diff --git a/emcc.py b/emcc.py
index 3ed96d293dd87..4a79f07f030d6 100755
--- a/emcc.py
+++ b/emcc.py
@@ -2237,6 +2237,8 @@ def check_memory_setting(setting):
       # so we include then unconditionally when exceptions are enabled.
       '___cxa_is_pointer_type',
       '___cxa_can_catch',
+      '___cxa_increment_exception_refcount',
+      '___cxa_decrement_exception_refcount',
 
       # Emscripten exception handling can generate invoke calls, and they call
       # setThrew(). We cannot handle this using deps_info as the invokes are not
diff --git a/src/library_exceptions.js b/src/library_exceptions.js
index 763e106de9f30..0442e0976ce08 100644
--- a/src/library_exceptions.js
+++ b/src/library_exceptions.js
@@ -37,14 +37,6 @@ var LibraryExceptions = {
       {{{ makeSetValue('this.ptr', C_STRUCTS.__cxa_exception.exceptionDestructor, 'destructor', '*') }}};
     };
 
-    this.get_destructor = function() {
-      return {{{ makeGetValue('this.ptr', C_STRUCTS.__cxa_exception.exceptionDestructor, '*') }}};
-    };
-
-    this.set_refcount = function(refcount) {
-      {{{ makeSetValue('this.ptr', C_STRUCTS.__cxa_exception.referenceCount, 'refcount', 'i32') }}};
-    };
-
     this.set_caught = function (caught) {
       caught = caught ? 1 : 0;
       {{{ makeSetValue('this.ptr', C_STRUCTS.__cxa_exception.caught, 'caught', 'i8') }}};
@@ -67,33 +59,7 @@ var LibraryExceptions = {
     this.init = function(type, destructor) {
       this.set_type(type);
       this.set_destructor(destructor);
-      this.set_refcount(0);
-      this.set_caught(false);
-      this.set_rethrown(false);
     }
-
-    this.add_ref = function() {
-#if USE_PTHREADS
-      Atomics.add(HEAP32, (this.ptr + {{{ C_STRUCTS.__cxa_exception.referenceCount }}}) >> 2, 1);
-#else
-      var value = {{{ makeGetValue('this.ptr', C_STRUCTS.__cxa_exception.referenceCount, 'i32') }}};
-      {{{ makeSetValue('this.ptr', C_STRUCTS.__cxa_exception.referenceCount, 'value + 1', 'i32') }}};
-#endif
-    };
-
-    // Returns true if last reference released.
-    this.release_ref = function() {
-#if USE_PTHREADS
-      var prev = Atomics.sub(HEAP32, (this.ptr + {{{ C_STRUCTS.__cxa_exception.referenceCount }}}) >> 2, 1);
-#else
-      var prev = {{{ makeGetValue('this.ptr', C_STRUCTS.__cxa_exception.referenceCount, 'i32') }}};
-      {{{ makeSetValue('this.ptr', C_STRUCTS.__cxa_exception.referenceCount, 'prev - 1', 'i32') }}};
-#endif
-#if ASSERTIONS
-      assert(prev > 0);
-#endif
-      return prev === 1;
-    };
   },
 
   $CatchInfo__deps: ['$ExceptionInfo', '__cxa_is_pointer_type'],
@@ -160,80 +126,13 @@ var LibraryExceptions = {
     }
   },
 
