diff --git a/src/java/org/apache/commons/lang/exception/ExceptionUtils.java b/src/java/org/apache/commons/lang/exception/ExceptionUtils.java
index 967833c36..72ac075d6 100644
--- a/src/java/org/apache/commons/lang/exception/ExceptionUtils.java
+++ b/src/java/org/apache/commons/lang/exception/ExceptionUtils.java
@@ -124,7 +124,8 @@ public class ExceptionUtils
             {
             }
 
-            if (getCause != null && getCause.getReturnType() == Throwable.class)
+            if (getCause != null &&
+                Throwable.class.isAssignableFrom(getCause.getReturnType()))
             {
                 try
                 {