diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 59a9ddc..213ed1e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ In this example:
 
 ### 2. Provide generic read/write functions
 
-You'll need to provide a `read_func/3` and a `write func/3` for actually
+You'll need to provide a `read_func/3` and a `write_func/3` for actually
 interacting on the Modbus. In practice, these functions will likely build on a library like
 [Modbux](https://hexdocs.pm/modbux/readme.html) along with state stored in a GenServer (e.g.
 a `modbux_pid`, IP Address, etc.) to perform the read/write operations.
@@ -97,8 +97,8 @@ It must return either `:ok` or `{:error, message}`.
 
 ```elixir
 write_func = fn object_type, starting_address, value_or_values ->
-  result = custom_write_logic(…)
-  {:ok, result}
+  custom_write_logic(…)
+  :ok
 end
 ```
 
diff --git a/lib/modboss.ex b/lib/modboss.ex
index 3596d9b..0860e54 100644
--- a/lib/modboss.ex
+++ b/lib/modboss.ex
@@ -61,19 +61,12 @@ defmodule ModBoss do
       defaults to `true`. This option can be especially useful if you need insight
       into a particular value that is failing to decode as expected.
     * `:max_attempts` — maximum number of times each `read_func` callback will
-      be attempted before giving up. Defaults to `1` (no retries). Callbacks that
-      raise an exception or return an error tuple will trigger a retry.
+      be attempted before giving up. Defaults to `1` (no retries). Only
+      `{:error, _}` triggers a retry; exceptions are not retried.
     * `:telemetry_label` — an arbitrary term attached as `label` in telemetry
       event metadata. Useful for identifying which device or connection a
       request belongs to. See `ModBoss.Telemetry` for details.
 
-  > #### Callback exceptions are rescued {: .warning}
-  >
-  > If `read_func` raises an exception, ModBoss rescues it and returns
-  > `{:error, exception}`. This applies regardless of the `:max_attempts`
-  > setting. The exception and stacktrace will be available via
-  > [per-callback telemetry events](`ModBoss.Telemetry`).
-
   > #### Gaps {: .info}
   >
   > Every Modbus request incurs network round-trip overhead, so fewer, larger reads
@@ -433,13 +426,6 @@ defmodule ModBoss do
   > Each batch will contain **either a list or an individual value** based on the number of
   > addresses to be written—so you should be prepared for both.
 
-  > #### Callback exceptions are rescued {: .warning}
-  >
-  > If `write_func` raises an exception, ModBoss rescues it and returns
-  > `{:error, exception}`. This applies regardless of the `:max_attempts`
-  > setting. The exception and stacktrace will be available via
-  > [per-callback telemetry events](`ModBoss.Telemetry`).
-
   > #### Non-atomic writes! {: .warning}
   >
   > While `ModBoss.write/4` has the _feel_ of being atomic, it's important to recognize that it
@@ -451,8 +437,8 @@ defmodule ModBoss do
 
   ## Opts
     * `:max_attempts` — maximum number of times each `write_func` callback will
-      be attempted before giving up. Defaults to `1` (no retries). Callbacks that
-      raise an exception or return an error tuple will trigger a retry.
+      be attempted before giving up. Defaults to `1` (no retries). Only
+      `{:error, _}` triggers a retry; exceptions are not retried.
     * `:telemetry_label` — an arbitrary term attached as `label` in telemetry
       event metadata. Useful for identifying which device or connection a
       request belongs to. See `ModBoss.Telemetry` for details.
@@ -630,14 +616,7 @@ defmodule ModBoss do
 
   defp retry(max_attempts, func) do
     Enum.reduce_while(1..max_attempts, nil, fn attempt, _prev ->
-      result =
-        try do
-          func.(attempt)
-        rescue
-          e -> {:error, e}
-        end
-
-      case result do
+      case func.(attempt) do
         {:error, _} = error when attempt < max_attempts -> {:cont, error}
         result -> {:halt, {result, attempt}}
       end
diff --git a/lib/modboss/telemetry.ex b/lib/modboss/telemetry.ex
index 632d4dc..c4abfe7 100644
--- a/lib/modboss/telemetry.ex
+++ b/lib/modboss/telemetry.ex
@@ -65,6 +65,26 @@ defmodule ModBoss.Telemetry do
         result: term()
       }
 
