diff --git a/tools/python/jwutils/Cmds.py b/tools/python/jwutils/Cmds.py
index 293d87d..5385252 100644
--- a/tools/python/jwutils/Cmds.py
+++ b/tools/python/jwutils/Cmds.py
@@ -67,6 +67,7 @@ class Cmds: # export
             formatter_class=argparse.ArgumentDefaultsHelpFormatter, description=self.__description)
         self.__parser.add_argument('--log-flags', help='Log flags', default=log_flags)
         self.__parser.add_argument('--log-level', help='Log level', default=log_level)
+        self.__parser.add_argument('--backtrace', help='Show exception backtraces', action='store_true', default=False)
         if self.__modules == None:
             self.__modules = [ '__main__' ]
         subcmds = set()
@@ -97,6 +98,7 @@ class Cmds: # export
         self.args = self.__parser.parse_args(args=argv)
         set_flags(self.args.log_flags)
         set_level(self.args.log_level)
+        self.__back_trace = self.args.backtrace
 
         # This is the toplevel parser, i.e. no func member has been added to the args via
         #
@@ -110,7 +112,17 @@ class Cmds: # export
             self.__parser.print_help()
             return None
 
-        return await self.args.func(self.args)
+        if self.__back_trace:
+            ret = await self.args.func(self.args)
+        else:
+            try:
+                ret = await self.args.func(self.args)
+            except Exception as e:
+                if hasattr(e, 'message'):
+                    slog(ERR, e.message)
+                else:
+                    slog(ERR, f'Exception: {type(e)}: {e}')
+                sys.exit(1)
 
     def __del__(self):
         if self.__own_eloop: