diff --git a/packages/@jsii/java-runtime-test/project/src/test/java/software/amazon/jsii/testing/ComplianceTest.java b/packages/@jsii/java-runtime-test/project/src/test/java/software/amazon/jsii/testing/ComplianceTest.java
index 264bd0ab65..5c31f0f8b8 100644
--- a/packages/@jsii/java-runtime-test/project/src/test/java/software/amazon/jsii/testing/ComplianceTest.java
+++ b/packages/@jsii/java-runtime-test/project/src/test/java/software/amazon/jsii/testing/ComplianceTest.java
@@ -333,9 +333,12 @@ public void exceptions() {
         assertEquals(23, calc3.getValue());
         boolean thrown = false;
         try {
-          calc3.add(10);
+            calc3.add(10);
+        } catch (JsiiException e) {
+            // We expect a RuntimeException that is NOT a JsiiException.
+            throw e;
         } catch (RuntimeException e) {
-          thrown = true;
+            thrown = true;
         }
         assertTrue(thrown);
         calc3.setMaxValue(40);
@@ -450,6 +453,8 @@ public java.lang.Number overrideMe(java.lang.Number mult) {
         boolean thrown = false;
         try {
             obj.callMe();
+        } catch (JsiiException e) {
+            throw e;
         } catch (RuntimeException e) {
             assertTrue(e.getMessage().contains( "Thrown by native code"));
             thrown = true;
@@ -519,6 +524,8 @@ public String getTheProperty() {
         boolean thrown = false;
         try {
             so.retrieveValueOfTheProperty();
+        } catch (JsiiException e) {
+            throw e;
         } catch (RuntimeException e) {
             assertTrue(e.getMessage().contains("Oh no, this is bad"));
             thrown = true;
@@ -537,6 +544,8 @@ public void setTheProperty(String value) {
         boolean thrown = false;
         try {
             so.modifyValueOfTheProperty("Hii");
+        } catch (JsiiException e) {
+            throw e;
         } catch (RuntimeException e) {
             assertTrue(e.getMessage().contains("Exception from overloaded setter"));
             thrown = true;
diff --git a/packages/@jsii/java-runtime-test/project/src/test/java/software/amazon/jsii/testing/JsiiClientTest.java b/packages/@jsii/java-runtime-test/project/src/test/java/software/amazon/jsii/testing/JsiiClientTest.java
index cecf0af514..0715378209 100644
--- a/packages/@jsii/java-runtime-test/project/src/test/java/software/amazon/jsii/testing/JsiiClientTest.java
+++ b/packages/@jsii/java-runtime-test/project/src/test/java/software/amazon/jsii/testing/JsiiClientTest.java
@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ public void asyncMethodOverrides() {
         assertEquals(obj.getObjId(), JsiiObjectRef.parse(first.getInvoke().getObjref()).getObjId());
 
         // now complete the callback with some override value
-        client.completeCallback(first, null, toSandbox(999));
+        client.completeCallback(first, null, null, toSandbox(999));
 
         // end the async invocation, but now we expect the value to be different since we override the method.
         JsonNode result = client.endAsyncMethod(promise);
@@ -146,19 +146,55 @@ public void asyncMethodOverridesThrow() {
         assertEquals(obj.getObjId(), JsiiObjectRef.parse(first.getInvoke().getObjref()).getObjId());
 
         // now complete the callback with an error
-        client.completeCallback(first, "Hello, Error", null);
+        client.completeCallback(first, "Hello, Error", null, null);
 
         // end the async invocation, but now we expect the value to be different since we override the method.
         boolean thrown = false;
         try {
             client.endAsyncMethod(promise);
-        } catch (JsiiException e) {
+        } catch (RuntimeException e) {
+            assertEquals(RuntimeException.class, e.getClass());
             assertTrue(e.getMessage().contains("Hello, Error"));
             thrown = true;
         }
         assertTrue(thrown);
     }
 
