diff --git a/target/nios2/helper.c b/target/nios2/helper.c
index 25a89724d0..3d9869453b 100644
--- a/target/nios2/helper.c
+++ b/target/nios2/helper.c
@@ -54,9 +54,10 @@ static void do_exception(Nios2CPU *cpu, uint32_t exception_addr, bool is_break)
     new_status &= ~(CR_STATUS_PIE | CR_STATUS_U);
 
     env->ctrl[CR_STATUS] = new_status;
-    env->ctrl[CR_EXCEPTION] = FIELD_DP32(env->ctrl[CR_EXCEPTION],
-                                         CR_EXCEPTION, CAUSE,
-                                         cs->exception_index);
+    if (!is_break) {
+        env->ctrl[CR_EXCEPTION] = FIELD_DP32(0, CR_EXCEPTION, CAUSE,
+                                             cs->exception_index);
+    }
     env->pc = exception_addr;
 }