diff --git a/serial/base/src/main/java/org/switchyard/serial/graph/node/ThrowableNode.java b/serial/base/src/main/java/org/switchyard/serial/graph/node/ThrowableNode.java
index 910d76021..a51867ec9 100644
--- a/serial/base/src/main/java/org/switchyard/serial/graph/node/ThrowableNode.java
+++ b/serial/base/src/main/java/org/switchyard/serial/graph/node/ThrowableNode.java
@@ -177,7 +177,11 @@ private Throwable newThrowable(Class<? extends Throwable> throwableClass, String
                 throwable = Construction.construct(throwableClass, parameterTypes, new Object[]{message});
             }
         } catch (Throwable t) {
-            throw SerialMessages.MESSAGES.couldNotInstantiateThrowable(throwableClass.getName());
+            if (throwableClass == null) {
+                return SerialMessages.MESSAGES.couldNotInstantiateThrowable("Unknown exception: " + message);
+            } else {
+                return SerialMessages.MESSAGES.couldNotInstantiateThrowable(throwableClass.getName() + ": " + message);
+            }
         }
         return throwable;
     }