diff --git a/include/execq/internal/ExecutionQueue.h b/include/execq/internal/ExecutionQueue.h
index 329741b..9937339 100644
--- a/include/execq/internal/ExecutionQueue.h
+++ b/include/execq/internal/ExecutionQueue.h
@@ -186,10 +186,13 @@ execq::impl::Task execq::impl::ExecutionQueue<R, T>::nextTask()
 template <typename R, typename T>
 void execq::impl::ExecutionQueue<R, T>::execute(T&& object, std::promise<void>& promise, const std::atomic_bool& canceled)
 {
+#if defined(__cpp_exceptions)
     try
     {
+#endif
         m_executor(canceled, std::move(object));
         promise.set_value();
+#if defined(__cpp_exceptions)
     }
     catch(...)
     {
@@ -200,15 +203,19 @@ void execq::impl::ExecutionQueue<R, T>::execute(T&& object, std::promise<void>&
         catch(...)
         {} // set_exception() may throw too
     }
+#endif
 }
 
 template <typename R, typename T>
 template <typename Y>
 void execq::impl::ExecutionQueue<R, T>::execute(T&& object, std::promise<Y>& promise, const std::atomic_bool& canceled)
 {
+#if defined(__cpp_exceptions)
     try
     {
+#endif
         promise.set_value(m_executor(canceled, std::move(object)));
+#if defined(__cpp_exceptions)
     }
     catch(...)
     {
@@ -219,6 +226,7 @@ void execq::impl::ExecutionQueue<R, T>::execute(T&& object, std::promise<Y>& pro
         catch(...)
         {} // set_exception() may throw too
     }
+#endif
 }
 
 template <typename R, typename T>
diff --git a/src/execq.cpp b/src/execq.cpp
index a677081..e891196 100644
--- a/src/execq.cpp
+++ b/src/execq.cpp
@@ -25,6 +25,10 @@
 #include "execq.h"
 #include "ExecutionStream.h"
 
+#if !defined(__cpp_exceptions)
+#   include <cstdio>
+#endif
+
 namespace
 {
     uint32_t GetOptimalThreadCount()
@@ -51,7 +55,12 @@ std::shared_ptr<execq::IExecutionPool> execq::CreateExecutionPool(const uint32_t
 {
     if (!threadCount)
     {
+#if defined(__cpp_exceptions)
         throw std::runtime_error("Failed to create IExecutionPool: thread count could not be zero.");
+#else
+        (void)std::fprintf(stderr, "Failed to create IExecutionPool: thread count could not be zero.");
+        abort();
+#endif
     }
     else if (threadCount == 1)
     {