diff --git a/examples/bt-get.cpp b/examples/bt-get.cpp
index 0029a81bf..53e223f55 100644
--- a/examples/bt-get.cpp
+++ b/examples/bt-get.cpp
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ int main(int argc, char const* argv[])
 	lt::add_torrent_params atp;
 	atp.url = argv[1];
 	atp.save_path = "."; // save in current dir
-	lt::torrent_handle h = ses.add_torrent(atp);
+	lt::torrent_handle h = ses.add_torrent(std::move(atp));
 
 	for (;;) {
 		std::vector<lt::alert*> alerts;
diff --git a/examples/bt-get2.cpp b/examples/bt-get2.cpp
index 8474d536f..b0ca179d1 100644
--- a/examples/bt-get2.cpp
+++ b/examples/bt-get2.cpp
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ int main(int argc, char const* argv[])
 	lt::add_torrent_params atp = lt::read_resume_data(&buf[0], int(buf.size()), ec);
 	atp.url = argv[1];
 	atp.save_path = "."; // save in current dir
-	ses.async_add_torrent(atp);
+	ses.async_add_torrent(std::move(atp));
 
 	// this is the handle we'll set once we get the notification of it being
 	// added
diff --git a/examples/client_test.cpp b/examples/client_test.cpp
index 46c7e0059..88409db67 100644
--- a/examples/client_test.cpp
+++ b/examples/client_test.cpp
@@ -568,7 +568,7 @@ void add_magnet(lt::session& ses, lt::string_view uri)
 	p.storage_mode = static_cast<lt::storage_mode_t>(allocation_mode);
 
 	std::printf("adding magnet: %s\n", uri.to_string().c_str());
-	ses.async_add_torrent(p);
+	ses.async_add_torrent(std::move(p));
 }
 
 // return false on failure
@@ -608,7 +608,7 @@ bool add_torrent(libtorrent::session& ses, std::string torrent)
 	p.storage_mode = (storage_mode_t)allocation_mode;
 	p.flags &= ~add_torrent_params::flag_duplicate_is_error;
 	p.userdata = static_cast<void*>(new std::string(torrent));
-	ses.async_add_torrent(p);
+	ses.async_add_torrent(std::move(p));
 	return true;
 }
 
@@ -913,7 +913,7 @@ bool handle_alert(torrent_view& view, session_view& ses_view
 	}
 	else if (state_update_alert* p = alert_cast<state_update_alert>(a))
 	{
-		view.update_torrents(p->status);
+		view.update_torrents(std::move(p->status));
 		return true;
 	}
 	return false;
@@ -1274,7 +1274,7 @@ MAGNETURL is a magnet link
 				continue;
 			}
 
-			ses.async_add_torrent(p);
+			ses.async_add_torrent(std::move(p));
 		}
 	}
 
diff --git a/examples/torrent_view.cpp b/examples/torrent_view.cpp
index 0c7759a9c..337c1e8d3 100644
--- a/examples/torrent_view.cpp
+++ b/examples/torrent_view.cpp
@@ -96,18 +96,17 @@ lt::torrent_handle torrent_view::get_active_handle() const
 	return m_filtered_handles[m_active_torrent]->handle;
 }
 