+    @Test
+    public void asyncMethodOverridesThrowWithFault() {
+        JsiiObjectRef obj = client.createObject("jsii-calc.AsyncVirtualMethods", Arrays.asList(), methodOverride("overrideMe", "myCookie"), Arrays.asList());
+
+        // begin will return a promise
+        JsiiPromise promise = client.beginAsyncMethod(obj, "callMe", toSandboxArray());
+        assertFalse(promise.getPromiseId().isEmpty());
+
+        // now we expect to see a callback to "overrideMe" in the pending callbacks queue
+
+        List<Callback> callbacks = client.pendingCallbacks();
+
+        assertEquals(1, callbacks.size());
+
+        Callback first = callbacks.get(0);
+        assertEquals("overrideMe", first.getInvoke().getMethod());
+        assertEquals("myCookie", first.getCookie());
+        assertEquals(1, first.getInvoke().getArgs().size());
+        assertEquals(JsiiObjectMapper.valueToTree(10), first.getInvoke().getArgs().get(0));
+        assertEquals(obj.getObjId(), JsiiObjectRef.parse(first.getInvoke().getObjref()).getObjId());
+
+        // now complete the callback with an error
+        client.completeCallback(first, "Hello, Fault", "@jsii/kernel.Fault", null);
+
+        // end the async invocation, but now we expect the value to be different since we override the method.
+        boolean thrown = false;
+        try {
+            client.endAsyncMethod(promise);
+        } catch (JsiiException e) {
+            assertTrue(e.getMessage().contains("Hello, Fault"));
+            thrown = true;
+        }
+        assertTrue(thrown);
+    }
+
     @Test
     public void syncVirtualMethods() {
         JsiiObjectRef obj = client.createObject("jsii-calc.SyncVirtualMethods", Arrays.asList(), methodOverride("virtualMethod","myCookie"), Arrays.asList());
diff --git a/packages/@jsii/java-runtime/project/src/main/java/software/amazon/jsii/JsiiClient.java b/packages/@jsii/java-runtime/project/src/main/java/software/amazon/jsii/JsiiClient.java
index 9dbbad425d..0f5981d6a1 100644
--- a/packages/@jsii/java-runtime/project/src/main/java/software/amazon/jsii/JsiiClient.java
+++ b/packages/@jsii/java-runtime/project/src/main/java/software/amazon/jsii/JsiiClient.java
@@ -243,12 +243,14 @@ public List<Callback> pendingCallbacks() {
      * Completes a callback.
      * @param callback The callback to complete.
      * @param error Error information (or null).
+     * @param name Error type (or null).
      * @param result Result (or null).
      */
-    public void completeCallback(final Callback callback, final String error, final JsonNode result) {
+    public void completeCallback(final Callback callback, final String error, final String name, final JsonNode result) {
         ObjectNode req = makeRequest("complete");
         req.put("cbid", callback.getCbid());
         req.put("err", error);
+        req.put("name", name);
         req.set("result", result);
 
         this.runtime.requestResponse(req);
diff --git a/packages/@jsii/java-runtime/project/src/main/java/software/amazon/jsii/JsiiEngine.java b/packages/@jsii/java-runtime/project/src/main/java/software/amazon/jsii/JsiiEngine.java
index c4222013b4..8be4fc2a46 100644
--- a/packages/@jsii/java-runtime/project/src/main/java/software/amazon/jsii/JsiiEngine.java
+++ b/packages/@jsii/java-runtime/project/src/main/java/software/amazon/jsii/JsiiEngine.java
@@ -486,7 +486,15 @@ private Object invokeMethod(final Object obj, final Method method, final Object.
                 throw e;
             }
         } catch (InvocationTargetException e) {
-            throw new JsiiError(e.getTargetException());
+            if (e.getTargetException() instanceof JsiiError){
+                throw (JsiiError)(e.getTargetException());
+            } else if (e.getTargetException() instanceof RuntimeException) {
+                // can rethrow without wrapping here
+                throw (RuntimeException)(e.getTargetException());
+            } else {
+                // Can't just throw a checked error without wrapping it :(
+                throw new RuntimeException(e.getTargetException());
+            }
         } catch (IllegalAccessException e) {
             throw new JsiiError(e);
         } finally {
@@ -502,9 +510,12 @@ private Object invokeMethod(final Object obj, final Method method, final Object.
     private void processCallback(final Callback callback) {
         try {
             JsonNode result = handleCallback(callback);
-            this.getClient().completeCallback(callback, null, result);
-        } catch (JsiiError e) {
-            this.getClient().completeCallback(callback, e.getMessage(), null);
+            this.getClient().completeCallback(callback, null, null, result);
+        } catch (Exception e) {
+            String name = e instanceof JsiiException
+                ? JsiiException.Type.JSII_FAULT.toString()
+                : JsiiException.Type.RUNTIME_ERROR.toString();
+            this.getClient().completeCallback(callback, e.getMessage(), name, null);
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/packages/@jsii/java-runtime/project/src/main/java/software/amazon/jsii/JsiiException.java b/packages/@jsii/java-runtime/project/src/main/java/software/amazon/jsii/JsiiException.java
index 92e5d5a305..011e7f94d6 100644
--- a/packages/@jsii/java-runtime/project/src/main/java/software/amazon/jsii/JsiiException.java
+++ b/packages/@jsii/java-runtime/project/src/main/java/software/amazon/jsii/JsiiException.java
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ public abstract class JsiiException extends RuntimeException {
 
