diff --git a/guest/pvmfw/src/arch/aarch64/exceptions.rs b/guest/pvmfw/src/arch/aarch64/exceptions.rs
index 4c867fb..c8c0156 100644
--- a/guest/pvmfw/src/arch/aarch64/exceptions.rs
+++ b/guest/pvmfw/src/arch/aarch64/exceptions.rs
@@ -18,9 +18,7 @@
     arch::aarch64::exceptions::{
         handle_permission_fault, handle_translation_fault, ArmException, Esr, HandleExceptionError,
     },
-    eprintln, logger,
-    power::reboot,
-    read_sysreg,
+    logger, read_sysreg,
 };
 
 fn handle_exception(exception: &ArmException) -> Result<(), HandleExceptionError> {
@@ -41,55 +39,44 @@
 
     let exception = ArmException::from_el1_regs();
     if let Err(e) = handle_exception(&exception) {
-        exception.print("sync_exception_current", e, elr);
-        reboot()
+        exception.print_and_reboot("sync_exception_current", e, elr);
     }
 }
 
 #[no_mangle]
 extern "C" fn irq_current(_elr: u64, _spsr: u64) {
-    eprintln!("irq_current");
-    reboot();
+    panic!("irq_current");
 }
 
 #[no_mangle]
 extern "C" fn fiq_current(_elr: u64, _spsr: u64) {
-    eprintln!("fiq_current");
-    reboot();
+    panic!("fiq_current");
 }
 
 #[no_mangle]
 extern "C" fn serr_current(_elr: u64, _spsr: u64) {
     let esr = read_sysreg!("esr_el1");
-    eprintln!("serr_current");
-    eprintln!("esr={esr:#08x}");
-    reboot();
+    panic!("serr_current, esr={esr:#08x}");
 }
 
 #[no_mangle]
 extern "C" fn sync_lower(_elr: u64, _spsr: u64) {
     let esr = read_sysreg!("esr_el1");
-    eprintln!("sync_lower");
-    eprintln!("esr={esr:#08x}");
-    reboot();
+    panic!("sync_lower, esr={esr:#08x}");
 }
 
 #[no_mangle]
 extern "C" fn irq_lower(_elr: u64, _spsr: u64) {
-    eprintln!("irq_lower");
-    reboot();
+    panic!("irq_lower");
 }
 
 #[no_mangle]
 extern "C" fn fiq_lower(_elr: u64, _spsr: u64) {
-    eprintln!("fiq_lower");
-    reboot();
+    panic!("fiq_lower");
 }
 
 #[no_mangle]
 extern "C" fn serr_lower(_elr: u64, _spsr: u64) {
     let esr = read_sysreg!("esr_el1");
-    eprintln!("serr_lower");
-    eprintln!("esr={esr:#08x}");
-    reboot();
+    panic!("serr_lower, esr={esr:#08x}");
 }
diff --git a/guest/pvmfw/src/entry.rs b/guest/pvmfw/src/entry.rs
index 8ada6a1..cde4cfe 100644
--- a/guest/pvmfw/src/entry.rs
+++ b/guest/pvmfw/src/entry.rs
@@ -98,7 +98,7 @@
     };
 
     const REBOOT_REASON_CONSOLE: usize = 1;
-    console_writeln!(REBOOT_REASON_CONSOLE, "{}", reboot_reason.as_avf_reboot_string());
+    console_writeln!(REBOOT_REASON_CONSOLE, "{}", reboot_reason.as_avf_reboot_string()).unwrap();
     reboot()
 
