format(self):
+        # gh-142966: set_type should update StgInfo.format
+        # to match the element type's format
+        with self.assertWarns(DeprecationWarning):
+            lp = POINTER("node")
+
+        class node(Structure):
+            _fields_ = [("value", c_int)]
+
+        # Get the expected format before set_type
+        node_format = memoryview(node()).format
+        expected_format = "&" + node_format
+
+        lp.set_type(node)
+
+        # Create instance to check format via memoryview
+        n = node(42)
+        p = lp(n)
+        actual_format = memoryview(p).format
+
+        # After set_type, the pointer's format should be "&<element_format>"
+        self.assertEqual(actual_format, expected_format)
+
+
 if __name__ == '__main__':
     unittest.main()
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_ctypes/test_numbers.py b/Lib/test/test_ctypes/test_numbers.py
index c57c58eb0..b7df08f60 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_ctypes/test_numbers.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_ctypes/test_numbers.py
@@ -119,8 +119,11 @@ class NumberTestCase(unittest.TestCase, ComplexesAreIdenticalMixin):
     @unittest.skipUnless(hasattr(ctypes, "c_double_complex"),
                          "requires C11 complex type")
     def test_complex(self):
-        for t in [ctypes.c_double_complex, ctypes.c_float_complex,
-                  ctypes.c_longdouble_complex]:
+        for format, t in [
+            ('Zd', ctypes.c_double_complex),
+            ('Zf', ctypes.c_float_complex),
+            ('Zg', ctypes.c_longdouble_complex),
+        ]:
             self.assertEqual(t(1).value, 1+0j)
             self.assertEqual(t(1.0).value, 1+0j)
             self.assertEqual(t(1+0.125j).value, 1+0.125j)
@@ -128,6 +131,12 @@ class NumberTestCase(unittest.TestCase, ComplexesAreIdenticalMixin):
             self.assertEqual(t(FloatLike()).value, 2+0j)
             self.assertEqual(t(ComplexLike()).value, 1+1j)
 
+            prefix = '>' if sys.byteorder == 'big' else '<'
+            num = t(1.0)
+            self.assertEqual(memoryview(num).format, prefix + format)
+            array = (t * 3)()
+            self.assertEqual(memoryview(array).format, prefix + format)
+
     @unittest.skipUnless(hasattr(ctypes, "c_double_complex"),
                          "requires C11 complex type")
     def test_complex_round_trip(self):
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_ctypes/test_parameters.py b/Lib/test/test_ctypes/test_parameters.py
index 46f8ff93e..6dadb7b41 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_ctypes/test_parameters.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_ctypes/test_parameters.py
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 import sys
 import unittest
 import test.support
+import ctypes
 from ctypes import (CDLL, PyDLL, ArgumentError,
                     Structure, Array, Union,
                     _Pointer, _SimpleCData, _CFuncPtr,
@@ -247,6 +248,13 @@ class SimpleTypesTestCase(unittest.TestCase):
         self.assertRegex(repr(c_char_p.from_param(b'hihi')), r"^<cparam 'z' \(0x[A-Fa-f0-9]+\)>$")
         self.assertRegex(repr(c_wchar_p.from_param('hihi')), r"^<cparam 'Z' \(0x[A-Fa-f0-9]+\)>$")
         self.assertRegex(repr(c_void_p.from_param(0x12)), r"^<cparam 'P' \(0x0*12\)>$")
+        if hasattr(ctypes, 'c_double_complex'):
+            self.assertRegex(repr(ctypes.c_double_complex.from_param(0)),
+                             r"^<cparam 'Zd' at 0x[A-Fa-f0-9]+>$")
+            self.assertRegex(repr(ctypes.c_float_complex.from_param(0)),
+                             r"^<cparam 'Zf' at 0x[A-Fa-f0-9]+>$")
+            self.assertRegex(repr(ctypes.c_longdouble_complex.from_param(0)),
+                             r"^<cparam 'Zg' at 0x[A-Fa-f0-9]+>$")
 
     @test.support.cpython_only
     def test_from_param_result_refcount(self):
diff --git a/Lib/test/test_ctypes/test_structures.py b/Lib/test/test_ctypes/test_structures.py
index 92d4851d7..65ccc1262 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_ctypes/test_structures.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_ctypes/test_structures.py
@@ -299,9 +299,16 @@ class StructureTestCase(unittest.TestCase, StructCheckMixin):
         self.assertEqual(s.first, got.first)
         self.assertEqual(s.second, got.second)
 
+    @unittest.skipIf(support.is_wasm32, "wasm ABI is incompatible with test expectations")
     def _test_issue18060(self, Vector):
         # Regression tests for gh-62260
 
+        # This test passes a struct of two doubles by value to atan2(), whose C
+        # signature is atan2(double, double), so it only works on platforms
+        # where the abi of a function that takes a struct with two doubles
+        # matches the abi of a function that takes two doubles. The wasm32 ABI
+        # does not satisfy this condition and the test breaks.
+
         # The call to atan2() should succeed if the
         # class fields were correctly cloned in the
         # subclasses. Otherwise, it will segfault.
diff --git a/crates/capi/src/pyerrors.rs b/crates/capi/src/pyerrors.rs
index 0bf843aa4..715adb137 100644
--- a/crates/capi/src/pyerrors.rs
+++ b/crates/capi/src/pyerrors.rs
@@ -101,7 +101,7 @@ define_py_check!(fn PyExceptionInstance_Check, exceptions.base_exception_type);
 #[unsafe(no_mangle)]
 pub extern "C" fn PyErr_Occurred() -> *mut PyObject {
     with_vm(|vm| {
-        vm.current_exception()
+        vm.raised_exception()
             .map(|exc| exc.class().as_object().as_raw())
             .unwrap_or_default()
     })
@@ -121,7 +121,7 @@ pub unsafe extern "C" fn PyErr_SetRaisedException(exc: *mut PyObject) {
     with_vm(|vm| {
         let exception =
             unsafe { exc.assume_owned_or_opt() }.map(|exc| unsafe { exc.downcast_unchecked() });
-        vm.set_exception(exception);
+        vm.set_raised_exception(exception);
     })
 }
 
@@ -131,6 +131,15 @@ pub unsafe extern "C" fn PyErr_SetObject(exception: *mut PyObject, value: *mut P
         let exc_type = unsafe { exception.assume_borrowed() }.to_owned();
         let exc_val = unsafe { value.assume_borrowed() }.to_owned();
 
+        if let Some(cls) = exc_type.downcast_ref::<PyType>()
+            && cls.fast_issubclass(vm.ctx.exceptions.base_exception_type)
+            && !exc_val
+                .downcast_ref::<PyBaseException>()
+                .is_some_and(|exc| exc.fast_isinstance(cls))
+        {
+            // Exception constructors must run without a pending C error.
+            vm.set_raised_exception(None);
+        }
         let normalized = vm.normalize_exception(exc_type, exc_val, vm.ctx.none())?;
         Err(normalized)
     })
@@ -142,6 +151,7 @@ pub unsafe extern "C" fn PyErr_SetString(exception: *mut PyObject, message: *con
         let exc_type = unsafe { exception.assume_borrowed_and_cast::<PyType>(vm) }?;
         let message = unsafe { message.try_as_str(vm) }?;
 