     static enum Type {
         JSII_FAULT("@jsii/kernel.Fault"),
-        RUNTIME_EXCEPTION("@jsii/kernel.RuntimeException");
+        RUNTIME_ERROR("@jsii/kernel.RuntimeError");
 
         private final String errorType;
 
diff --git a/packages/@jsii/java-runtime/project/src/main/java/software/amazon/jsii/JsiiRuntime.java b/packages/@jsii/java-runtime/project/src/main/java/software/amazon/jsii/JsiiRuntime.java
index 94520bbcbf..57f97fcc35 100644
--- a/packages/@jsii/java-runtime/project/src/main/java/software/amazon/jsii/JsiiRuntime.java
+++ b/packages/@jsii/java-runtime/project/src/main/java/software/amazon/jsii/JsiiRuntime.java
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ private JsonNode processErrorResponse(final JsonNode resp) {
             errorMessage += "\n" + resp.get("stack").asText();
         }
 
-        if (errorName.equals(JsiiException.Type.RUNTIME_EXCEPTION.toString())) {
+        if (errorName.equals(JsiiException.Type.RUNTIME_ERROR.toString())) {
           throw new RuntimeException(errorMessage);
         }
 
@@ -146,6 +146,7 @@ private JsonNode processCallbackResponse(final JsonNode resp) {
 
         JsonNode result = null;
         String error = null;
+        String name = null;
         try {
             result = this.callbackHandler.handleCallback(callback);
         } catch (Exception e) {
@@ -154,12 +155,17 @@ private JsonNode processCallbackResponse(final JsonNode resp) {
             } else {
                 error = e.getMessage();
             }
+
+            name = e instanceof JsiiError
+                ? JsiiException.Type.JSII_FAULT.toString()
+                : JsiiException.Type.RUNTIME_ERROR.toString();
         }
 
         ObjectNode completeResponse = JsonNodeFactory.instance.objectNode();
         completeResponse.put("cbid", callback.getCbid());
         if (error != null) {
             completeResponse.put("err", error);
+            completeResponse.put("name", name);
         }
         if (result != null) {
             completeResponse.set("result", result);
diff --git a/packages/@jsii/kernel/src/api.ts b/packages/@jsii/kernel/src/api.ts
index b339a4716b..453b8c639e 100644
--- a/packages/@jsii/kernel/src/api.ts
+++ b/packages/@jsii/kernel/src/api.ts
@@ -217,6 +217,7 @@ export interface CallbacksResponse {
 export interface CompleteRequest {
   readonly cbid: string;
   readonly err?: string;
+  readonly name?: string;
   readonly result?: any;
 }
 