-  $exception_addRef: function (info) {
-#if EXCEPTION_DEBUG
-    err('addref ' + info.excPtr);
-#endif
-    info.add_ref();
-  },
-
-  $exception_decRef__deps: ['__cxa_free_exception'
-#if EXCEPTION_DEBUG
-    , '$exceptionLast', '$exceptionCaught'
-#endif
-  ],
-  $exception_decRef: function(info) {
-#if EXCEPTION_DEBUG
-    err('decref ' + info.excPtr);
-#endif
-    // A rethrown exception can reach refcount 0; it must not be discarded
-    // Its next handler will clear the rethrown flag and addRef it, prior to
-    // final decRef and destruction here
-    if (info.release_ref() && !info.get_rethrown()) {
-      var destructor = info.get_destructor();
-      if (destructor) {
-        // In Wasm, destructors return 'this' as in ARM
-        {{{ makeDynCall('ii', 'destructor') }}}(info.excPtr);
-      }
-      ___cxa_free_exception(info.excPtr);
-#if EXCEPTION_DEBUG
-      err('decref freeing exception ' + [info.excPtr, exceptionLast, 'stack', exceptionCaught]);
-#endif
-    }
-  },
-
-  // Exceptions
-  __cxa_allocate_exception__sig: 'vi',
-  __cxa_allocate_exception: function(size) {
-    // Thrown object is prepended by exception metadata block
-    return _malloc(size + {{{ C_STRUCTS.__cxa_exception.__size__ }}}) + {{{ C_STRUCTS.__cxa_exception.__size__ }}};
-  },
-
-  __cxa_free_exception__deps: ['$ExceptionInfo'],
-  __cxa_free_exception__sig: 'vi',
-  __cxa_free_exception: function(ptr) {
-#if ABORTING_MALLOC || ASSERTIONS
-    try {
-#endif
-      return _free(new ExceptionInfo(ptr).ptr);
-#if ABORTING_MALLOC || ASSERTIONS
-    } catch(e) {
-#if ASSERTIONS
-      err('exception during cxa_free_exception: ' + e);
-#endif
-    }
-#endif
-  },
-
-  __cxa_increment_exception_refcount__deps: ['$exception_addRef', '$ExceptionInfo'],
-  __cxa_increment_exception_refcount: function(ptr) {
-    if (!ptr) return;
-    exception_addRef(new ExceptionInfo(ptr));
-  },
-
-  __cxa_decrement_exception_refcount__deps: ['$exception_decRef', '$ExceptionInfo'],
-  __cxa_decrement_exception_refcount: function(ptr) {
-    if (!ptr) return;
-    exception_decRef(new ExceptionInfo(ptr));
-  },
-
   // Here, we throw an exception after recording a couple of values that we need to remember
   // We also remember that it was the last exception thrown as we need to know that later.
   __cxa_throw__sig: 'viii',
   __cxa_throw__deps: ['$ExceptionInfo', '$exceptionLast', '$uncaughtExceptionCount'],
   __cxa_throw: function(ptr, type, destructor) {
 #if EXCEPTION_DEBUG
-    err('Compiled code throwing an exception, ' + [ptr,type,destructor]);
+    err('Compiled code throwing an exception, ' + [ptr.toString(16),type,destructor]);
 #endif
     var info = new ExceptionInfo(ptr);
     // Initialize ExceptionInfo content after it was allocated in __cxa_allocate_exception.
@@ -276,8 +175,9 @@ var LibraryExceptions = {
     return type;
   },
 
-  __cxa_begin_catch__deps: ['$CatchInfo', '$exceptionCaught', '$exception_addRef',
-                            '$uncaughtExceptionCount'],
+  __cxa_begin_catch__deps: ['$CatchInfo', '$exceptionCaught',
+                            '$uncaughtExceptionCount',
+                            '__cxa_increment_exception_refcount'],
   __cxa_begin_catch: function(ptr) {
     var catchInfo = new CatchInfo(ptr);
     var info = catchInfo.get_exception_info();
@@ -290,7 +190,7 @@ var LibraryExceptions = {
 #if EXCEPTION_DEBUG
     err('cxa_begin_catch ' + [ptr, 'stack', exceptionCaught]);
 #endif
-    exception_addRef(info);
+    ___cxa_increment_exception_refcount(catchInfo.get_base_ptr());
     return catchInfo.get_exception_ptr();
   },
 
