diff --git a/HISTORY.md b/HISTORY.md
index fb27f9591..5e510ee2e 100644
--- a/HISTORY.md
+++ b/HISTORY.md
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@
 * Remove default implementation of Name() from FileSystemWrapper.
 * Rename `SizeApproximationOptions.include_memtabtles` to `SizeApproximationOptions.include_memtables`.
 * Remove deprecated option DBOptions::max_mem_compaction_level.
+* Return Status::InvalidArgument from ObjectRegistry::NewObject if a factory exists but the object ould not be created (returns NotFound if the factory is missing).
 * Remove deprecated overloads of API DB::GetApproximateSizes.
 * Remove deprecated option DBOptions::new_table_reader_for_compaction_inputs.
 
diff --git a/env/env.cc b/env/env.cc
index 186429c15..dd214f655 100644
--- a/env/env.cc
+++ b/env/env.cc
@@ -687,12 +687,8 @@ Status Env::CreateFromString(const ConfigOptions& config_options,
   } else {
     RegisterSystemEnvs();
 #ifndef ROCKSDB_LITE
-    std::string errmsg;
-    env = config_options.registry->NewObject<Env>(id, &uniq, &errmsg);
-    if (!env) {
-      status = Status::NotSupported(
-          std::string("Cannot load environment[") + id + "]: ", errmsg);
-    }
+    // First, try to load the Env as a unique object.
+    status = config_options.registry->NewObject<Env>(id, &env, &uniq);
 #else
     status =
         Status::NotSupported("Cannot load environment in LITE mode", value);
diff --git a/include/rocksdb/utilities/object_registry.h b/include/rocksdb/utilities/object_registry.h
index 928676b2e..9730ed1b1 100644
--- a/include/rocksdb/utilities/object_registry.h
+++ b/include/rocksdb/utilities/object_registry.h
@@ -296,29 +296,31 @@ class ObjectRegistry {
     library->Register(registrar, arg);
   }
 
