diff --git a/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/myrmidon/api/TaskContext.java b/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/myrmidon/api/TaskContext.java
index f616a5919..71083aec7 100644
--- a/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/myrmidon/api/TaskContext.java
+++ b/proposal/myrmidon/src/java/org/apache/myrmidon/api/TaskContext.java
@@ -55,7 +55,8 @@ public interface TaskContext
      *
      * @return the map of all property names to values
      */
-    Map getProperties();
+    Map getProperties()
+        throws TaskException;
 
     /**
      * Retrieve a service that is offered by the runtime.