diff --git a/runtime/src/main/java/dev/cel/runtime/ResolvedOverload.java b/runtime/src/main/java/dev/cel/runtime/ResolvedOverload.java
index a46a92fae..5d632e695 100644
--- a/runtime/src/main/java/dev/cel/runtime/ResolvedOverload.java
+++ b/runtime/src/main/java/dev/cel/runtime/ResolvedOverload.java
@@ -72,9 +72,10 @@ default boolean canHandle(Object[] arguments) {
       }
 
       if (arg instanceof Exception || arg instanceof CelUnknownSet) {
+        // Only non-strict functions can accept errors/unknowns as arguments to a function
         if (!isStrict()) {
-          // Only non-strict functions can accept errors/unknowns as arguments to a function
-          return true;
+          // Skip assignability check below, but continue to validate remaining args
+          continue;
         }
       }
 
diff --git a/runtime/src/test/java/dev/cel/runtime/CelResolvedOverloadTest.java b/runtime/src/test/java/dev/cel/runtime/CelResolvedOverloadTest.java
index 0fdc4f65d..40e2075aa 100644
--- a/runtime/src/test/java/dev/cel/runtime/CelResolvedOverloadTest.java
+++ b/runtime/src/test/java/dev/cel/runtime/CelResolvedOverloadTest.java
@@ -65,4 +65,35 @@ public void canHandle_nonMatchingTypes_returnsFalse() {
   public void canHandle_nonMatchingArgCount_returnsFalse() {
     assertThat(getIncrementIntOverload().canHandle(new Object[] {1L, 2L})).isFalse();
   }
+
+  @Test
+  public void canHandle_nonStrictOverload_returnsTrue() {
+    CelResolvedOverload nonStrictOverload =
+        CelResolvedOverload.of(
+            "non_strict",
+            (args) -> {
+              return false;
+            },
+            /* isStrict= */ false,
+            Long.class,
+            Long.class);
+    assertThat(
+            nonStrictOverload.canHandle(
+                new Object[] {new RuntimeException(), CelUnknownSet.create()}))
+        .isTrue();
+  }
+
+  @Test
+  public void canHandle_nonStrictOverload_returnsFalse() {
+    CelResolvedOverload nonStrictOverload =
+        CelResolvedOverload.of(
+            "non_strict",
+            (args) -> {
+              return false;
+            },
+            /* isStrict= */ false,
+            Long.class,
+            Long.class);
+    assertThat(nonStrictOverload.canHandle(new Object[] {new RuntimeException(), "Foo"})).isFalse();
+  }
 }