-void torrent_view::update_torrents(std::vector<lt::torrent_status> const& st)
+void torrent_view::update_torrents(std::vector<lt::torrent_status> st)
 {
 	std::set<lt::torrent_handle> updates;
 	bool need_filter_update = false;
-	for (std::vector<lt::torrent_status>::const_iterator i = st.begin();
-		i != st.end(); ++i)
+	for (lt::torrent_status& t : st)
 	{
-		auto j = m_all_handles.find(*i);
+		auto j = m_all_handles.find(t);
 		// add new entries here
 		if (j == m_all_handles.end())
 		{
-			j = m_all_handles.insert(*i).first;
+			j = m_all_handles.insert(std::move(t)).first;
 			if (show_torrent(*j))
 			{
 				m_filtered_handles.push_back(&*j);
@@ -116,12 +115,12 @@ void torrent_view::update_torrents(std::vector<lt::torrent_status> const& st)
 		}
 		else
 		{
-			bool prev_show = show_torrent(*j);
-			((lt::torrent_status&)*j) = *i;
+			bool const prev_show = show_torrent(*j);
+			const_cast<lt::torrent_status&>(*j) = std::move(t);
 			if (prev_show != show_torrent(*j))
 				need_filter_update = true;
 			else
-				updates.insert(i->handle);
+				updates.insert(j->handle);
 		}
 	}
 	if (need_filter_update)
@@ -132,19 +131,16 @@ void torrent_view::update_torrents(std::vector<lt::torrent_status> const& st)
 	else
 	{
 		int torrent_index = 0;
-		for (std::vector<lt::torrent_status const*>::iterator i
-			= m_filtered_handles.begin();
-			i != m_filtered_handles.end(); ++torrent_index)
+		for (auto i = m_filtered_handles.begin();
+			i != m_filtered_handles.end(); ++torrent_index, ++i)
 		{
 			if (torrent_index < m_scroll_position
 				|| torrent_index >= m_scroll_position + m_height - header_size)
 			{
-				++i;
 				continue;
 			}
 
 			lt::torrent_status const& s = **i;
-			++i;
 
 			if (!s.handle.is_valid())
 				continue;
diff --git a/examples/torrent_view.hpp b/examples/torrent_view.hpp
index a0814f423..96165cacd 100644
--- a/examples/torrent_view.hpp
+++ b/examples/torrent_view.hpp
@@ -36,7 +36,7 @@ struct torrent_view
 	lt::torrent_status const& get_active_torrent() const;
 	lt::torrent_handle get_active_handle() const;
 
-	void update_torrents(std::vector<lt::torrent_status> const& st);
+	void update_torrents(std::vector<lt::torrent_status> st);
 
 	int height() const;
 
diff --git a/include/libtorrent/add_torrent_params.hpp b/include/libtorrent/add_torrent_params.hpp
index 7a9d881c3..45704c961 100644
--- a/include/libtorrent/add_torrent_params.hpp
+++ b/include/libtorrent/add_torrent_params.hpp
@@ -87,6 +87,10 @@ namespace libtorrent
 		// data for the torrent. For more information, see the ``storage`` field.
 		explicit add_torrent_params(storage_constructor_type sc = default_storage_constructor)
 			: storage(sc) {}
+		add_torrent_params(add_torrent_params&&) = default;
+		add_torrent_params& operator=(add_torrent_params&&) = default;
+		add_torrent_params(add_torrent_params const&) = default;
+		add_torrent_params& operator=(add_torrent_params const&) = default;
 
 		// values for the ``flags`` field
 		enum flags_t : std::uint64_t
diff --git a/include/libtorrent/aux_/session_impl.hpp b/include/libtorrent/aux_/session_impl.hpp
index 439902008..19ba69c2c 100644
--- a/include/libtorrent/aux_/session_impl.hpp
+++ b/include/libtorrent/aux_/session_impl.hpp
@@ -474,7 +474,7 @@ namespace libtorrent
 				std::shared_ptr<torrent> const& torrent_ptr, void* userdata);
 #endif
 
-			torrent_handle add_torrent(add_torrent_params const&, error_code& ec);
+			torrent_handle add_torrent(add_torrent_params, error_code& ec);
 			// second return value is true if the torrent was added and false if an
 			// existing one was found.
 			std::pair<std::shared_ptr<torrent>, bool>
diff --git a/include/libtorrent/magnet_uri.hpp b/include/libtorrent/magnet_uri.hpp
index 5fb161bd7..308eff5c1 100644
--- a/include/libtorrent/magnet_uri.hpp
+++ b/include/libtorrent/magnet_uri.hpp
@@ -65,13 +65,13 @@ namespace libtorrent
 	// deprecated in 0.16. Instead, pass in the magnet link as add_torrent_params::url
 	TORRENT_DEPRECATED
 	torrent_handle TORRENT_EXPORT add_magnet_uri(session& ses, std::string const& uri
-		, add_torrent_params const& p);
+		, add_torrent_params p);
 #endif
 
