diff --git a/sycl/include/CL/sycl/exception.hpp b/sycl/include/CL/sycl/exception.hpp
index 1bb3239969da7..276c5facdf3e4 100644
--- a/sycl/include/CL/sycl/exception.hpp
+++ b/sycl/include/CL/sycl/exception.hpp
@@ -24,6 +24,39 @@ namespace sycl {
 // Forward declaration
 class context;
 
+enum class errc : unsigned int {
+  success = 0,
+  runtime = 1,
+  kernel = 2,
+  accessor = 3,
+  nd_range = 4,
+  event = 5,
+  kernel_argument = 6,
+  build = 7,
+  invalid = 8,
+  memory_allocation = 9,
+  platform = 10,
+  profiling = 11,
+  feature_not_supported = 12,
+  kernel_not_supported = 13,
+  backend_mismatch = 14,
+};
+
+template <backend B> using errc_for = typename backend_traits<B>::errc;
+
+/// Constructs an error code using e and sycl_category()
+__SYCL_EXPORT std::error_code make_error_code(sycl::errc E) noexcept;
+
+__SYCL_EXPORT const std::error_category &sycl_category() noexcept;
+
+namespace detail {
+class __SYCL_EXPORT SYCLCategory : public std::error_category {
+public:
+  const char *name() const noexcept override { return "sycl"; }
+  std::string message(int) const override { return "SYCL Error"; }
+};
+} // namespace detail
+
 // Derive from std::exception so uncaught exceptions are printed in c++ default
 // exception handler.
 /// \ingroup sycl_api
@@ -68,15 +101,26 @@ class __SYCL_EXPORT exception : public std::exception {
   std::shared_ptr<context> MContext;
 
 protected:
+  // these two constructors are no longer used. Kept for ABI compatability.
   exception(const char *Msg, const cl_int CLErr,
             std::shared_ptr<context> Context = nullptr)
       : exception(std::string(Msg), CLErr, Context) {}
-
   exception(const std::string &Msg, const cl_int CLErr,
             std::shared_ptr<context> Context = nullptr)
       : MMsg(Msg + " " + detail::codeToString(CLErr)), MCLErr(CLErr),
         MContext(Context) {}
 
+  // base constructors used by SYCL 1.2.1 exception subclasses
+  exception(std::error_code ec, const char *Msg, const cl_int CLErr,
+            std::shared_ptr<context> Context = nullptr)
+      : exception(ec, std::string(Msg), CLErr, Context) {}
+
+  exception(std::error_code ec, const std::string &Msg, const cl_int CLErr,
+            std::shared_ptr<context> Context = nullptr)
+      : exception(ec, Context, Msg + " " + detail::codeToString(CLErr)) {
+    MCLErr = CLErr;
+  }
+
   exception(const std::string &Msg) : MMsg(Msg), MContext(nullptr) {}
 
   // base constructor for all SYCL 2020 constructors
@@ -95,33 +139,79 @@ class __SYCL2020_DEPRECATED(
   runtime_error(const char *Msg, cl_int Err)
       : runtime_error(std::string(Msg), Err) {}
 
