diff --git a/smtk/operation/Operation.cxx b/smtk/operation/Operation.cxx
index 041cc1261c0bc8fcdbcb01d3bf1f4564b31baf40..0f4d6dcb7c071a6ba2f3190afd25667ba0807737 100644
--- a/smtk/operation/Operation.cxx
+++ b/smtk/operation/Operation.cxx
@@ -324,8 +324,22 @@ Operation::Result Operation::operate(const BaseKey& key)
       smtk::attribute::IntItem::Ptr debugItem = this->parameters()->findInt("debug level");
       m_debugLevel = ((debugItem && debugItem->isEnabled()) ? debugItem->value() : 0);
 
-      // Perform the derived operation.
-      result = this->operateInternal();
+      try
+      {
+        // Perform the derived operation.
+        result = this->operateInternal();
+      }
+      catch (const std::exception& e)
+      {
+        // Report that the operation failed due to unhandled exception.
+        // This allows the operation to return normally so that
+        // any threads do not continue to be blocked.
+        result = this->createResult(Outcome::FAILED);
+        smtkErrorMacro(
+          this->log(),
+          "An unhandled exception (" << e.what() << ") occurred in " << this->typeName() << ".");
+      }
+
       // Post-process the result if the operation was successful.
       outcome = static_cast<Outcome>(result->findInt("outcome")->value());
       if (outcome == Outcome::SUCCEEDED)