diff --git a/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/actor/ActorCell.scala b/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/actor/ActorCell.scala
index 6f48fd235e..7b216969ba 100644
--- a/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/actor/ActorCell.scala
+++ b/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/actor/ActorCell.scala
@@ -214,19 +214,19 @@ private[akka] trait Cell {
    */
   def start(): this.type
   /**
-   * Recursively suspend this actor and all its children. Must not throw exceptions.
+   * Recursively suspend this actor and all its children. Is only allowed to throw Fatal Throwables.
    */
   def suspend(): Unit
   /**
-   * Recursively resume this actor and all its children. Must not throw exceptions.
+   * Recursively resume this actor and all its children. Is only allowed to throw Fatal Throwables.
    */
   def resume(causedByFailure: Throwable): Unit
   /**
-   * Restart this actor (will recursively restart or stop all children). Must not throw exceptions.
+   * Restart this actor (will recursively restart or stop all children). Is only allowed to throw Fatal Throwables.
    */
   def restart(cause: Throwable): Unit
   /**
-   * Recursively terminate this actor and all its children. Must not throw exceptions.
+   * Recursively terminate this actor and all its children. Is only allowed to throw Fatal Throwables.
    */
   def stop(): Unit
   /**
@@ -246,16 +246,26 @@ private[akka] trait Cell {
    * Get the stats for the named child, if that exists.
    */
   def getChildByName(name: String): Option[ChildStats]
+
   /**
    * Enqueue a message to be sent to the actor; may or may not actually
    * schedule the actor to run, depending on which type of cell it is.
-   * Must not throw exceptions.
+   * Is only allowed to throw Fatal Throwables.
    */
-  def tell(message: Any, sender: ActorRef): Unit
+  def sendMessage(msg: Envelope): Unit
+
   /**
    * Enqueue a message to be sent to the actor; may or may not actually
    * schedule the actor to run, depending on which type of cell it is.
-   * Must not throw exceptions.
+   * Is only allowed to throw Fatal Throwables.
+   */
+  final def sendMessage(message: Any, sender: ActorRef): Unit =
+    sendMessage(Envelope(message, sender, system))
+
+  /**
+   * Enqueue a message to be sent to the actor; may or may not actually
+   * schedule the actor to run, depending on which type of cell it is.
+   * Is only allowed to throw Fatal Throwables.
    */
   def sendSystemMessage(msg: SystemMessage): Unit
   /**
diff --git a/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/actor/ActorRef.scala b/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/actor/ActorRef.scala
index d33821cd92..df8948a03d 100644
--- a/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/actor/ActorRef.scala
+++ b/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/actor/ActorRef.scala
@@ -350,7 +350,7 @@ private[akka] class LocalActorRef private[akka] (
 
   override def sendSystemMessage(message: SystemMessage): Unit = actorCell.sendSystemMessage(message)
 
-  override def !(message: Any)(implicit sender: ActorRef = Actor.noSender): Unit = actorCell.tell(message, sender)
+  override def !(message: Any)(implicit sender: ActorRef = Actor.noSender): Unit = actorCell.sendMessage(message, sender)
 
   override def restart(cause: Throwable): Unit = actorCell.restart(cause)
 
diff --git a/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/actor/RepointableActorRef.scala b/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/actor/RepointableActorRef.scala
index 300481ad06..62cca3477b 100644
--- a/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/actor/RepointableActorRef.scala
+++ b/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/actor/RepointableActorRef.scala
@@ -151,7 +151,7 @@ private[akka] class RepointableActorRef(
       }
     } else this
 
-  def !(message: Any)(implicit sender: ActorRef = Actor.noSender) = underlying.tell(message, sender)
+  def !(message: Any)(implicit sender: ActorRef = Actor.noSender) = underlying.sendMessage(message, sender)
 
   def sendSystemMessage(message: SystemMessage) = underlying.sendSystemMessage(message)
 
@@ -181,7 +181,7 @@ private[akka] class UnstartedCell(val systemImpl: ActorSystemImpl,
       while (!queue.isEmpty) {
         queue.poll() match {
           case s: SystemMessage ⇒ cell.sendSystemMessage(s)
-          case e: Envelope      ⇒ cell.tell(e.message, e.sender)
+          case e: Envelope      ⇒ cell.sendMessage(e)
         }
       }
     } finally {
@@ -203,21 +203,20 @@ private[akka] class UnstartedCell(val systemImpl: ActorSystemImpl,
   def childrenRefs: ChildrenContainer = ChildrenContainer.EmptyChildrenContainer
   def getChildByName(name: String): Option[ChildRestartStats] = None
 
