diff --git a/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/auxiliary/util.py b/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/auxiliary/util.py
index 7a5189a07e06..d9f3d802c9e6 100644
--- a/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/auxiliary/util.py
+++ b/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/auxiliary/util.py
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@
 from typing import Any, Dict, Iterator, List, Optional, Sequence, Tuple, Union
 
 from osgeo import __version__ as gdal_version_str
-from osgeo import gdal
+from osgeo import gdal, ogr, osr
 from osgeo_utils.auxiliary.base import (
     MaybeSequence,
     OptionalBoolStr,
@@ -54,6 +54,16 @@
 ]
 
 
+def enable_gdal_exceptions(fun):
+    def enable_exceptions_wrapper(*args, **kwargs):
+        with gdal.ExceptionMgr(useExceptions=True), osr.ExceptionMgr(
+            useExceptions=True
+        ), ogr.ExceptionMgr(useExceptions=True):
+            return fun(*args, **kwargs)
+
+    return enable_exceptions_wrapper
+
+
 def DoesDriverHandleExtension(drv: gdal.Driver, ext: str) -> bool:
     exts = drv.GetMetadataItem(gdal.DMD_EXTENSIONS)
     return exts is not None and ext.lower() in exts.lower().split(" ")
diff --git a/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/gdal2tiles.py b/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/gdal2tiles.py
index 6d3d01a33a56..69639d3823ec 100644
--- a/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/gdal2tiles.py
+++ b/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/gdal2tiles.py
@@ -56,6 +56,7 @@
 from xml.etree import ElementTree
 
 from osgeo import gdal, osr
+from osgeo_utils.auxiliary.util import enable_gdal_exceptions
 
 Options = Any
 
@@ -4585,20 +4586,9 @@ def single_threaded_tiling(
     shutil.rmtree(os.path.dirname(conf.src_file))
 
 
+@enable_gdal_exceptions
 def multi_threaded_tiling(
     input_file: str, output_folder: str, options: Options, pool
-) -> None:
-    with gdal.ExceptionMgr(), osr.ExceptionMgr():
-        return _multi_threaded_tiling(
-            input_file=input_file,
-            output_folder=output_folder,
-            options=options,
-            pool=pool,
-        )
-
-
-def _multi_threaded_tiling(
-    input_file: str, output_folder: str, options: Options, pool
 ) -> None:
     nb_processes = options.nb_processes or 1
 
@@ -4696,14 +4686,8 @@ def main(argv: List[str] = sys.argv, called_from_main=False) -> int:
         return submain(argv, called_from_main=called_from_main)
 
 
+@enable_gdal_exceptions
 def submain(argv: List[str], pool=None, pool_size=0, called_from_main=False) -> int:
-    with gdal.ExceptionMgr(), osr.ExceptionMgr():
-        return _submain(
-            argv=argv, pool=pool, pool_size=pool_size, called_from_main=called_from_main
-        )
-
-
-def _submain(argv: List[str], pool=None, pool_size=0, called_from_main=False) -> int:
 
     argv = gdal.GeneralCmdLineProcessor(argv)
     if argv is None:
diff --git a/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/gdal2xyz.py b/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/gdal2xyz.py
index 2ce2fe6b01c8..e21268124996 100644
--- a/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/gdal2xyz.py
+++ b/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/gdal2xyz.py
@@ -44,9 +44,15 @@
     OptionalProgressCallback,
     get_progress_callback,
 )
-from osgeo_utils.auxiliary.util import PathOrDS, get_bands, open_ds
+from osgeo_utils.auxiliary.util import (
+    PathOrDS,
+    enable_gdal_exceptions,
+    get_bands,
+    open_ds,
+)
 
