diff --git a/lib/Doctrine/DBAL/DBALException.php b/lib/Doctrine/DBAL/DBALException.php
index 079fdedc31a..731f9a87652 100644
--- a/lib/Doctrine/DBAL/DBALException.php
+++ b/lib/Doctrine/DBAL/DBALException.php
@@ -107,7 +107,7 @@ public static function driverExceptionDuringQuery(Driver $driver, \Exception $dr
             ? $driver->convertExceptionCode($driverEx)
             : 0;
 
-        return new self($msg, $code, $driverEx);
+        return self::createDriverException($msg, $code, $driverEx);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -120,7 +120,33 @@ public static function driverException(Driver $driver, \Exception $driverEx)
     {
         $msg = "An exception occured in driver: " . $driverEx->getMessage();
 
-        return new self($msg, $driver->convertExceptionCode($driverEx), $driverEx);
+        $code = ($driver instanceof ExceptionConverterDriver)
+            ? $driver->convertExceptionCode($driverEx)
+            : 0;
+
+        return self::createDriverException($msg, $code, $driverEx);
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Factory method for subclasses of DBALException based on exception code.
+     *
+     * @return \Doctrine\DBAL\DBALException
+     */
+    private static function createDriverException($msg, $code, $driverEx)
+    {
+        switch ($code) {
+            case self::ERROR_NOT_NULL:
+                return new Exception\NotNullableException($msg, $code, $driverEx);
+
+            case self::ERROR_DUPLICATE_KEY:
+                return new Exception\DuplicateKeyException($msg, $code, $driverEx);
+
+            case self::ERROR_FOREIGN_KEY_CONSTRAINT:
+                return new Exception\ForeignKeyConstraintViolationException($msg, $code, $driverEx);
+
+            default:
+                return new self($msg, $code, $driverEx);
+        }
     }
 
     /**
diff --git a/lib/Doctrine/DBAL/Exception/DuplicateKeyException.php b/lib/Doctrine/DBAL/Exception/DuplicateKeyException.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..7caa0a5f884
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/Doctrine/DBAL/Exception/DuplicateKeyException.php
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+<?php
+/*
+ * 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.
+ *
+ * This software consists of voluntary contributions made by many individuals
+ * and is licensed under the MIT license. For more information, see
+ * <http://www.doctrine-project.org>.
+ */
+
+namespace Doctrine\DBAL\Exception;
+
+use Doctrine\DBAL\DBALException;
+
+/**
+ * Thrown when {@link DBALException::ERROR_DUPLICATE_KEY} is detected in driver
+ *
+ * @since 2.5
+ */
+class DuplicateKeyException extends DBALException
+{
+}
diff --git a/lib/Doctrine/DBAL/Exception/ForeignKeyConstraintViolationException.php b/lib/Doctrine/DBAL/Exception/ForeignKeyConstraintViolationException.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..ecece925964
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/Doctrine/DBAL/Exception/ForeignKeyConstraintViolationException.php
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+<?php
+/*
+ * 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.
+ *
+ * This software consists of voluntary contributions made by many individuals
+ * and is licensed under the MIT license. For more information, see
+ * <http://www.doctrine-project.org>.
+ */
+
+namespace Doctrine\DBAL\Exception;
+
+use Doctrine\DBAL\DBALException;
+
+/**
+ * Thrown when {@link DBALException::ERROR_FOREIGN_KEY_CONSTRAINT} is detected in driver
+ *
+ * @since 2.5
+ */
+class ForeignKeyConstraintViolationException extends DBALException
+{
+}
diff --git a/lib/Doctrine/DBAL/Exception/NotNullableException.php b/lib/Doctrine/DBAL/Exception/NotNullableException.php
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..6d4d3fcfa85
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/Doctrine/DBAL/Exception/NotNullableException.php
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+<?php
+/*
+ * 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.
+ *
+ * This software consists of voluntary contributions made by many individuals
+ * and is licensed under the MIT license. For more information, see
+ * <http://www.doctrine-project.org>.
+ */
+
+namespace Doctrine\DBAL\Exception;
+
+use Doctrine\DBAL\DBALException;
+
+/**
+ * Thrown when {@link DBALException::ERROR_NOT_NULL} is detected in driver
+ *
+ * @since 2.5
+ */
+class NotNullableException extends DBALException
+{
+}
diff --git a/tests/Doctrine/Tests/DBAL/Functional/ExceptionTest.php b/tests/Doctrine/Tests/DBAL/Functional/ExceptionTest.php
index c4f58d73f94..626d274e4dd 100644
--- a/tests/Doctrine/Tests/DBAL/Functional/ExceptionTest.php
+++ b/tests/Doctrine/Tests/DBAL/Functional/ExceptionTest.php
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ public function testDuplicateKeyException()
 
         $this->_conn->insert("duplicatekey_table", array('id' => 1));
 
-        $this->setExpectedException('\Doctrine\DBAL\DBALException', null, DBALException::ERROR_DUPLICATE_KEY);
+        $this->setExpectedException('\Doctrine\DBAL\Exception\DuplicateKeyException', null, DBALException::ERROR_DUPLICATE_KEY);
         $this->_conn->insert("duplicatekey_table", array('id' => 1));
     }
 
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ public function testForeignKeyContraintException()
         $this->_conn->insert("constraint_error_table", array('id' => 1));
         $this->_conn->insert("owning_table", array('id' => 1, 'constraint_id' => 1));
 
-        $this->setExpectedException('\Doctrine\DBAL\DBALException', null, DBALException::ERROR_FOREIGN_KEY_CONSTRAINT);
+        $this->setExpectedException('\Doctrine\DBAL\Exception\ForeignKeyConstraintViolationException', null, DBALException::ERROR_FOREIGN_KEY_CONSTRAINT);
         $this->_conn->delete('constraint_error_table', array('id' => 1));
     }
 
@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ public function testNotNullException()
             $this->_conn->executeQuery($sql);
         }
 
-        $this->setExpectedException('\Doctrine\DBAL\DBALException', null, DBALException::ERROR_NOT_NULL);
+        $this->setExpectedException('\Doctrine\DBAL\Exception\NotNullableException', null, DBALException::ERROR_NOT_NULL);
         $this->_conn->insert("notnull_table", array('id' => 1, 'value' => null));
     }