diff --git a/lib/mutant/mutator/node/block.rb b/lib/mutant/mutator/node/block.rb
index aa5fcee8..0ea07048 100644
--- a/lib/mutant/mutator/node/block.rb
+++ b/lib/mutant/mutator/node/block.rb
@@ -21,9 +21,8 @@ module Mutant
           emit_arguments_mutations
           if body
             emit_body_mutations
-          else
-            emit_body(NEW_OBJECT)
           end
+          emit_body(RAISE)
         end
 
       end # Block
diff --git a/lib/mutant/mutator/node/define.rb b/lib/mutant/mutator/node/define.rb
index 94caf80b..1374bba9 100644
--- a/lib/mutant/mutator/node/define.rb
+++ b/lib/mutant/mutator/node/define.rb
@@ -14,11 +14,8 @@ module Mutant
         #
         def dispatch
           emit_arguments_mutations
-          if body
-            emit_body_mutations
-          else
-            emit_body(NEW_OBJECT)
-          end
+          emit_body(RAISE)
+          emit_body_mutations if body
         end
 
         # Mutator for instance method defines
diff --git a/lib/mutant/node_helpers.rb b/lib/mutant/node_helpers.rb
index 5faf213b..9b07316b 100644
--- a/lib/mutant/node_helpers.rb
+++ b/lib/mutant/node_helpers.rb
@@ -21,6 +21,8 @@ module Mutant
     INFINITY          = s(:send, s(:float,  1.0), :/, s(:args, s(:float, 0.0)))
     NEW_OBJECT        = s(:send, s(:const, s(:cbase), :Object), :new)
 
+    RAISE             = s(:send, nil, :raise)
+
     N_NIL             = s(:nil)
     N_EMPTY           = s(:empty)
 
diff --git a/spec/unit/mutant/mutator/node/block/mutation_spec.rb b/spec/unit/mutant/mutator/node/block/mutation_spec.rb
index 22571fa0..fb7e815b 100644
--- a/spec/unit/mutant/mutator/node/block/mutation_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/unit/mutant/mutator/node/block/mutation_spec.rb
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ describe Mutant::Mutator, 'block' do
       mutations << 'foo { a }'
       mutations << 'foo { b }'
       mutations << 'foo {}'
+      mutations << 'foo { raise }'
       mutations << 'foo'
     end
 
@@ -26,7 +27,7 @@ describe Mutant::Mutator, 'block' do
     let(:mutations) do
       mutations = []
       mutations << 'foo'
-      mutations << 'foo { |a, b| ::Object.new }'
+      mutations << 'foo { |a, b| raise }'
       mutations << 'foo { |a, srandom| }'
       mutations << 'foo { |srandom, b| }'
       mutations << 'foo { |a| }'
@@ -49,7 +50,7 @@ describe Mutant::Mutator, 'block' do
       mutations = []
       mutations << 'foo { || }'
       mutations << 'foo { |a, b, c| }'
-      mutations << 'foo { |(a, b), c| ::Object.new }'
+      mutations << 'foo { |(a, b), c| raise }'
       mutations << 'foo { |(a), c| }'
       mutations << 'foo { |(b), c| }'
       mutations << 'foo { |(a, b)| }'
diff --git a/spec/unit/mutant/mutator/node/define/mutation_spec.rb b/spec/unit/mutant/mutator/node/define/mutation_spec.rb
index 14295b31..254ebcb8 100644
--- a/spec/unit/mutant/mutator/node/define/mutation_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/unit/mutant/mutator/node/define/mutation_spec.rb
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@ describe Mutant::Mutator, 'def' do
 
     let(:mutations) do
       mutations = []
-      mutations << 'def foo; ::Object.new; end'
+      mutations << 'def foo; raise; end'
     end
 
     it_should_behave_like 'a mutator'
@@ -31,6 +31,8 @@ describe Mutant::Mutator, 'def' do
 
       # Remove all statements
       mutations << 'def foo; end'
+
+      mutations << 'def foo; raise; end'
     end
 
     it_should_behave_like 'a mutator'
@@ -58,7 +60,7 @@ describe Mutant::Mutator, 'def' do
       mutations << 'def foo(a, srandom); end'
 
       # Mutation of body
-      mutations << 'def foo(a, b); ::Object.new; end'
+      mutations << 'def foo(a, b); raise; end'
     end
 
     it_should_behave_like 'a mutator'
@@ -69,7 +71,7 @@ describe Mutant::Mutator, 'def' do
 
     let(:mutations) do
       mutations = []
-      mutations << 'def foo(_unused); ::Object.new; end'
+      mutations << 'def foo(_unused); raise; end'
       mutations << 'def foo; end'
     end
 
@@ -90,7 +92,7 @@ describe Mutant::Mutator, 'def' do
       mutations << 'def foo(a = false); end'
       mutations << 'def foo(a = nil); end'
       mutations << 'def foo(srandom = true); end'
-      mutations << 'def foo(a = true); ::Object.new; end'
+      mutations << 'def foo(a = true); raise; end'
     end
 
     it_should_behave_like 'a mutator'
@@ -114,6 +116,8 @@ describe Mutant::Mutator, 'def' do
 
       # Remove all statements
       mutations << 'def self.foo; end'
+
+      mutations << 'def self.foo; raise; end'
     end
 
     it_should_behave_like 'a mutator'
@@ -125,24 +129,24 @@ describe Mutant::Mutator, 'def' do
       Mutant::Random.stub(:hex_string => 'random')
     end
 
-    let(:source) { 'def self.foo(a, b); nil; end' }
+    let(:source) { 'def self.foo(a, b); end' }
 
     let(:mutations) do
       mutations = []
 
       # Deletion of each argument
-      mutations << 'def self.foo(a); nil; end'
-      mutations << 'def self.foo(b); nil; end'
+      mutations << 'def self.foo(a); end'
+      mutations << 'def self.foo(b); end'
 
       # Deletion of all arguments
-      mutations << 'def self.foo; nil; end'
+      mutations << 'def self.foo; end'
 
       # Rename each argument
-      mutations << 'def self.foo(srandom, b); nil; end'
-      mutations << 'def self.foo(a, srandom); nil; end'
+      mutations << 'def self.foo(srandom, b); end'
+      mutations << 'def self.foo(a, srandom); end'
 
       # Mutation of body
-      mutations << 'def self.foo(a, b); ::Object.new; end'
+      mutations << 'def self.foo(a, b); raise; end'
     end
 
     it_should_behave_like 'a mutator'