-  // Creates a new T using the factory function that was registered for this
-  // target.  Searches through the libraries to find the first library where
-  // there is an entry that matches target (see PatternEntry for the matching
-  // rules).
-  //
-  // If no registered functions match, returns nullptr. If multiple functions
-  // match, the factory function used is unspecified.
-  //
-  // Populates guard with result pointer if caller is granted ownership.
-  // Deprecated.  Use NewShared/Static/UniqueObject instead.
+  // Finds the factory for target and instantiates a new T.
+  // Returns NotSupported if no factory is found
+  // Returns InvalidArgument if a factory is found but the factory failed.
   template <typename T>
-  T* NewObject(const std::string& target, std::unique_ptr<T>* guard,
-               std::string* errmsg) {
+  Status NewObject(const std::string& target, T** object,
+                   std::unique_ptr<T>* guard) {
+    assert(guard != nullptr);
     guard->reset();
     auto factory = FindFactory<T>(target);
     if (factory != nullptr) {
-      return factory(target, guard, errmsg);
+      std::string errmsg;
+      *object = factory(target, guard, &errmsg);
+      if (*object != nullptr) {
+        return Status::OK();
+      } else if (errmsg.empty()) {
+        return Status::InvalidArgument(
+            std::string("Could not load ") + T::Type(), target);
+      } else {
+        return Status::InvalidArgument(errmsg, target);
+      }
     } else {
-      *errmsg = std::string("Could not load ") + T::Type();
-      return nullptr;
+      return Status::NotSupported(std::string("Could not load ") + T::Type(),
+                                  target);
     }
   }
-
   // Creates a new unique T using the input factory functions.
   // Returns OK if a new unique T was successfully created
   // Returns NotSupported if the type/target could not be created
@@ -327,11 +329,13 @@ class ObjectRegistry {
   template <typename T>
   Status NewUniqueObject(const std::string& target,
                          std::unique_ptr<T>* result) {
-    std::string errmsg;
-    T* ptr = NewObject(target, result, &errmsg);
-    if (ptr == nullptr) {
-      return Status::NotSupported(errmsg, target);
-    } else if (*result) {
+    T* ptr = nullptr;
+    std::unique_ptr<T> guard;
+    Status s = NewObject(target, &ptr, &guard);
+    if (!s.ok()) {
+      return s;
+    } else if (guard) {
+      result->reset(guard.release());
       return Status::OK();
     } else {
       return Status::InvalidArgument(std::string("Cannot make a unique ") +
@@ -348,11 +352,11 @@ class ObjectRegistry {
   template <typename T>
   Status NewSharedObject(const std::string& target,
                          std::shared_ptr<T>* result) {
-    std::string errmsg;
     std::unique_ptr<T> guard;
-    T* ptr = NewObject(target, &guard, &errmsg);
-    if (ptr == nullptr) {
-      return Status::NotSupported(errmsg, target);
+    T* ptr = nullptr;
+    Status s = NewObject(target, &ptr, &guard);
+    if (!s.ok()) {
+      return s;
     } else if (guard) {
       result->reset(guard.release());
       return Status::OK();
@@ -370,11 +374,11 @@ class ObjectRegistry {
   //                      (meaning it is managed by a unique ptr)
   template <typename T>
   Status NewStaticObject(const std::string& target, T** result) {
-    std::string errmsg;
     std::unique_ptr<T> guard;
-    T* ptr = NewObject(target, &guard, &errmsg);
-    if (ptr == nullptr) {
-      return Status::NotSupported(errmsg, target);
+    T* ptr = nullptr;
+    Status s = NewObject(target, &ptr, &guard);
+    if (!s.ok()) {
+      return s;
     } else if (guard.get()) {
       return Status::InvalidArgument(std::string("Cannot make a static ") +
                                          T::Type() + " from a guarded one ",
diff --git a/memory/memory_allocator_test.cc b/memory/memory_allocator_test.cc
index 90aed448b..1e96c44ee 100644
--- a/memory/memory_allocator_test.cc
+++ b/memory/memory_allocator_test.cc
@@ -30,11 +30,7 @@ class MemoryAllocatorTest
     std::tie(id_, supported_) = GetParam();
     Status s =
         MemoryAllocator::CreateFromString(ConfigOptions(), id_, &allocator_);
-    if (supported_) {
-      EXPECT_OK(s);
-    } else if (!s.ok()) {
-      EXPECT_TRUE(s.IsNotSupported());
-    }
+    EXPECT_EQ(supported_, s.ok());
   }
   bool IsSupported() { return supported_; }
 
@@ -140,7 +136,7 @@ TEST_F(CreateMemoryAllocatorTest, JemallocOptionsTest) {
   std::string id = std::string("id=") + JemallocNodumpAllocator::kClassName();
   Status s = MemoryAllocator::CreateFromString(config_options_, id, &allocator);
   if (!JemallocNodumpAllocator::IsSupported()) {
-    ASSERT_TRUE(s.IsNotSupported());
+    ASSERT_NOK(s);
     ROCKSDB_GTEST_BYPASS("JEMALLOC not supported");
     return;
   }
@@ -192,7 +188,7 @@ TEST_F(CreateMemoryAllocatorTest, NewJemallocNodumpAllocator) {
   Status s = NewJemallocNodumpAllocator(jopts, &allocator);
   std::string msg;
   if (!JemallocNodumpAllocator::IsSupported(&msg)) {
-    ASSERT_TRUE(s.IsNotSupported());
+    ASSERT_NOK(s);
     ROCKSDB_GTEST_BYPASS("JEMALLOC not supported");
     return;
   }
diff --git a/options/customizable_test.cc b/options/customizable_test.cc
index c61a51243..92fe527f2 100644
--- a/options/customizable_test.cc
+++ b/options/customizable_test.cc
@@ -497,6 +497,55 @@ TEST_F(CustomizableTest, BadOptionTest) {
   ASSERT_OK(c1->ConfigureFromString(ignore, "shared.id=A;A.string=s}"));
 }
 