-  def tell(message: Any, sender: ActorRef): Unit = {
-    val useSender = if (sender eq Actor.noSender) system.deadLetters else sender
+  def sendMessage(msg: Envelope): Unit = {
     if (lock.tryLock(timeout.length, timeout.unit)) {
       try {
         val cell = self.underlying
         if (cellIsReady(cell)) {
-          cell.tell(message, useSender)
-        } else if (!queue.offer(Envelope(message, useSender, system))) {
-          system.eventStream.publish(Warning(self.path.toString, getClass, "dropping message of type " + message.getClass + " due to enqueue failure"))
-          system.deadLetters ! DeadLetter(message, useSender, self)
+          cell.sendMessage(msg)
+        } else if (!queue.offer(msg)) {
+          system.eventStream.publish(Warning(self.path.toString, getClass, "dropping message of type " + msg.message.getClass + " due to enqueue failure"))
+          system.deadLetters ! DeadLetter(msg.message, msg.sender, self)
         }
       } finally lock.unlock()
     } else {
-      system.eventStream.publish(Warning(self.path.toString, getClass, "dropping message of type" + message.getClass + " due to lock timeout"))
-      system.deadLetters ! DeadLetter(message, useSender, self)
+      system.eventStream.publish(Warning(self.path.toString, getClass, "dropping message of type" + msg.message.getClass + " due to lock timeout"))
+      system.deadLetters ! DeadLetter(msg.message, msg.sender, self)
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/actor/dungeon/Dispatch.scala b/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/actor/dungeon/Dispatch.scala
index 1d3b498c2b..9bce41fc4f 100644
--- a/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/actor/dungeon/Dispatch.scala
+++ b/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/actor/dungeon/Dispatch.scala
@@ -5,12 +5,13 @@
 package akka.actor.dungeon
 
 import scala.annotation.tailrec
-import akka.actor.{ ActorRef, ActorCell }
 import akka.dispatch.{ Terminate, SystemMessage, Suspend, Resume, Recreate, MessageDispatcher, Mailbox, Envelope, Create }
 import akka.event.Logging.Error
 import akka.util.Unsafe
 import scala.util.control.NonFatal
 import akka.dispatch.NullMessage
+import akka.actor.{ NoSerializationVerificationNeeded, InvalidMessageException, ActorRef, ActorCell }
+import akka.serialization.SerializationExtension
 
 private[akka] trait Dispatch { this: ActorCell ⇒
 
@@ -102,9 +103,16 @@ private[akka] trait Dispatch { this: ActorCell ⇒
         system.eventStream.publish(Error(e, self.path.toString, clazz(actor), "swallowing exception during message send"))
     }
 
-  def tell(message: Any, sender: ActorRef): Unit =
-    try dispatcher.dispatch(this, Envelope(message, if (sender eq null) system.deadLetters else sender, system))
-    catch {
+  def sendMessage(msg: Envelope): Unit =
+    try {
+      val m = msg.message.asInstanceOf[AnyRef]
+      if (m eq null) throw new InvalidMessageException("Message is null")
+      if (system.settings.SerializeAllMessages && !m.isInstanceOf[NoSerializationVerificationNeeded]) {
+        val s = SerializationExtension(system)
+        s.deserialize(s.serialize(m).get, m.getClass).get
+      }
+      dispatcher.dispatch(this, msg)
+    } catch {
       case e @ (_: InterruptedException | NonFatal(_)) ⇒
         system.eventStream.publish(Error(e, self.path.toString, clazz(actor), "swallowing exception during message send"))
     }
diff --git a/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/dispatch/AbstractDispatcher.scala b/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/dispatch/AbstractDispatcher.scala
index 5d470746f4..ff59242c39 100644
--- a/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/dispatch/AbstractDispatcher.scala
+++ b/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/dispatch/AbstractDispatcher.scala
@@ -9,27 +9,19 @@ import akka.event.Logging.{ Error, LogEventException }
 import akka.actor._
 import akka.event.EventStream
 import com.typesafe.config.Config
-import akka.serialization.SerializationExtension
 import akka.util.{ Unsafe, Index }
 import scala.annotation.tailrec
 import scala.concurrent.forkjoin.{ ForkJoinTask, ForkJoinPool }
 import scala.concurrent.duration.Duration
-import scala.concurrent.{ ExecutionContext, Await, Awaitable }
-import scala.util.control.NonFatal
+import scala.concurrent.ExecutionContext
 import scala.concurrent.duration.FiniteDuration
+import scala.util.control.NonFatal
 
 final case class Envelope private (val message: Any, val sender: ActorRef)
 