diff --git a/packages/@jsii/kernel/src/kernel.ts b/packages/@jsii/kernel/src/kernel.ts
index 8277146bae..f9681ab7b1 100644
--- a/packages/@jsii/kernel/src/kernel.ts
+++ b/packages/@jsii/kernel/src/kernel.ts
@@ -470,9 +470,15 @@ export class Kernel {
     try {
       result = await promise;
       this._debug('promise result:', result);
-    } catch (e) {
+    } catch (e: any) {
       this._debug('promise error:', e);
-      throw new JsiiFault((e as any).message);
+      if (e.name === JsiiErrorType.JSII_FAULT) {
+        throw new JsiiFault(e.message);
+      }
+
+      // default to RuntimeError, since non-kernel errors may not
+      // have their `name` field defined
+      throw new RuntimeError(e);
     }
 
     return {
@@ -505,7 +511,7 @@ export class Kernel {
   }
 
   public complete(req: api.CompleteRequest): api.CompleteResponse {
-    const { cbid, err, result } = req;
+    const { cbid, err, result, name } = req;
 
     this._debug('complete', cbid, err, result);
 
@@ -516,7 +522,11 @@ export class Kernel {
 
     if (err) {
       this._debug('completed with error:', err);
-      cb.fail(new Error(err));
+      cb.fail(
+        name === JsiiErrorType.JSII_FAULT
+          ? new JsiiFault(err)
+          : new RuntimeError(err),
+      );
     } else {
       const sandoxResult = this._toSandbox(
         result,
diff --git a/packages/@jsii/kernel/src/recording.ts b/packages/@jsii/kernel/src/recording.ts
index bb77e9c05c..4af9604ab2 100644
--- a/packages/@jsii/kernel/src/recording.ts
+++ b/packages/@jsii/kernel/src/recording.ts
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ export function recordInteraction(kernel: Kernel, inputOutputLogPath: string) {
             return ret;
           } catch (e: any) {
             logOutput({ error: e.message, name: e.name });
-            if (e.type === JsiiErrorType.RUNTIME_ERROR) {
+            if (e.name === JsiiErrorType.RUNTIME_ERROR) {
               throw new RuntimeError(e.message);
             }
             throw new JsiiFault(e.message);
diff --git a/packages/@jsii/python-runtime/src/jsii/_kernel/providers/process.py b/packages/@jsii/python-runtime/src/jsii/_kernel/providers/process.py
index 14466d8dfa..429f9a70fe 100644
--- a/packages/@jsii/python-runtime/src/jsii/_kernel/providers/process.py
+++ b/packages/@jsii/python-runtime/src/jsii/_kernel/providers/process.py
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@
     CompleteRequest,
     CompleteResponse,
 )
-from ...errors import JSIIError, JavaScriptError
+from ...errors import ErrorType, JSIIError, JavaScriptError
 
 
 @attr.s(auto_attribs=True, frozen=True, slots=True)
@@ -83,10 +83,11 @@ class _OkayResponse:
 
 
 @attr.s(auto_attribs=True, frozen=True, slots=True)
-class _ErrorRespose:
+class _ErrorResponse:
 
     error: str
     stack: str
+    name: str
 
 
 @attr.s(auto_attribs=True, frozen=True, slots=True)
@@ -101,7 +102,7 @@ class _CompleteRequest:
     complete: CompleteRequest
 
 
-_ProcessResponse = Union[_OkayResponse, _ErrorRespose, _CallbackResponse]
+_ProcessResponse = Union[_OkayResponse, _ErrorResponse, _CallbackResponse]
 
 
 def _with_api_key(api_name, asdict):
@@ -326,6 +327,8 @@ def send(
         elif isinstance(resp, _CallbackResponse):
             return resp.callback
         else:
+            if resp.name == ErrorType.RUNTIME_ERROR.value:
+                raise RuntimeError(resp.error) from JavaScriptError(resp.stack)
             raise JSIIError(resp.error) from JavaScriptError(resp.stack)
 
 
diff --git a/packages/@jsii/python-runtime/src/jsii/errors.py b/packages/@jsii/python-runtime/src/jsii/errors.py
index 3e85012c88..abd659ebbc 100644
--- a/packages/@jsii/python-runtime/src/jsii/errors.py
+++ b/packages/@jsii/python-runtime/src/jsii/errors.py
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import textwrap
+from enum import Enum
 
