diff --git a/CoreRemoting.Tests/RpcTests.cs b/CoreRemoting.Tests/RpcTests.cs
index 84078b0..d20c412 100644
--- a/CoreRemoting.Tests/RpcTests.cs
+++ b/CoreRemoting.Tests/RpcTests.cs
@@ -539,6 +539,7 @@ public void Failing_component_constructor_throws_RemoteInvocationException()
                 ConnectionTimeout = 3,
                 InvocationTimeout = 3,
                 SendTimeout = 3,
+                Channel = ClientChannel,
                 MessageEncryption = false,
                 ServerPort = _serverFixture.Server.Config.NetworkPort,
             });
@@ -549,7 +550,7 @@ public void Failing_component_constructor_throws_RemoteInvocationException()
             var ex = Assert.Throws<RemoteInvocationException>(() => proxy.Hello());
 
             Assert.NotNull(ex);
-            Assert.Contains(ex.Message, "IFailingService");
+            Assert.Contains("FailingService", ex.Message);
         }
 
         [Fact]
diff --git a/CoreRemoting/RemotingSession.cs b/CoreRemoting/RemotingSession.cs
index b3284e3..bd0d0ea 100644
--- a/CoreRemoting/RemotingSession.cs
+++ b/CoreRemoting/RemotingSession.cs
@@ -455,7 +455,7 @@ private void ProcessRpcMessage(WireMessage request)
                 serverRpcContext.Exception =
                     new RemoteInvocationException(
                         message: ex.Message,
-                        innerEx: ex.GetType().IsSerializable ? ex : null);
+                        innerEx: ex.ToSerializable());
 
                 if (oneWay)
                     return;
diff --git a/CoreRemoting/Serialization/ExceptionExtensions.cs b/CoreRemoting/Serialization/ExceptionExtensions.cs
index 8650318..c29cfbf 100644
--- a/CoreRemoting/Serialization/ExceptionExtensions.cs
+++ b/CoreRemoting/Serialization/ExceptionExtensions.cs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
-using System;
+using Castle.MicroKernel.ComponentActivator;
+using System;
 using System.Linq;
 
 namespace CoreRemoting.Serialization;
@@ -20,6 +21,9 @@ public static class ExceptionExtensions
                 agg.InnerException.IsSerializable() &&
                 agg.GetType().IsSerializable,
 
+        // pesky exception that looks like serializable but really isn't
+        ComponentActivatorException cax => false,
+
         _ => ex.GetType().IsSerializable &&
             ex.InnerException.IsSerializable()
     };