diff --git a/core/src/main/java/io/grpc/internal/DelayedClientCall.java b/core/src/main/java/io/grpc/internal/DelayedClientCall.java
index b568bb12c46..36b5a36eb8e 100644
--- a/core/src/main/java/io/grpc/internal/DelayedClientCall.java
+++ b/core/src/main/java/io/grpc/internal/DelayedClientCall.java
@@ -206,7 +206,7 @@ public final void start(Listener<RespT> listener, final Metadata headers) {
       savedError = error;
       savedPassThrough = passThrough;
       if (!savedPassThrough) {
-        listener = delayedListener = new DelayedListener<>(listener);
+        listener = delayedListener = new DelayedListener<>(this, listener);
         startHeaders = headers;
       }
     }
@@ -445,15 +445,33 @@ public void runInContext() {
   }
 
   private static final class DelayedListener<RespT> extends Listener<RespT> {
+    private final DelayedClientCall<?, RespT> call;
     private final Listener<RespT> realListener;
     private volatile boolean passThrough;
+    private volatile Status exceptionStatus;
     @GuardedBy("this")
     private List<Runnable> pendingCallbacks = new ArrayList<>();
 
-    public DelayedListener(Listener<RespT> listener) {
+    public DelayedListener(DelayedClientCall<?, RespT> call, Listener<RespT> listener) {
+      this.call = call;
       this.realListener = listener;
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Cancels call and schedules onClose() notification. May only be called from within a
+     * DelayedListener callback dispatch (either queued drain or passThrough). Both phases
+     * deliver callbacks serially on the transport's callExecutor, so the write to
+     * {@code exceptionStatus} is serialized with, and thus visible to, subsequent listener
+     * callbacks on that executor.
+     */
+    private void exceptionThrown(Throwable t, String description) {
+      // onClose() must be delivered exactly once and last. Other callbacks may already be queued
+      // ahead of realCall's eventual onClose, so we can't call onClose() here. We set the status
+      // and overwrite the onClose() details when it arrives.
+      exceptionStatus = Status.CANCELLED.withCause(t).withDescription(description);
+      call.cancel(description, t);
+    }
+
     private void delayOrExecute(Runnable runnable) {
       synchronized (this) {
         if (!passThrough) {
@@ -467,37 +485,75 @@ private void delayOrExecute(Runnable runnable) {
     @Override
     public void onHeaders(final Metadata headers) {
       if (passThrough) {
-        realListener.onHeaders(headers);
+        deliverHeaders(headers);
       } else {
         delayOrExecute(new Runnable() {
           @Override
           public void run() {
-            realListener.onHeaders(headers);
+            deliverHeaders(headers);
           }
         });
       }
     }
 
+    private void deliverHeaders(Metadata headers) {
+      if (exceptionStatus != null) {
+        return;
+      }
+      try {
+        realListener.onHeaders(headers);
+      } catch (Throwable t) {
+        exceptionThrown(t, "Failed to read headers");
+      }
+    }
+
     @Override
     public void onMessage(final RespT message) {
       if (passThrough) {
-        realListener.onMessage(message);
+        deliverMessage(message);
       } else {
         delayOrExecute(new Runnable() {
           @Override
           public void run() {
-            realListener.onMessage(message);
+            deliverMessage(message);
           }
         });
       }
     }
 
+    private void deliverMessage(RespT message) {
+      if (exceptionStatus != null) {
+        return;
+      }
+      try {
+        realListener.onMessage(message);
+      } catch (Throwable t) {
+        exceptionThrown(t, "Failed to read message.");
+      }
+    }
+
     @Override
     public void onClose(final Status status, final Metadata trailers) {
       delayOrExecute(new Runnable() {
         @Override
         public void run() {
-          realListener.onClose(status, trailers);
+          Status effectiveStatus = status;
+          Metadata effectiveTrailers = trailers;
+          if (exceptionStatus != null) {
+            // Ideally exceptionStatus == status, as exceptionStatus was passed to cancel().
+            // However the cancel is racy and this onClose may have already been queued when the
+            // cancellation occurred. Since other callbacks throw away data if exceptionStatus !=
+            // null, it is semantically essential that we _not_ use a status provided by the
+            // server.