+        vm.set_raised_exception(None);
         let exc = vm.invoke_exception(exc_type, vec![vm.ctx.new_str(message).into_object()])?;
 
         Err(exc)
diff --git a/crates/capi/src/util.rs b/crates/capi/src/util.rs
index 45fc3c1e8..b3fc2c39a 100644
--- a/crates/capi/src/util.rs
+++ b/crates/capi/src/util.rs
@@ -186,7 +186,7 @@ impl FfiResult<()> for PyResult<Infallible> {
 
     fn into_output(self, vm: &VirtualMachine) {
         match self {
-            Err(err) => vm.set_exception(Some(err)),
+            Err(err) => vm.set_raised_exception(Some(err)),
         }
     }
 }
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ where
     fn into_output(self, vm: &VirtualMachine) -> Output {
         self.map_or_else(
             |err| {
-                vm.set_exception(Some(err));
+                vm.set_raised_exception(Some(err));
                 T::ERR_VALUE
             },
             |obj| obj.into_output(vm),
diff --git a/crates/host_env/src/ctypes.rs b/crates/host_env/src/ctypes.rs
index 5c1a3f70b..25f921853 100644
--- a/crates/host_env/src/ctypes.rs
+++ b/crates/host_env/src/ctypes.rs
@@ -221,6 +221,36 @@ const LONG_DOUBLE_SIZE: usize = core::mem::size_of::<c_double>();
 )))]
 const LONG_DOUBLE_SIZE: usize = core::mem::size_of::<c_double>();
 
+/// Return the loader's current shared-object names, including its empty main entry.
+#[cfg(any(target_os = "linux", target_os = "android"))]
+pub fn dllist() -> Vec<std::ffi::OsString> {
+    use std::os::unix::ffi::OsStringExt;
+
+    unsafe extern "C" fn collect(
+        info: *mut libc::dl_phdr_info,
+        _size: libc::size_t,
+        data: *mut c_void,
+    ) -> c_int {
+        // dl_iterate_phdr supplies a valid record and calls synchronously while
+        // the loader keeps the object and its NUL-terminated name alive.
+        let name = unsafe { (*info).dlpi_name };
+        let names = unsafe { &mut *data.cast::<Vec<std::ffi::OsString>>() };
+        if !name.is_null() {
+            let bytes = unsafe { CStr::from_ptr(name) }.to_bytes().to_vec();
+            names.push(std::ffi::OsString::from_vec(bytes));
+        }
+        0
+    }
+
+    let mut names = Vec::new();
+    // The callback only copies loader-owned bytes into this live, exclusive
+    // vector. It never invokes Python or mutates the loader's object list.
+    unsafe {
+        libc::dl_iterate_phdr(Some(collect), core::ptr::from_mut(&mut names).cast());
+    }
+    names
+}
+
 pub fn simple_type_size(ty: &str) -> Option<usize> {
     match ty {
         "c" | "b" => Some(core::mem::size_of::<c_schar>()),
@@ -2011,7 +2041,7 @@ pub enum CallRet<'a> {
     Aggregate(&'a CTypeLayout),
 }
 
-/// Per-call error-swapping options.
+/// Per-call ABI and error-swapping options.
 #[cfg(all(
     any(
         target_os = "linux",
@@ -2023,6 +2053,10 @@ pub enum CallRet<'a> {
 ))]
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Copy, Default)]
 pub struct CallOptions {
+    /// Declared argument count for a variadic call. Values must already have
+    /// their promoted C types; libffi rejects explicit narrow ctypes values.
+    /// `None` uses a fixed-arity CIF.
+    pub fixed_arg_count: Option<usize>,
     /// Swap the ctypes-local errno around the raw call (unix; ignored on windows).
     pub use_errno: bool,
     /// Swap the ctypes-local last error around the raw call (windows; ignored
@@ -2066,6 +2100,9 @@ pub enum CallValue {
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, PartialEq, Eq)]
 pub enum CallError {
     NullFunctionPointer,
+    InvalidCallInterface {
+        variadic: bool,
+    },
     UnknownTypeCode(String),
     /// An aggregate argument's buffer was shorter than its layout size.
     BufferTooSmall {
@@ -2156,7 +2193,13 @@ pub fn call(
         })
         .collect();
 
-    let cif = Cif::new(ffi_arg_types, ffi_return_type);
+    let cif = match options.fixed_arg_count {
+        Some(fixed) => Cif::try_new_variadic(ffi_arg_types, fixed, ffi_return_type),
+        None => Cif::try_new(ffi_arg_types, ffi_return_type),
+    }
+    .map_err(|_| CallError::InvalidCallInterface {
+        variadic: options.fixed_arg_count.is_some(),
+    })?;
 
     // Allocate the aggregate return buffer outside the error-swap window so no
     // allocation runs between the raw call and the errno/last-error capture.
@@ -3673,6 +3716,7 @@ mod tests {
                 CallOptions {
                     use_errno: true,
                     use_last_error: false,
+                    ..CallOptions::default()
                 },
             )
             .unwrap();
diff --git a/crates/vm/src/builtins/memory.rs b/crates/vm/src/builtins/memory.rs
index 24edde5e4..41622c17a 100644
--- a/crates/vm/src/builtins/memory.rs
+++ b/crates/vm/src/builtins/memory.rs
@@ -1627,6 +1627,7 @@ pub(crate) fn release_buffer_from_python(
 // releasebuffer_call_python, for a buffer acquired from a native exporter
 pub(crate) fn release_buffer_call_python(buffer: &PyBuffer) {
     crate::vm::thread::try_with_current_vm(|vm| {
+        let _raised = vm.preserve_raised_exception();
         let exporter = buffer.obj.clone();
         let window = PyBufferWindow {
             source: buffer.detached(),
@@ -1655,9 +1656,12 @@ pub(crate) fn release_buffer_call_python(buffer: &PyBuffer) {
 
 fn call_python_release_buffer(exporter: &PyObject, mv: PyRef<PyMemoryView>) {
     crate::vm::thread::try_with_current_vm(|vm| {
+        let _raised = vm.preserve_raised_exception();
+        // Drop the captured view before restoring the pending error.
+        let owned_view = mv;
         let method = vm.get_special_method(exporter, identifier!(vm, __release_buffer__));
         if let Ok(Some(method)) = method
-            && let Err(exc) = method.invoke((mv,), vm)
+            && let Err(exc) = method.invoke((owned_view,), vm)
         {
             let msg = format!(
                 "Exception ignored in __release_buffer__ of {}",
diff --git a/crates/vm/src/gc_state.rs b/crates/vm/src/gc_state.rs
index 70ee04d46..4bdfb00f8 100644
--- a/crates/vm/src/gc_state.rs
+++ b/crates/vm/src/gc_state.rs
@@ -827,11 +827,12 @@ impl GcState {
             all_callbacks.extend(callbacks);
         }
         for (wr, cb) in all_callbacks {
-            if let Some(Err(e)) = crate::vm::thread::with_vm(&cb, |vm| cb.call((wr.clone(),), vm)) {
-                crate::vm::thread::with_vm(&cb, |vm| {
-                    vm.run_unraisable(e.clone(), Some("weakref callback".to_owned()), cb.clone());
-                });
-            }
+            crate::vm::thread::with_vm(&cb, |vm| {
+                let _raised = vm.preserve_raised_exception();
+                if let Err(e) = cb.call((wr.clone(),), vm) {
+                    vm.run_unraisable(e, Some("weakref callback".to_owned()), cb.clone());
+                }
+            });
         }
 
