diff --git a/compiler/daml-lf-tools/src/DA/Daml/LF/Simplifier.hs b/compiler/daml-lf-tools/src/DA/Daml/LF/Simplifier.hs
index 2974b1bb17..cbd0496276 100644
--- a/compiler/daml-lf-tools/src/DA/Daml/LF/Simplifier.hs
+++ b/compiler/daml-lf-tools/src/DA/Daml/LF/Simplifier.hs
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ safetyStep = \case
       BEBool _            -> Safe 0
       BERoundingMode _    -> Safe 0
       BEError             -> Safe 0
-      BEAnyExceptionMessage -> Safe 1
+      BEAnyExceptionMessage -> Safe 0 -- evaluates user-defined code which may throw
       BEAnyExceptionIsArithmeticError -> Safe 1
       BEAnyExceptionIsContractError -> Safe 1
       BEEqualGeneric      -> Safe 1 -- may crash if values are incomparable