diff --git a/instana/instrumentation/flask/vanilla.py b/instana/instrumentation/flask/vanilla.py
index 26d810ea..fdf65708 100644
--- a/instana/instrumentation/flask/vanilla.py
+++ b/instana/instrumentation/flask/vanilla.py
@@ -74,15 +74,18 @@ def after_request_with_instana(response):
 @wrapt.patch_function_wrapper('flask', 'Flask.handle_user_exception')
 def handle_user_exception_with_instana(wrapped, instance, argv, kwargs):
     exc = argv[0]
+    handler = instance._find_error_handler(exc)
 
     if hasattr(flask.g, 'scope'):
         scope = flask.g.scope
         span = scope.span
 
         if not hasattr(exc, 'code'):
-            span.log_exception(argv[0])
+            span.log_exception(exc)
             span.set_tag(ext.HTTP_STATUS_CODE, 500)
-            scope.close()
+            # Issue 172 - leave scope open for downstream error handlers
+            if handler is None:
+                scope.close()
 
     return wrapped(*argv, **kwargs)
 
diff --git a/instana/instrumentation/flask/with_blinker.py b/instana/instrumentation/flask/with_blinker.py
index 77253b3b..75f4fe8b 100644
--- a/instana/instrumentation/flask/with_blinker.py
+++ b/instana/instrumentation/flask/with_blinker.py
@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@ def log_exception_with_instana(sender, exception, **extra):
 @wrapt.patch_function_wrapper('flask', 'Flask.handle_user_exception')
 def handle_user_exception_with_instana(wrapped, instance, argv, kwargs):
     exc = argv[0]
+    handler = instance._find_error_handler(exc)
 
     if hasattr(flask.g, 'scope'):
         scope = flask.g.scope
@@ -94,8 +95,10 @@ def handle_user_exception_with_instana(wrapped, instance, argv, kwargs):
         if not hasattr(exc, 'code'):
             span.log_exception(exc)
             span.set_tag(ext.HTTP_STATUS_CODE, 500)
-            scope.close()
-            flask.g.scope = None
+            # Issue 172 - leave scope open for downstream error handlers
+            if handler is None:
+                scope.close()
+                flask.g.scope = None
 
     return wrapped(*argv, **kwargs)