diff --git a/scr/src/main/java/org/apache/felix/scr/impl/helper/ActivateMethod.java b/scr/src/main/java/org/apache/felix/scr/impl/helper/ActivateMethod.java
index adb80a4..b722013 100644
--- a/scr/src/main/java/org/apache/felix/scr/impl/helper/ActivateMethod.java
+++ b/scr/src/main/java/org/apache/felix/scr/impl/helper/ActivateMethod.java
@@ -43,11 +43,11 @@
 
         try
         {
-            return getSingleParameterMethod( targetClass, acceptPrivate, acceptPackage );
-        }
-        catch ( NoSuchMethodException nsme )
-        {
-            // ignore for now
+            final Method method = getSingleParameterMethod( targetClass, acceptPrivate, acceptPackage );
+            if ( method != null )
+            {
+                return method;
+            }
         }
         catch ( SuitableMethodNotAccessibleException smnae )
         {
@@ -81,10 +81,6 @@
                     // find the declared method in this class
                     return getMethod( targetClass, getMethodName(), null, acceptPrivate, acceptPackage );
                 }
-                catch ( NoSuchMethodException nsme )
-                {
-                    // ignore for now
-                }
                 catch ( SuitableMethodNotAccessibleException smnae )
                 {
                     suitableMethodNotAccessible = true;
@@ -143,24 +139,38 @@
     }
 
 
+    /**
+     * Returns a method taking a single parameter of one of the
+     * {@link #getAcceptedParameterTypes()} or <code>null</code> if no such
+     * method exists.
+     *
+     * @param targetClass The class in which to look for the method. Only this
+     *      class is searched for the method.
+     * @param acceptPrivate <code>true</code> if private methods should be
+     *      considered.
+     * @param acceptPackage <code>true</code> if package private methods should
+     *      be considered.
+     * @return The requested method or <code>null</code> if no acceptable method
+     *      can be found in the target class.
+     * @throws SuitableMethodNotAccessibleException If a suitable method was
+     *      found which is not accessible
+     * @throws InvocationTargetException If an unexpected Throwable is caught
+     *      trying to find the requested method.
+     */
     private Method getSingleParameterMethod( final Class targetClass, final boolean acceptPrivate,
-        final boolean acceptPackage ) throws SuitableMethodNotAccessibleException, InvocationTargetException,
-        NoSuchMethodException
+        final boolean acceptPackage ) throws SuitableMethodNotAccessibleException, InvocationTargetException
     {
         SuitableMethodNotAccessibleException ex = null;
+        Method singleParameterMethod = null;
         final Class[] acceptedTypes = getAcceptedParameterTypes();
-        for ( int i = 0; i < acceptedTypes.length; i++ )
+        for ( int i = 0; singleParameterMethod == null && i < acceptedTypes.length; i++ )
         {
             try
             {
                 // find the declared method in this class
-                return getMethod( targetClass, getMethodName(), new Class[]
+                singleParameterMethod = getMethod( targetClass, getMethodName(), new Class[]
                     { acceptedTypes[i] }, acceptPrivate, acceptPackage );
             }
-            catch ( NoSuchMethodException nsme )
-            {
-                // ignore for now
-            }
             catch ( SuitableMethodNotAccessibleException thrown )
             {
                 ex = thrown;
@@ -168,12 +178,15 @@
 
         }
 
+        // rethrow if we looked for all method signatures and only found
+        // one or more which would be suitable but not accessible
         if ( ex != null )
         {
             throw ex;
         }
 
-        throw new NoSuchMethodException();
+        // no method with a matching single parameter has been found
+        return singleParameterMethod;
     }
 
