diff --git a/types/tape/index.d.ts b/types/tape/index.d.ts
index 581a669606..936f2ac491 100644
--- a/types/tape/index.d.ts
+++ b/types/tape/index.d.ts
@@ -193,13 +193,13 @@ declare namespace tape {
          * expected, if present, must be a RegExp or Function, which is used to test the exception object.
          */
         throws(fn: () => void, msg?: string): void;
-        throws(fn: () => void, exceptionExpected: RegExp | (() => void), msg?: string): void;
+        throws(fn: () => void, exceptionExpected: RegExp | Function, msg?: string): void;
 
         /**
          * Assert that the function call fn() does not throw an exception.
          */
         doesNotThrow(fn: () => void, msg?: string): void;
-        doesNotThrow(fn: () => void, exceptionExpected: RegExp | (() => void), msg?: string): void;
+        doesNotThrow(fn: () => void, exceptionExpected: RegExp | Function, msg?: string): void;
 
         /**
          * Print a message without breaking the tap output.
diff --git a/types/tape/tape-tests.ts b/types/tape/tape-tests.ts
index 6f5ad605e5..0c67629f58 100644
--- a/types/tape/tape-tests.ts
+++ b/types/tape/tape-tests.ts
@@ -28,6 +28,12 @@ rs = tape.createStream(sopts);
 var htest: typeof tape;
 htest = tape.createHarness();
 
+class CustomException extends Error {
+  constructor(message?: string) {
+    super(message);
+  }
+}
+
 
 tape(name, (test: tape.Test) => {
 
@@ -146,11 +152,15 @@ tape(name, (test: tape.Test) => {
 	test.throws(fn, msg);
 	test.throws(fn, exceptionExpected);
 	test.throws(fn, exceptionExpected, msg);
+	test.throws(fn, CustomException);
+	test.throws(fn, CustomException, msg);
 
 	test.doesNotThrow(fn);
 	test.doesNotThrow(fn, msg);
 	test.doesNotThrow(fn, exceptionExpected);
 	test.doesNotThrow(fn, exceptionExpected, msg);
+	test.doesNotThrow(fn, CustomException);
+	test.doesNotThrow(fn, CustomException, msg);
 
 	test.test(name, (st) => {
 		t = st;