     // if we reach this point and return, vmbase::entry::rust_entry() will call power::shutdown().
diff --git a/guest/rialto/src/exceptions.rs b/guest/rialto/src/exceptions.rs
index 467a3a6..c8c0156 100644
--- a/guest/rialto/src/exceptions.rs
+++ b/guest/rialto/src/exceptions.rs
@@ -18,9 +18,7 @@
     arch::aarch64::exceptions::{
         handle_permission_fault, handle_translation_fault, ArmException, Esr, HandleExceptionError,
     },
-    eprintln, logger,
-    power::reboot,
-    read_sysreg,
+    logger, read_sysreg,
 };
 
 fn handle_exception(exception: &ArmException) -> Result<(), HandleExceptionError> {
@@ -41,58 +39,44 @@
 
     let exception = ArmException::from_el1_regs();
     if let Err(e) = handle_exception(&exception) {
-        exception.print("sync_exception_current", e, elr);
-        reboot()
+        exception.print_and_reboot("sync_exception_current", e, elr);
     }
 }
 
 #[no_mangle]
-extern "C" fn irq_current() {
-    eprintln!("irq_current");
-    reboot();
+extern "C" fn irq_current(_elr: u64, _spsr: u64) {
+    panic!("irq_current");
 }
 
 #[no_mangle]
-extern "C" fn fiq_current() {
-    eprintln!("fiq_current");
-    reboot();
+extern "C" fn fiq_current(_elr: u64, _spsr: u64) {
+    panic!("fiq_current");
 }
 
 #[no_mangle]
-extern "C" fn serr_current() {
-    eprintln!("serr_current");
-    print_esr();
-    reboot();
-}
-
-#[no_mangle]
-extern "C" fn sync_lower() {
-    eprintln!("sync_lower");
-    print_esr();
-    reboot();
-}
-
-#[no_mangle]
-extern "C" fn irq_lower() {
-    eprintln!("irq_lower");
-    reboot();
-}
-
-#[no_mangle]
-extern "C" fn fiq_lower() {
-    eprintln!("fiq_lower");
-    reboot();
-}
-
-#[no_mangle]
-extern "C" fn serr_lower() {
-    eprintln!("serr_lower");
-    print_esr();
-    reboot();
-}
-
-#[inline]
-fn print_esr() {
+extern "C" fn serr_current(_elr: u64, _spsr: u64) {
     let esr = read_sysreg!("esr_el1");
-    eprintln!("esr={:#08x}", esr);
+    panic!("serr_current, esr={esr:#08x}");
+}
+
+#[no_mangle]
+extern "C" fn sync_lower(_elr: u64, _spsr: u64) {
+    let esr = read_sysreg!("esr_el1");
+    panic!("sync_lower, esr={esr:#08x}");
+}
+
+#[no_mangle]
+extern "C" fn irq_lower(_elr: u64, _spsr: u64) {
+    panic!("irq_lower");
+}
+
+#[no_mangle]
+extern "C" fn fiq_lower(_elr: u64, _spsr: u64) {
+    panic!("fiq_lower");
+}
+
+#[no_mangle]
+extern "C" fn serr_lower(_elr: u64, _spsr: u64) {
+    let esr = read_sysreg!("esr_el1");
+    panic!("serr_lower, esr={esr:#08x}");
 }
diff --git a/guest/vmbase_example/src/exceptions.rs b/guest/vmbase_example/src/exceptions.rs
index 5d7768a..0eb415c 100644
--- a/guest/vmbase_example/src/exceptions.rs
+++ b/guest/vmbase_example/src/exceptions.rs
@@ -14,62 +14,51 @@
 
 //! Exception handlers.
 
-use vmbase::{eprintln, power::reboot, read_sysreg};
+use vmbase::{arch::aarch64::exceptions::ArmException, read_sysreg};
 
 #[no_mangle]
-extern "C" fn sync_exception_current(_elr: u64, _spsr: u64) {
-    eprintln!("sync_exception_current");
-    print_esr();
-    reboot();
+extern "C" fn sync_exception_current(elr: u64, _spsr: u64) {
+    ArmException::from_el1_regs().print_and_reboot(
+        "sync_exception_current",
+        "Unexpected synchronous exception",
+        elr,
+    );
 }
 
 #[no_mangle]
 extern "C" fn irq_current(_elr: u64, _spsr: u64) {
-    eprintln!("irq_current");
-    reboot();
+    panic!("irq_current");
 }
 