+  ### Read Exception
+      # Event
+      [:modboss, :read, :exception]
+
+      # Measurements
+      %{
+        duration: integer(),
+        monotonic_time: integer()
+      }
+
+      # Metadata
+      %{
+        schema: module(),
+        names: [atom()],
+        label: term(),
+        kind: atom(),
+        reason: term(),
+        stacktrace: list()
+      }
+
   ### Write Start
       # Event
       [:modboss, :write, :start]
@@ -103,6 +123,26 @@ defmodule ModBoss.Telemetry do
         result: term()
       }
 
+  ### Write Exception
+      # Event
+      [:modboss, :write, :exception]
+
+      # Measurements
+      %{
+        duration: integer(),
+        monotonic_time: integer()
+      }
+
+      # Metadata
+      %{
+        schema: module(),
+        names: [atom()],
+        label: term(),
+        kind: atom(),
+        reason: term(),
+        stacktrace: list()
+      }
+
   ## Per-callback events
 
   These events wrap each individual invocation of your `read_func` or `write_func`
diff --git a/test/modboss/telemetry_test.exs b/test/modboss/telemetry_test.exs
index 392b4ee..e03d899 100644
--- a/test/modboss/telemetry_test.exs
+++ b/test/modboss/telemetry_test.exs
@@ -40,6 +40,7 @@ defmodule ModBoss.TelemetryTest do
       attach_many([
         [:modboss, :read, :start],
         [:modboss, :read, :stop],
+        [:modboss, :read, :exception],
         [:modboss, :read_callback, :start],
         [:modboss, :read_callback, :stop],
         [:modboss, :read_callback, :exception]
@@ -393,81 +394,28 @@ defmodule ModBoss.TelemetryTest do
       assert measurements.total_attempts == 4
     end
 
-    test "retries through exceptions and succeeds", %{device: device} do
-      set_objects(device, %{{:holding_register, 1} => 42})
-      raising_read = flakify(read_func(device), fn -> raise "raised!" end, flakes: 1)
-
-      {:ok, 42} = ModBoss.read(TestSchema, :foo, raising_read, max_attempts: 2)
-
-      # Attempt 1: raise, callback exception span
-      assert_receive {:telemetry, [:modboss, :read_callback, :exception], _, meta1}
-      assert meta1.attempt == 1
-      assert meta1.max_attempts == 2
-
-      # Attempt 2: success, callback stop span
-      assert_receive {:telemetry, [:modboss, :read_callback, :stop], _, meta2}
-      assert meta2.attempt == 2
-      assert meta2.max_attempts == 2
-      assert {:ok, _} = meta2.result
-
-      # Outer span: normal stop, no exception
-      assert_receive {:telemetry, [:modboss, :read, :stop], measurements, stop_meta}
-      assert measurements.total_attempts == 2
-      assert {:ok, _} = stop_meta.result
-      refute_receive {:telemetry, [:modboss, :read, :exception], _, _}
-    end
-
-    test "rescued read_func raise emits callback exception and outer stop with error", %{
-      device: _device
-    } do
+    test "emits exception event when read_func raises", %{device: _device} do
       boom_func = fn _type, _addr, _count ->
         raise "boom!"
       end
 
-      {:error, %RuntimeError{message: "boom!"}} = ModBoss.read(TestSchema, :foo, boom_func)
-
-      # Callback-level: exception event with full metadata
-      assert_receive {:telemetry, [:modboss, :read_callback, :start], start_measurements,
-                      start_metadata}
-
-      assert is_integer(start_measurements.system_time)
-      assert start_metadata.schema == TestSchema
-      assert start_metadata.names == [:foo]
-      assert start_metadata.object_type == :holding_register
-      assert start_metadata.starting_address == 1
-      assert start_metadata.address_count == 1
-      assert start_metadata.attempt == 1
-      assert start_metadata.max_attempts == 1
+      assert_raise RuntimeError, "boom!", fn ->
+        ModBoss.read(TestSchema, :foo, boom_func)
+      end
 