         // 6d: Call __del__ on unreachable objects (skip already-finalized).
diff --git a/crates/vm/src/object/core.rs b/crates/vm/src/object/core.rs
index d93cefbeb..72c15855c 100644
--- a/crates/vm/src/object/core.rs
+++ b/crates/vm/src/object/core.rs
@@ -924,6 +924,7 @@ impl WeakRefList {
         for (wr, callback) in callbacks {
             if let Some(cb) = callback {
                 crate::vm::thread::with_vm(&cb, |vm| {
+                    let _raised = vm.preserve_raised_exception();
                     let _ = cb.call((wr.clone(),), vm);
                 });
             }
@@ -2154,13 +2155,16 @@ impl PyObject {
                 // during __del__, preventing safe_inc from seeing 0.
                 zelf.0.ref_count.inc_by(2);
 
-                let del_method = zelf.get_class_attr(identifier!(vm, __del__)).unwrap();
-                if let Err(e) = slot_del(zelf, vm) {
-                    let msg = del_method
-                        .repr(vm)
-                        .ok()
-                        .map(|r| format!("Exception ignored while calling deallocator {r}"));
-                    vm.run_unraisable(e, msg, del_method);
+                {
+                    let _raised = vm.preserve_raised_exception();
+                    let del_method = zelf.get_class_attr(identifier!(vm, __del__)).unwrap();
+                    if let Err(e) = slot_del(zelf, vm) {
+                        let msg = del_method
+                            .repr(vm)
+                            .ok()
+                            .map(|r| format!("Exception ignored while calling deallocator {r}"));
+                        vm.run_unraisable(e, msg, del_method);
+                    }
                 }
 
                 // Undo the temporary resurrection. Always remove both
@@ -2315,6 +2319,7 @@ impl PyObject {
             // This ensures drop_slow_inner() won't call __del__ again
             self.set_gc_finalized();
             let result = crate::vm::thread::with_vm(self, |vm| {
+                let _raised = vm.preserve_raised_exception();
                 if let Err(e) = slot_del(self, vm)
                     && let Some(del_method) = self.get_class_attr(identifier!(vm, __del__))
                 {
diff --git a/crates/vm/src/stdlib/_ctypes.rs b/crates/vm/src/stdlib/_ctypes.rs
index 5deb9b46b..4345b7fbf 100644
--- a/crates/vm/src/stdlib/_ctypes.rs
+++ b/crates/vm/src/stdlib/_ctypes.rs
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@ pub(crate) use _ctypes::module_def;
 #[pymodule]
 pub(crate) mod _ctypes {
     use super::{PyCArray, PyCData, PyCPointer, PyCSimple, PyCStructure, PyCUnion};
-    use crate::builtins::{PyType, PyTypeRef};
+    use crate::builtins::{PyStr, PyType, PyTypeRef};
     use crate::class::StaticType;
     #[cfg(windows)]
     use crate::convert::ToPyException;
@@ -110,12 +110,14 @@ pub(crate) mod _ctypes {
 
     // CArgObject - returned by byref() and paramfunc
     // tagPyCArgObject
-    #[pyclass(name = "CArgObject", module = "_ctypes", no_attr)]
+    #[pyclass(name = "CArgObject", module = "_ctypes", no_attr, traverse)]
     #[derive(Debug, PyPayload)]
     pub(crate) struct CArgObject {
         /// Type tag ('P', 'V', 'i', 'd', etc.)
+        #[pytraverse(skip)]
         pub tag: u8,
         /// The actual foreign-call value (mirrors union value)
+        #[pytraverse(skip)]
         pub value: super::CArgValue,
         /// Reference to original object (for memory safety)
         pub obj: PyObjectRef,
@@ -124,8 +126,11 @@ pub(crate) mod _ctypes {
         pub keep: Option<PyObjectRef>,
         /// Size for struct/union ('V' tag)
         #[allow(dead_code)]
+        #[pytraverse(skip)]
         pub size: usize,
-        /// Offset for byref()
+        /// Offset for byref(), read by Windows CopyComPointer.
+        #[cfg_attr(not(windows), allow(dead_code))]
+        #[pytraverse(skip)]
         pub offset: isize,
     }
 
@@ -183,14 +188,16 @@ pub(crate) mod _ctypes {
                         FfiValue::F32(v) => v as f64,
                         _ => 0.0,
                     };
+                    let v = crate::literal::float::to_string(v);
                     Ok(format!("<cparam '{tag_char}' ({v})>"))
                 }
-                b'd' | b'g' => {
+                b'd' => {
                     let v = match ffi_val {
                         FfiValue::F64(v) => v,
                         FfiValue::F32(v) => v as f64,
                         _ => 0.0,
                     };
+                    let v = crate::literal::float::to_string(v);
                     Ok(format!("<cparam '{tag_char}' ({v})>"))
                 }
                 b'c' => {
@@ -239,8 +246,22 @@ pub(crate) mod _ctypes {
         }
     }
 
-    #[pyattr(name = "__version__")]
-    const __VERSION__: &str = "1.1.0";
+    #[pyfunction]
+    fn __getattr__(name: PyObjectRef, vm: &VirtualMachine) -> PyResult {
+        if name.downcast_ref::<PyStr>().and_then(|name| name.to_str()) == Some("__version__") {
+            crate::stdlib::_warnings::warn(
+                vm.ctx.exceptions.deprecation_warning,
+                "'__version__' is deprecated and slated for removal in Python 3.20".to_owned(),
+                1,
+                vm,
+            )?;
+            return Ok(vm.ctx.new_str("1.1.0").into());
+        }
+        Err(vm.new_attribute_error(format!(
+            "module '_ctypes' has no attribute {}",
+            name.repr(vm)?
+        )))
+    }
 
     // TODO: get properly
     #[pyattr]
@@ -406,6 +427,15 @@ pub(crate) mod _ctypes {
         Err(vm.new_type_error("this type has no size"))
     }
 