-  runtime_error(const std::string &Msg, cl_int Err) : exception(Msg, Err) {}
+  runtime_error(const std::string &Msg, cl_int Err)
+      : exception(make_error_code(errc::runtime), Msg, Err) {}
+
+protected:
+  runtime_error(std::error_code ec, const std::string &Msg, const cl_int CLErr)
+      : exception(ec, Msg, CLErr) {}
 };
+
 class __SYCL2020_DEPRECATED("use sycl::exception with sycl::errc::kernel or "
                             "errc::kernel_argument instead.") kernel_error
     : public runtime_error {
-  using runtime_error::runtime_error;
+public:
+  kernel_error() = default;
+
+  kernel_error(const char *Msg, cl_int Err)
+      : kernel_error(std::string(Msg), Err) {}
+
+  kernel_error(const std::string &Msg, cl_int Err)
+      : runtime_error(make_error_code(errc::kernel), Msg, Err) {}
 };
+
 class __SYCL2020_DEPRECATED(
     "use sycl::exception with sycl::errc::accessor instead.") accessor_error
     : public runtime_error {
-  using runtime_error::runtime_error;
+public:
+  accessor_error() = default;
+
+  accessor_error(const char *Msg, cl_int Err)
+      : accessor_error(std::string(Msg), Err) {}
+
+  accessor_error(const std::string &Msg, cl_int Err)
+      : runtime_error(make_error_code(errc::accessor), Msg, Err) {}
 };
+
 class __SYCL2020_DEPRECATED(
     "use sycl::exception with sycl::errc::nd_range instead.") nd_range_error
     : public runtime_error {
-  using runtime_error::runtime_error;
+public:
+  nd_range_error() = default;
+
+  nd_range_error(const char *Msg, cl_int Err)
+      : nd_range_error(std::string(Msg), Err) {}
+
+  nd_range_error(const std::string &Msg, cl_int Err)
+      : runtime_error(make_error_code(errc::nd_range), Msg, Err) {}
 };
+
 class __SYCL2020_DEPRECATED(
     "use sycl::exception with sycl::errc::event instead.") event_error
     : public runtime_error {
-  using runtime_error::runtime_error;
+public:
+  event_error() = default;
+
+  event_error(const char *Msg, cl_int Err)
+      : event_error(std::string(Msg), Err) {}
+
+  event_error(const std::string &Msg, cl_int Err)
+      : runtime_error(make_error_code(errc::event), Msg, Err) {}
 };
+
 class __SYCL2020_DEPRECATED(
     "use sycl::exception with a sycl::errc enum value instead.")
     invalid_parameter_error : public runtime_error {
-  using runtime_error::runtime_error;
+public:
+  invalid_parameter_error() = default;
+
+  invalid_parameter_error(const char *Msg, cl_int Err)
+      : invalid_parameter_error(std::string(Msg), Err) {}
+
+  invalid_parameter_error(const std::string &Msg, cl_int Err)
+      : runtime_error(make_error_code(errc::kernel_argument), Msg, Err) {}
 };
+
 class __SYCL2020_DEPRECATED(
     "use sycl::exception with a sycl::errc enum value instead.") device_error
     : public exception {
@@ -131,76 +221,104 @@ class __SYCL2020_DEPRECATED(
   device_error(const char *Msg, cl_int Err)
       : device_error(std::string(Msg), Err) {}
 