@@ -298,7 +198,7 @@ var LibraryExceptions = {
   // and free the exception. Note that if the dynCall on the destructor fails
   // due to calling apply on undefined, that means that the destructor is
   // an invalid index into the FUNCTION_TABLE, so something has gone wrong.
-  __cxa_end_catch__deps: ['$exceptionCaught', '$exceptionLast', '$exception_decRef',
+  __cxa_end_catch__deps: ['$exceptionCaught', '$exceptionLast', '__cxa_decrement_exception_refcount',
                           '$CatchInfo'],
   __cxa_end_catch__sig: 'v',
   __cxa_end_catch: function() {
@@ -313,7 +213,7 @@ var LibraryExceptions = {
 #if EXCEPTION_DEBUG
     err('cxa_end_catch popped ' + [catchInfo, exceptionLast, 'stack', exceptionCaught]);
 #endif
-    exception_decRef(catchInfo.get_exception_info());
+    ___cxa_decrement_exception_refcount(catchInfo.get_base_ptr());
     catchInfo.free();
     exceptionLast = 0; // XXX in decRef?
   },
@@ -339,13 +239,15 @@ var LibraryExceptions = {
     throw exception;
   },
 
-  __cxa_current_primary_exception__deps: ['$exceptionCaught', '$exception_addRef', '$CatchInfo'],
+  __cxa_current_primary_exception__deps: ['$exceptionCaught',
+                                          '__cxa_increment_exception_refcount',
+                                          '$CatchInfo'],
   __cxa_current_primary_exception: function() {
     if (!exceptionCaught.length) {
       return 0;
     }
     var catchInfo = exceptionCaught[exceptionCaught.length - 1];
-    exception_addRef(catchInfo.get_exception_info());
+    ___cxa_increment_exception_refcount(catchInfo.get_base_ptr());
     return catchInfo.get_base_ptr();
   },
 
diff --git a/system/lib/libcxxabi/src/cxa_exception.h b/system/lib/libcxxabi/src/cxa_exception.h
index b6b4dd107b475..be08b971d704d 100644
--- a/system/lib/libcxxabi/src/cxa_exception.h
+++ b/system/lib/libcxxabi/src/cxa_exception.h
@@ -19,12 +19,13 @@
 
 namespace __cxxabiv1 {
 
-#ifdef __USING_EMSCRIPTEN_EXCEPTIONS__
+#if defined(__EMSCRIPTEN__) &&  !defined(__USING_WASM_EXCEPTIONS__)
 
