diff --git a/artiq/devices/core.py b/artiq/devices/core.py
index 56a3e1e51..8630ef4d0 100644
--- a/artiq/devices/core.py
+++ b/artiq/devices/core.py
@@ -44,7 +44,8 @@ class Core:
         # transform/simplify AST
         _debug_unparse = _make_debug_unparse("fold_constants_2")
 
-        func_def, rpc_map = inline(self, k_function, k_args, k_kwargs)
+        func_def, rpc_map, exception_map = inline(
+            self, k_function, k_args, k_kwargs)
         _debug_unparse("inline", func_def)
 
         lower_units(func_def, self.runtime_env.ref_period)
diff --git a/artiq/transforms/inline.py b/artiq/transforms/inline.py
index 630341c43..0a9fc6b56 100644
--- a/artiq/transforms/inline.py
+++ b/artiq/transforms/inline.py
@@ -27,13 +27,14 @@ class _ReferenceManager:
         # inlined_name -> use_count
         self.use_count = dict()
         self.rpc_map = defaultdict(lambda: len(self.rpc_map))
+        self.exception_map = defaultdict(lambda: len(self.exception_map))
         self.kernel_attr_init = []
 
         # reserved names
         for kg in core_language.kernel_globals:
             self.use_count[kg] = 1
         for name in ("int", "round", "int64", "round64", "float", "array",
-                     "range", "Fraction", "Quantity",
+                     "range", "Fraction", "Quantity", "EncodedException",
                      "s_unit", "Hz_unit", "microcycle_unit"):
             self.use_count[name] = 1
 
@@ -93,7 +94,7 @@ _embeddable_calls = {
     core_language.syscall,
     range, int, float, round,
     core_language.int64, core_language.round64, core_language.array,
-    Fraction, units.Quantity
+    Fraction, units.Quantity, core_language.EncodedException
 }
 
 
@@ -173,8 +174,8 @@ class _ReferenceReplacer(ast.NodeVisitor):
             retval_name = self.rm.new_name(
                 func.k_function_info.k_function.__name__ + "_return")
             args = [func.__self__] + new_args
-            inlined, _ = inline(self.core, func.k_function_info.k_function,
-                                args, dict(), self.rm, retval_name)
+            inlined, _, _ = inline(self.core, func.k_function_info.k_function,
+                                   args, dict(), self.rm, retval_name)
             self._insertion_point.append(ast.With(
                 items=[ast.withitem(context_expr=ast.Name(id="sequential",
                                                           ctx=ast.Load()),
@@ -214,6 +215,35 @@ class _ReferenceReplacer(ast.NodeVisitor):
         self.generic_visit(node)
         return node
 
+    def visit_Raise(self, node):
+        if node.cause is not None:
+            raise NotImplementedError("Exception causes are not supported")
+        exception_class = self.rm.get(self.obj, self.func_name, node.exc)
+        if not inspect.isclass(exception_class):
+            raise NotImplementedError("Exception must be a class")
+        exception_id = self.rm.exception_map[exception_class]
+        node.exc = ast.copy_location(
+                ast.Call(func=ast.Name("EncodedException", ast.Load()),
+                         args=[value_to_ast(exception_id)],
+                         keywords=[], starargs=None, kwargs=None),
+                node.exc)
+        return node
+
+    def visit_ExceptHandler(self, node):
+        if node.name is not None:
+            raise NotImplementedError("'as target' is not supported")
+        exception_class = self.rm.get(self.obj, self.func_name, node.type)
+        if not inspect.isclass(exception_class):
+            raise NotImplementedError("Exception type must be a class")
+        exception_id = self.rm.exception_map[exception_class]
+        node.type = ast.copy_location(
+                ast.Call(func=ast.Name("EncodedException", ast.Load()),
+                         args=[value_to_ast(exception_id)],
+                         keywords=[], starargs=None, kwargs=None),
+                node.type)
+        self.generic_visit(node)
+        return node
+
 
 class _ListReadOnlyParams(ast.NodeVisitor):
     def visit_FunctionDef(self, node):
@@ -272,4 +302,7 @@ def inline(core, k_function, k_args, k_kwargs, rm=None, retval_name=None):
 
     r_rpc_map = dict((rpc_num, rpc_fun)
                      for rpc_fun, rpc_num in rm.rpc_map.items())
-    return func_def, r_rpc_map
+    r_exception_map = dict((exception_num, exception_class)
+                           for exception_class, exception_num
+                           in rm.exception_map.items())
+    return func_def, r_rpc_map, r_exception_map