 #[no_mangle]
 extern "C" fn fiq_current(_elr: u64, _spsr: u64) {
-    eprintln!("fiq_current");
-    reboot();
+    panic!("fiq_current");
 }
 
 #[no_mangle]
 extern "C" fn serr_current(_elr: u64, _spsr: u64) {
-    eprintln!("serr_current");
-    print_esr();
-    reboot();
+    let esr = read_sysreg!("esr_el1");
+    panic!("serr_current, esr={:#08x}", esr);
 }
 
 #[no_mangle]
 extern "C" fn sync_lower(_elr: u64, _spsr: u64) {
-    eprintln!("sync_lower");
-    print_esr();
-    reboot();
+    let esr = read_sysreg!("esr_el1");
+    panic!("sync_lower, esr={:#08x}", esr);
 }
 
 #[no_mangle]
 extern "C" fn irq_lower(_elr: u64, _spsr: u64) {
-    eprintln!("irq_lower");
-    reboot();
+    panic!("irq_lower");
 }
 
 #[no_mangle]
 extern "C" fn fiq_lower(_elr: u64, _spsr: u64) {
-    eprintln!("fiq_lower");
-    reboot();
+    panic!("fiq_lower");
 }
 
 #[no_mangle]
 extern "C" fn serr_lower(_elr: u64, _spsr: u64) {
-    eprintln!("serr_lower");
-    print_esr();
-    reboot();
-}
-
-#[inline]
-fn print_esr() {
     let esr = read_sysreg!("esr_el1");
-    eprintln!("esr={:#08x}", esr);
+    panic!("serr_lower, esr={:#08x}", esr);
 }
diff --git a/libs/libvmbase/README.md b/libs/libvmbase/README.md
index 28d930a..3c05cc3 100644
--- a/libs/libvmbase/README.md
+++ b/libs/libvmbase/README.md
@@ -79,23 +79,16 @@
 use vmbase::power::reboot;
 