 struct _LIBCXXABI_HIDDEN __cxa_exception {
   size_t referenceCount;
   std::type_info *exceptionType;
-  void (*exceptionDestructor)(void *);
+  // In Wasm, destructors return 'this' as in ARM
+  void *(*exceptionDestructor)(void *);
   uint8_t caught;
   uint8_t rethrown;
 };
diff --git a/system/lib/libcxxabi/src/cxa_exception_emscripten.cpp b/system/lib/libcxxabi/src/cxa_exception_emscripten.cpp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000000..ac6e7cf1a38e7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/system/lib/libcxxabi/src/cxa_exception_emscripten.cpp
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+#include <cstring>
+#include <cstdio>
+
+#include "cxxabi.h"
+
+#include "cxa_exception.h"
+#include "include/atomic_support.h"
+
+namespace __cxxabiv1 {
+
+extern "C" {
+
+//  Utility routines
+static inline __cxa_exception* cxa_exception_from_thrown_object(void* thrown_object) {
+    return static_cast<__cxa_exception*>(thrown_object) - 1;
+}
+
+void *__cxa_allocate_exception(size_t thrown_size) _NOEXCEPT {
+  size_t actual_size = sizeof(__cxa_exception) + thrown_size;
+  char* buffer = (char*)::malloc(actual_size);
+  ::memset(buffer, 0, actual_size);
+  //printf("__cxa_allocate_exception obj=%p header=%p\n", buffer + sizeof(__cxa_exception), buffer);
+  return buffer + sizeof(__cxa_exception);
+}
+
+void __cxa_free_exception(void *thrown_object) _NOEXCEPT {
+  __cxa_exception* exception = cxa_exception_from_thrown_object(thrown_object);
+  //printf("__cxa_free_exception obj=%p header=%p\n", thrown_object, exception);
+  ::free(exception);
+}
+
+#ifdef __USING_EMSCRIPTEN_EXCEPTIONS__
+void __cxa_increment_exception_refcount(void *thrown_object) _NOEXCEPT {
+  if (thrown_object != NULL) {
+    __cxa_exception* exception_header = cxa_exception_from_thrown_object(thrown_object);
+    //printf("__cxa_increment_exception_refcount obj=%p header=%p\n", thrown_object, exception_header);
+    std::__libcpp_atomic_add(&exception_header->referenceCount, size_t(1));
+  }
+}
+
+_LIBCXXABI_NO_CFI void __cxa_decrement_exception_refcount(void *thrown_object) _NOEXCEPT {
+  if (thrown_object != NULL) {
+    __cxa_exception* exception_header = cxa_exception_from_thrown_object(thrown_object);
+    //printf("__cxa_decrement_exception_refcount obj=%p header=%p rethrown=%d\n", thrown_object, exception_header, exception_header->rethrown);
+    // A rethrown exception can reach refcount 0; it must not be discarded
+    // Its next handler will clear the rethrown flag and addRef it, prior to
+    // final decRef and destruction here
+    if (std::__libcpp_atomic_add(&exception_header->referenceCount, size_t(-1)) == 0 && !exception_header->rethrown) {
+      //printf("__cxa_decrement_exception_refcount destructor=%p\n", exception_header->exceptionDestructor);
+      if (NULL != exception_header->exceptionDestructor)
+          exception_header->exceptionDestructor(thrown_object);
+      __cxa_free_exception(thrown_object);
+      //err('decref freeing exception ' + [info.excPtr, exceptionLast, 'stack', exceptionCaught]);
+    }
+  }
+}
+#endif
+
+}
+
+}  // abi
diff --git a/system/lib/libcxxabi/src/private_typeinfo.cpp b/system/lib/libcxxabi/src/private_typeinfo.cpp
index 8072ebb7ef2d0..d65903a794281 100644
--- a/system/lib/libcxxabi/src/private_typeinfo.cpp
+++ b/system/lib/libcxxabi/src/private_typeinfo.cpp
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@
 // is_equal() with use_strcmp=false so the string names are not compared.
 
 #include <string.h>
+#include <stdio.h>
 
 #ifdef _LIBCXXABI_FORGIVING_DYNAMIC_CAST
 #include "abort_message.h"
@@ -1337,9 +1338,11 @@ __base_class_type_info::search_below_dst(__dynamic_cast_info* info,
 extern "C" {
 
 int __cxa_can_catch(__shim_type_info* catchType, __shim_type_info* excpType, void **thrown) {
-  //std::type_info *t1 = static_cast<std::type_info*>(catchType);
-  //std::type_info *t2 = static_cast<std::type_info*>(excpType);
-  //printf("can %s catch %s (%p)?\n", t1->name(), t2->name(), thrown);
+#if 0
+  std::type_info *t1 = static_cast<std::type_info*>(catchType);
+  std::type_info *t2 = static_cast<std::type_info*>(excpType);
+  printf("can %s catch %s (%p)?\n", t1->name(), t2->name(), thrown);
+#endif
 
   void *temp = *thrown;
   int ret = catchType->can_catch(excpType, temp);
@@ -1352,6 +1355,6 @@ int __cxa_is_pointer_type(__shim_type_info* type) {
 }
 