+    #[cfg(any(target_os = "linux", target_os = "android"))]
+    #[pyfunction]
+    fn dllist(vm: &VirtualMachine) -> Vec<PyObjectRef> {
+        rustpython_host_env::ctypes::dllist()
+            .into_iter()
+            .map(|name| vm.fsdecode(name).into())
+            .collect()
+    }
+
     #[cfg(windows)]
     #[pyfunction(name = "LoadLibrary")]
     fn load_library_windows(
diff --git a/crates/vm/src/stdlib/_ctypes/base.rs b/crates/vm/src/stdlib/_ctypes/base.rs
index 09a44dc34..c729c510a 100644
--- a/crates/vm/src/stdlib/_ctypes/base.rs
+++ b/crates/vm/src/stdlib/_ctypes/base.rs
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ impl StgInfo {
             size,
             align,
             length,
-            proto: None,
+            proto: Some(element_type.clone()),
             flags,
             scalar_code: None,
             element_type: Some(element_type),
@@ -2007,14 +2007,17 @@ fn array_paramfunc(obj: &PyObject, vm: &VirtualMachine) -> PyResult<CArgObject>
 
 /// PyCPointerType_paramfunc
 fn pointer_paramfunc(obj: &PyObject, vm: &VirtualMachine) -> PyResult<CArgObject> {
+    use super::function::PyCFuncPtr;
     use super::pointer::PyCPointer;
 
-    let ptr = obj
-        .downcast_ref::<PyCPointer>()
-        .ok_or_else(|| vm.new_type_error("expected pointer"))?;
-
     // parg->value.p = *(void **)self->b_ptr
-    let ptr_val = ptr.get_ptr_value();
+    let ptr_val = if let Some(ptr) = obj.downcast_ref::<PyCPointer>() {
+        ptr.get_ptr_value()
+    } else if let Some(funcptr) = obj.downcast_ref::<PyCFuncPtr>() {
+        funcptr.get_func_ptr()
+    } else {
+        return Err(vm.new_type_error("expected pointer"));
+    };
 
     Ok(CArgObject {
         tag: b'P',
diff --git a/crates/vm/src/stdlib/_ctypes/function.rs b/crates/vm/src/stdlib/_ctypes/function.rs
index e8537b412..7137f22d5 100644
--- a/crates/vm/src/stdlib/_ctypes/function.rs
+++ b/crates/vm/src/stdlib/_ctypes/function.rs
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ use crate::{
     vm::thread::with_current_vm,
 };
 use alloc::borrow::Cow;
-use core::ffi::c_void;
+use core::ffi::{c_int, c_long, c_ulong, c_void};
 use core::fmt::Debug;
 use core::ptr::NonNull;
 use num_traits::{Signed, ToPrimitive};
@@ -41,42 +41,36 @@ pub(super) const INTERNAL_MEMORYVIEW_AT_ADDR: usize = 4;
 
 /// Convert any object to a pointer value for c_void_p arguments
 /// Follows ConvParam logic for pointer types
-fn convert_to_pointer(value: &PyObject, vm: &VirtualMachine) -> PyResult<CArgValue> {
+fn convert_to_pointer(
+    value: &PyObject,
+    vm: &VirtualMachine,
+) -> PyResult<(CArgValue, Option<PyObjectRef>)> {
+    let pointer = |address| Ok((CArgValue::pointer(address), Some(value.to_owned())));
     // 0. CArgObject (from byref()) -> buffer address + offset
     if let Some(carg) = value.downcast_ref::<CArgObject>() {
-        // Get buffer address from the underlying object
-        let base_addr = if let Some(cdata) = carg.obj.downcast_ref::<PyCData>() {
-            cdata.buffer.read().as_ptr() as usize
-        } else {
-            return Err(vm.new_type_error(format!(
-                "byref() argument must be a ctypes instance, not '{}'",
-                carg.obj.class().name()
-            )));
-        };
-        let addr = (base_addr as isize + carg.offset) as usize;
-        return Ok(CArgValue::pointer(addr));
+        return Ok((carg.value.clone(), Some(value.to_owned())));
     }
 
     // 1. None -> NULL
     if value.is(&vm.ctx.none) {
-        return Ok(CArgValue::pointer(0));
+        return Ok((CArgValue::pointer(0), None));
     }
 
     // 2. PyCArray -> buffer address (PyCArrayType_paramfunc)
     if let Some(array) = value.downcast_ref::<PyCArray>() {
         let addr = array.0.buffer.read().as_ptr() as usize;
-        return Ok(CArgValue::pointer(addr));
+        return pointer(addr);
     }
 
     // 3. PyCPointer -> stored pointer value
     if let Some(ptr) = value.downcast_ref::<PyCPointer>() {
-        return Ok(CArgValue::pointer(ptr.get_ptr_value()));
+        return pointer(ptr.get_ptr_value());
     }
 
     // 4. PyCStructure -> buffer address
     if let Some(struct_obj) = value.downcast_ref::<PyCStructure>() {
         let addr = struct_obj.0.buffer.read().as_ptr() as usize;
-        return Ok(CArgValue::pointer(addr));
+        return pointer(addr);
     }
 
     // 5. PyCSimple (c_void_p, c_char_p, etc.) -> value from buffer
@@ -84,14 +78,14 @@ fn convert_to_pointer(value: &PyObject, vm: &VirtualMachine) -> PyResult<CArgVal
         let buffer = simple.0.buffer.read();
         if has_pointer_width(&buffer) {
             let addr = rustpython_host_env::ctypes::read_pointer_from_buffer(&buffer);
-            return Ok(CArgValue::pointer(addr));
+            return pointer(addr);
         }
     }
 
-    // 6. bytes -> buffer address (PyBytes_AsString)
+    // 6. bytes -> owned, null-terminated buffer
     if let Some(bytes) = value.downcast_ref::<crate::builtins::PyBytes>() {
-        let addr = bytes.as_bytes().as_ptr() as usize;
-        return Ok(CArgValue::pointer(addr));
+        let (owner, address) = super::base::ensure_z_null_terminated(bytes, vm);
+        return Ok((CArgValue::pointer(address), Some(owner)));
     }
 
     // 7. Integer -> direct value (PyLong_AsVoidPtr behavior)
@@ -100,10 +94,10 @@ fn convert_to_pointer(value: &PyObject, vm: &VirtualMachine) -> PyResult<CArgVal
         // Negative values: use signed conversion (allows -1 as 0xFFFF...)
         if bigint.is_negative() {
             if let Some(signed_val) = bigint.to_isize() {
-                return Ok(CArgValue::pointer(signed_val as usize));
+                return pointer(signed_val as usize);
             }
         } else if let Some(unsigned_val) = bigint.to_usize() {
-            return Ok(CArgValue::pointer(unsigned_val));
+            return pointer(unsigned_val);
         }
         // Value out of range - raise OverflowError
         return Err(vm.new_overflow_error("int too large to convert to pointer"));
@@ -126,7 +120,9 @@ fn conv_param(value: &PyObject, vm: &VirtualMachine) -> PyResult<Argument> {
     // 1. CArgObject (from byref() or paramfunc) -> use stored value
     if let Some(carg) = value.downcast_ref::<CArgObject>() {
         return Ok(Argument {
-            keep: carg.keep.clone(),
+            // Keep the wrapper, which owns both the source and any auxiliary
+            // pointer storage. `_as_parameter_` may have created it on demand.
+            keep: Some(value.to_owned()),
             value: carg.value.clone(),
         });
     }
@@ -141,9 +137,10 @@ fn conv_param(value: &PyObject, vm: &VirtualMachine) -> PyResult<Argument> {
 
