diff --git a/tests/unit-tests/util/signal.t.cpp b/tests/unit-tests/util/signal.t.cpp
index 41750c2..153ad91 100644
--- a/tests/unit-tests/util/signal.t.cpp
+++ b/tests/unit-tests/util/signal.t.cpp
@@ -405,14 +405,14 @@
 {
   SignalOwner0 so;
 
-  struct HandlerError
+  struct HandlerError : public std::exception
   {
   };
 
   int hit = 0;
   so.sig.connect([&] {
     ++hit;
-    throw HandlerError();
+    BOOST_THROW_EXCEPTION(HandlerError());
   });
 
   BOOST_CHECK_THROW(so.emitSignal(sig), HandlerError);
diff --git a/tests/unit-tests/util/simple-notification.hpp b/tests/unit-tests/util/simple-notification.hpp
index 1d22a2a..66e4641 100644
--- a/tests/unit-tests/util/simple-notification.hpp
+++ b/tests/unit-tests/util/simple-notification.hpp
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@
 
     // error for testing
     if (!m_message.empty() && m_message[0] == '\x07')
-      throw tlv::Error("0x07 error");
+      BOOST_THROW_EXCEPTION(tlv::Error("0x07 error"));
   }
 
 public: