diff --git a/lib/bb/__init__.py b/lib/bb/__init__.py
index 5dc959c..81f83c8 100644
--- a/lib/bb/__init__.py
+++ b/lib/bb/__init__.py
@@ -27,6 +27,18 @@ import sys
 if sys.version_info < (2, 6, 0):
     raise RuntimeError("Sorry, python 2.6.0 or later is required for this version of bitbake")
 
+
+class BBHandledException(Exception):
+    """
+    The big dilemma for generic bitbake code is what information to give the user
+    when an exception occurs. Any exception inheriting this base exception class
+    has already provided information to the user via some 'fired' message type such as
+    an explicitly fired event using bb.fire, or a bb.error message. If bitbake 
+    encounters an exception derived from this class, no backtrace or other information 
+    will be given to the user, its assumed the earlier event provided the relevant information.
+    """
+    pass
+
 import os
 import logging
 
diff --git a/lib/bb/command.py b/lib/bb/command.py
index f236dac..2a3a3af 100644
--- a/lib/bb/command.py
+++ b/lib/bb/command.py
@@ -98,9 +98,12 @@ class Command:
             else:
                 self.finishAsyncCommand("Exited with %s" % arg)
             return False
-        except Exception:
+        except Exception as exc:
             import traceback
-            self.finishAsyncCommand(traceback.format_exc())
+            if isinstance(exc, bb.BBHandledException):
+                self.finishAsyncCommand("")
+            else:
+                self.finishAsyncCommand(traceback.format_exc())
             return False
 
     def finishAsyncCommand(self, msg=None, code=None):
diff --git a/lib/bb/providers.py b/lib/bb/providers.py
index 4543447..398c8ea 100644
--- a/lib/bb/providers.py
+++ b/lib/bb/providers.py
@@ -28,10 +28,10 @@ import bb
 
 logger = logging.getLogger("BitBake.Provider")
 
-class NoProvider(Exception):
+class NoProvider(bb.BBHandledException):
     """Exception raised when no provider of a build dependency can be found"""
 
-class NoRProvider(Exception):
+class NoRProvider(bb.BBHandledException):
     """Exception raised when no provider of a runtime dependency can be found"""