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..061cd3a6e 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
@@ -150,7 +150,11 @@ public Object decompose(Graph graph) {
         Throwable throwable = newThrowable(clazz, getMessage());
         Throwable cause = (Throwable)graph.decomposeReference(getCause());
         if (cause != null) {
-            throwable.initCause(cause);
+            try {
+                throwable.initCause(cause);
+            } catch (IllegalStateException e) {
+                throwable = new RuntimeException(clazz.getName() + ": " + getMessage(), cause);
+            }
         }
         Object[] array = (Object[])graph.decomposeReference(getStackTrace());
         if (array != null) {