diff --git a/tests/core/limited-io.cpp b/tests/core/limited-io.cpp
index ea19585..b381696 100644
--- a/tests/core/limited-io.cpp
+++ b/tests/core/limited-io.cpp
@@ -5,10 +5,13 @@
  */
 
 #include "limited-io.hpp"
+#include "core/logger.hpp"
 
 namespace nfd {
 namespace tests {
 
+NFD_LOG_INIT("LimitedIo");
+
 const int LimitedIo::UNLIMITED_OPS = std::numeric_limits<int>::max();
 const time::Duration LimitedIo::UNLIMITED_TIME = time::nanoseconds(-1);
 
@@ -30,7 +33,14 @@
     m_timeout = scheduler::schedule(nTimeLimit, bind(&LimitedIo::afterTimeout, this));
   }
   
-  getGlobalIoService().run();
+  try {
+    getGlobalIoService().run();
+  }
+  catch (std::exception& ex) {
+    m_reason = EXCEPTION;
+    NFD_LOG_ERROR("g_io.run() exception: " << ex.what());
+    m_lastException = ex;
+  }
   
   getGlobalIoService().reset();
   scheduler::cancel(m_timeout);
@@ -55,5 +65,11 @@
   getGlobalIoService().stop();
 }
 
+const std::exception&
+LimitedIo::getLastException() const
+{
+  return m_lastException;
+}
+
 } // namespace tests
 } // namespace nfd
diff --git a/tests/core/limited-io.hpp b/tests/core/limited-io.hpp
index 7fb4f70..0aae290 100644
--- a/tests/core/limited-io.hpp
+++ b/tests/core/limited-io.hpp
@@ -12,24 +12,41 @@
 namespace nfd {
 namespace tests {
 
+/** \brief provides IO operations limit and/or time limit for unit testing
+ */
 class LimitedIo
 {
 public:
   LimitedIo();
   
+  /// indicates why .run returns
   enum StopReason
   {
+    /// g_io.run() runs normally because there's no work to do
     NO_WORK,
+    /// .afterOp() has been invoked nOpsLimit times
     EXCEED_OPS,
-    EXCEED_TIME
+    /// nTimeLimit has elapsed
+    EXCEED_TIME,
+    /// an exception is thrown
+    EXCEPTION
   };
   
+  /** \brief g_io.run() with operation count and/or time limit
+   *
+   *  \param nOpsLimit operation count limit, pass UNLIMITED_OPS for no limit
+   *  \param nTimeLimit time limit, pass UNLIMITED_TIME for no limit
+   */
   StopReason
   run(int nOpsLimit, time::Duration nTimeLimit);
   
+  /// count an operation
   void
   afterOp();
   
+  const std::exception&
+  getLastException() const;
+  
 private:
   void
   afterTimeout();
@@ -43,6 +60,7 @@
   int m_nOpsRemaining;
   EventId m_timeout;
   StopReason m_reason;
+  std::exception m_lastException;
 };
 
 } // namespace tests