 object Envelope {
-  def apply(message: Any, sender: ActorRef, system: ActorSystem): Envelope = {
-    val msg = message.asInstanceOf[AnyRef]
-    if (msg eq null) throw new InvalidMessageException("Message is null")
-    if (system.settings.SerializeAllMessages && !msg.isInstanceOf[NoSerializationVerificationNeeded]) {
-      val ser = SerializationExtension(system)
-      ser.deserialize(ser.serialize(msg).get, msg.getClass).get
-    }
-    new Envelope(message, sender)
-  }
+  def apply(message: Any, sender: ActorRef, system: ActorSystem): Envelope =
+    new Envelope(message, if (sender ne Actor.noSender) sender else system.deadLetters)
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/routing/Routing.scala b/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/routing/Routing.scala
index ee98de0f10..14d2de39a9 100644
--- a/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/routing/Routing.scala
+++ b/akka-actor/src/main/scala/akka/routing/Routing.scala
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import scala.collection.immutable
 import scala.concurrent.duration._
 import akka.actor._
 import akka.ConfigurationException
-import akka.dispatch.Dispatchers
+import akka.dispatch.{ Envelope, Dispatchers }
 import akka.pattern.pipe
 import akka.japi.Util.immutableSeq
 import com.typesafe.config.Config
@@ -118,25 +118,24 @@ private[akka] class RoutedActorCell(_system: ActorSystemImpl, _ref: InternalActo
    * resizer is invoked asynchronously, i.e. not necessarily before the
    * message has been sent.
    */
-  override def tell(message: Any, sender: ActorRef): Unit = {
-    val s = if (sender eq null) system.deadLetters else sender
-    val msg = message match {
+  override def sendMessage(msg: Envelope): Unit = {
+    val message = msg.message match {
       case wrapped: RouterEnvelope ⇒ wrapped.message
       case m                       ⇒ m
     }
-    applyRoute(s, message) foreach {
-      case Destination(snd, `self`) ⇒
-        super.tell(msg, snd)
-      case Destination(snd, recipient) ⇒
+    applyRoute(msg.sender, msg.message) foreach {
+      case Destination(sender, `self`) ⇒
+        super.sendMessage(Envelope(message, sender, system))
+      case Destination(sender, recipient) ⇒
         resize() // only resize when the message target is one of the routees
-        recipient.tell(msg, snd)
+        recipient.tell(message, sender)
     }
   }
 
   def resize(): Unit =
     for (r ← routerConfig.resizer) {
       if (r.isTimeForResize(resizeCounter.getAndIncrement()) && resizeInProgress.compareAndSet(false, true))
-        super.tell(Router.Resize, self)
+        super.sendMessage(Envelope(Router.Resize, self, system))
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/akka-contrib/src/main/scala/akka/contrib/throttle/TimerBasedThrottler.scala b/akka-contrib/src/main/scala/akka/contrib/throttle/TimerBasedThrottler.scala
index 0841130f34..3e1d2c6908 100644
--- a/akka-contrib/src/main/scala/akka/contrib/throttle/TimerBasedThrottler.scala
+++ b/akka-contrib/src/main/scala/akka/contrib/throttle/TimerBasedThrottler.scala
@@ -293,4 +293,4 @@ class TimerBasedThrottler(var rate: Rate) extends Actor with Throttler with FSM[
 
     data.copy(queue = queue.drop(nrOfMsgToSend), callsLeftInThisPeriod = data.callsLeftInThisPeriod - nrOfMsgToSend)
   }
-}
+}
diff --git a/akka-osgi/src/main/scala/akka/osgi/OsgiActorSystemFactory.scala b/akka-osgi/src/main/scala/akka/osgi/OsgiActorSystemFactory.scala
index 6b799df30c..4194afba01 100644
--- a/akka-osgi/src/main/scala/akka/osgi/OsgiActorSystemFactory.scala
+++ b/akka-osgi/src/main/scala/akka/osgi/OsgiActorSystemFactory.scala
@@ -44,8 +44,8 @@ class OsgiActorSystemFactory(val context: BundleContext, val fallbackClassLoader
   def actorSystemConfig(context: BundleContext): Config = {
     val bundleSymbolicName = context.getBundle.getSymbolicName
     val bundleId = context.getBundle.getBundleId
-    val acceptedFilePath = List(s"bundle-$bundleSymbolicName", s"bundle-$bundleId", "akka").map(x =>  s"etc/$x")
-    val applicationConfiguration = acceptedFilePath.foldLeft(ConfigFactory.empty())((x, y) => x.withFallback(ConfigFactory.parseFileAnySyntax(new File(y))))
+    val acceptedFilePath = List(s"bundle-$bundleSymbolicName", s"bundle-$bundleId", "akka").map(x ⇒ s"etc/$x")
+    val applicationConfiguration = acceptedFilePath.foldLeft(ConfigFactory.empty())((x, y) ⇒ x.withFallback(ConfigFactory.parseFileAnySyntax(new File(y))))
     applicationConfiguration.withFallback(ConfigFactory.load(classloader).withFallback(ConfigFactory.defaultReference(OsgiActorSystemFactory.akkaActorClassLoader)))
   }