diff --git a/CMakeLists.txt b/CMakeLists.txt
index 2f8df7be..0d505376 100644
--- a/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -28,6 +28,12 @@ option(lager_BUILD_DEBUGGER_EXAMPLES "Build examples that showcase the web based
 option(lager_BUILD_DOCS "Build docs" ON)
 option(lager_EMBED_RESOURCES_PATH "Embed installation paths for easier, non-portable resource location" ON)
 option(lager_DISABLE_STORE_DEPENDENCY_CHECKS "Disable compile-time checks for store dependencies" OFF)
+option(lager_ENABLE_EXCEPTIONS "Always enable exceptions regardless of detected compiler support" OFF)
+option(lager_DISABLE_EXCEPTIONS "Always disable exceptions regardless of detected compiler support" OFF)
+
+if (lager_ENABLE_EXCEPTIONS AND lager_DISABLE_EXCEPTIONS)
+  message(FATAL_ERROR "Cannot both enable and disable exceptions")
+endif()
 
 if (NOT lager_EMBED_RESOURCES_PATH AND lager_BUILD_EXAMPLES)
   message(FATAL_ERROR "Examples require embedded resources path")
@@ -67,6 +73,16 @@ if(lager_DISABLE_STORE_DEPENDENCY_CHECKS)
   target_compile_definitions(lager INTERFACE LAGER_DISABLE_STORE_DEPENDENCY_CHECKS)
 endif()
 
+if(lager_ENABLE_EXCEPTIONS)
+  message(STATUS "Explicitly enabling exceptions")
+  target_compile_definitions(lager INTERFACE LAGER_USE_EXCEPTIONS)
+endif()
+
+if(lager_DISABLE_EXCEPTIONS)
+  message(STATUS "Explicitly disabling exceptions")
+  target_compile_definitions(lager INTERFACE LAGER_NO_EXCEPTIONS)
+endif()
+
 install(TARGETS lager EXPORT LagerConfig)
 
 # requirements for tests and examples
diff --git a/lager/config.hpp b/lager/config.hpp
index 9c2a88c1..9ad61974 100644
--- a/lager/config.hpp
+++ b/lager/config.hpp
@@ -20,11 +20,13 @@
 #define LAGER_DISABLE_STORE_DEPENDENCY_CHECKS
 #endif
 
+#if !defined(LAGER_USE_EXCEPTIONS) && !defined(LAGER_NO_EXCEPTIONS)
 #ifdef __has_feature
 #if !__has_feature(cxx_exceptions)
 #define LAGER_NO_EXCEPTIONS
 #endif
 #endif
+#endif
 
 #ifdef LAGER_NO_EXCEPTIONS
 #define LAGER_TRY if (true)