diff --git a/lib/system/jssys.nim b/lib/system/jssys.nim
index 768f9bc170..cc69dc503a 100644
--- a/lib/system/jssys.nim
+++ b/lib/system/jssys.nim
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ proc isNimException(): bool {.asmNoStackFrame.} =
   else:
     asm "return `lastJSError`.m_type;"
 
-proc getCurrentException*(): ref Exception =
+proc getCurrentException*(): ref Exception {.compilerRtl, benign.} =
   if isNimException(): result = cast[ref Exception](lastJSError)
 
 proc getCurrentExceptionMsg*(): string =
diff --git a/tests/js/ttryexceptnewsyntax.nim b/tests/js/ttryexceptnewsyntax.nim
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..2573c3727a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/js/ttryexceptnewsyntax.nim
@@ -0,0 +1,13 @@
+discard """
+  output: '''hello'''
+"""
+
+type
+  MyException = ref Exception
+
+#bug #5986
+
+try:
+  raise MyException(msg: "hello")
+except MyException as e:
+  echo e.msg