diff --git a/pyobs/background_task.py b/pyobs/background_task.py
index 6bcc23a6..0ae82f11 100644
--- a/pyobs/background_task.py
+++ b/pyobs/background_task.py
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 import logging
 from typing import Optional, Coroutine, Any, Callable
 
-from pyobs.utils.exceptions import PyObsError
+from pyobs.utils.exceptions import SevereError
 
 log = logging.getLogger(__name__)
 
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ def _callback_function(self, args=None) -> None:
         except asyncio.CancelledError:
             return
 
-        if isinstance(exception, PyObsError):
+        if isinstance(exception, SevereError):
             raise exception
         elif exception is not None:
             log.error("Exception %s in task %s.", exception, self._func.__name__)
diff --git a/tests/test_background_task.py b/tests/test_background_task.py
index 8c4f6d03..f218a762 100644
--- a/tests/test_background_task.py
+++ b/tests/test_background_task.py
@@ -46,12 +46,12 @@ async def test_callback_pyobs_error():
     test_function.__name__ = "test_function"
 
     task = asyncio.create_task(test_function())
-    task.exception = Mock(return_value=exc.ImageError("TestError"))
+    task.exception = Mock(return_value=exc.SevereError(exc.ImageError("TestError")))
 
     bg_task = BackgroundTask(test_function, False)
     bg_task._task = task
 
-    with pytest.raises(exc.ImageError):
+    with pytest.raises(exc.SevereError):
         bg_task._callback_function()