 
+@enable_gdal_exceptions
 def gdal2xyz(
     srcfile: PathOrDS,
     dstfile: PathLikeOrStr = None,
@@ -60,37 +66,6 @@ def gdal2xyz(
     return_np_arrays: bool = False,
     pre_allocate_np_arrays: bool = True,
     progress_callback: OptionalProgressCallback = ...,
-) -> Optional[Tuple]:
-    with gdal.ExceptionMgr():
-        return _gdal2xyz(
-            srcfile=srcfile,
-            dstfile=dstfile,
-            srcwin=srcwin,
-            skip=skip,
-            band_nums=band_nums,
-            delim=delim,
-            skip_nodata=skip_nodata,
-            src_nodata=src_nodata,
-            dst_nodata=dst_nodata,
-            return_np_arrays=return_np_arrays,
-            pre_allocate_np_arrays=pre_allocate_np_arrays,
-            progress_callback=progress_callback,
-        )
-
-
-def _gdal2xyz(
-    srcfile: PathOrDS,
-    dstfile: PathLikeOrStr = None,
-    srcwin: Optional[Sequence[int]] = None,
-    skip: Union[int, Sequence[int]] = 1,
-    band_nums: Optional[Sequence[int]] = None,
-    delim: str = " ",
-    skip_nodata: bool = False,
-    src_nodata: Optional[Union[Sequence, Number]] = None,
-    dst_nodata: Optional[Union[Sequence, Number]] = None,
-    return_np_arrays: bool = False,
-    pre_allocate_np_arrays: bool = True,
-    progress_callback: OptionalProgressCallback = ...,
 ) -> Optional[Tuple]:
     """
     translates a raster file (or dataset) into xyz format
diff --git a/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/gdal_calc.py b/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/gdal_calc.py
index 11a0e9f6f11f..69f134871a3b 100644
--- a/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/gdal_calc.py
+++ b/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/gdal_calc.py
@@ -50,7 +50,11 @@
 from osgeo_utils.auxiliary.extent_util import GT, Extent
 from osgeo_utils.auxiliary.gdal_argparse import GDALArgumentParser, GDALScript
 from osgeo_utils.auxiliary.rectangle import GeoRectangle
-from osgeo_utils.auxiliary.util import GetOutputDriverFor, open_ds
+from osgeo_utils.auxiliary.util import (
+    GetOutputDriverFor,
+    enable_gdal_exceptions,
+    open_ds,
+)
 
 GDALDataType = int
 
@@ -104,6 +108,7 @@
 """
 
 
+@enable_gdal_exceptions
 def Calc(
     calc: MaybeSequence[str],
     outfile: Optional[PathLikeOrStr] = None,
@@ -124,49 +129,6 @@ def Calc(
     progress_callback: Optional = gdal.TermProgress_nocb,
     **input_files,
 ):
-    with gdal.ExceptionMgr():
-        return _Calc(
-            calc=calc,
-            outfile=outfile,
-            NoDataValue=NoDataValue,
-            type=type,
-            format=format,
-            creation_options=creation_options,
-            allBands=allBands,
-            overwrite=overwrite,
-            hideNoData=hideNoData,
-            projectionCheck=projectionCheck,
-            color_table=color_table,
-            extent=extent,
-            projwin=projwin,
-            user_namespace=user_namespace,
-            debug=debug,
-            quiet=quiet,
-            progress_callback=progress_callback,
-            **input_files,
-        )
-
-
-def _Calc(
-    calc: MaybeSequence[str],
-    outfile: Optional[PathLikeOrStr] = None,
-    NoDataValue: Optional[Number] = None,
-    type: Optional[Union[GDALDataType, str]] = None,
-    format: Optional[str] = None,
-    creation_options: Optional[Sequence[str]] = None,
-    allBands: str = "",
-    overwrite: bool = False,
-    hideNoData: bool = False,
-    projectionCheck: bool = False,
-    color_table: Optional[ColorTableLike] = None,
-    extent: Optional[Extent] = None,
-    projwin: Optional[Union[Tuple, GeoRectangle]] = None,
-    user_namespace: Optional[Dict] = None,
-    debug: bool = False,
-    quiet: bool = False,
-    progress_callback: Optional = gdal.TermProgress_nocb,
-    **input_files,
-):
 
