diff --git a/src/DebugToolDrivers/Protocols/CMSIS-DAP/VendorSpecific/EDBG/AVR/EdbgAvr8Interface.cpp b/src/DebugToolDrivers/Protocols/CMSIS-DAP/VendorSpecific/EDBG/AVR/EdbgAvr8Interface.cpp
index 4183f484..d7803567 100644
--- a/src/DebugToolDrivers/Protocols/CMSIS-DAP/VendorSpecific/EDBG/AVR/EdbgAvr8Interface.cpp
+++ b/src/DebugToolDrivers/Protocols/CMSIS-DAP/VendorSpecific/EDBG/AVR/EdbgAvr8Interface.cpp
@@ -4,11 +4,13 @@
 #include <thread>
 #include <cmath>
 
+#include "src/Logger/Logger.hpp"
+#include "src/Helpers/Paths.hpp"
+
 #include "src/Exceptions/InvalidConfig.hpp"
 #include "src/TargetController/Exceptions/DeviceInitializationFailure.hpp"
 #include "src/DebugToolDrivers/Protocols/CMSIS-DAP/VendorSpecific/EDBG/AVR/Exceptions/Avr8CommandFailure.hpp"
-#include "src/Logger/Logger.hpp"
-#include "src/Helpers/Paths.hpp"
+#include "src/Targets/Microchip/AVR/AVR8/Exceptions/DebugWirePhysicalInterfaceError.hpp"
 
 // Command frames
 #include "src/DebugToolDrivers/Protocols/CMSIS-DAP/VendorSpecific/EDBG/AVR/CommandFrames/AVR8Generic/SetParameter.hpp"
@@ -219,7 +221,21 @@ namespace Bloom::DebugToolDrivers::Protocols::CmsisDap::Edbg::Avr
 
     void EdbgAvr8Interface::activate() {
         if (!this->physicalInterfaceActivated) {
-            this->activatePhysical();
+            try {
+                this->activatePhysical();
+
+            } catch (const Avr8CommandFailure& activationException) {
+                if (this->physicalInterface == PhysicalInterface::DEBUG_WIRE
+                    && activationException.code == Avr8CommandFailureCode::DEBUGWIRE_PHYSICAL_ERROR
+                ) {
+                    throw DebugWirePhysicalInterfaceError(
+                        "Failed to activate the debugWire physical interface - check target connection. "
+                        "The target's DWEN fuse bit may need to be updated. See [TODO_ADD_LINK] for more information."
+                    );
+                }
+
+                throw activationException;
+            }
         }
 
         if (!this->targetAttached) {
diff --git a/src/DebugToolDrivers/TargetInterfaces/Microchip/AVR/AVR8/Avr8DebugInterface.hpp b/src/DebugToolDrivers/TargetInterfaces/Microchip/AVR/AVR8/Avr8DebugInterface.hpp
index feec4e58..2c3d6ef1 100644
--- a/src/DebugToolDrivers/TargetInterfaces/Microchip/AVR/AVR8/Avr8DebugInterface.hpp
+++ b/src/DebugToolDrivers/TargetInterfaces/Microchip/AVR/AVR8/Avr8DebugInterface.hpp
@@ -102,6 +102,10 @@ namespace Bloom::DebugToolDrivers::TargetInterfaces::Microchip::Avr::Avr8
 
         /**
          * Should activate the physical interface between the debug tool and the AVR8 target.
+         *
+         * If the debugWire interface has been selected - this function should throw a DebugWirePhysicalInterfaceError
+         * exception, in the event of a failure when activating the interface. The reason for this is to allow us the
+         * chance to check the DWEN fuse bit, via an ISP interface. See Avr8::activate() for more.
          */
         virtual void activate() = 0;
 
diff --git a/src/Exceptions/Exception.hpp b/src/Exceptions/Exception.hpp
index 2c93ee0c..216a739a 100644
--- a/src/Exceptions/Exception.hpp
+++ b/src/Exceptions/Exception.hpp
@@ -8,6 +8,13 @@ namespace Bloom::Exceptions
     {
     public:
         explicit Exception(): std::runtime_error("") {}
+        virtual ~Exception() = default;
+
+        Exception(const Exception& other) noexcept = default;
+        Exception(Exception&& other) = default;
+
+        Exception& operator = (const Exception& other) = default;
+        Exception& operator = (Exception&& other) = default;
 
         explicit Exception(const std::string& message): std::runtime_error(message.c_str()), message(message) {}
 
diff --git a/src/Targets/Microchip/AVR/AVR8/Exceptions/DebugWirePhysicalInterfaceError.hpp b/src/Targets/Microchip/AVR/AVR8/Exceptions/DebugWirePhysicalInterfaceError.hpp
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3c29d1eb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/Targets/Microchip/AVR/AVR8/Exceptions/DebugWirePhysicalInterfaceError.hpp
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include "src/TargetController/Exceptions/TargetOperationFailure.hpp"
+
+namespace Bloom::Exceptions
+{
+    class DebugWirePhysicalInterfaceError: public TargetOperationFailure
+    {
+    public:
+        explicit DebugWirePhysicalInterfaceError(const std::string& message): TargetOperationFailure(message) {
+            this->message = message;
+        }
+
+        explicit DebugWirePhysicalInterfaceError(const char* message): TargetOperationFailure(message) {
+            this->message = std::string(message);
+        }
+    };
+}