diff --git a/cmake/QtWasmHelpers.cmake b/cmake/QtWasmHelpers.cmake
index b30f5895c7a..3ce1e3f126b 100644
--- a/cmake/QtWasmHelpers.cmake
+++ b/cmake/QtWasmHelpers.cmake
@@ -25,10 +25,13 @@ function (qt_internal_setup_wasm_target_properties wasmTarget)
         target_compile_options("${wasmTarget}" INTERFACE -O2 -msimd128 -msse -msse2)
     endif()
 
-    # wasm exceptions
+    # exceptions
     if (QT_FEATURE_wasm_exceptions)
         target_compile_options("${wasmTarget}" INTERFACE -fwasm-exceptions)
         target_link_options("${wasmTarget}" INTERFACE -fwasm-exceptions)
+    elseif(QT_FEATURE_exceptions)
+        # add link option only, compile option is added in cross-platform code
+        target_link_options("${wasmTarget}" INTERFACE -fexceptions)
     endif()
 
     if (QT_FEATURE_thread)