diff --git a/src/core/stdcpp/exception.d b/src/core/stdcpp/exception.d
index 7e3f7ade4a..b855b20f0e 100644
--- a/src/core/stdcpp/exception.d
+++ b/src/core/stdcpp/exception.d
@@ -15,8 +15,6 @@ module core.stdcpp.exception;
 import core.stdcpp.xutility : __cplusplus, CppStdRevision;
 import core.attribute : weak;
 
-version (CppRuntime_DigitalMars)
-    version = GenericBaseException;
 version (CppRuntime_Gcc)
     version = GenericBaseException;
 version (CppRuntime_Clang)
@@ -80,6 +78,24 @@ version (GenericBaseException)
         this(const(char)*, int = 1) nothrow { this(); } // compat with MS derived classes
     }
 }
+else version (CppRuntime_DigitalMars)
+{
+    ///
+    class exception
+    {
+    @nogc:
+        ///
+        this() nothrow {}
+        //virtual ~this();
+        void dtor() { }     // reserve slot in vtbl[]
+
+        ///
+        const(char)* what() const nothrow;
+
+    protected:
+        this(const(char)*, int = 1) nothrow { this(); } // compat with MS derived classes
+    }
+}
 else version (CppRuntime_Microsoft)
 {
     ///