diff --git a/artiq/compiler/transforms/artiq_ir_generator.py b/artiq/compiler/transforms/artiq_ir_generator.py
index d64bc0e92..ce2f81635 100644
--- a/artiq/compiler/transforms/artiq_ir_generator.py
+++ b/artiq/compiler/transforms/artiq_ir_generator.py
@@ -696,7 +696,7 @@ class ARTIQIRGenerator(algorithm.Visitor):
                 return_action.append(ir.Return(value))
                 final_branch(return_action, return_proxy)
         else:
-            landingpad.has_cleanup = False
+            landingpad.has_cleanup = self.unwind_target is not None
 
         # we should propagate the clauses to nested try catch blocks
         # so nested try catch will jump to our clause if the inner one does not
@@ -760,7 +760,6 @@ class ARTIQIRGenerator(algorithm.Visitor):
                 self.continue_target = old_continue
             self.return_target = old_return
 
-        if any(node.finalbody):
             # create new unwind target for cleanup
             final_dispatcher = self.add_block("try.final.dispatch")
             final_landingpad = ir.LandingPad(cleanup)
@@ -769,7 +768,6 @@ class ARTIQIRGenerator(algorithm.Visitor):
             # make sure that exception clauses are unwinded to the finally block
             old_unwind, self.unwind_target = self.unwind_target, final_dispatcher
 
-        if any(node.finalbody):
             # if we have a while:try/finally continue must execute finally
             # before continuing the while
             redirect = final_branch
diff --git a/artiq/test/lit/exceptions/finally_catch_try.py b/artiq/test/lit/exceptions/finally_catch_try.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c1b500a78
--- /dev/null
+++ b/artiq/test/lit/exceptions/finally_catch_try.py
@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+# RUN: %python -m artiq.compiler.testbench.jit %s >%t
+# RUN: OutputCheck %s --file-to-check=%t
+# REQUIRES: exceptions
+
+def doit():
+    try:
+        try:
+            raise RuntimeError("Error")
+        except ValueError:
+            print("ValueError")
+    except RuntimeError:
+        print("Caught")
+    finally:
+        print("Cleanup")
+
+doit()
+
+# CHECK-L: Caught
+# CHECK-NEXT-L: Cleanup
diff --git a/artiq/test/lit/exceptions/finally_try.py b/artiq/test/lit/exceptions/finally_try.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..377ca1c06
--- /dev/null
+++ b/artiq/test/lit/exceptions/finally_try.py
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+# RUN: %python -m artiq.compiler.testbench.jit %s >%t
+# RUN: OutputCheck %s --file-to-check=%t
+# REQUIRES: exceptions
+
+def doit():
+    try:
+        try:
+            raise RuntimeError("Error")
+        except ValueError:
+            print("ValueError")
+    finally:
+        print("Cleanup")
+
+try:
+    doit()
+except RuntimeError:
+    print("Caught")
+
+# CHECK-L: Cleanup
+# CHECK-NEXT-L: Caught