-      assert_receive {:telemetry, [:modboss, :read_callback, :exception], cb_measurements,
-                      cb_metadata}
-
-      assert is_integer(cb_measurements.duration)
-      assert cb_metadata.schema == TestSchema
-      assert cb_metadata.names == [:foo]
-      assert cb_metadata.object_type == :holding_register
-      assert cb_metadata.starting_address == 1
-      assert cb_metadata.address_count == 1
-      assert cb_metadata.attempt == 1
-      assert cb_metadata.max_attempts == 1
-      assert cb_metadata.kind == :error
-      assert %RuntimeError{message: "boom!"} = cb_metadata.reason
-      assert is_list(cb_metadata.stacktrace)
-
-      # Outer span: normal stop (not exception) with error result
-      assert_receive {:telemetry, [:modboss, :read, :stop], measurements, metadata}
+      assert_receive {:telemetry, [:modboss, :read_callback, :start], _, _}
+      assert_receive {:telemetry, [:modboss, :read_callback, :exception], measurements, metadata}
       assert is_integer(measurements.duration)
-      assert measurements.modbus_requests == 1
-      assert measurements.total_attempts == 1
-      assert measurements.objects_requested == 1
-      assert measurements.addresses_read == 1
-      assert measurements.gap_addresses_read == 0
-      assert measurements.max_gap_size == 0
-      assert metadata.schema == TestSchema
-      assert metadata.names == [:foo]
-      assert {:error, %RuntimeError{message: "boom!"}} = metadata.result
+      assert metadata.kind == :error
+      assert metadata.attempt == 1
+      assert %RuntimeError{message: "boom!"} = metadata.reason
+      assert is_list(metadata.stacktrace)
 
-      refute_receive {:telemetry, [:modboss, :read, :exception], _, _}
+      assert_receive {:telemetry, [:modboss, :read, :start], _, _}
+      assert_receive {:telemetry, [:modboss, :read, :exception], measurements, metadata}
+      assert is_integer(measurements.duration)
+      assert metadata.kind == :error
+      assert %RuntimeError{message: "boom!"} = metadata.reason
     end
 
     test "does not emit events for validation errors (e.g. unknown names)", %{device: device} do
@@ -500,10 +448,11 @@ defmodule ModBoss.TelemetryTest do
     test "includes label in exception metadata when telemetry_label is provided" do
       boom_func = fn _type, _addr, _count -> raise "boom!" end
 
-      {:error, %RuntimeError{}} =
+      assert_raise RuntimeError, "boom!", fn ->
         ModBoss.read(TestSchema, :foo, boom_func, telemetry_label: :my_device)
+      end
 
-      assert_receive {:telemetry, [:modboss, :read, :stop], _, meta}
+      assert_receive {:telemetry, [:modboss, :read, :exception], _, meta}
       assert meta.label == :my_device
 
       assert_receive {:telemetry, [:modboss, :read_callback, :exception], _, cb_meta}
@@ -536,6 +485,7 @@ defmodule ModBoss.TelemetryTest do
       attach_many([
         [:modboss, :write, :start],
         [:modboss, :write, :stop],
+        [:modboss, :write, :exception],
         [:modboss, :write_callback, :start],
         [:modboss, :write_callback, :stop],
         [:modboss, :write_callback, :exception]
@@ -714,55 +664,28 @@ defmodule ModBoss.TelemetryTest do
       assert measurements.total_attempts == 2
     end
 
-    test "rescued write_func raise emits callback exception and outer stop with error", %{
-      device: _device
-    } do
+    test "emits exception event when write_func raises", %{device: _device} do
       kaboom_func = fn _type, _addr, _values ->
         raise "kaboom!"
       end
 