+            effectiveStatus = exceptionStatus;
+            // Replace trailers to prevent mixing sources of status and trailers.
+            effectiveTrailers = new Metadata();
+          }
+          try {
+            realListener.onClose(effectiveStatus, effectiveTrailers);
+          } catch (RuntimeException ex) {
+            logger.log(Level.WARNING, "Exception thrown by onClose() in ClientCall", ex);
+          }
         }
       });
     }
@@ -505,17 +561,28 @@ public void run() {
     @Override
     public void onReady() {
       if (passThrough) {
-        realListener.onReady();
+        deliverOnReady();
       } else {
         delayOrExecute(new Runnable() {
           @Override
           public void run() {
-            realListener.onReady();
+            deliverOnReady();
           }
         });
       }
     }
 
+    private void deliverOnReady() {
+      if (exceptionStatus != null) {
+        return;
+      }
+      try {
+        realListener.onReady();
+      } catch (Throwable t) {
+        exceptionThrown(t, "Failed to call onReady.");
+      }
+    }
+
     void drainPendingCallbacks() {
       assert !passThrough;
       List<Runnable> toRun = new ArrayList<>();
@@ -535,7 +602,6 @@ void drainPendingCallbacks() {
         }
         for (Runnable runnable : toRun) {
           // Avoid calling listener while lock is held to prevent deadlocks.
-          // TODO(ejona): exception handling
           runnable.run();
         }
         toRun.clear();
diff --git a/core/src/test/java/io/grpc/internal/DelayedClientCallTest.java b/core/src/test/java/io/grpc/internal/DelayedClientCallTest.java
index ff131d29975..0d30e947b0c 100644
--- a/core/src/test/java/io/grpc/internal/DelayedClientCallTest.java
+++ b/core/src/test/java/io/grpc/internal/DelayedClientCallTest.java
@@ -229,6 +229,232 @@ public void delayedCallsRunUnderContext() throws Exception {
     assertThat(contextKey.get(readyContext.get())).isEqualTo(goldenValue);
   }
 
+  @Test
+  public void listenerThrowsInPendingCallback_cancelsRealCall() {
+    DelayedClientCall<String, Integer> delayedClientCall = new DelayedClientCall<>(
+        callExecutor, fakeClock.getScheduledExecutorService(), null);
+    final RuntimeException boom = new RuntimeException("boom");
+    ClientCall.Listener<Integer> throwingListener = new ClientCall.Listener<Integer>() {
+      @Override
+      public void onMessage(Integer msg) {
+        throw boom;
+      }
+    };
+    delayedClientCall.start(throwingListener, new Metadata());
+    // Deliver onMessage while the wrapping DelayedListener is still buffering, by firing
+    // it from within realCall.start() — drainPendingCalls has not yet flipped the listener
+    // to pass-through. The queued onMessage is then drained and throws; the fix must catch
+    // the throwable and cancel the real call rather than let it escape.
+    Runnable r = delayedClientCall.setCall(new SimpleForwardingClientCall<String, Integer>(
+        mockRealCall) {
+      @Override
+      public void start(Listener<Integer> listener, Metadata metadata) {
+        super.start(listener, metadata);
+        listener.onMessage(42);
+      }
+    });
+    assertThat(r).isNotNull();
+    r.run(); // Must not propagate `boom`.
