diff --git a/lib/src/main/java/io/ably/lib/realtime/ChannelBase.java b/lib/src/main/java/io/ably/lib/realtime/ChannelBase.java
index 4163876c3..a9c170509 100644
--- a/lib/src/main/java/io/ably/lib/realtime/ChannelBase.java
+++ b/lib/src/main/java/io/ably/lib/realtime/ChannelBase.java
@@ -33,10 +33,7 @@
 import io.ably.lib.types.ProtocolMessage;
 import io.ably.lib.types.ProtocolMessage.Action;
 import io.ably.lib.types.ProtocolMessage.Flag;
-import io.ably.lib.util.CollectionUtils;
-import io.ably.lib.util.EventEmitter;
-import io.ably.lib.util.Log;
-import io.ably.lib.util.ReconnectionStrategy;
+import io.ably.lib.util.*;
 
 /**
  * Enables messages to be published and subscribed to.
@@ -507,7 +504,7 @@ public void run() {
     }
 
     private void checkChannelIsNotReleased() {
-        if (released) throw new IllegalStateException("Can't perform any operation on released channel");
+        if (released) Exceptions.sneakyThrow(AblyException.fromErrorInfo(new ErrorInfo("Unable to perform any operation on released channel", 90001)));
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/lib/src/main/java/io/ably/lib/util/Exceptions.java b/lib/src/main/java/io/ably/lib/util/Exceptions.java
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..fc69b6f23
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/src/main/java/io/ably/lib/util/Exceptions.java
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+package io.ably.lib.util;
+
+public class Exceptions {
+    public static <E extends Throwable> void sneakyThrow(Throwable e) throws E {
+        throw (E) e;
+    }
+}