-      {:error, %RuntimeError{message: "kaboom!"}} =
+      assert_raise RuntimeError, "kaboom!", fn ->
         ModBoss.write(TestSchema, [baz: 1], kaboom_func)
+      end
 
-      # Callback-level: exception event with full metadata
-      assert_receive {:telemetry, [:modboss, :write_callback, :start], start_measurements,
-                      start_metadata}
-
-      assert is_integer(start_measurements.system_time)
-      assert start_metadata.schema == TestSchema
-      assert start_metadata.names == [:baz]
-      assert start_metadata.object_type == :holding_register
-      assert start_metadata.starting_address == 3
-      assert start_metadata.address_count == 1
-      assert start_metadata.attempt == 1
-      assert start_metadata.max_attempts == 1
-
-      assert_receive {:telemetry, [:modboss, :write_callback, :exception], cb_measurements,
-                      cb_metadata}
-
-      assert is_integer(cb_measurements.duration)
-      assert cb_metadata.schema == TestSchema
-      assert cb_metadata.names == [:baz]
-      assert cb_metadata.object_type == :holding_register
-      assert cb_metadata.starting_address == 3
-      assert cb_metadata.address_count == 1
-      assert cb_metadata.attempt == 1
-      assert cb_metadata.max_attempts == 1
-      assert cb_metadata.kind == :error
-      assert %RuntimeError{message: "kaboom!"} = cb_metadata.reason
-      assert is_list(cb_metadata.stacktrace)
-
-      # Outer span: normal stop (not exception) with error result
-      assert_receive {:telemetry, [:modboss, :write, :stop], measurements, metadata}
+      assert_receive {:telemetry, [:modboss, :write_callback, :start], _, _}
+      assert_receive {:telemetry, [:modboss, :write_callback, :exception], measurements, metadata}
       assert is_integer(measurements.duration)
-      assert measurements.modbus_requests == 1
-      assert measurements.total_attempts == 1
-      assert measurements.objects_requested == 1
-      assert metadata.schema == TestSchema
-      assert metadata.names == [:baz]
-      assert {:error, %RuntimeError{message: "kaboom!"}} = metadata.result
+      assert metadata.kind == :error
+      assert metadata.attempt == 1
+      assert %RuntimeError{message: "kaboom!"} = metadata.reason
+      assert is_list(metadata.stacktrace)
 
-      refute_receive {:telemetry, [:modboss, :write, :exception], _, _}
+      assert_receive {:telemetry, [:modboss, :write, :start], _, _}
+      assert_receive {:telemetry, [:modboss, :write, :exception], measurements, metadata}
+      assert is_integer(measurements.duration)
+      assert metadata.kind == :error
+      assert %RuntimeError{message: "kaboom!"} = metadata.reason
     end
 
     test "does not emit events for validation errors (e.g. unknown names)", %{device: device} do
@@ -793,36 +716,14 @@ defmodule ModBoss.TelemetryTest do
       assert cb_stop_metadata.label == %{port: :rs485, address: 12}
     end
 
-    test "retries through exceptions and succeeds", %{device: device} do
-      raising_write = flakify(write_func(device), fn -> raise "raised!" end, flakes: 1)
-
-      :ok = ModBoss.write(TestSchema, [baz: 99], raising_write, max_attempts: 2)
-
-      # Attempt 1: raise, callback exception span
-      assert_receive {:telemetry, [:modboss, :write_callback, :exception], _, meta1}
-      assert meta1.attempt == 1
-      assert meta1.max_attempts == 2
-
-      # Attempt 2: success, callback stop span
-      assert_receive {:telemetry, [:modboss, :write_callback, :stop], _, meta2}
-      assert meta2.attempt == 2
-      assert meta2.max_attempts == 2
-      assert meta2.result == :ok
-
-      # Outer span: normal stop, no exception
-      assert_receive {:telemetry, [:modboss, :write, :stop], measurements, stop_meta}
-      assert measurements.total_attempts == 2
-      assert stop_meta.result == :ok
-      refute_receive {:telemetry, [:modboss, :write, :exception], _, _}
-    end
-
     test "includes label in exception metadata when telemetry_label is provided" do
       kaboom_func = fn _type, _addr, _values -> raise "kaboom!" end
 