     if debug:
         print(f"gdal_calc.py starting calculation {calc}")
diff --git a/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/gdal_edit.py b/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/gdal_edit.py
index f395098b7e33..50a401b58a7f 100755
--- a/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/gdal_edit.py
+++ b/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/gdal_edit.py
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@
 import sys
 
 from osgeo import gdal, osr
+from osgeo_utils.auxiliary.util import enable_gdal_exceptions
 
 
 def Usage(isError):
@@ -86,12 +87,8 @@ def ArgIsNumeric(s):
     return True
 
 
+@enable_gdal_exceptions
 def gdal_edit(argv):
-    with gdal.ExceptionMgr(), osr.ExceptionMgr():
-        return _gdal_edit(argv)
-
-
-def _gdal_edit(argv):
 
     argv = gdal.GeneralCmdLineProcessor(argv)
     if argv is None:
diff --git a/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/gdal_fillnodata.py b/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/gdal_fillnodata.py
index c352b4866bd1..e036b2c4ea3c 100644
--- a/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/gdal_fillnodata.py
+++ b/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/gdal_fillnodata.py
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@
 
 from osgeo import gdal
 from osgeo_utils.auxiliary.gdal_argparse import GDALArgumentParser, GDALScript
+from osgeo_utils.auxiliary.util import enable_gdal_exceptions
 
 
 def CopyBand(srcband, dstband):
@@ -47,6 +48,7 @@ def CopyBand(srcband, dstband):
         )
 
 
+@enable_gdal_exceptions
 def gdal_fillnodata(
     src_filename: Optional[str] = None,
     band_number: int = 1,
@@ -59,35 +61,6 @@ def gdal_fillnodata(
     smoothing_iterations: int = 0,
     interpolation: Optional[str] = None,
     options: Optional[list] = None,
-):
-    with gdal.ExceptionMgr():
-        return _gdal_fillnodata(
-            src_filename=src_filename,
-            band_number=band_number,
-            dst_filename=dst_filename,
-            driver_name=driver_name,
-            creation_options=creation_options,
-            quiet=quiet,
-            mask=mask,
-            max_distance=max_distance,
-            smoothing_iterations=smoothing_iterations,
-            interpolation=interpolation,
-            options=options,
-        )
-
-
-def _gdal_fillnodata(
-    src_filename: Optional[str] = None,
-    band_number: int = 1,
-    dst_filename: Optional[str] = None,
-    driver_name: str = "GTiff",
-    creation_options: Optional[list] = None,
-    quiet: bool = False,
-    mask: str = "default",
-    max_distance: Real = 100,
-    smoothing_iterations: int = 0,
-    interpolation: Optional[str] = None,
-    options: Optional[list] = None,
 ):
     options = options or []
     creation_options = creation_options or []
diff --git a/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/gdal_pansharpen.py b/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/gdal_pansharpen.py
index ef0322b00197..d2d7ee1efb6a 100644
--- a/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/gdal_pansharpen.py
+++ b/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/gdal_pansharpen.py
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@
 from typing import List, Optional, Sequence, Union
 
 from osgeo import gdal
-from osgeo_utils.auxiliary.util import GetOutputDriverFor
+from osgeo_utils.auxiliary.util import GetOutputDriverFor, enable_gdal_exceptions
 
 
 def Usage(isError):
@@ -68,12 +68,8 @@ def Usage(isError):
     return 2 if isError else 0
 
 
+@enable_gdal_exceptions
 def main(argv=None):
-    with gdal.ExceptionMgr():
-        return _main(argv=argv)
-
-
-def _main(argv=sys.argv):
 
     argv = gdal.GeneralCmdLineProcessor(argv)
     if argv is None:
diff --git a/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/gdal_polygonize.py b/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/gdal_polygonize.py
index f00314782e8f..ab6702e85a7e 100644
--- a/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/gdal_polygonize.py
+++ b/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/gdal_polygonize.py
@@ -37,9 +37,10 @@
 
 from osgeo import gdal, ogr
 from osgeo_utils.auxiliary.gdal_argparse import GDALArgumentParser, GDALScript
-from osgeo_utils.auxiliary.util import GetOutputDriverFor
+from osgeo_utils.auxiliary.util import GetOutputDriverFor, enable_gdal_exceptions
 