 	// deprecated in 0.16. Instead, pass in the magnet link as add_torrent_params::url
 	TORRENT_DEPRECATED
 	torrent_handle TORRENT_EXPORT add_magnet_uri(session& ses, std::string const& uri
-		, add_torrent_params const& p, error_code& ec);
+		, add_torrent_params p, error_code& ec);
 
 #endif
 
diff --git a/include/libtorrent/session_handle.hpp b/include/libtorrent/session_handle.hpp
index cae8398c9..54281e296 100644
--- a/include/libtorrent/session_handle.hpp
+++ b/include/libtorrent/session_handle.hpp
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@ namespace libtorrent
 		torrent_handle add_torrent(add_torrent_params const& params);
 #endif
 		torrent_handle add_torrent(add_torrent_params const& params, error_code& ec);
-		void async_add_torrent(add_torrent_params const& params);
+		void async_add_torrent(add_torrent_params params);
 
 #ifndef BOOST_NO_EXCEPTIONS
 #ifndef TORRENT_NO_DEPRECATE
diff --git a/simulation/test_pause.cpp b/simulation/test_pause.cpp
index 6ddf273c9..6d91038d1 100644
--- a/simulation/test_pause.cpp
+++ b/simulation/test_pause.cpp
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ void run_test(Setup const& setup, Torrent const& torrent
 	lt::add_torrent_params params = create_torrent(0, false);
 	params.flags &= ~lt::add_torrent_params::flag_auto_managed;
 	params.flags &= ~lt::add_torrent_params::flag_paused;
-	ses->async_add_torrent(params);
+	ses->async_add_torrent(std::move(params));
 
 	lt::torrent_handle h;
 	print_alerts(*ses, [&](lt::session& ses, lt::alert const* a) {
diff --git a/src/magnet_uri.cpp b/src/magnet_uri.cpp
index e34c9a428..1152664ed 100644
--- a/src/magnet_uri.cpp
+++ b/src/magnet_uri.cpp
@@ -113,14 +113,14 @@ namespace libtorrent
 		{
 			parse_magnet_uri(uri, p, ec);
 			if (ec) return torrent_handle();
-			return ses.add_torrent(p, ec);
+			return ses.add_torrent(std::move(p), ec);
 		}
 	}
 
 	torrent_handle add_magnet_uri(session& ses, std::string const& uri
-		, add_torrent_params const& p, error_code& ec)
+		, add_torrent_params p, error_code& ec)
 	{
-		return add_magnet_uri_deprecated(ses, uri, p, ec);
+		return add_magnet_uri_deprecated(ses, uri, std::move(p), ec);
 	}
 
 #ifndef BOOST_NO_EXCEPTIONS
@@ -153,14 +153,14 @@ namespace libtorrent
 		if (btih.size() == 40 + 9) aux::from_hex({&btih[9], 40}, params.info_hash.data());
 		else params.info_hash.assign(base32decode(btih.substr(9)).c_str());
 
-		return ses.add_torrent(params);
+		return ses.add_torrent(std::move(params));
 	}
 
 	torrent_handle add_magnet_uri(session& ses, std::string const& uri
-		, add_torrent_params const& p)
+		, add_torrent_params p)
 	{
 		error_code ec;
-		torrent_handle ret = add_magnet_uri_deprecated(ses, uri, p, ec);
+		torrent_handle ret = add_magnet_uri_deprecated(ses, uri, std::move(p), ec);
 		if (ec) aux::throw_ex<system_error>(ec);
 		return ret;
 	}
diff --git a/src/session_handle.cpp b/src/session_handle.cpp
index 01170e07d..668cac3eb 100644
--- a/src/session_handle.cpp
+++ b/src/session_handle.cpp
@@ -342,11 +342,14 @@ namespace libtorrent
 		return sync_call_ret<torrent_handle>(&session_impl::add_torrent, p, ecr);
 	}
 
-	void session_handle::async_add_torrent(add_torrent_params const& params)
+	void session_handle::async_add_torrent(add_torrent_params params)
 	{
 		TORRENT_ASSERT_PRECOND(!params.save_path.empty());
 