 }
-#endif // __USING_EMSCRIPTEN_EXCEPTIONS__
+#endif // !__USING_WASM_EXCEPTIONS__
 
 }  // __cxxabiv1
diff --git a/system/lib/standalone/standalone.c b/system/lib/standalone/standalone.c
index 119d9436fd906..fdec5b758b25c 100644
--- a/system/lib/standalone/standalone.c
+++ b/system/lib/standalone/standalone.c
@@ -133,7 +133,3 @@ void
 __cxa_throw(void* ptr, void* type, void* destructor) {
   abort();
 }
-
-void* __cxa_allocate_exception(size_t thrown_size) {
-  abort();
-}
diff --git a/tests/other/metadce/hello_libcxx_O2_fexceptions.exports b/tests/other/metadce/hello_libcxx_O2_fexceptions.exports
index 33a97d023d92f..ea761c324badd 100644
--- a/tests/other/metadce/hello_libcxx_O2_fexceptions.exports
+++ b/tests/other/metadce/hello_libcxx_O2_fexceptions.exports
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 __cxa_can_catch
+__cxa_decrement_exception_refcount
+__cxa_increment_exception_refcount
 __cxa_is_pointer_type
 __errno_location
 __indirect_function_table
diff --git a/tests/other/metadce/hello_libcxx_O2_fexceptions.imports b/tests/other/metadce/hello_libcxx_O2_fexceptions.imports
index 4bcbb0d06aaf4..d7111628d98eb 100644
--- a/tests/other/metadce/hello_libcxx_O2_fexceptions.imports
+++ b/tests/other/metadce/hello_libcxx_O2_fexceptions.imports
@@ -1,9 +1,7 @@
-env.__cxa_allocate_exception
 env.__cxa_begin_catch
 env.__cxa_end_catch
 env.__cxa_find_matching_catch_2
 env.__cxa_find_matching_catch_3
-env.__cxa_free_exception
 env.__cxa_rethrow
 env.__cxa_throw
 env.__cxa_uncaught_exceptions
diff --git a/tests/other/metadce/hello_libcxx_O2_fexceptions.sent b/tests/other/metadce/hello_libcxx_O2_fexceptions.sent
index 21c54d195a506..8877d50e9917e 100644
--- a/tests/other/metadce/hello_libcxx_O2_fexceptions.sent
+++ b/tests/other/metadce/hello_libcxx_O2_fexceptions.sent
@@ -1,10 +1,8 @@
-__cxa_allocate_exception
 __cxa_atexit
 __cxa_begin_catch
 __cxa_end_catch
 __cxa_find_matching_catch_2
 __cxa_find_matching_catch_3
-__cxa_free_exception
 __cxa_rethrow
 __cxa_throw
 __cxa_uncaught_exceptions
diff --git a/tests/other/metadce/hello_libcxx_O2_fexceptions_DEMANGLE_SUPPORT.exports b/tests/other/metadce/hello_libcxx_O2_fexceptions_DEMANGLE_SUPPORT.exports
index d08a19d314593..084692fc90d9e 100644
--- a/tests/other/metadce/hello_libcxx_O2_fexceptions_DEMANGLE_SUPPORT.exports
+++ b/tests/other/metadce/hello_libcxx_O2_fexceptions_DEMANGLE_SUPPORT.exports
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 __cxa_can_catch
+__cxa_decrement_exception_refcount
 __cxa_demangle
+__cxa_increment_exception_refcount
 __cxa_is_pointer_type
 __errno_location
 __indirect_function_table
diff --git a/tests/other/metadce/hello_libcxx_O2_fexceptions_DEMANGLE_SUPPORT.imports b/tests/other/metadce/hello_libcxx_O2_fexceptions_DEMANGLE_SUPPORT.imports
index 4bcbb0d06aaf4..d7111628d98eb 100644
--- a/tests/other/metadce/hello_libcxx_O2_fexceptions_DEMANGLE_SUPPORT.imports
+++ b/tests/other/metadce/hello_libcxx_O2_fexceptions_DEMANGLE_SUPPORT.imports
@@ -1,9 +1,7 @@
-env.__cxa_allocate_exception
 env.__cxa_begin_catch
 env.__cxa_end_catch
 env.__cxa_find_matching_catch_2
 env.__cxa_find_matching_catch_3
-env.__cxa_free_exception
 env.__cxa_rethrow
 env.__cxa_throw
 env.__cxa_uncaught_exceptions
diff --git a/tests/other/metadce/hello_libcxx_O2_fexceptions_DEMANGLE_SUPPORT.sent b/tests/other/metadce/hello_libcxx_O2_fexceptions_DEMANGLE_SUPPORT.sent
index 21c54d195a506..8877d50e9917e 100644
--- a/tests/other/metadce/hello_libcxx_O2_fexceptions_DEMANGLE_SUPPORT.sent
+++ b/tests/other/metadce/hello_libcxx_O2_fexceptions_DEMANGLE_SUPPORT.sent
@@ -1,10 +1,8 @@
-__cxa_allocate_exception
 __cxa_atexit
 __cxa_begin_catch
 __cxa_end_catch
 __cxa_find_matching_catch_2
 __cxa_find_matching_catch_3
-__cxa_free_exception
 __cxa_rethrow
 __cxa_throw
 __cxa_uncaught_exceptions
diff --git a/tools/deps_info.py b/tools/deps_info.py
index 0db2d26bd38b7..b84fae2de0621 100644
--- a/tools/deps_info.py
+++ b/tools/deps_info.py
@@ -61,9 +61,9 @@
   'SDL_PushEvent': ['malloc', 'free'],
   'SDL_free': ['free'],
   'SDL_malloc': ['malloc', 'free'],
-  '__cxa_allocate_exception': ['malloc'],
-  '__cxa_end_catch': ['setThrew', 'free'],
-  '__cxa_free_exception': ['free'],
+  '__cxa_end_catch': ['setThrew', 'free', '__cxa_decrement_exception_refcount'],
+  '__cxa_current_primary_exception': ['__cxa_increment_exception_refcount'],
+  '__cxa_begin_catch': ['__cxa_increment_exception_refcount'],
   '_embind_register_class': ['free'],
   '_embind_register_enum_value': ['free'],
   '_embind_register_function': ['free'],
@@ -201,7 +201,7 @@
 
