diff --git a/src/api/api_opt.cpp b/src/api/api_opt.cpp
index 495a2b1e5..21c55f428 100644
--- a/src/api/api_opt.cpp
+++ b/src/api/api_opt.cpp
@@ -140,6 +140,9 @@ extern "C" {
                 r = to_optimize_ptr(o)->optimize();
             }
             catch (z3_exception& ex) {
+                if (!mk_c(c)->m().canceled()) {
+                    mk_c(c)->handle_exception(ex);
+                }
                 r = l_undef;
                 if (ex.msg() == std::string("canceled") && mk_c(c)->m().canceled()) {
                     to_optimize_ptr(o)->set_reason_unknown(ex.msg());
diff --git a/src/api/api_solver.cpp b/src/api/api_solver.cpp
index 119965d5a..ab1ea4a8e 100644
--- a/src/api/api_solver.cpp
+++ b/src/api/api_solver.cpp
@@ -392,7 +392,9 @@ extern "C" {
             }
             catch (z3_exception & ex) {
                 to_solver_ref(s)->set_reason_unknown(eh);
-                mk_c(c)->handle_exception(ex);
+                if (!mk_c(c)->m().canceled()) {
+                    mk_c(c)->handle_exception(ex);
+                }
                 return Z3_L_UNDEF;
             }
         }