diff --git a/test_app/sdkconfig.defaults b/test_app/sdkconfig.defaults
index e2e441af9..152b48f37 100644
--- a/test_app/sdkconfig.defaults
+++ b/test_app/sdkconfig.defaults
@@ -9,6 +9,10 @@ CONFIG_PARTITION_TABLE_FILENAME="partitions.csv"
 CONFIG_HEAP_POISONING_COMPREHENSIVE=y
 CONFIG_COMPILER_STACK_CHECK_MODE_STRONG=y
 CONFIG_COMPILER_STACK_CHECK=y
+
+# since mqtt-cxx uses exceptions
+CONFIG_COMPILER_CXX_EXCEPTIONS=y
+
 CONFIG_ESP_MAIN_TASK_STACK_SIZE=16000
 CONFIG_FREERTOS_WATCHPOINT_END_OF_STACK=y