+TEST_F(CustomizableTest, FailingFactoryTest) {
+  std::shared_ptr<ObjectRegistry> registry = ObjectRegistry::NewInstance();
+  std::unique_ptr<Configurable> c1(new SimpleConfigurable());
+  ConfigOptions ignore = config_options_;
+
+  Status s;
+  ignore.registry->AddLibrary("failing")->AddFactory<TestCustomizable>(
+      "failing",
+      [](const std::string& /*uri*/,
+         std::unique_ptr<TestCustomizable>* /*guard */, std::string* errmsg) {
+        *errmsg = "Bad Factory";
+        return nullptr;
+      });
+
+  // If we are ignoring unknown and unsupported options, will see
+  // different errors for failing versus missing
+  ignore.ignore_unknown_options = false;
+  ignore.ignore_unsupported_options = false;
+  s = c1->ConfigureFromString(ignore, "shared.id=failing");
+  ASSERT_TRUE(s.IsInvalidArgument());
+  s = c1->ConfigureFromString(ignore, "unique.id=failing");
+  ASSERT_TRUE(s.IsInvalidArgument());
+  s = c1->ConfigureFromString(ignore, "shared.id=missing");
+  ASSERT_TRUE(s.IsNotSupported());
+  s = c1->ConfigureFromString(ignore, "unique.id=missing");
+  ASSERT_TRUE(s.IsNotSupported());
+
+  // If we are ignoring unsupported options, will see
+  // errors for failing but not missing
+  ignore.ignore_unknown_options = false;
+  ignore.ignore_unsupported_options = true;
+  s = c1->ConfigureFromString(ignore, "shared.id=failing");
+  ASSERT_TRUE(s.IsInvalidArgument());
+  s = c1->ConfigureFromString(ignore, "unique.id=failing");
+  ASSERT_TRUE(s.IsInvalidArgument());
+
+  ASSERT_OK(c1->ConfigureFromString(ignore, "shared.id=missing"));
+  ASSERT_OK(c1->ConfigureFromString(ignore, "unique.id=missing"));
+
+  // If we are ignoring unknown options, will see no errors
+  // for failing or missing
+  ignore.ignore_unknown_options = true;
+  ignore.ignore_unsupported_options = false;
+  ASSERT_OK(c1->ConfigureFromString(ignore, "shared.id=failing"));
+  ASSERT_OK(c1->ConfigureFromString(ignore, "unique.id=failing"));
+  ASSERT_OK(c1->ConfigureFromString(ignore, "shared.id=missing"));
+  ASSERT_OK(c1->ConfigureFromString(ignore, "unique.id=missing"));
+}
+
 // Tests that different IDs lead to different objects
 TEST_F(CustomizableTest, UniqueIdTest) {
   std::unique_ptr<Configurable> base(new SimpleConfigurable());
diff --git a/util/comparator.cc b/util/comparator.cc
index a3c9a8c45..9fbc111b4 100644
--- a/util/comparator.cc
+++ b/util/comparator.cc
@@ -368,9 +368,10 @@ Status Comparator::CreateFromString(const ConfigOptions& config_options,
       } else {
         return status;
       }
-    } else if (!opt_map.empty()) {
+    } else {
       Comparator* comparator = const_cast<Comparator*>(*result);
-      status = comparator->ConfigureFromMap(config_options, opt_map);
+      status =
+          Customizable::ConfigureNewObject(config_options, comparator, opt_map);
     }
   }
   return status;
diff --git a/utilities/object_registry_test.cc b/utilities/object_registry_test.cc
index 7880703f0..3ab2df6b9 100644
--- a/utilities/object_registry_test.cc
+++ b/utilities/object_registry_test.cc
@@ -49,30 +49,48 @@ static FactoryFunc<Env> test_reg_b = ObjectLibrary::Default()->AddFactory<Env>(
 