+    verify(mockRealCall).cancel(eq("Failed to read message."), eq(boom));
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void listenerThrowsInPendingOnHeaders_cancelsRealCall() {
+    DelayedClientCall<String, Integer> delayedClientCall = new DelayedClientCall<>(
+        callExecutor, fakeClock.getScheduledExecutorService(), null);
+    final RuntimeException boom = new RuntimeException("boom");
+    ClientCall.Listener<Integer> throwingListener = new ClientCall.Listener<Integer>() {
+      @Override
+      public void onHeaders(Metadata headers) {
+        throw boom;
+      }
+    };
+    delayedClientCall.start(throwingListener, new Metadata());
+    Runnable r = delayedClientCall.setCall(new SimpleForwardingClientCall<String, Integer>(
+        mockRealCall) {
+      @Override
+      public void start(Listener<Integer> listener, Metadata metadata) {
+        super.start(listener, metadata);
+        listener.onHeaders(new Metadata());
+      }
+    });
+    assertThat(r).isNotNull();
+    r.run();
+    verify(mockRealCall).cancel(eq("Failed to read headers"), eq(boom));
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void listenerThrowsInPendingOnReady_cancelsRealCall() {
+    DelayedClientCall<String, Integer> delayedClientCall = new DelayedClientCall<>(
+        callExecutor, fakeClock.getScheduledExecutorService(), null);
+    final RuntimeException boom = new RuntimeException("boom");
+    ClientCall.Listener<Integer> throwingListener = new ClientCall.Listener<Integer>() {
+      @Override
+      public void onReady() {
+        throw boom;
+      }
+    };
+    delayedClientCall.start(throwingListener, new Metadata());
+    Runnable r = delayedClientCall.setCall(new SimpleForwardingClientCall<String, Integer>(
+        mockRealCall) {
+      @Override
+      public void start(Listener<Integer> listener, Metadata metadata) {
+        super.start(listener, metadata);
+        listener.onReady();
+      }
+    });
+    assertThat(r).isNotNull();
+    r.run();
+    verify(mockRealCall).cancel(eq("Failed to call onReady."), eq(boom));
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void onCloseExceptionCaughtAndLogged() {
+    DelayedClientCall<String, Integer> delayedClientCall = new DelayedClientCall<>(
+        callExecutor, fakeClock.getScheduledExecutorService(), null);
+    final RuntimeException boom = new RuntimeException("boom");
+    final AtomicReference<Status> observed = new AtomicReference<>();
+    ClientCall.Listener<Integer> throwingListener = new ClientCall.Listener<Integer>() {
+      @Override
+      public void onClose(Status status, Metadata trailers) {
+        observed.set(status);
+        throw boom;
+      }
+    };
+    delayedClientCall.start(throwingListener, new Metadata());
+    Runnable r = delayedClientCall.setCall(new SimpleForwardingClientCall<String, Integer>(
+        mockRealCall) {
+      @Override
+      public void start(Listener<Integer> listener, Metadata metadata) {
+        super.start(listener, metadata);
+        listener.onClose(Status.DATA_LOSS, new Metadata());
+      }
+    });
+    assertThat(r).isNotNull();
+    r.run(); // Must not propagate `boom`.
+    assertThat(observed.get().getCode()).isEqualTo(Status.Code.DATA_LOSS);
+    verify(mockRealCall, never()).cancel(any(), any());
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void listenerThrowsInPassThroughOnMessage_cancelsRealCall() {
+    DelayedClientCall<String, Integer> delayedClientCall = new DelayedClientCall<>(
+        callExecutor, fakeClock.getScheduledExecutorService(), null);
+    final RuntimeException boom = new RuntimeException("boom");
+    ClientCall.Listener<Integer> throwingListener = new ClientCall.Listener<Integer>() {
+      @Override
+      public void onMessage(Integer msg) {
+        throw boom;
+      }
+    };
+    delayedClientCall.start(throwingListener, new Metadata());
+    Runnable r = delayedClientCall.setCall(mockRealCall);
+    assertThat(r).isNotNull();
+    r.run(); // drain completes, listener transitions to passThrough
+    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+    ArgumentCaptor<Listener<Integer>> listenerCaptor = ArgumentCaptor.forClass(Listener.class);
+    verify(mockRealCall).start(listenerCaptor.capture(), any(Metadata.class));
+    Listener<Integer> realCallListener = listenerCaptor.getValue();
+    realCallListener.onMessage(42); // dispatched on passThrough fast path
+    verify(mockRealCall).cancel(eq("Failed to read message."), eq(boom));
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void listenerThrowsInPassThroughOnHeaders_cancelsRealCall() {