     // 3. ctypes objects -> use paramfunc
     if let Ok(carg) = super::base::call_paramfunc(value, vm) {
+        let value = carg.value.clone();
         return Ok(Argument {
-            keep: carg.keep,
-            value: carg.value,
+            keep: Some(carg.into_ref(&vm.ctx).into()),
+            value,
         });
     }
 
@@ -175,7 +172,26 @@ fn conv_param(value: &PyObject, vm: &VirtualMachine) -> PyResult<Argument> {
     // `__int__` would accept a float and pass its truncated value where the
     // callee expects a pointer.
     if let Some(int_val) = value.downcast_ref::<PyInt>() {
-        let val = int_val.as_bigint().to_i32().unwrap_or(0);
+        // CPython first accepts the platform's unsigned long / signed long
+        // range, then stores the low C-int bits in the argument carrier.
+        let bigint = int_val.as_bigint();
+        #[allow(
+            clippy::useless_conversion,
+            clippy::unnecessary_cast,
+            reason = "C long is 32 bits on Windows and 64 bits on LP64 targets"
+        )]
+        let val = if bigint.is_negative() {
+            bigint
+                .to_i64()
+                .and_then(|value| c_long::try_from(value).ok())
+                .map(|value| value as c_int)
+        } else {
+            bigint
+                .to_u64()
+                .and_then(|value| c_ulong::try_from(value).ok())
+                .map(|value| value as c_int)
+        }
+        .ok_or_else(|| vm.new_overflow_error("int too long to convert"))?;
         return Ok(Argument {
             keep: None,
             value: CArgValue::Int(val),
@@ -193,6 +209,29 @@ fn conv_param(value: &PyObject, vm: &VirtualMachine) -> PyResult<Argument> {
     )))
 }
 
+fn conv_param_for_call(value: &PyObject, index: usize, vm: &VirtualMachine) -> PyResult<Argument> {
+    match conv_param(value, vm) {
+        Ok(argument) => Ok(argument),
+        Err(error) => {
+            let error_type = vm
+                .import("_ctypes", 0)?
+                .get_attr("ArgumentError", vm)?
+                .downcast::<PyType>()
+                .map_err(|_| vm.new_type_error("ArgumentError is not a type"))?;
+            Err(vm.new_exception_msg(
+                error_type,
+                format!(
+                    "argument {}: {}: {}",
+                    index + 1,
+                    error.class().name(),
+                    error.as_object().str(vm)?,
+                )
+                .into(),
+            ))
+        }
+    }
+}
+
 trait ArgumentType {
     /// Convert an argument for this type into a foreign-call value plus an
     /// optional owner keeping any referenced memory alive.
@@ -214,6 +253,7 @@ impl ArgumentType for PyTypeRef {
         // type must carry a known _type_ code; anything else is unsupported.
         let type_code = if self.fast_issubclass(CArgObject::static_type())
             || self.fast_issubclass(PyCPointer::static_type())
+            || self.fast_issubclass(PyCFuncPtr::static_type())
             || self.fast_issubclass(PyCStructure::static_type())
             || self.fast_issubclass(PyCUnion::static_type())
         {
@@ -246,7 +286,7 @@ impl ArgumentType for PyTypeRef {
         // Then pass the converted value to ConvParam logic
         // CArgObject (from from_param) -> use stored value and keepalive directly
         if let Some(carg) = converted.downcast_ref::<CArgObject>() {
-            return Ok((carg.value.clone(), carg.keep.clone()));
+            return Ok((carg.value.clone(), Some(converted.clone())));
         }
 
         // None -> NULL pointer
@@ -254,12 +294,20 @@ impl ArgumentType for PyTypeRef {
             return Ok((CArgValue::pointer(0), None));
         }
 
+        if self.fast_issubclass(PyCFuncPtr::static_type()) {
+            let argument = conv_param(&converted, vm)?;
+            return Ok((argument.value, argument.keep));
+        }
+
         // For pointer types (POINTER(T)), we need to pass the pointer VALUE stored in buffer
         if self.fast_issubclass(PyCPointer::static_type()) {
             if let Some(pointer) = converted.downcast_ref::<PyCPointer>() {
-                return Ok((CArgValue::pointer(pointer.get_ptr_value()), None));
+                return Ok((
+                    CArgValue::pointer(pointer.get_ptr_value()),
+                    Some(converted.clone()),
+                ));
             }
-            return Ok((convert_to_pointer(&converted, vm)?, None));
+            return convert_to_pointer(&converted, vm);
         }
 
         // For structure/union types, pass the aggregate by value: snapshot the
@@ -279,12 +327,12 @@ impl ArgumentType for PyTypeRef {
                 // owns, which must outlive the foreign call.
                 return Ok((CArgValue::aggregate(layout, bytes), Some(converted.clone())));
             }
-            return Ok((convert_to_pointer(&converted, vm)?, None));
+            return convert_to_pointer(&converted, vm);
         }
 
         // For pointer types (c_void_p, c_char_p, c_wchar_p), handle as pointer
         if matches!(type_code.as_deref(), Some("P" | "z" | "Z")) {
-            return Ok((convert_to_pointer(&converted, vm)?, None));
+            return convert_to_pointer(&converted, vm);
         }
 
         // PyCSimple (already a ctypes instance from from_param)
@@ -293,7 +341,7 @@ impl ArgumentType for PyTypeRef {
                 .as_deref()
                 .and_then(|s| s.chars().next())
                 .ok_or_else(|| vm.new_type_error("Unsupported argument type"))?;
-            return Ok((simple.to_carg_value(code), None));
+            return Ok((simple.to_carg_value(code), Some(simple.into())));
         }
 
         Err(vm.new_type_error("Unsupported argument type"))
@@ -333,6 +381,25 @@ impl Initializer for PyCFuncPtrType {
 
 #[pyclass(flags(IMMUTABLETYPE), with(AsSequence, Initializer))]
 impl PyCFuncPtrType {
+    #[pymethod]
+    fn from_param(zelf: PyTypeRef, value: PyObjectRef, vm: &VirtualMachine) -> PyResult {
+        if value.is_instance(zelf.as_object(), vm)? {
+            return Ok(value);
+        }
+
+        if let Some(as_parameter) = vm.get_attribute_opt(&value, "_as_parameter_")? {
+            return vm.with_recursion(" while processing _as_parameter_", || {
+                Self::from_param(zelf, as_parameter, vm)
+            });
+        }
+
+        Err(vm.new_type_error(format!(
+            "expected {} instance instead of {}",
+            zelf.name(),
+            value.class().name()
+        )))
+    }
+
     #[pygetset(name = "__pointer_type__")]
     fn pointer_type(zelf: PyTypeRef, vm: &VirtualMachine) -> PyResult {
         super::base::pointer_type_get(&zelf, vm)
@@ -664,7 +731,7 @@ impl PyCFuncPtr {
     }
 
     /// Get function pointer address from buffer
-    fn get_func_ptr(&self) -> usize {
+    pub(super) fn get_func_ptr(&self) -> usize {
         let buffer = self._base.buffer.read();
         rustpython_host_env::ctypes::read_pointer_from_buffer(&buffer)
     }
@@ -1216,7 +1283,8 @@ fn build_callargs_no_argtypes(
     let arguments: Vec<Argument> = args
         .args
         .iter()
-        .map(|arg| conv_param(arg, vm))
+        .enumerate()
+        .map(|(index, arg)| conv_param_for_call(arg, index, vm))
         .collect::<PyResult<Vec<_>>>()?;
     Ok((arguments, Vec::new()))
 }
@@ -1225,18 +1293,30 @@ fn build_callargs_no_argtypes(
 fn build_callargs_simple(
     args: &FuncArgs,
     arg_types: &[PyTypeRef],
+    allow_variadic: bool,
     vm: &VirtualMachine,
 ) -> PyResult<(Vec<Argument>, OutBuffers)> {
+    if args.args.len() < arg_types.len() || (!allow_variadic && args.args.len() != arg_types.len())
+    {
+        return Err(vm.new_type_error(format!(
+            "this function takes {}{} argument{} ({} given)",
+            if allow_variadic { "at least " } else { "" },
+            arg_types.len(),
+            if arg_types.len() == 1 { "" } else { "s" },
+            args.args.len(),
+        )));
+    }
     let arguments: Vec<Argument> = args
         .args
         .iter()
         .enumerate()
         .map(|(n, arg)| {
-            let arg_type = arg_types
-                .get(n)
-                .ok_or_else(|| vm.new_type_error("argument amount mismatch"))?;
-            let (value, keep) = arg_type.convert_object(arg.clone(), vm)?;
-            Ok(Argument { value, keep })
+            if let Some(arg_type) = arg_types.get(n) {
+                let (value, keep) = arg_type.convert_object(arg.clone(), vm)?;
+                Ok(Argument { value, keep })
+            } else {
+                conv_param_for_call(arg, n, vm)
+            }
         })
         .collect::<PyResult<Vec<_>>>()?;
     Ok((arguments, Vec::new()))
@@ -1312,6 +1392,7 @@ fn build_callargs(
     call_info: &CallInfo,
     paramflags: Option<&ParsedParamFlags>,
     is_com_method: bool,
+    allow_variadic: bool,
     vm: &VirtualMachine,
 ) -> PyResult<(Vec<Argument>, OutBuffers)> {
     let Some(ref arg_types) = call_info.explicit_arg_types else {
@@ -1338,7 +1419,7 @@ fn build_callargs(
         Ok((arguments, Vec::new()))
     } else {
         // Regular function
-        build_callargs_simple(args, arg_types, vm)
+        build_callargs_simple(args, arg_types, allow_variadic, vm)
     }
 }
 
@@ -1410,11 +1491,11 @@ fn convert_raw_result(
     result: &CallValue,
     call_info: &CallInfo,
     vm: &VirtualMachine,
-) -> Option<PyObjectRef> {
+) -> PyResult<Option<PyObjectRef>> {
     // Result register image as bytes + size (None for void): pointer/scalar
     // returns are pointer/register sized.
     let (result_bytes, result_size) = match result {
-        CallValue::Void => return None,
+        CallValue::Void => return Ok(None),
         CallValue::Pointer(ptr) => (ptr.to_ne_bytes().to_vec(), size_of::<usize>()),
         CallValue::Scalar(bytes) | CallValue::Aggregate(bytes) => (bytes.clone(), bytes.len()),
     };
@@ -1435,14 +1516,14 @@ fn convert_raw_result(
     let restype = match &call_info.restype_obj {
         None => {
             // Default: return as int
-            return Some(vm.ctx.new_int(result_word as isize).into());
+            return Ok(Some(vm.ctx.new_int(result_word as isize).into()));
         }
         Some(r) => r,
     };
 
     // 2. restype is None → return None
     if restype.is(&vm.ctx.none()) {
-        return None;
+        return Ok(None);
     }
 
     // 3. Get restype as PyType
@@ -1450,7 +1531,7 @@ fn convert_raw_result(
         Ok(t) => t,
         Err(_) => {
             // Not a type, call it with int result
-            return restype.call((result_word as isize,), vm).ok();
+            return restype.call((result_word as isize,), vm).map(Some);
         }
     };
 
@@ -1462,7 +1543,7 @@ fn convert_raw_result(
         return restype_type
             .as_object()
             .call((result_word as isize,), vm)
-            .ok();
+            .map(Some);
     }
 
     let info = stg_info.unwrap();
@@ -1480,24 +1561,22 @@ fn convert_raw_result(
         && let Some(type_str) = type_attr.downcast_ref::<PyStr>()
         && type_str.to_str() == Some("O")
     {
-        let ptr = NonNull::new(result_word as *mut PyObject).or_else(|| {
-            vm.set_exception(Some(vm.new_value_error("PyObject is NULL")));
-            None
-        })?;
+        let ptr = NonNull::new(result_word as *mut PyObject)
+            .ok_or_else(|| vm.new_value_error("PyObject is NULL"))?;
         unsafe {
             let obj = PyObjectRef::from_raw(ptr);
-            return Some(obj);
+            return Ok(Some(obj));
         }
     }
 
     // 5. Simple type with getfunc → use bytes_to_pyobject (info->getfunc)
     // is_simple_instance returns TRUE for c_int, c_void_p, etc.
     if super::base::is_simple_instance(&restype_type) {
-        return Some(super::base::bytes_to_pyobject(
+        return Ok(Some(super::base::bytes_to_pyobject(
             &restype_type,
             &result_bytes,
             vm,
-        ));
+        )));
     }
 
     // 6. Complex type → create ctypes instance (PyCData_FromBaseObj)
@@ -1507,16 +1586,16 @@ fn convert_raw_result(
     if is_pointer_type
         && has_proto
         && let CallValue::Pointer(ptr) = result
-        && let Ok(instance) = restype_type.as_object().call((), vm)
     {
+        let instance = restype_type.as_object().call((), vm)?;
         if let Some(pointer) = instance.downcast_ref::<PyCPointer>() {
             pointer.set_ptr_value(*ptr);
         }
-        return Some(instance);
+        return Ok(Some(instance));
     }
 
     // Create instance and copy result data
-    pycdata_from_ffi_result(&restype_type, &result_bytes, result_size, vm).ok()
+    pycdata_from_ffi_result(&restype_type, &result_bytes, result_size, vm).map(Some)
 }
 
 /// Create a ctypes instance from FFI result (PyCData_FromBaseObj equivalent)
@@ -1575,7 +1654,7 @@ fn build_result(
     }
 
     // Convert the foreign-call result to a Python object
-    let mut result = convert_raw_result(&call_result, call_info, vm);
+    let mut result = convert_raw_result(&call_result, call_info, vm)?;
 