 def get_deps_info():
   if not settings.EXCEPTION_HANDLING and settings.LINK_AS_CXX:
-    _deps_info['__cxa_begin_catch'] = ['__cxa_is_pointer_type']
+    _deps_info['__cxa_begin_catch'] = ['__cxa_is_pointer_type', '__cxa_increment_exception_refcount']
     _deps_info['__cxa_find_matching_catch'] = ['__cxa_can_catch']
     _deps_info['__cxa_find_matching_catch_1'] = ['__cxa_can_catch']
     _deps_info['__cxa_find_matching_catch_2'] = ['__cxa_can_catch']
diff --git a/tools/system_libs.py b/tools/system_libs.py
index 9c7bd30fd3450..52141b7d0601e 100644
--- a/tools/system_libs.py
+++ b/tools/system_libs.py
@@ -1008,13 +1008,15 @@ def get_files(self):
       'private_typeinfo.cpp'
     ]
     if self.eh_mode == Exceptions.NONE:
-      filenames += ['cxa_noexception.cpp']
+      filenames += ['cxa_noexception.cpp', 'cxa_exception_emscripten.cpp']
     elif self.eh_mode == Exceptions.WASM:
       filenames += [
         'cxa_exception_storage.cpp',
         'cxa_exception.cpp',
         'cxa_personality.cpp'
       ]
+    elif self.eh_mode == Exceptions.EMSCRIPTEN:
+      filenames += ['cxa_exception_emscripten.cpp']
 
     return files_in_path(
         path_components=['system', 'lib', 'libcxxabi', 'src'],