-      {:error, %RuntimeError{}} =
+      assert_raise RuntimeError, "kaboom!", fn ->
         ModBoss.write(TestSchema, [baz: 1], kaboom_func, telemetry_label: :my_device)
+      end
 
-      assert_receive {:telemetry, [:modboss, :write, :stop], _, meta}
+      assert_receive {:telemetry, [:modboss, :write, :exception], _, meta}
       assert meta.label == :my_device
 
       assert_receive {:telemetry, [:modboss, :write_callback, :exception], _, cb_meta}
diff --git a/test/modboss_test.exs b/test/modboss_test.exs
index bc11d38..c1343c1 100644
--- a/test/modboss_test.exs
+++ b/test/modboss_test.exs
@@ -1151,20 +1151,19 @@ defmodule ModBossTest do
                ModBoss.read(schema, [:alpha, :bravo], flaky_read, max_attempts: 2)
     end
 
-    test "max_attempts retries on raise and succeeds" do
-      device = start_supervised!({Agent, fn -> @initial_state end})
-      encode_and_set(device, FakeSchema, foo: 42)
-
-      raising_read = flakify(read_func(device), fn -> raise "raised!" end, flakes: 2)
+    test "max_attempts does not retry on raise" do
+      call_count = start_supervised!({Agent, fn -> 0 end})
 
-      assert {:ok, 42} = ModBoss.read(FakeSchema, :foo, raising_read, max_attempts: 3)
-    end
+      boom_func = fn _type, _addr, _count ->
+        Agent.update(call_count, &(&1 + 1))
+        raise "boom!"
+      end
 
-    test "max_attempts returns error when all attempts raise" do
-      boom_func = fn _type, _addr, _count -> raise "boom!" end
+      assert_raise RuntimeError, "boom!", fn ->
+        ModBoss.read(FakeSchema, :foo, boom_func, max_attempts: 3)
+      end
 
-      assert {:error, %RuntimeError{message: "boom!"}} =
-               ModBoss.read(FakeSchema, :foo, boom_func, max_attempts: 2)
+      assert Agent.get(call_count, & &1) == 1
     end
 
     test "max_attempts raises on invalid values" do
@@ -1441,20 +1440,19 @@ defmodule ModBossTest do
       {:error, "flaky"} = ModBoss.write(FakeSchema, [baz: 99], flaky_write, max_attempts: 2)
     end
 
-    test "max_attempts retries on raise and succeeds" do
-      device = start_supervised!({Agent, fn -> @initial_state end})
-
-      raising_write = flakify(write_func(device), fn -> raise "raised!" end, flakes: 1)
+    test "max_attempts does not retry on raise" do
+      call_count = start_supervised!({Agent, fn -> 0 end})
 
-      :ok = ModBoss.write(FakeSchema, [baz: 99], raising_write, max_attempts: 2)
-      assert %{{:holding_register, 3} => 99} = get_objects(device)
-    end
+      kaboom_func = fn _type, _addr, _values ->
+        Agent.update(call_count, &(&1 + 1))
+        raise "kaboom!"
+      end
 
-    test "max_attempts returns error when all attempts raise" do
-      boom_func = fn _type, _addr, _values -> raise "kaboom!" end
+      assert_raise RuntimeError, "kaboom!", fn ->
+        ModBoss.write(FakeSchema, [baz: 99], kaboom_func, max_attempts: 3)
+      end
 
-      assert {:error, %RuntimeError{message: "kaboom!"}} =
-               ModBoss.write(FakeSchema, [baz: 99], boom_func, max_attempts: 2)
+      assert Agent.get(call_count, & &1) == 1
     end
 
     test "max_attempts raises on invalid values" do