diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 99deb8d5f..08c0b6f9e 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ dependencies = [
     "appdirs >=1,<2",
     "numpy >=2.0.1,<3",
     "nutils-poly >=1,<2",
-    "ags[yaml] >=0.3,<0.4",
+    "ags[yaml] >=0.4,<0.5",
     "stringly",
     "treelog >=2,<3",
 ]
diff --git a/src/nutils/_util.py b/src/nutils/_util.py
index 2097820ce..a594cf3a5 100644
--- a/src/nutils/_util.py
+++ b/src/nutils/_util.py
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@
 import re
 import linecache
 import hashlib
+import traceback
 from typing import Iterable, Sequence, Tuple
 
 supports_outdirfd = os.open in os.supports_dir_fd and os.listdir in os.supports_fd
@@ -384,7 +385,8 @@ def defaults_from_env(f):
             try:
                 v = ucsl.loads(os.environ[envname], param.annotation)
             except Exception as e:
-                warnings.warn(f'ignoring environment variable {envname}: {e}')
+                warnings.warn(f'ignoring environment variable {envname}')
+                log_exception(e)
             else:
                 param = param.replace(default=v)
                 changed = True
@@ -504,7 +506,7 @@ def log_arguments(*args, **kwargs):
                 bound.apply_defaults()
                 treelog.info(yaml.dumps(bound, sig).rstrip())
             except Exception as e:
-                treelog.error("failed to serialize arguments:", e)
+                log_exception(e)
         return f(*args, **kwargs)
 
     return log_arguments
@@ -525,6 +527,22 @@ def post_mortem(pdb: bool = False): # pragma: no cover
         raise
 
 
+def log_exception(e):
+    tbexc = traceback.TracebackException.from_exception(e)
+    prefix = ''
+    while True:
+        treelog.error(prefix + ''.join(tbexc.format_exception_only()).rstrip())
+        treelog.debug('Traceback (most recent call first):\n' + ''.join(reversed(tbexc.stack.format())).rstrip())
+        if tbexc.__cause__ is not None:
+            tbexc = tbexc.__cause__
+            prefix = '.. caused by '
+        elif tbexc.__context__ is not None and not tbexc.__suppress_context__:
+            tbexc = tbexc.__context__
+            prefix = '.. while handling '
+        else:
+            break
+
+
 @contextlib.contextmanager
 @defaults_from_env
 def log_traceback(gracefulexit: bool = True):
@@ -533,31 +551,15 @@ def log_traceback(gracefulexit: bool = True):
     Afterwards ``SystemExit`` is raised to avoid reprinting of the traceback by
     Python's default error handler.'''
 
-    import traceback
-
     if not gracefulexit:
         yield
         return
 
     try:
         yield
-    except SystemExit:
-        raise
-    except:
-        exc = traceback.TracebackException(*sys.exc_info())
-        prefix = ''
-        while True:
-            treelog.error(prefix + ''.join(exc.format_exception_only()).rstrip())
-            treelog.debug('Traceback (most recent call first):\n' + ''.join(reversed(exc.stack.format())).rstrip())
-            if exc.__cause__ is not None:
-                exc = exc.__cause__
-                prefix = '.. caused by '
-            elif exc.__context__ is not None and not exc.__suppress_context__:
-                exc = exc.__context__
-                prefix = '.. while handling '
-            else:
-                break
-        raise SystemExit(1)
+    except Exception as e:
+        log_exception(e)
+        raise SystemExit(1) from None
 
 
 @contextlib.contextmanager
@@ -677,7 +679,7 @@ def add_htmllog(outrootdir: str = '~/public_html', outrooturi: str = '', scriptn
                 yield
         except Exception as e:
             with treelog.set(htmllog):
-                treelog.error(f'{e.__class__.__name__}: {e}')
+                log_exception(e)
             raise
         finally:
             treelog.info(f'log written to: {loguri}')
diff --git a/tests/test_util.py b/tests/test_util.py
index 549ac958b..9ce7aab6d 100644
--- a/tests/test_util.py
+++ b/tests/test_util.py
@@ -230,7 +230,10 @@ def f(foo, bar):
         with self.assertLogs('nutils') as cm:
             f('x', 10)
 
-        self.assertEqual(cm.output, ['ERROR:nutils:arguments > failed to serialize arguments: in .foo: cannot establish type for parameter foo'])
+        if sys.version_info >= (3, 11):
+            self.assertEqual(cm.output, ['ERROR:nutils:arguments > TypeError: cannot establish type for parameter foo\nIn: .foo'])
+        else:
+            self.assertEqual(cm.output, ['ERROR:nutils:arguments > TypeError: cannot establish type for parameter foo'])
 
 
 class log_traceback(TestCase):