diff --git a/src/simplewallet/simplewallet.cpp b/src/simplewallet/simplewallet.cpp
index f95da1058..fca14c8f8 100644
--- a/src/simplewallet/simplewallet.cpp
+++ b/src/simplewallet/simplewallet.cpp
@@ -4239,7 +4239,9 @@ boost::optional<tools::password_container> simple_wallet::get_and_verify_passwor
 boost::optional<epee::wipeable_string> simple_wallet::new_wallet(const boost::program_options::variables_map& vm,
   const crypto::secret_key& recovery_key, bool recover, bool two_random, const std::string &old_language)
 {
-  auto rc = tools::wallet2::make_new(vm, false, password_prompter);
+  std::pair<std::unique_ptr<tools::wallet2>, tools::password_container> rc;
+  try { rc = tools::wallet2::make_new(vm, false, password_prompter); }
+  catch(const std::exception &e) { fail_msg_writer() << tr("Error creating wallet: ") << e.what(); return {}; }
   m_wallet = std::move(rc.first);
   if (!m_wallet)
   {
@@ -4334,7 +4336,9 @@ boost::optional<epee::wipeable_string> simple_wallet::new_wallet(const boost::pr
   const cryptonote::account_public_address& address, const boost::optional<crypto::secret_key>& spendkey,
   const crypto::secret_key& viewkey)
 {
-  auto rc = tools::wallet2::make_new(vm, false, password_prompter);
+  std::pair<std::unique_ptr<tools::wallet2>, tools::password_container> rc;
+  try { rc = tools::wallet2::make_new(vm, false, password_prompter); }
+  catch(const std::exception &e) { fail_msg_writer() << tr("Error creating wallet: ") << e.what(); return {}; }
   m_wallet = std::move(rc.first);
   if (!m_wallet)
   {
@@ -4380,7 +4384,9 @@ boost::optional<epee::wipeable_string> simple_wallet::new_wallet(const boost::pr
 //----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 boost::optional<epee::wipeable_string> simple_wallet::new_wallet(const boost::program_options::variables_map& vm)
 {
-  auto rc = tools::wallet2::make_new(vm, false, password_prompter);
+  std::pair<std::unique_ptr<tools::wallet2>, tools::password_container> rc;
+  try { rc = tools::wallet2::make_new(vm, false, password_prompter); }
+  catch(const std::exception &e) { fail_msg_writer() << tr("Error creating wallet: ") << e.what(); return {}; }
   m_wallet = std::move(rc.first);
   m_wallet->callback(this);
   if (!m_wallet)
@@ -4421,7 +4427,9 @@ boost::optional<epee::wipeable_string> simple_wallet::new_wallet(const boost::pr
 boost::optional<epee::wipeable_string> simple_wallet::new_wallet(const boost::program_options::variables_map& vm,
     const epee::wipeable_string &multisig_keys, const std::string &old_language)
 {
-  auto rc = tools::wallet2::make_new(vm, false, password_prompter);
+  std::pair<std::unique_ptr<tools::wallet2>, tools::password_container> rc;
+  try { rc = tools::wallet2::make_new(vm, false, password_prompter); }
+  catch(const std::exception &e) { fail_msg_writer() << tr("Error creating wallet: ") << e.what(); return {}; }
   m_wallet = std::move(rc.first);
   if (!m_wallet)
   {