diff --git a/jOOQ-test/src/org/jooq/test/jOOQAbstractTest.java b/jOOQ-test/src/org/jooq/test/jOOQAbstractTest.java
index 03943fbc0a..5550a2bc5e 100644
--- a/jOOQ-test/src/org/jooq/test/jOOQAbstractTest.java
+++ b/jOOQ-test/src/org/jooq/test/jOOQAbstractTest.java
@@ -135,6 +135,7 @@ import java.sql.SQLSyntaxErrorException;
 import java.sql.Statement;
 import java.sql.Time;
 import java.sql.Timestamp;
+import java.util.AbstractList;
 import java.util.ArrayList;
 import java.util.Arrays;
 import java.util.Collections;
@@ -197,6 +198,7 @@ import org.jooq.UpdatableTable;
 import org.jooq.UpdateQuery;
 import org.jooq.exception.DataAccessException;
 import org.jooq.exception.DetachedException;
+import org.jooq.exception.FetchIntoException;
 import org.jooq.exception.InvalidResultException;
 import org.jooq.impl.CustomCondition;
 import org.jooq.impl.CustomField;
@@ -2782,6 +2784,22 @@ public abstract class jOOQAbstractTest<
         assertEquals("Orwell", result.get(1).lastName2);
         assertEquals("Coelho", result.get(2).lastName2);
         assertEquals("Coelho", result.get(3).lastName2);
+
+        try {
+            // Cannot instanciate an abstract class
+            create().selectFrom(TAuthor())
+                    .fetchInto(AbstractList.class);
+            fail();
+        }
+        catch (FetchIntoException expected) {}
+
+        try {
+            // Cannot a class without default constructor
+            create().selectFrom(TAuthor())
+                    .fetchInto(Math.class);
+            fail();
+        }
+        catch (FetchIntoException expected) {}
     }
 
     @Test
diff --git a/jOOQ/src/main/java/org/jooq/exception/FetchIntoException.java b/jOOQ/src/main/java/org/jooq/exception/FetchIntoException.java
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..af7a381fc1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/jOOQ/src/main/java/org/jooq/exception/FetchIntoException.java
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+/**
+ * Copyright (c) 2009-2011, Lukas Eder, lukas.eder@gmail.com
+ * All rights reserved.
+ *
+ * This software is licensed to you under the Apache License, Version 2.0
+ * (the "License"); You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *   http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Redistribution and use in source and binary forms, with or without
+ * modification, are permitted provided that the following conditions are met:
+ *
+ * . Redistributions of source code must retain the above copyright notice, this
+ *   list of conditions and the following disclaimer.
+ *
+ * . Redistributions in binary form must reproduce the above copyright notice,
+ *   this list of conditions and the following disclaimer in the documentation
+ *   and/or other materials provided with the distribution.
+ *
+ * . Neither the name "jOOQ" nor the names of its contributors may be
+ *   used to endorse or promote products derived from this software without
+ *   specific prior written permission.
+ *
+ * THIS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE COPYRIGHT HOLDERS AND CONTRIBUTORS "AS IS"
+ * AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE
+ * IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE
+ * ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE COPYRIGHT OWNER OR CONTRIBUTORS BE
+ * LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY, OR
+ * CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, PROCUREMENT OF
+ * SUBSTITUTE GOODS OR SERVICES; LOSS OF USE, DATA, OR PROFITS; OR BUSINESS
+ * INTERRUPTION) HOWEVER CAUSED AND ON ANY THEORY OF LIABILITY, WHETHER IN
+ * CONTRACT, STRICT LIABILITY, OR TORT (INCLUDING NEGLIGENCE OR OTHERWISE)
+ * ARISING IN ANY WAY OUT OF THE USE OF THIS SOFTWARE, EVEN IF ADVISED OF THE
+ * POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGE.
+ */
+package org.jooq.exception;
+
+import org.jooq.Cursor;
+import org.jooq.Record;
+import org.jooq.Result;
+import org.jooq.ResultQuery;
+
+/**
+ * An error occurred while fetching data into a user defined Java object with
+ * any of these methods:
+ * <ul>
+ * <li> {@link ResultQuery#fetchInto(Class)}</li>
+ * <li> {@link Cursor#fetchInto(Class)}</li>
+ * <li> {@link Result#into(Class)}</li>
+ * <li> {@link Record#into(Class)}</li>
+ * </ul>
+ *
+ * @author Lukas Eder
+ */
+public class FetchIntoException extends DataAccessException {
+
+    /**
+     * Generated UID
+     */
+    private static final long serialVersionUID = -6460945824599280420L;
+
+    /**
+     * Constructor for DataAccessException.
+     *
+     * @param message the detail message
+     */
+    public FetchIntoException(String message) {
+        super(message);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Constructor for DataAccessException.
+     *
+     * @param message the detail message
+     * @param cause the root cause (usually from using a underlying data access
+     *            API such as JDBC)
+     */
+    public FetchIntoException(String message, Throwable cause) {
+        super(message, cause);
+    }
+}
diff --git a/jOOQ/src/main/java/org/jooq/impl/AbstractRecord.java b/jOOQ/src/main/java/org/jooq/impl/AbstractRecord.java
index 35452192be..0f6a693056 100644
--- a/jOOQ/src/main/java/org/jooq/impl/AbstractRecord.java
+++ b/jOOQ/src/main/java/org/jooq/impl/AbstractRecord.java
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@ import org.jooq.Attachable;
 import org.jooq.Field;
 import org.jooq.FieldProvider;
 import org.jooq.Record;
+import org.jooq.exception.FetchIntoException;
 
 /**
  * @author Lukas Eder
@@ -515,7 +516,7 @@ abstract class AbstractRecord extends AbstractStore<Object> implements Record {
 
         // All reflection exceptions are intercepted
         catch (Exception e) {
-            throw new IllegalStateException("An error ocurred when mapping record to " + type, e);
+            throw new FetchIntoException("An error ocurred when mapping record to " + type, e);
         }
     }