 
 class JSIIError(Exception):
@@ -11,3 +12,8 @@ def __init__(self, stack):
 
     def __str__(self):
         return "\n" + textwrap.indent(self.stack, "  ", lambda line: bool(line))
+
+
+class ErrorType(Enum):
+    JSII_FAULT = "@jsii/kernel.Fault"
+    RUNTIME_ERROR = "@jsii/kernel.RuntimeError"
diff --git a/packages/@jsii/python-runtime/tests/test_compliance.py b/packages/@jsii/python-runtime/tests/test_compliance.py
index 329aabfca6..7ae4b89545 100644
--- a/packages/@jsii/python-runtime/tests/test_compliance.py
+++ b/packages/@jsii/python-runtime/tests/test_compliance.py
@@ -438,7 +438,7 @@ def test_exceptions():
 
     assert calc3.value == 23
 
-    with pytest.raises(Exception):
+    with pytest.raises(RuntimeError):
         calc3.add(10)
 
     calc3.max_value = 40
@@ -544,7 +544,7 @@ def override_me(self, mult):
 
     obj = ThrowingAsyncVirtualMethods()
 
-    with pytest.raises(Exception, match="Thrown by native code"):
+    with pytest.raises(RuntimeError, match="Thrown by native code"):
         obj.call_me()
 
 
@@ -623,7 +623,7 @@ def the_property(self, value):
 
     so = ThrowingSyncVirtualMethods()
 
-    with pytest.raises(Exception, match="Oh no, this is bad"):
+    with pytest.raises(RuntimeError, match="Oh no, this is bad"):
         so.retrieve_value_of_the_property()
 
 
@@ -639,7 +639,7 @@ def the_property(self, value):
 
     so = ThrowingSyncVirtualMethods()
 
-    with pytest.raises(Exception, match="Exception from overloaded setter"):
+    with pytest.raises(RuntimeError, match="Exception from overloaded setter"):
         so.modify_value_of_the_property("Hii")
 
 
@@ -704,7 +704,7 @@ def test_fail_syncOverrides_callsDoubleAsync_method():
     obj.call_async = True
 
     # TODO: Error Handling
-    with pytest.raises(Exception):
+    with pytest.raises(RuntimeError):
         obj.caller_is_method()
 
 
@@ -713,7 +713,7 @@ def test_fail_syncOverrides_callsDoubleAsync_propertyGetter():
     obj.call_async = True
 
     # TODO: Error Handling
-    with pytest.raises(Exception):
+    with pytest.raises(RuntimeError):
         obj.caller_is_property
 
 
@@ -723,7 +723,7 @@ def test_fail_syncOverrides_callsDoubleAsync_propertySetter():
     obj.call_async = True
 
     # TODO: Error Handling
-    with pytest.raises(Exception):
+    with pytest.raises(RuntimeError):
         obj.caller_is_property = 12
 
 
diff --git a/packages/@jsii/runtime/lib/host.ts b/packages/@jsii/runtime/lib/host.ts
index e12d33f418..aa0b1dff2c 100644
--- a/packages/@jsii/runtime/lib/host.ts
+++ b/packages/@jsii/runtime/lib/host.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,11 @@
-import { api, Kernel, JsiiFault, JsiiError } from '@jsii/kernel';
+import {
+  api,
+  Kernel,
+  JsiiFault,
+  JsiiError,
+  RuntimeError,
+  JsiiErrorType,
+} from '@jsii/kernel';
 import { EventEmitter } from 'events';
 
 import { Input, IInputOutput } from './in-out';
@@ -59,7 +66,10 @@ export class KernelHost {
         completeReq.complete.cbid === callback.cbid
       ) {
         if (completeReq.complete.err) {
-          throw new JsiiFault(completeReq.complete.err);
+          if (completeReq.complete.name === JsiiErrorType.JSII_FAULT) {
+            throw new JsiiFault(completeReq.complete.err);
+          }
+          throw new RuntimeError(completeReq.complete.err);
         }
 
         return completeReq.complete.result;