diff --git a/modules/reitit-middleware/src/reitit/ring/middleware/exception.clj b/modules/reitit-middleware/src/reitit/ring/middleware/exception.clj
index 2d50a995..7c8204fd 100644
--- a/modules/reitit-middleware/src/reitit/ring/middleware/exception.clj
+++ b/modules/reitit-middleware/src/reitit/ring/middleware/exception.clj
@@ -19,17 +19,17 @@
       (recur (.getSuperclass sk) (conj ks sk))
       ks)))
 
-(defn- ancestors-safe [type]
-  (when-not (class? type) (ancestors type)))
+(defn- find-closest-ancestor [val m]
+  (or (get m val)
+      (some #(find-closest-ancestor % m) (parents val))))
 
 (defn- call-error-handler [handlers error request]
   (let [type (:type (ex-data error))
         ex-class (class error)
         error-handler (or (get handlers type)
                           (get handlers ex-class)
-                          (some
-                           (partial get handlers)
-                           (ancestors-safe type))
+                          (when-not (class? type)
+                            (find-closest-ancestor type handlers))
                           (some
                            (partial get handlers)
                            (super-classes ex-class))
@@ -143,6 +143,9 @@
   4) Super Classes of exception
   5) The ::default handler
 
+  Note! If the closest ancestor for `:type` is not unique, an
+  arbitrary one is picked.
+
   Example:
 
       (require '[reitit.ring.middleware.exception :as exception])
diff --git a/test/clj/reitit/ring/middleware/exception_test.clj b/test/clj/reitit/ring/middleware/exception_test.clj
index 6e8e4215..3af666ac 100644
--- a/test/clj/reitit/ring/middleware/exception_test.clj
+++ b/test/clj/reitit/ring/middleware/exception_test.clj
@@ -147,6 +147,55 @@
           (is (= status 500))
           (is (= body "too many tries")))))))
 
+(derive ::table ::object)
+(derive ::living ::object)
+(derive ::plant ::living)
+(derive ::animal ::living)
+(derive ::dog ::animal)
+(derive ::cat ::animal)
+(derive ::garfield ::cat)
+
+(deftest exception-hierarchy-test
+  (letfn [(create [f]
+            (ring/ring-handler
+             (ring/router
+              [["/defaults"
+                {:handler f}]]
+              {:data {:middleware [(exception/create-exception-middleware
+                                    (merge
+                                     exception/default-handlers
+                                     {::object (constantly (http-response/bad-request "object"))
+                                      ::living (constantly (http-response/bad-request "living"))
+                                      ::animal (constantly (http-response/bad-request "animal"))
+                                      ::cat (constantly (http-response/bad-request "cat"))}))]}})))
+          (call [ex-typ]
+            (let [app (create (fn [_] (throw (ex-info "fail" {:type ex-typ}))))]
+              (app {:request-method :get, :uri "/defaults"})))]
+    (let [{:keys [status body]} (call ::object)]
+      (is (= status 400))
+      (is (= body "object")))
+    (let [{:keys [status body]} (call ::table)]
+      (is (= status 400))
+      (is (= body "object")))
+    (let [{:keys [status body]} (call ::living)]
+      (is (= status 400))
+      (is (= body "living")))
+    (let [{:keys [status body]} (call ::plant)]
+      (is (= status 400))
+      (is (= body "living")))
+    (let [{:keys [status body]} (call ::animal)]
+      (is (= status 400))
+      (is (= body "animal")))
+    (let [{:keys [status body]} (call ::dog)]
+      (is (= status 400))
+      (is (= body "animal")))
+    (let [{:keys [status body]} (call ::cat)]
+      (is (= status 400))
+      (is (= body "cat")))
+    (let [{:keys [status body]} (call ::garfield)]
+      (is (= status 400))
+      (is (= body "cat")))))
+
 (deftest spec-coercion-exception-test
   (let [app (ring/ring-handler
              (ring/router