-		add_torrent_params* p = new add_torrent_params(params);
+		// we cannot capture a unique_ptr into a lambda in c++11, so we use a raw
+		// pointer for now. async_call uses a lambda expression to post the call
+		// to the main thread
+		add_torrent_params* p = new add_torrent_params(std::move(params));
 		p->save_path = complete(p->save_path);
 
 #ifndef TORRENT_NO_DEPRECATE
diff --git a/src/session_impl.cpp b/src/session_impl.cpp
index e98a602a1..f823ddd1c 100644
--- a/src/session_impl.cpp
+++ b/src/session_impl.cpp
@@ -4619,7 +4619,7 @@ namespace aux {
 #endif
 
 		error_code ec;
-		add_torrent(*params, ec);
+		add_torrent(std::move(*params), ec);
 	}
 
 #ifndef TORRENT_NO_DEPRECATE
@@ -4636,7 +4636,7 @@ namespace aux {
 		TORRENT_ASSERT(params->ti->is_valid());
 		TORRENT_ASSERT(params->ti->num_files() > 0);
 		params->url.clear();
-		add_torrent(*params, ec);
+		add_torrent(std::move(*params), ec);
 	}
 #endif
 
@@ -4653,11 +4653,10 @@ namespace aux {
 	}
 #endif
 
-	torrent_handle session_impl::add_torrent(add_torrent_params const& p
+	torrent_handle session_impl::add_torrent(add_torrent_params params
 		, error_code& ec)
 	{
 		// params is updated by add_torrent_impl()
-		add_torrent_params params = p;
 		std::shared_ptr<torrent> torrent_ptr;
 
 		// in case there's an error, make sure to abort the torrent before leaving
@@ -4665,6 +4664,8 @@ namespace aux {
 		auto abort_torrent = aux::scope_end([&]{ if (torrent_ptr) torrent_ptr->abort(); });
 
 		bool added;
+		// TODO: 3 perhaps params could be moved into the torrent object, instead
+		// of it being copied by the torrent constructor
 		std::tie(torrent_ptr, added) = add_torrent_impl(params, ec);
 
 		torrent_handle const handle(torrent_ptr);
diff --git a/test/test_session.cpp b/test/test_session.cpp
index c66ef3836..ef253ae18 100644
--- a/test/test_session.cpp
+++ b/test/test_session.cpp
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ TORRENT_TEST(load_empty_file)
 	atp.ti = std::make_shared<torrent_info>("", 0, std::ref(ignore_errors));
 	atp.save_path = ".";
 	error_code ec;
-	torrent_handle h = ses.add_torrent(atp, ec);
+	torrent_handle h = ses.add_torrent(std::move(atp), ec);
 
 	TEST_CHECK(!h.is_valid());
 	TEST_CHECK(ec == error_code(errors::no_metadata))
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ TORRENT_TEST(paused_session)
 	ps.flags = lt::add_torrent_params::flag_paused;
 	ps.save_path = ".";
 
-	torrent_handle h = s.add_torrent(ps);
+	torrent_handle h = s.add_torrent(std::move(ps));
 
 	std::this_thread::sleep_for(lt::milliseconds(2000));
 	h.resume();
diff --git a/test/test_storage.cpp b/test/test_storage.cpp
index 6b9e0f4a9..54d774bd1 100644
--- a/test/test_storage.cpp
+++ b/test/test_storage.cpp
@@ -654,7 +654,7 @@ void test_fastresume(bool const test_deprecated)
 		p.ti = std::make_shared<torrent_info>(std::cref(*t));
 		p.save_path = combine_path(test_path, "tmp1");
 		p.storage_mode = storage_mode_sparse;
-		torrent_handle h = ses.add_torrent(p, ec);
+		torrent_handle h = ses.add_torrent(std::move(p), ec);
 		TEST_CHECK(exists(combine_path(p.save_path, "temporary")));
 		if (!exists(combine_path(p.save_path, "temporary")))
 			return;
@@ -719,7 +719,7 @@ void test_fastresume(bool const test_deprecated)
 		p.ti = std::make_shared<torrent_info>(std::cref(*t));
 		p.save_path = combine_path(test_path, "tmp1");
 		p.storage_mode = storage_mode_sparse;
-		torrent_handle h = ses.add_torrent(p, ec);
+		torrent_handle h = ses.add_torrent(std::move(p), ec);
 