 
+@enable_gdal_exceptions
 def gdal_polygonize(
     src_filename: Optional[str] = None,
     band_number: Union[int, str] = 1,
@@ -54,37 +55,6 @@ def gdal_polygonize(
     layer_creation_options: Optional[list] = None,
     connectedness8: bool = False,
 ):
-    with gdal.ExceptionMgr(), ogr.ExceptionMgr():
-        return _gdal_polygonize(
-            src_filename=src_filename,
-            band_number=band_number,
-            dst_filename=dst_filename,
-            overwrite=overwrite,
-            driver_name=driver_name,
-            dst_layername=dst_layername,
-            dst_fieldname=dst_fieldname,
-            quiet=quiet,
-            mask=mask,
-            options=options,
-            layer_creation_options=layer_creation_options,
-            connectedness8=connectedness8,
-        )
-
-
-def _gdal_polygonize(
-    src_filename: Optional[str] = None,
-    band_number: Union[int, str] = 1,
-    dst_filename: Optional[str] = None,
-    overwrite: bool = False,
-    driver_name: Optional[str] = None,
-    dst_layername: Optional[str] = None,
-    dst_fieldname: Optional[str] = None,
-    quiet: bool = False,
-    mask: str = "default",
-    options: Optional[list] = None,
-    layer_creation_options: Optional[list] = None,
-    connectedness8: bool = False,
-):
 
     if isinstance(band_number, str) and not band_number.startswith("mask"):
         band_number = int(band_number)
diff --git a/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/gdal_proximity.py b/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/gdal_proximity.py
index 441a36b5a720..93a39c294107 100644
--- a/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/gdal_proximity.py
+++ b/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/gdal_proximity.py
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@
 from typing import Optional, Sequence
 
 from osgeo import gdal
-from osgeo_utils.auxiliary.util import GetOutputDriverFor
+from osgeo_utils.auxiliary.util import GetOutputDriverFor, enable_gdal_exceptions
 
 
 def Usage(isError):
@@ -54,12 +54,9 @@ def Usage(isError):
     return 2 if isError else 0
 
 
+@enable_gdal_exceptions
 def main(argv=sys.argv):
-    with gdal.ExceptionMgr():
-        return _main(argv=argv)
 
-
-def _main(argv=sys.argv):
     driver_name = None
     creation_options = []
     alg_options = []
diff --git a/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/gdal_retile.py b/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/gdal_retile.py
index 56957b568342..2452c7e98f89 100644
--- a/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/gdal_retile.py
+++ b/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/gdal_retile.py
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@
 import sys
 
 from osgeo import gdal, ogr, osr
+from osgeo_utils.auxiliary.util import enable_gdal_exceptions
 
 progress = gdal.TermProgress_nocb
 
@@ -941,12 +942,8 @@ def Usage(isError):
     return 2 if isError else 0
 
 
+@enable_gdal_exceptions
 def main(args=None, g=None):
-    with gdal.ExceptionMgr(), ogr.ExceptionMgr(), osr.ExceptionMgr():
-        return _main(args=args, g=g)
-
-
-def _main(args=None, g=None):
 
     if g is None:
         g = RetileGlobals()
diff --git a/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/gdal_sieve.py b/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/gdal_sieve.py
index 99c003bbf31a..4699d62fbd00 100644
--- a/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/gdal_sieve.py
+++ b/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/gdal_sieve.py
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@
 
 from osgeo import gdal
 from osgeo_utils.auxiliary.base import PathLikeOrStr
-from osgeo_utils.auxiliary.util import GetOutputDriverFor
+from osgeo_utils.auxiliary.util import GetOutputDriverFor, enable_gdal_exceptions
 
 
 def Usage(isError=True):
@@ -128,6 +128,7 @@ def main(argv=sys.argv):
     )
 
