diff --git a/utils/junit/src/main/java/org/onlab/junit/TestUtils.java b/utils/junit/src/main/java/org/onlab/junit/TestUtils.java
index 7b16d65..0707561 100644
--- a/utils/junit/src/main/java/org/onlab/junit/TestUtils.java
+++ b/utils/junit/src/main/java/org/onlab/junit/TestUtils.java
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@
      * through reflection. The original exception can be found by examining the
      * cause.
      */
-    public static class TestUtilsException extends Exception {
+    public static class TestUtilsException extends RuntimeException {
 
         private static final long serialVersionUID = 1L;