diff --git a/src/ca/oldCAC.cpp b/src/ca/oldCAC.cpp
index b936271f7..46976b2f4 100644
--- a/src/ca/oldCAC.cpp
+++ b/src/ca/oldCAC.cpp
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ oldCAC::oldCAC ( bool enablePreemptiveCallback ) :
     pVPrintfFunc ( errlogVprintf ), fdRegFunc ( 0 ), fdRegArg ( 0 )
 {
     if ( ! & this->clientCtx ) {
-        throw -1;
+        throw std::bad_alloc ();
     }
 }