diff --git a/lib/_debugger.js b/lib/_debugger.js
index 17ac52e57d..f454aa9c4c 100644
--- a/lib/_debugger.js
+++ b/lib/_debugger.js
@@ -678,6 +678,7 @@ var commands = [
     'kill',
     'list',
     'scripts',
+    'breakOnException',
     'breakpoints',
     'version'
   ]
@@ -1308,6 +1309,19 @@ Interface.prototype.watchers = function() {
   }
 };
 
+// Break on exception
+Interface.prototype.breakOnException = function breakOnException() {
+  if (!this.requireConnection()) return;
+
+  var self = this;
+
+  // Break on exceptions
+  this.pause();
+  this.client.reqSetExceptionBreak('all', function(err, res) {
+    self.resume();
+  });
+};
+
 // Add breakpoint
 Interface.prototype.setBreakpoint = function(script, line,
                                              condition, silent) {
@@ -1626,12 +1640,6 @@ Interface.prototype.trySpawn = function(cb) {
       self.setBreakpoint(bp.scriptId, bp.line, bp.condition, true);
     });
 
-    // Break on exceptions
-    client.reqSetExceptionBreak('all', function(err, res) {
-      cb && cb();
-      self.resume();
-    });
-
     client.on('close', function() {
       self.pause();
       self.print('program terminated');
@@ -1639,6 +1647,9 @@ Interface.prototype.trySpawn = function(cb) {
       self.client = null;
       self.killChild();
     });
+
+    if (cb) cb();
+    self.resume();
   });
 
   client.on('unhandledResponse', function(res) {