     // Apply errcheck if set
     if let Some(errcheck) = zelf.errcheck.read().as_ref() {
@@ -1622,8 +1701,16 @@ impl Callable for PyCFuncPtr {
         let paramflags = parse_paramflags(zelf, vm)?;
 
         // 5. Build call arguments
-        let (arguments, out_buffers) =
-            build_callargs(&args, &call_info, paramflags.as_ref(), is_com_method, vm)?;
+        let flags = Py::<Self>::_flags_(zelf, vm);
+        let allow_variadic = flags & StgInfoFlags::FUNCFLAG_CDECL.bits() != 0;
+        let (arguments, out_buffers) = build_callargs(
+            &args,
+            &call_info,
+            paramflags.as_ref(),
+            is_com_method,
+            allow_variadic,
+            vm,
+        )?;
 
         // 6. Function address (usize); the unified `call` rejects a NULL address.
         let addr = match func_ptr {
@@ -1632,24 +1719,47 @@ impl Callable for PyCFuncPtr {
         };
 
         // 7. Errno / last-error swap options from flags
-        let flags = Py::<Self>::_flags_(zelf, vm);
         let options = CallOptions {
+            fixed_arg_count: call_info
+                .explicit_arg_types
+                .as_ref()
+                .map(Vec::len)
+                .filter(|&fixed| allow_variadic && fixed != 0 && arguments.len() > fixed),
             use_errno: flags & super::base::StgInfoFlags::FUNCFLAG_USE_ERRNO.bits() != 0,
             use_last_error: flags & super::base::StgInfoFlags::FUNCFLAG_USE_LASTERROR.bits() != 0,
         };
 
-        // 8. Call the function through the unified entry point.
-        let call_result = ctypes_callproc(addr, &arguments, &call_info.ret, options).map_err(
-            |err| match err {
-                CallError::NullFunctionPointer => vm.new_value_error("NULL function pointer"),
-                CallError::UnknownTypeCode(code) => {
-                    vm.new_type_error(format!("Unsupported argument type: {code}"))
-                }
-                CallError::BufferTooSmall { expected, got } => vm.new_value_error(format!(
-                    "argument buffer too small: expected {expected}, got {got}"
-                )),
-            },
-        )?;
+        // Native calls may block while another thread runs Python. Callbacks
+        // reattach before executing Python; PythonAPI calls stay attached.
+        let native_call = || ctypes_callproc(addr, &arguments, &call_info.ret, options);
+        let call_result = if flags & StgInfoFlags::FUNCFLAG_PYTHONAPI.bits() != 0 {
+            native_call()
+        } else {
+            vm.allow_threads(native_call)
+        }
+        .map_err(|err| match err {
+            CallError::NullFunctionPointer => vm.new_value_error("NULL function pointer"),
+            CallError::InvalidCallInterface { variadic } => vm.new_runtime_error(if variadic {
+                "ffi_prep_cif_var failed"
+            } else {
+                "ffi_prep_cif failed"
+            }),
+            CallError::UnknownTypeCode(code) => {
+                vm.new_type_error(format!("Unsupported argument type: {code}"))
+            }
+            CallError::BufferTooSmall { expected, got } => vm.new_value_error(format!(
+                "argument buffer too small: expected {expected}, got {got}"
+            )),
+        })?;
+
+        // PythonAPI functions report errors through the native raised-error
+        // slot. Check it before a NULL PyObject* can be decoded, and consume
+        // the exception exactly once without touching handled exceptions.
+        if flags & StgInfoFlags::FUNCFLAG_PYTHONAPI.bits() != 0
+            && let Some(exception) = vm.take_raised_exception()
+        {
+            return Err(exception);
+        }
 
         // 9. Build result
         build_result(call_result, &call_info, out_buffers, zelf, &args, vm)
@@ -1808,7 +1918,23 @@ fn ffi_to_python(
     args: *const *const c_void,
     index: usize,
     vm: &VirtualMachine,
-) -> PyObjectRef {
+) -> PyResult {
+    if ty.fast_issubclass(PyCPointer::static_type()) {
+        // POINTER(T) uses a pointer argument in the CIF, even though its
+        // `_type_` is a type object rather than a simple type code.
+        let rustpython_host_env::ctypes::DecodedValue::Pointer(address) =
+            (unsafe { rustpython_host_env::ctypes::callback_arg_value_at(Some("P"), args, index) })
+        else {
+            return Err(vm.new_type_error("invalid pointer callback argument"));
+        };
+        let instance = ty.as_object().call((), vm)?;
+        let pointer = instance
+            .downcast_ref::<PyCPointer>()
+            .ok_or_else(|| vm.new_type_error("pointer constructor returned a non-pointer"))?;
+        pointer.set_ptr_value(address);
+        return Ok(instance);
+    }
+
     let type_code = ty.type_code(vm);
     let raw_value: PyObjectRef = match unsafe {
         rustpython_host_env::ctypes::callback_arg_value_at(type_code.as_deref(), args, index)
@@ -1824,11 +1950,12 @@ fn ffi_to_python(
     };
 
     if !is_simple_subclass(ty, vm) {
-        return raw_value;
+        return Ok(raw_value);
     }
-    ty.as_object()
+    Ok(ty
+        .as_object()
         .call((raw_value.clone(),), vm)
-        .unwrap_or(raw_value)
+        .unwrap_or(raw_value))
 }
 
 /// Convert a Python object to a C value and store it at the result pointer
@@ -1910,32 +2037,35 @@ unsafe extern "C" fn thunk_callback(
     userdata: &ThunkUserData,
 ) {
     with_current_vm(|vm| {
-        let use_errno = userdata.flags & StgInfoFlags::FUNCFLAG_USE_ERRNO.bits() != 0;
-        let py_result =
-            rustpython_host_env::ctypes::with_callback_errno_preserved(use_errno, || {
-                let py_args: Vec<PyObjectRef> = userdata
-                    .arg_types
-                    .iter()
-                    .enumerate()
-                    .map(|(i, ty)| ffi_to_python(ty, args, i, vm))
-                    .collect();
+        vm.attach_for_callback(|| {
+            let use_errno = userdata.flags & StgInfoFlags::FUNCFLAG_USE_ERRNO.bits() != 0;
+            let py_result =
+                rustpython_host_env::ctypes::with_callback_errno_preserved(use_errno, || {
+                    let py_args: Vec<PyObjectRef> = userdata
+                        .arg_types
+                        .iter()
+                        .enumerate()
+                        .map(|(i, ty)| ffi_to_python(ty, args, i, vm))
+                        .collect::<PyResult<Vec<_>>>()?;
 
-                userdata.callable.call(py_args, vm)
-            });
+                    userdata.callable.call(py_args, vm)
+                });
 
-        // Call unraisable hook if exception occurred
-        if let Err(exc) = &py_result {
-            let repr = userdata
-                .callable
-                .repr(vm)
-                .map_or_else(|_| "<unknown>".to_string(), |s| s.to_string());
-            let msg = format!("Exception ignored while calling ctypes callback function {repr}");
-            vm.run_unraisable(exc.clone(), Some(msg), vm.ctx.none());
-        }
+            // Call unraisable hook if exception occurred
+            if let Err(exc) = &py_result {
+                let repr = userdata
+                    .callable
+                    .repr(vm)
+                    .map_or_else(|_| "<unknown>".to_string(), |s| s.to_string());
+                let msg =
+                    format!("Exception ignored while calling ctypes callback function {repr}");
+                vm.run_unraisable(exc.clone(), Some(msg), vm.ctx.none());
+            }
 