 extern "C" fn sync_exception_current() {
-    eprintln!("sync_exception_current");
-
     let mut esr: u64;
     unsafe {
         asm!("mrs {esr}, esr_el1", esr = out(reg) esr);
     }
-    eprintln!("esr={:#08x}", esr);
-
-    reboot();
+    panic!("sync_exception_current, esr={:#08x}", esr);
 }
 ```
 
 The `println!` macro shouldn't be used in exception handlers, because it relies on a global instance
 of the UART driver which might be locked when the exception happens, which would result in deadlock.
-Instead you can use `eprintln!`, which will re-initialize the UART every time to ensure that it can
-be used. This should still be used with care, as it may interfere with whatever the rest of the
-program is doing with the UART.
 
 See [example/src/exceptions.rs](examples/src/exceptions.rs) for a complete example.
 
diff --git a/libs/libvmbase/src/arch/aarch64/exceptions.rs b/libs/libvmbase/src/arch/aarch64/exceptions.rs
index 1868bf7..787ef37 100644
--- a/libs/libvmbase/src/arch/aarch64/exceptions.rs
+++ b/libs/libvmbase/src/arch/aarch64/exceptions.rs
@@ -14,12 +14,17 @@
 
 //! Helper functions and structs for exception handlers.
 
-use crate::memory::{MemoryTrackerError, MEMORY};
 use crate::{
-    arch::aarch64::layout::UART_PAGE_ADDR, arch::VirtualAddress, eprintln, memory::page_4kb_of,
+    arch::{
+        aarch64::layout::UART_PAGE_ADDR,
+        platform::{emergency_uart, DEFAULT_EMERGENCY_CONSOLE_INDEX},
+        VirtualAddress,
+    },
+    memory::{page_4kb_of, MemoryTrackerError, MEMORY},
+    power::reboot,
     read_sysreg,
 };
-use core::fmt;
+use core::fmt::{self, Write};
 use core::result;
 
 /// Represents an error that can occur while handling an exception.
@@ -122,14 +127,23 @@
         Self { esr, far: VirtualAddress(far) }
     }
 
-    /// Prints the details of an obj and the exception, excluding UART exceptions.
-    pub fn print<T: fmt::Display>(&self, exception_name: &str, obj: T, elr: u64) {
+    /// Prints the details of an obj and the exception, excluding UART exceptions, and then reboots.
+    ///
+    /// This uses the emergency console so can safely be called even for synchronous exceptions
+    /// without causing a deadlock.
+    pub fn print_and_reboot<T: fmt::Display>(&self, exception_name: &str, obj: T, elr: u64) -> ! {
         // Don't print to the UART if we are handling an exception it could raise.
         if !self.is_uart_exception() {
-            eprintln!("{exception_name}");
-            eprintln!("{obj}");
-            eprintln!("{}, elr={:#08x}", self, elr);
+            // SAFETY: We always reboot at the end of this method so there is no way for the
+            // original UART driver to be used after this.
+            if let Some(mut console) = unsafe { emergency_uart(DEFAULT_EMERGENCY_CONSOLE_INDEX) } {
+                // Ignore errors writing to emergency console, as we are about to reboot anyway.
+                _ = writeln!(console, "{exception_name}");
+                _ = writeln!(console, "{obj}");
+                _ = writeln!(console, "{}, elr={:#08x}", self, elr);
+            }
         }
+        reboot();
     }
 
     fn is_uart_exception(&self) -> bool {
diff --git a/libs/libvmbase/src/arch/aarch64/platform.rs b/libs/libvmbase/src/arch/aarch64/platform.rs
index b33df68..7e002d0 100644
--- a/libs/libvmbase/src/arch/aarch64/platform.rs
+++ b/libs/libvmbase/src/arch/aarch64/platform.rs
@@ -104,18 +104,25 @@
 
 /// Return platform uart with specific index
 ///
-/// Panics if console was not initialized by calling [`init`] first.
-pub fn uart(id: usize) -> &'static spin::mutex::SpinMutex<Uart> {
-    CONSOLES[id].get().unwrap()
+/// Returns `None` if console was not initialized by calling [`init`] first.
+pub fn uart(id: usize) -> Option<&'static SpinMutex<Uart>> {
+    CONSOLES[id].get()
 }
 
-/// Reinitializes the emergency UART driver and returns it.
+/// Reinitializes the n-th UART driver and returns it.
 ///
 /// This is intended for use in situations where the UART may be in an unknown state or the global
-/// instance may be locked, such as in an exception handler or panic handler.
-pub fn emergency_uart() -> Uart {
+/// instance may be locked, such as in the synchronous exception handler.
+///
+/// # Safety
+///
+/// This takes over the UART from wherever it is being used, the existing UART instance should not
+/// be used after this is called. This should only be used immediately before aborting the VM.
+pub unsafe fn emergency_uart(id: usize) -> Option<Uart> {
+    let addr = *ADDRESSES[id].get()?;
+