-  device_error(const std::string &Msg, cl_int Err) : exception(Msg, Err) {}
+  device_error(const std::string &Msg, cl_int Err)
+      : exception(make_error_code(errc::invalid), Msg, Err) {}
+
+protected:
+  device_error(std::error_code ec, const std::string &Msg, const cl_int CLErr)
+      : exception(ec, Msg, CLErr) {}
 };
+
 class __SYCL2020_DEPRECATED(
     "use sycl::exception with a sycl::errc enum value instead.")
     compile_program_error : public device_error {
-  using device_error::device_error;
+public:
+  compile_program_error() = default;
+
+  compile_program_error(const char *Msg, cl_int Err)
+      : compile_program_error(std::string(Msg), Err) {}
+
+  compile_program_error(const std::string &Msg, cl_int Err)
+      : device_error(make_error_code(errc::build), Msg, Err) {}
 };
+
 class __SYCL2020_DEPRECATED(
     "use sycl::exception with a sycl::errc enum value instead.")
     link_program_error : public device_error {
-  using device_error::device_error;
+public:
+  link_program_error() = default;
+
+  link_program_error(const char *Msg, cl_int Err)
+      : link_program_error(std::string(Msg), Err) {}
+
+  link_program_error(const std::string &Msg, cl_int Err)
+      : device_error(make_error_code(errc::build), Msg, Err) {}
 };
+
 class __SYCL2020_DEPRECATED(
     "use sycl::exception with a sycl::errc enum value instead.")
     invalid_object_error : public device_error {
-  using device_error::device_error;
+public:
+  invalid_object_error() = default;
+
+  invalid_object_error(const char *Msg, cl_int Err)
+      : invalid_object_error(std::string(Msg), Err) {}
+
+  invalid_object_error(const std::string &Msg, cl_int Err)
+      : device_error(make_error_code(errc::invalid), Msg, Err) {}
 };
+
 class __SYCL2020_DEPRECATED(
     "use sycl::exception with sycl::errc::memory_allocation instead.")
     memory_allocation_error : public device_error {
-  using device_error::device_error;
+public:
+  memory_allocation_error() = default;
+
+  memory_allocation_error(const char *Msg, cl_int Err)
+      : memory_allocation_error(std::string(Msg), Err) {}
+
+  memory_allocation_error(const std::string &Msg, cl_int Err)
+      : device_error(make_error_code(errc::memory_allocation), Msg, Err) {}
 };
+
 class __SYCL2020_DEPRECATED(
     "use sycl::exception with sycl::errc::platform instead.") platform_error
     : public device_error {
-  using device_error::device_error;
+public:
+  platform_error() = default;
+
+  platform_error(const char *Msg, cl_int Err)
+      : platform_error(std::string(Msg), Err) {}
+
+  platform_error(const std::string &Msg, cl_int Err)
+      : device_error(make_error_code(errc::platform), Msg, Err) {}
 };
+
 class __SYCL2020_DEPRECATED(
     "use sycl::exception with sycl::errc::profiling instead.") profiling_error
     : public device_error {
-  using device_error::device_error;
+public:
+  profiling_error() = default;
+
+  profiling_error(const char *Msg, cl_int Err)
+      : profiling_error(std::string(Msg), Err) {}
+
+  profiling_error(const std::string &Msg, cl_int Err)
+      : device_error(make_error_code(errc::profiling), Msg, Err) {}
 };
+
 class __SYCL2020_DEPRECATED(
     "use sycl::exception with sycl::errc::feature_not_supported instead.")
     feature_not_supported : public device_error {
-  using device_error::device_error;
-};
-
-enum class errc : unsigned int {
-  success = 0,
-  runtime = 1,
-  kernel = 2,
-  accessor = 3,
-  nd_range = 4,
-  event = 5,
-  kernel_argument = 6,
-  build = 7,
-  invalid = 8,
-  memory_allocation = 9,
-  platform = 10,
-  profiling = 11,
-  feature_not_supported = 12,
-  kernel_not_supported = 13,
-  backend_mismatch = 14,
-};
-
-template <backend B> using errc_for = typename backend_traits<B>::errc;
+public:
+  feature_not_supported() = default;
 
-/// Constructs an error code using e and sycl_category()
-__SYCL_EXPORT std::error_code make_error_code(sycl::errc E) noexcept;
+  feature_not_supported(const char *Msg, cl_int Err)
+      : feature_not_supported(std::string(Msg), Err) {}
 
-__SYCL_EXPORT const std::error_category &sycl_category() noexcept;
-
-namespace detail {
-class __SYCL_EXPORT SYCLCategory : public std::error_category {
-public:
-  const char *name() const noexcept override { return "sycl"; }
-  std::string message(int) const override { return "SYCL Error"; }
+  feature_not_supported(const std::string &Msg, cl_int Err)
+      : device_error(make_error_code(errc::feature_not_supported), Msg, Err) {}
 };
-} // namespace detail
 