-        if let Some(ref res_type) = userdata.res_type {
-            python_to_ffi(py_result, res_type, result as *mut c_void, vm);
-        }
+            if let Some(ref res_type) = userdata.res_type {
+                python_to_ffi(py_result, res_type, result as *mut c_void, vm);
+            }
+        });
     });
 }
 
@@ -1982,9 +2112,13 @@ impl PyCThunk {
         let ffi_arg_types: Vec<FfiType> = arg_type_vec
             .iter()
             .map(|ty| {
-                ty.type_code(vm)
-                    .and_then(|code| ffi_type_from_code(&code))
-                    .unwrap_or_else(ffi_pointer_type)
+                if ty.fast_issubclass(PyCPointer::static_type()) {
+                    ffi_pointer_type()
+                } else {
+                    ty.type_code(vm)
+                        .and_then(|code| ffi_type_from_code(&code))
+                        .unwrap_or_else(ffi_pointer_type)
+                }
             })
             .collect();
 
diff --git a/crates/vm/src/stdlib/_ctypes/simple.rs b/crates/vm/src/stdlib/_ctypes/simple.rs
index 54ce7a1a3..c78fb81d4 100644
--- a/crates/vm/src/stdlib/_ctypes/simple.rs
+++ b/crates/vm/src/stdlib/_ctypes/simple.rs
@@ -59,6 +59,12 @@ fn new_simple_type(
 
     let tp_str = _type_.str(vm)?.to_string();
 
+    // Complex ctypes storage and FFI are not implemented. Preserve the
+    // optional-type AttributeError contract for the PEP 3118 codes.
+    if matches!(tp_str.as_str(), "Zd" | "Zf" | "Zg") {
+        return Err(vm.new_attribute_error("complex ctypes types are not supported"));
+    }
+
     if tp_str.len() != 1 {
         return Err(vm.new_value_error(format!(
             "class must define a '_type_' attribute which must be a string of length 1, str: {tp_str}"
@@ -540,6 +546,12 @@ impl Initializer for PyCSimpleType {
         let type_str = type_attr.str(vm)?.to_string();
 
         // Validate _type_ is a single character
+        // Complex ctypes storage and FFI are not implemented. Preserve the
+        // optional-type AttributeError contract for the PEP 3118 codes.
+        if matches!(type_str.as_str(), "Zd" | "Zf" | "Zg") {
+            return Err(vm.new_attribute_error("complex ctypes types are not supported"));
+        }
+
         if type_str.len() != 1 {
             return Err(vm.new_value_error(
                 "class must define a '_type_' attribute which must be a string of length 1",
diff --git a/crates/vm/src/vm/mod.rs b/crates/vm/src/vm/mod.rs
index 795f3db12..c899a8c2e 100644
--- a/crates/vm/src/vm/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/vm/src/vm/mod.rs
@@ -186,6 +186,8 @@ unsafe impl Send for FramePtr {}
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
 struct ExceptionStack {
+    /// Pending native C API error, independent of handled `sys.exception()`.
+    raised: Option<PyBaseExceptionRef>,
     /// Linked list of handled-exception slots (`_PyErr_StackItem` chain).
     /// Bottom element is the thread's base slot; generator/coroutine resume
     /// pushes an additional slot.  Normal frame calls do **not** push/pop.
@@ -195,7 +197,10 @@ struct ExceptionStack {
 impl Default for ExceptionStack {
     fn default() -> Self {
         // Thread's base `_PyErr_StackItem` – always present.
-        Self { stack: vec![None] }
+        Self {
+            raised: None,
+            stack: vec![None],
+        }
     }
 }
 
@@ -3957,17 +3962,27 @@ impl VirtualMachine {
         }
     }
 
+    /// Keep teardown callbacks from observing or replacing a pending C error.
+    /// Create this guard before callback-owned locals so they drop before restoration.
+    #[must_use]
+    pub(crate) fn preserve_raised_exception(&self) -> impl Drop + '_ {
+        scopeguard::guard(self.take_raised_exception(), |saved| {
+            self.set_raised_exception(saved);
+        })
+    }
+
+    pub fn raised_exception(&self) -> Option<PyBaseExceptionRef> {
+        self.exceptions.borrow().raised.clone()
+    }
+
+    pub fn set_raised_exception(&self, exc: Option<PyBaseExceptionRef>) {
+        let previous = core::mem::replace(&mut self.exceptions.borrow_mut().raised, exc);
+        // Release the RefCell borrow before dropping a potentially final reference.
+        drop(previous);
+    }
+
     pub fn take_raised_exception(&self) -> Option<PyBaseExceptionRef> {
-        let mut excs = self.exceptions.borrow_mut();
-        if let Some(top) = excs.stack.last_mut() {
-            let exc = top.take();
-            drop(excs);
-            #[cfg(feature = "threading")]
-            thread::update_thread_exception(self.topmost_exception());
-            exc
-        } else {
-            None
-        }
+        self.exceptions.borrow_mut().raised.take()
     }
 
     /// `_PyErr_ChainStackItem`: if the current `exc_info` slot is occupied,
@@ -4189,6 +4204,36 @@ pub fn resolve_frozen_alias(name: &str) -> &str {
 mod tests {
     use super::*;
 
+    #[test]
+    fn raised_error_guards_preserve_storage_on_unwind() {
+        Interpreter::builder(Default::default())
+            .build()
+            .enter(|vm| {
+                let handled = vm.new_type_error("handled");
+                let outer = vm.new_type_error("outer");
+                let inner = vm.new_type_error("inner");
+                vm.set_exception(Some(handled.clone()));
+                vm.set_raised_exception(Some(outer.clone()));
+                let result = std::panic::catch_unwind(core::panic::AssertUnwindSafe(|| {
+                    let _outer_guard = vm.preserve_raised_exception();
+                    assert!(vm.raised_exception().is_none());
+                    vm.set_raised_exception(Some(inner.clone()));
+                    {
+                        let _inner_guard = vm.preserve_raised_exception();
+                        assert!(vm.raised_exception().is_none());
+                        assert!(vm.current_exception().unwrap().is(&handled));
+                    }
+                    assert!(vm.raised_exception().unwrap().is(&inner));
+                    panic!("exercise raised-error guard unwinding");
+                }));
+                assert!(result.is_err());
+                assert!(vm.take_raised_exception().unwrap().is(&outer));
+                assert!(vm.raised_exception().is_none());
+                assert!(vm.current_exception().unwrap().is(&handled));
+                vm.set_exception(None);
+            });
+    }
+
     #[cfg(not(feature = "stdio"))]
     #[test]
     fn no_stdio_streams_are_none_singleton() {