 		std::printf("expecting fastresume to be rejected becase the files were removed");
 		alert const* a = wait_for_alert(ses, fastresume_rejected_alert::alert_type
@@ -771,7 +771,7 @@ TORRENT_TEST(rename_file)
 	p.ti = info;
 	p.save_path = ".";
 	error_code ec;
-	torrent_handle h = ses.add_torrent(p, ec);
+	torrent_handle h = ses.add_torrent(std::move(p), ec);
 
 	// make it a seed
 	std::vector<char> tmp(info->piece_length());
@@ -833,7 +833,7 @@ void test_rename_file_fastresume(bool test_deprecated)
 		p.ti = std::make_shared<torrent_info>(std::cref(*t));
 		p.save_path = combine_path(test_path, "tmp2");
 		p.storage_mode = storage_mode_sparse;
-		torrent_handle h = ses.add_torrent(p, ec);
+		torrent_handle h = ses.add_torrent(std::move(p), ec);
 
 		h.rename_file(file_index_t(0), "testing_renamed_files");
 		std::cout << "renaming file" << std::endl;
@@ -886,7 +886,7 @@ void test_rename_file_fastresume(bool test_deprecated)
 		p.ti = std::make_shared<torrent_info>(std::cref(*t));
 		p.save_path = combine_path(test_path, "tmp2");
 		p.storage_mode = storage_mode_sparse;
-		torrent_handle h = ses.add_torrent(p, ec);
+		torrent_handle h = ses.add_torrent(std::move(p), ec);
 
 		torrent_status stat;
 		for (int i = 0; i < 50; ++i)
diff --git a/test/test_torrent.cpp b/test/test_torrent.cpp
index 6ea77591a..dec80e662 100644
--- a/test/test_torrent.cpp
+++ b/test/test_torrent.cpp
@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ TORRENT_TEST(total_wanted)
 
 	p.ti = info;
 
-	torrent_handle h = ses.add_torrent(p);
+	torrent_handle h = ses.add_torrent(std::move(p));
 
 	torrent_status st = h.status();
 	std::cout << "total_wanted: " << st.total_wanted << " : " << 1024 << std::endl;
@@ -240,7 +240,7 @@ TORRENT_TEST(added_peers)
 	p.save_path = ".";
 	p.url = "magnet:?xt=urn:btih:abababababababababababababababababababab&x.pe=127.0.0.1:48081&x.pe=127.0.0.2:48082";
 
-	torrent_handle h = ses.add_torrent(p);
+	torrent_handle h = ses.add_torrent(std::move(p));
 
 	std::vector<peer_list_entry> v;
 	h.native_handle()->get_full_peer_list(&v);
@@ -359,7 +359,7 @@ TORRENT_TEST(duplicate_is_not_error)
 
 	lt::session ses(settings());
 	ses.async_add_torrent(p);
-	ses.async_add_torrent(p);
+	ses.async_add_torrent(std::move(p));
 
 	wait_for_downloading(ses, "ses");
 
@@ -427,7 +427,7 @@ TORRENT_TEST(async_load_deprecated)
 
 	p.url = "file://" + combine_path(combine_path(dir, "test_torrents"), "base.torrent");
 	p.save_path = ".";
-	ses.async_add_torrent(p);
+	ses.async_add_torrent(std::move(p));
 
 	alert const* a = wait_for_alert(ses, add_torrent_alert::alert_type);
 	TEST_CHECK(a);
@@ -471,7 +471,7 @@ TORRENT_TEST(queue)
 		add_torrent_params p;
 		p.ti = ti;
 		p.save_path = ".";
-		torrents.push_back(ses.add_torrent(p));
+		torrents.push_back(ses.add_torrent(std::move(p)));
 	}
 
 	std::vector<int> pieces(torrents[5].torrent_file()->num_pieces(), 0);