diff --git a/include/pocketpy/pocketpy.h b/include/pocketpy/pocketpy.h
index 186259a1..a397cade 100644
--- a/include/pocketpy/pocketpy.h
+++ b/include/pocketpy/pocketpy.h
@@ -443,8 +443,9 @@ PK_EXPORT char* py_formatexc();
 /// Check if an exception is raised.
 PK_EXPORT bool py_checkexc(bool ignore_handled);
 /// Check if the exception is an instance of the given type.
-/// If match, the exception will be set as handled.
-PK_EXPORT bool py_matchexc(py_Type type);
+/// This function is roughly equivalent to python's `except <T> as e:` block.
+/// If match, the exception will be stored in `py_retval()` as handled.
+PK_EXPORT bool py_matchexc(py_Type type) PY_RETURN;
 /// Clear the current exception.
 /// @param p0 the unwinding point. Use `NULL` if not needed.
 PK_EXPORT void py_clearexc(py_StackRef p0);
diff --git a/src/public/py_exception.c b/src/public/py_exception.c
index 0d04cc13..d298f61a 100644
--- a/src/public/py_exception.c
+++ b/src/public/py_exception.c
@@ -142,6 +142,7 @@ bool py_matchexc(py_Type type) {
     if(ok) {
         // if match, then the exception is handled
         vm->is_curr_exc_handled = true;
+        vm->last_retval = vm->curr_exception;
     }
     return ok;
 }