diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index e16325b..a6448c9 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 cmake_minimum_required(VERSION 3.10)
-project(fun VERSION 0.37.61 LANGUAGES C)
+project(fun VERSION 0.37.62 LANGUAGES C)
 
 set(CMAKE_C_STANDARD 99)
 set(CMAKE_C_STANDARD_REQUIRED ON)
diff --git a/src/vm.c b/src/vm.c
index 01864f8..16ac20b 100644
--- a/src/vm.c
+++ b/src/vm.c
@@ -235,6 +235,38 @@ static void fun_vm_exit(int code) {
 /* Redirect exit inside this TU (affects included opcode handlers) */
 #define exit(code) fun_vm_exit(code)
 
+/* Forward decl for stack push used by vm_raise_error */
+static void push_value(VM *vm, Value v);
+
+/* Raise a runtime error that respects try/catch/finally semantics.
+ * If a handler is installed for the current frame, jump to it and push
+ * an error string for the catch clause. Otherwise, print and stop VM. */
+void vm_raise_error(VM *vm, const char *msg) {
+    if (!vm || vm->fp < 0) {
+        fprintf(stderr, "Runtime error: %s\n", msg ? msg : "<error>");
+        return;
+    }
+    Frame *f = &vm->frames[vm->fp];
+    if (f->try_sp >= 0) {
+        char buf[256];
+        if (msg) {
+            snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "Runtime error: %s", msg);
+        } else {
+            snprintf(buf, sizeof(buf), "Runtime error");
+        }
+        /* push error value and transfer control to handler target */
+        Value err = make_string(buf);
+        push_value(vm, err);
+        int try_idx = f->try_stack[f->try_sp--];
+        int target = f->fn->instructions[try_idx].operand;
+        f->ip = target;
+        return;
+    }
+    /* No handler: print annotated message and terminate VM */
+    fprintf(stderr, "Runtime error: %s\n", msg ? msg : "<error>");
+    vm->fp = -1; /* stop execution */
+}
+
 /*
 Opcode case include index (vm_case_*.inc):
 - Core/stack/frame:
diff --git a/src/vm.h b/src/vm.h
index 13ad548..a08a891 100644
--- a/src/vm.h
+++ b/src/vm.h
@@ -122,6 +122,12 @@ void vm_dump_globals(VM *vm);
 // run entry Bytecode (pushes first frame)
 void vm_run(VM *vm, Bytecode *entry);
 
+/* Raise a runtime error that respects try/catch/finally.
+ * If a try handler is active in the current frame, control jumps to it
+ * with an error string pushed on the stack. Otherwise, prints the error
+ * (annotated with location) and terminates execution. */
+void vm_raise_error(VM *vm, const char *msg);
+
 /* --- Debugger API --- */
 void vm_debug_reset(VM *vm);
 int  vm_debug_add_breakpoint(VM *vm, const char *file, int line); // returns id >=0 or -1
diff --git a/src/vm/arithmetic/div.c b/src/vm/arithmetic/div.c
index 8c821ef..fa37615 100644
--- a/src/vm/arithmetic/div.c
+++ b/src/vm/arithmetic/div.c
@@ -40,8 +40,8 @@ case OP_DIV: {
             double da = (a.type == VAL_FLOAT) ? a.d : (double)a.i;
             double db = (b.type == VAL_FLOAT) ? b.d : (double)b.i;
             if (db == 0.0) {
-                fprintf(stderr, "Runtime error: division by zero\n");
-                exit(1);
+                vm_raise_error(vm, "division by zero");
+                break;
             }
             Value res = make_float(da / db);
             free_value(a);
@@ -49,8 +49,8 @@ case OP_DIV: {
             push_value(vm, res);
         } else {
             if (b.i == 0) {
-                fprintf(stderr, "Runtime error: division by zero\n");
-                exit(1);
+                vm_raise_error(vm, "division by zero");
+                break;
             }
             Value res = make_int(a.i / b.i);
             free_value(a);