 
diff --git a/scr/src/main/java/org/apache/felix/scr/impl/helper/BaseMethod.java b/scr/src/main/java/org/apache/felix/scr/impl/helper/BaseMethod.java
index 839779c..0c5c508 100644
--- a/scr/src/main/java/org/apache/felix/scr/impl/helper/BaseMethod.java
+++ b/scr/src/main/java/org/apache/felix/scr/impl/helper/BaseMethod.java
@@ -279,18 +279,17 @@
      * @param parameterTypes The parameters to the method. Passing
      *      <code>null</code> is equivalent to using an empty array.
      *
-     * @return The named method with enforced accessibility
+     * @return The named method with enforced accessibility or <code>null</code>
+     *      if no such method exists in the class.
      *
-     * @throws NoSuchMethodException If no public or protected method with
-     *      the given name can be found in the class or any of its super classes.
      * @throws SuitableMethodNotAccessibleException If method with the given
      *      name taking the parameters is found in the class but the method
      *      is not accessible.
      * @throws InvocationTargetException If an unexpected Throwable is caught
      *      trying to access the desired method.
      */
-    public static Method getMethod( Class clazz, String name, Class[] parameterTypes, boolean acceptPrivate,
-        boolean acceptPackage ) throws NoSuchMethodException, SuitableMethodNotAccessibleException,
+    public /* static */ Method getMethod( Class clazz, String name, Class[] parameterTypes, boolean acceptPrivate,
+        boolean acceptPackage ) throws SuitableMethodNotAccessibleException,
         InvocationTargetException
     {
         try
@@ -303,11 +302,33 @@
             {
                 return method;
             }
+
+            // the method would fit the requirements but is not acceptable
+            throw new SuitableMethodNotAccessibleException();
         }
         catch ( NoSuchMethodException nsme )
         {
-            // forward to caller
-            throw nsme;
+            // thrown if no method is declared with the given name and
+            // parameters
+        }
+        catch ( NoClassDefFoundError cdfe )
+        {
+            // may be thrown if a method would be found but the signature
+            // contains throws declaration for an exception which cannot
+            // be loaded
+            // FELIX... TODO
+            StringBuffer buf = new StringBuffer();
+            buf.append( "Failure loooking up method " ).append( name ).append( '(' );
+            for ( int i = 0; parameterTypes != null && i < parameterTypes.length; i++ )
+            {
+                buf.append( parameterTypes[i].getName() );
+                if ( i > 0 )
+                {
+                    buf.append( ", " );
+                }
+            }
+            buf.append( ") in class class " ).append( clazz.getName() ).append( ". Assuming no such method." );
+            getComponentManager().log( LogService.LOG_WARNING, buf.toString(), cdfe );
         }
         catch ( Throwable throwable )
         {
@@ -316,8 +337,8 @@
             throw new InvocationTargetException( throwable, "Unexpected problem trying to get method " + name );
         }
 
-        // suitable method found which is not accessible
-        throw new SuitableMethodNotAccessibleException();
+        // cuaght and ignored exception, assume no method and continue search
+        return null;
     }
 
 
diff --git a/scr/src/main/java/org/apache/felix/scr/impl/helper/BindMethod.java b/scr/src/main/java/org/apache/felix/scr/impl/helper/BindMethod.java
index 7701c79..a931eb7 100644
--- a/scr/src/main/java/org/apache/felix/scr/impl/helper/BindMethod.java
+++ b/scr/src/main/java/org/apache/felix/scr/impl/helper/BindMethod.java
@@ -232,18 +232,8 @@
     private Method getServiceReferenceMethod( final Class targetClass, boolean acceptPrivate, boolean acceptPackage )
         throws SuitableMethodNotAccessibleException, InvocationTargetException
     {
-        try
-        {
-            return getMethod( targetClass, getMethodName(), new Class[]
-                { SERVICE_REFERENCE_CLASS }, acceptPrivate, acceptPackage );
-        }
-        catch ( NoSuchMethodException e )
-        {
-            // the named method could not be found
-        }
-
-        // no method taking service reference
-        return null;
+        return getMethod( targetClass, getMethodName(), new Class[]
+            { SERVICE_REFERENCE_CLASS }, acceptPrivate, acceptPackage );
     }
 
 
@@ -267,18 +257,8 @@
     private Method getServiceObjectMethod( final Class targetClass, final Class parameterClass, boolean acceptPrivate,
         boolean acceptPackage ) throws SuitableMethodNotAccessibleException, InvocationTargetException
     {
-        try
-        {
-            return getMethod( targetClass, getMethodName(), new Class[]
-                { parameterClass }, acceptPrivate, acceptPackage );
-        }
-        catch ( NoSuchMethodException nsme )
-        {
-            // no method taking service object
-        }
-
-        // no method taking service object
-        return null;
+        return getMethod( targetClass, getMethodName(), new Class[]
+            { parameterClass }, acceptPrivate, acceptPackage );
     }
 
 
@@ -372,18 +352,8 @@
         boolean acceptPrivate, boolean acceptPackage ) throws SuitableMethodNotAccessibleException,
         InvocationTargetException
     {
-        try
-        {
-            return getMethod( targetClass, getMethodName(), new Class[]
-                { parameterClass, MAP_CLASS }, acceptPrivate, acceptPackage );
-        }
-        catch ( NoSuchMethodException nsme )
-        {
-            // no method taking service object
-        }
-
-        // no method taking service object
-        return null;
+        return getMethod( targetClass, getMethodName(), new Class[]
+            { parameterClass, MAP_CLASS }, acceptPrivate, acceptPackage );
     }