     // SAFETY: Initialization of UART using dedicated const address.
-    unsafe { Uart::new(UART_ADDRESSES[DEFAULT_EMERGENCY_CONSOLE_INDEX]) }
+    Some(unsafe { Uart::new(addr) })
 }
 
 /// Makes a `PSCI_SYSTEM_OFF` call to shutdown the VM.
diff --git a/libs/libvmbase/src/console.rs b/libs/libvmbase/src/console.rs
index 6d9a4fe..dcaf1ad 100644
--- a/libs/libvmbase/src/console.rs
+++ b/libs/libvmbase/src/console.rs
@@ -14,33 +14,26 @@
 
 //! Console driver for 8250 UART.
 
-use crate::arch::platform;
-use core::fmt::{write, Arguments, Write};
+use crate::arch::platform::{self, emergency_uart, DEFAULT_EMERGENCY_CONSOLE_INDEX};
+use crate::power::reboot;
+use core::fmt::{self, write, Arguments, Write};
+use core::panic::PanicInfo;
 
 /// Writes a formatted string followed by a newline to the n-th console.
 ///
-/// Panics if the n-th console was not initialized by calling [`init`] first.
-pub fn writeln(n: usize, format_args: Arguments) {
-    let uart = &mut *platform::uart(n).lock();
-    write(uart, format_args).unwrap();
-    let _ = uart.write_str("\n");
-}
+/// Returns an error if the n-th console was not initialized by calling [`init`] first.
+pub fn writeln(n: usize, format_args: Arguments) -> fmt::Result {
+    let uart = &mut *platform::uart(n).ok_or(fmt::Error)?.lock();
 
-/// Reinitializes the emergency UART driver and writes a formatted string followed by a newline to
-/// it.
-///
-/// This is intended for use in situations where the UART may be in an unknown state or the global
-/// instance may be locked, such as in an exception handler or panic handler.
-pub fn ewriteln(format_args: Arguments) {
-    let mut uart = platform::emergency_uart();
-    let _ = write(&mut uart, format_args);
-    let _ = uart.write_str("\n");
+    write(uart, format_args)?;
+    uart.write_str("\n")?;
+    Ok(())
 }
 
 /// Prints the given formatted string to the n-th console, followed by a newline.
 ///
-/// Panics if the console has not yet been initialized. May hang if used in an exception context;
-/// use `eprintln!` instead.
+/// Returns an error if the console has not yet been initialized. May deadlock if used in a
+/// synchronous exception handler.
 #[macro_export]
 macro_rules! console_writeln {
     ($n:expr, $($arg:tt)*) => ({
@@ -48,27 +41,24 @@
     })
 }
 
-pub(crate) use console_writeln;
-
 /// Prints the given formatted string to the console, followed by a newline.
 ///
-/// Panics if the console has not yet been initialized. May hang if used in an exception context;
-/// use `eprintln!` instead.
+/// Panics if the console has not yet been initialized. May hang if used in an exception context.
 macro_rules! println {
     ($($arg:tt)*) => ({
-        $crate::console::console_writeln!($crate::arch::platform::DEFAULT_CONSOLE_INDEX, $($arg)*)
+        $crate::console_writeln!($crate::arch::platform::DEFAULT_CONSOLE_INDEX, $($arg)*).unwrap()
     })
 }
 
 pub(crate) use println; // Make it available in this crate.
 
-/// Prints the given string followed by a newline to the console in an emergency, such as an
-/// exception handler.
-///
-/// Never panics.
-#[macro_export]
-macro_rules! eprintln {
-    ($($arg:tt)*) => ({
-        $crate::console::ewriteln(format_args!($($arg)*))
-    })
+#[panic_handler]
+fn panic(info: &PanicInfo) -> ! {
+    // SAFETY: We always reboot at the end of this method so there is no way for the
+    // original UART driver to be used after this.
+    if let Some(mut console) = unsafe { emergency_uart(DEFAULT_EMERGENCY_CONSOLE_INDEX) } {
+        // Ignore errors, to avoid a panic loop.
+        let _ = writeln!(console, "{}", info);
+    }
+    reboot()
 }
diff --git a/libs/libvmbase/src/lib.rs b/libs/libvmbase/src/lib.rs
index d254038..afb62fc 100644
--- a/libs/libvmbase/src/lib.rs
+++ b/libs/libvmbase/src/lib.rs
@@ -32,12 +32,3 @@
 pub mod uart;
 pub mod util;
 pub mod virtio;
-
-use core::panic::PanicInfo;
-use power::reboot;
-
-#[panic_handler]
-fn panic(info: &PanicInfo) -> ! {
-    eprintln!("{}", info);
-    reboot()
-}
diff --git a/libs/libvmbase/src/logger.rs b/libs/libvmbase/src/logger.rs
index 9130918..0059d11 100644
--- a/libs/libvmbase/src/logger.rs
+++ b/libs/libvmbase/src/logger.rs
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@
 //!
 //! Internally uses the println! vmbase macro, which prints to crosvm's UART.
 //! Note: may not work if the VM is in an inconsistent state. Exception handlers
-//! should avoid using this logger and instead print with eprintln!.
+//! should avoid using this logger.
 
 use crate::console::println;
 use core::sync::atomic::{AtomicBool, Ordering};