 TEST_F(ObjRegistryTest, Basics) {
   std::string msg;
-  std::unique_ptr<Env> env_guard;
+  std::unique_ptr<Env> guard;
+  Env* a_env = nullptr;
+
   auto registry = ObjectRegistry::NewInstance();
-  auto res = registry->NewObject<Env>("a://test", &env_guard, &msg);
-  ASSERT_NE(res, nullptr);
-  ASSERT_EQ(env_guard, nullptr);
+  ASSERT_NOK(registry->NewStaticObject<Env>("c://test", &a_env));
+  ASSERT_NOK(registry->NewUniqueObject<Env>("c://test", &guard));
+  ASSERT_EQ(a_env, nullptr);
+  ASSERT_EQ(guard, nullptr);
+  ASSERT_EQ(0, num_a);
+  ASSERT_EQ(0, num_b);
+
+  ASSERT_OK(registry->NewStaticObject<Env>("a://test", &a_env));
+  ASSERT_NE(a_env, nullptr);
   ASSERT_EQ(1, num_a);
   ASSERT_EQ(0, num_b);
 
-  res = registry->NewObject<Env>("b://test", &env_guard, &msg);
-  ASSERT_NE(res, nullptr);
-  ASSERT_NE(env_guard, nullptr);
+  ASSERT_OK(registry->NewUniqueObject<Env>("b://test", &guard));
+  ASSERT_NE(guard, nullptr);
   ASSERT_EQ(1, num_a);
   ASSERT_EQ(1, num_b);
 
-  res = registry->NewObject<Env>("c://test", &env_guard, &msg);
-  ASSERT_EQ(res, nullptr);
-  ASSERT_EQ(env_guard, nullptr);
+  Env* b_env = nullptr;
+  ASSERT_NOK(registry->NewStaticObject<Env>("b://test", &b_env));
+  ASSERT_EQ(b_env, nullptr);
   ASSERT_EQ(1, num_a);
-  ASSERT_EQ(1, num_b);
+  ASSERT_EQ(2, num_b);  // Created but rejected as not static
+
+  b_env = a_env;
+  ASSERT_NOK(registry->NewStaticObject<Env>("b://test", &b_env));
+  ASSERT_EQ(b_env, a_env);
+  ASSERT_EQ(1, num_a);
+  ASSERT_EQ(3, num_b);
+
+  b_env = guard.get();
+  ASSERT_NOK(registry->NewUniqueObject<Env>("a://test", &guard));
+  ASSERT_EQ(guard.get(), b_env);  // Unchanged
+  ASSERT_EQ(2, num_a);            // Created one but rejected it as not unique
+  ASSERT_EQ(3, num_b);
 }
 
 TEST_F(ObjRegistryTest, LocalRegistry) {
-  std::string msg;
-  std::unique_ptr<Env> guard;
+  Env* env = nullptr;
   auto registry = ObjectRegistry::NewInstance();
   std::shared_ptr<ObjectLibrary> library =
       std::make_shared<ObjectLibrary>("local");
@@ -87,14 +105,16 @@ TEST_F(ObjRegistryTest, LocalRegistry) {
       [](const std::string& /*uri*/, std::unique_ptr<Env>* /*guard */,
          std::string* /* errmsg */) { return Env::Default(); });
 
