Abstract: Method and apparatus for sequentially executing a plurality of pipelined instruction words of a program in which each instruction has independently selectable execution cycle count latencies. After the occurrence of an exception, instructions are identified which began after the instruction that caused the exception, and which have completed execution before execution of the exception provoking instruction was inhibited. Detection of an exception causes the processor to inhibit further execution of the exception provoking instruction. Pending instructions, which have yet to complete their execution prior to the inhibition of the exception provoking instruction, are similarly inhibited from further execution. Subsequently, the exception is serviced and the exception inducing instruction is restarted for re-execution in the processor.