+    DelayedClientCall<String, Integer> delayedClientCall = new DelayedClientCall<>(
+        callExecutor, fakeClock.getScheduledExecutorService(), null);
+    final RuntimeException boom = new RuntimeException("boom");
+    ClientCall.Listener<Integer> throwingListener = new ClientCall.Listener<Integer>() {
+      @Override
+      public void onHeaders(Metadata headers) {
+        throw boom;
+      }
+    };
+    delayedClientCall.start(throwingListener, new Metadata());
+    Runnable r = delayedClientCall.setCall(mockRealCall);
+    assertThat(r).isNotNull();
+    r.run();
+    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+    ArgumentCaptor<Listener<Integer>> listenerCaptor = ArgumentCaptor.forClass(Listener.class);
+    verify(mockRealCall).start(listenerCaptor.capture(), any(Metadata.class));
+    Listener<Integer> realCallListener = listenerCaptor.getValue();
+    realCallListener.onHeaders(new Metadata());
+    verify(mockRealCall).cancel(eq("Failed to read headers"), eq(boom));
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void listenerThrowsInPassThroughOnReady_cancelsRealCall() {
+    DelayedClientCall<String, Integer> delayedClientCall = new DelayedClientCall<>(
+        callExecutor, fakeClock.getScheduledExecutorService(), null);
+    final RuntimeException boom = new RuntimeException("boom");
+    ClientCall.Listener<Integer> throwingListener = new ClientCall.Listener<Integer>() {
+      @Override
+      public void onReady() {
+        throw boom;
+      }
+    };
+    delayedClientCall.start(throwingListener, new Metadata());
+    Runnable r = delayedClientCall.setCall(mockRealCall);
+    assertThat(r).isNotNull();
+    r.run();
+    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+    ArgumentCaptor<Listener<Integer>> listenerCaptor = ArgumentCaptor.forClass(Listener.class);
+    verify(mockRealCall).start(listenerCaptor.capture(), any(Metadata.class));
+    Listener<Integer> realCallListener = listenerCaptor.getValue();
+    realCallListener.onReady();
+    verify(mockRealCall).cancel(eq("Failed to call onReady."), eq(boom));
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void listenerThrowsInPassThrough_subsequentCallbacksSwallowedAndOnCloseOverridden() {
+    DelayedClientCall<String, Integer> delayedClientCall = new DelayedClientCall<>(
+        callExecutor, fakeClock.getScheduledExecutorService(), null);
+    final RuntimeException boom = new RuntimeException("boom");
+    final AtomicReference<Integer> lastMessage = new AtomicReference<>();
+    final AtomicReference<Status> closeStatus = new AtomicReference<>();
+    final AtomicReference<Metadata> closeTrailers = new AtomicReference<>();
+    ClientCall.Listener<Integer> throwingListener = new ClientCall.Listener<Integer>() {
+      @Override
+      public void onMessage(Integer msg) {
+        lastMessage.set(msg);
+        if (msg == 1) {
+          throw boom;
+        }
+      }
+
+      @Override
+      public void onClose(Status status, Metadata trailers) {
+        closeStatus.set(status);
+        closeTrailers.set(trailers);
+      }
+    };
+    delayedClientCall.start(throwingListener, new Metadata());
+    Runnable r = delayedClientCall.setCall(mockRealCall);
+    assertThat(r).isNotNull();
+    r.run();
+    @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
+    ArgumentCaptor<Listener<Integer>> listenerCaptor = ArgumentCaptor.forClass(Listener.class);
+    verify(mockRealCall).start(listenerCaptor.capture(), any(Metadata.class));
+    Listener<Integer> realCallListener = listenerCaptor.getValue();
+
+    realCallListener.onMessage(1); // throws -> exceptionStatus captured
+    assertThat(lastMessage.get()).isEqualTo(1);
+    verify(mockRealCall).cancel(eq("Failed to read message."), eq(boom));
+
+    // Later callbacks are swallowed — the listener must not see message 2.
+    realCallListener.onMessage(2);
+    assertThat(lastMessage.get()).isEqualTo(1);
+
+    // Transport onClose with OK must be overridden by the captured CANCELLED status.
+    Metadata serverTrailers = new Metadata();
+    serverTrailers.put(Metadata.Key.of("k", Metadata.ASCII_STRING_MARSHALLER), "v");
+    realCallListener.onClose(Status.OK, serverTrailers);
+    assertThat(closeStatus.get().getCode()).isEqualTo(Status.Code.CANCELLED);
+    assertThat(closeStatus.get().getCause()).isEqualTo(boom);
+    // Trailers replaced to avoid mixing sources.
+    assertThat(closeTrailers.get()).isNotSameInstanceAs(serverTrailers);
+  }
+
   private void callMeMaybe(Runnable r) {
     if (r != null) {
       r.run();