 } // namespace sycl
 } // __SYCL_INLINE_NAMESPACE(cl)
diff --git a/sycl/test/abi/sycl_symbols_windows.dump b/sycl/test/abi/sycl_symbols_windows.dump
index ca9b4eda5bc94..0d0c40e8eabb9 100644
--- a/sycl/test/abi/sycl_symbols_windows.dump
+++ b/sycl/test/abi/sycl_symbols_windows.dump
@@ -110,7 +110,6 @@
 ??$get_info@$0BAIA@@context@sycl@cl@@QEBAIXZ
 ??$get_info@$0BAIB@@context@sycl@cl@@QEBA?AV?$vector@Vdevice@sycl@cl@@V?$allocator@Vdevice@sycl@cl@@@std@@@std@@XZ
 ??$get_info@$0BAIE@@context@sycl@cl@@QEBA?AVplatform@12@XZ
-?device_has@queue@sycl@cl@@QEBA_NW4aspect@23@@Z
 ??$get_info@$0BAJA@@queue@sycl@cl@@QEBA?AVcontext@12@XZ
 ??$get_info@$0BAJB@@queue@sycl@cl@@QEBA?AVdevice@12@XZ
 ??$get_info@$0BAJC@@queue@sycl@cl@@QEBAIXZ
@@ -304,6 +303,8 @@
 ??0exception@sycl@cl@@IEAA@AEBV?$basic_string@DU?$char_traits@D@std@@V?$allocator@D@2@@std@@@Z
 ??0exception@sycl@cl@@IEAA@AEBV?$basic_string@DU?$char_traits@D@std@@V?$allocator@D@2@@std@@HV?$shared_ptr@Vcontext@sycl@cl@@@4@@Z
 ??0exception@sycl@cl@@IEAA@PEBDHV?$shared_ptr@Vcontext@sycl@cl@@@std@@@Z
+??0exception@sycl@cl@@IEAA@Verror_code@std@@AEBV?$basic_string@DU?$char_traits@D@std@@V?$allocator@D@2@@4@HV?$shared_ptr@Vcontext@sycl@cl@@@4@@Z
+??0exception@sycl@cl@@IEAA@Verror_code@std@@PEBDHV?$shared_ptr@Vcontext@sycl@cl@@@4@@Z
 ??0exception@sycl@cl@@IEAA@Verror_code@std@@V?$shared_ptr@Vcontext@sycl@cl@@@4@AEBV?$basic_string@DU?$char_traits@D@std@@V?$allocator@D@2@@4@@Z
 ??0exception@sycl@cl@@QEAA@$$QEAV012@@Z
 ??0exception@sycl@cl@@QEAA@AEBV012@@Z
@@ -1596,6 +1597,7 @@
 ?depends_on@handler@sycl@cl@@QEAAXAEBV?$vector@Vevent@sycl@cl@@V?$allocator@Vevent@sycl@cl@@@std@@@std@@@Z
 ?depends_on@handler@sycl@cl@@QEAAXVevent@23@@Z
 ?determineHostPtr@SYCLMemObjT@detail@sycl@cl@@IEAAXAEBV?$shared_ptr@Vcontext_impl@detail@sycl@cl@@@std@@_NAEAPEAXAEA_N@Z
+?device_has@queue@sycl@cl@@QEBA_NW4aspect@23@@Z
 ?die@pi@detail@sycl@cl@@YAXPEBD@Z
 ?distance@__host_std@cl@@YA?AVhalf@half_impl@detail@sycl@2@V34562@0@Z
 ?distance@__host_std@cl@@YA?AVhalf@half_impl@detail@sycl@2@V?$vec@Vhalf@half_impl@detail@sycl@cl@@$01@62@0@Z
@@ -1744,12 +1746,12 @@
 ?expm1@__host_std@cl@@YANN@Z
 ?ext_oneapi_barrier@handler@sycl@cl@@QEAAXAEBV?$vector@Vevent@sycl@cl@@V?$allocator@Vevent@sycl@cl@@@std@@@std@@@Z
 ?ext_oneapi_barrier@handler@sycl@cl@@QEAAXXZ
+?ext_oneapi_get_default_context@platform@sycl@cl@@QEBA?AVcontext@23@XZ
 ?ext_oneapi_submit_barrier@queue@sycl@cl@@QEAA?AVevent@23@AEBUcode_location@detail@23@@Z
 ?ext_oneapi_submit_barrier@queue@sycl@cl@@QEAA?AVevent@23@AEBV?$vector@Vevent@sycl@cl@@V?$allocator@Vevent@sycl@cl@@@std@@@std@@AEBUcode_location@detail@23@@Z
 ?extractArgsAndReqs@handler@sycl@cl@@AEAAXXZ
 ?extractArgsAndReqsFromLambda@handler@sycl@cl@@AEAAXPEAD_KPEBUkernel_param_desc_t@detail@23@@Z
 ?extractArgsAndReqsFromLambda@handler@sycl@cl@@AEAAXPEAD_KPEBUkernel_param_desc_t@detail@23@_N@Z
-?ext_oneapi_get_default_context@platform@sycl@cl@@QEBA?AVcontext@23@XZ
 ?fabs@__host_std@cl@@YA?AV?$vec@M$00@sycl@2@V342@@Z
 ?fabs@__host_std@cl@@YA?AV?$vec@M$01@sycl@2@V342@@Z
 ?fabs@__host_std@cl@@YA?AV?$vec@M$02@sycl@2@V342@@Z