-  ASSERT_EQ(
-      ObjectRegistry::NewInstance()->NewObject<Env>("test-local", &guard, &msg),
-      nullptr);
-  ASSERT_NE(
-      ObjectRegistry::NewInstance()->NewObject("test-global", &guard, &msg),
-      nullptr);
-  ASSERT_NE(registry->NewObject<Env>("test-local", &guard, &msg), nullptr);
-  ASSERT_NE(registry->NewObject<Env>("test-global", &guard, &msg), nullptr);
+  ASSERT_NOK(
+      ObjectRegistry::NewInstance()->NewStaticObject<Env>("test-local", &env));
+  ASSERT_EQ(env, nullptr);
+  ASSERT_OK(
+      ObjectRegistry::NewInstance()->NewStaticObject<Env>("test-global", &env));
+  ASSERT_NE(env, nullptr);
+  ASSERT_OK(registry->NewStaticObject<Env>("test-local", &env));
+  ASSERT_NE(env, nullptr);
+  ASSERT_OK(registry->NewStaticObject<Env>("test-global", &env));
+  ASSERT_NE(env, nullptr);
 }
 
 TEST_F(ObjRegistryTest, CheckShared) {
@@ -172,6 +192,36 @@ TEST_F(ObjRegistryTest, CheckUnique) {
   ASSERT_EQ(unique, nullptr);
 }
 
+TEST_F(ObjRegistryTest, FailingFactory) {
+  std::shared_ptr<ObjectRegistry> registry = ObjectRegistry::NewInstance();
+  std::shared_ptr<ObjectLibrary> library =
+      std::make_shared<ObjectLibrary>("failing");
+  registry->AddLibrary(library);
+  library->AddFactory<Env>(
+      "failing", [](const std::string& /*uri*/,
+                    std::unique_ptr<Env>* /*guard */, std::string* errmsg) {
+        *errmsg = "Bad Factory";
+        return nullptr;
+      });
+  std::unique_ptr<Env> unique;
+  std::shared_ptr<Env> shared;
+  Env* pointer = nullptr;
+  Status s;
+  s = registry->NewUniqueObject<Env>("failing", &unique);
+  ASSERT_TRUE(s.IsInvalidArgument());
+  s = registry->NewSharedObject<Env>("failing", &shared);
+  ASSERT_TRUE(s.IsInvalidArgument());
+  s = registry->NewStaticObject<Env>("failing", &pointer);
+  ASSERT_TRUE(s.IsInvalidArgument());
+
+  s = registry->NewUniqueObject<Env>("missing", &unique);
+  ASSERT_TRUE(s.IsNotSupported());
+  s = registry->NewSharedObject<Env>("missing", &shared);
+  ASSERT_TRUE(s.IsNotSupported());
+  s = registry->NewStaticObject<Env>("missing", &pointer);
+  ASSERT_TRUE(s.IsNotSupported());
+}
+
 TEST_F(ObjRegistryTest, TestRegistryParents) {
   auto grand = ObjectRegistry::Default();
   auto parent = ObjectRegistry::NewInstance();  // parent with a grandparent
@@ -194,14 +244,15 @@ TEST_F(ObjRegistryTest, TestRegistryParents) {
         return guard->get();
       });
 
+  Env* env = nullptr;
   std::unique_ptr<Env> guard;
   std::string msg;
 
-  // a:://* is registered in Default, so they should all workd
-  ASSERT_NE(parent->NewObject<Env>("a://test", &guard, &msg), nullptr);
-  ASSERT_NE(child->NewObject<Env>("a://test", &guard, &msg), nullptr);
-  ASSERT_NE(uncle->NewObject<Env>("a://test", &guard, &msg), nullptr);
-  ASSERT_NE(cousin->NewObject<Env>("a://test", &guard, &msg), nullptr);
+  // a:://* is registered in Default, so they should all work
+  ASSERT_OK(parent->NewStaticObject<Env>("a://test", &env));
+  ASSERT_OK(child->NewStaticObject<Env>("a://test", &env));
+  ASSERT_OK(uncle->NewStaticObject<Env>("a://test", &env));
+  ASSERT_OK(cousin->NewStaticObject<Env>("a://test", &env));
 
   // The parent env is only registered for parent, not uncle,
   // So parent and child should return success and uncle and cousin should fail