The boost math distributions check validity of distribution the same parameters multiple times. E.g. in normal.hpp, class normal_distribution, the constructor, normal_distribution(RealType mean = 0, RealType sd = 1) : m_mean(mean), m_sd(sd) { // Default is a 'standard' normal distribution N01. static const char* function = "boost::math::normal_distribution<%1%>::normal_distribution"; RealType result; detail::check_scale(function, sd, &result, Policy()); detail::check_location(function, mean, &result, Policy()); } however, those are *again* checked in e.g. the pdf() non member function inline RealType pdf(const normal_distribution<RealType, Policy>& dist, const RealType& x) { ... if(false == detail::check_scale(function, sd, &result, Policy())) { return result; } ... } Why is that? It's done in a consistent way across all distributions. Can we remove the check inside the non member functions that are already checked in the constructor?