 
+@enable_gdal_exceptions
 def gdal_sieve(
     src_filename: Optional[str] = None,
     dst_filename: PathLikeOrStr = None,
@@ -136,27 +137,6 @@ def gdal_sieve(
     threshold: int = 2,
     connectedness: int = 4,
     quiet: bool = False,
-):
-    with gdal.ExceptionMgr():
-        return _gdal_sieve(
-            src_filename=src_filename,
-            dst_filename=dst_filename,
-            driver_name=driver_name,
-            mask=mask,
-            threshold=threshold,
-            connectedness=connectedness,
-            quiet=quiet,
-        )
-
-
-def _gdal_sieve(
-    src_filename: Optional[str] = None,
-    dst_filename: PathLikeOrStr = None,
-    driver_name: Optional[str] = None,
-    mask: str = "default",
-    threshold: int = 2,
-    connectedness: int = 4,
-    quiet: bool = False,
 ):
     # =============================================================================
     # 	Verify we have next gen bindings with the sievefilter method.
diff --git a/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/gdalattachpct.py b/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/gdalattachpct.py
index e3d8ffa374fa..e13a9608a3de 100644
--- a/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/gdalattachpct.py
+++ b/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/gdalattachpct.py
@@ -37,7 +37,11 @@
 from osgeo import gdal
 from osgeo_utils.auxiliary.base import PathLikeOrStr
 from osgeo_utils.auxiliary.color_table import ColorTableLike, get_color_table
-from osgeo_utils.auxiliary.util import GetOutputDriverFor, open_ds
+from osgeo_utils.auxiliary.util import (
+    GetOutputDriverFor,
+    enable_gdal_exceptions,
+    open_ds,
+)
 
 
 def Usage(isError=True):
@@ -47,12 +51,8 @@ def Usage(isError=True):
     return 2 if isError else 0
 
 
+@enable_gdal_exceptions
 def main(argv=sys.argv):
-    with gdal.ExceptionMgr():
-        return _main(argv=argv)
-
-
-def _main(argv=sys.argv):
 
     pct_filename = None
     src_filename = None
diff --git a/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/gdalcompare.py b/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/gdalcompare.py
index e84b692f3eed..f27434170228 100644
--- a/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/gdalcompare.py
+++ b/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/gdalcompare.py
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@
 
 #######################################################
 from osgeo_utils.auxiliary.base import PathLikeOrStr
+from osgeo_utils.auxiliary.util import enable_gdal_exceptions
 
 my_print = print
 
@@ -502,12 +503,8 @@ def Usage(isError=True):
 #
 
 
+@enable_gdal_exceptions
 def main(argv=sys.argv):
-    with gdal.ExceptionMgr():
-        return _main(argv=argv)
-
-
-def _main(argv=sys.argv):
 
     # Default GDAL argument parsing.
     argv = gdal.GeneralCmdLineProcessor(argv)
diff --git a/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/gdalmove.py b/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/gdalmove.py
index bdb097dea93f..8d40b4542c15 100644
--- a/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/gdalmove.py
+++ b/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/gdalmove.py
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@
 from typing import Optional
 
 from osgeo import gdal, osr
+from osgeo_utils.auxiliary.util import enable_gdal_exceptions
 
 ###############################################################################
 
@@ -47,24 +48,13 @@ def fmt_loc(srs_obj, loc):
 ###############################################################################
 
 
+@enable_gdal_exceptions
 def move(
     filename: str,
     t_srs: str,
     s_srs: Optional[str] = None,
     pixel_threshold: Optional[float] = None,
 ):
-    with gdal.ExceptionMgr(), osr.ExceptionMgr():
-        return _move(
-            filename=filename, t_srs=t_srs, s_srs=s_srs, pixel_threshold=pixel_threshold
-        )
-
-
-def _move(
-    filename: str,
-    t_srs: str,
-    s_srs: Optional[str] = None,
-    pixel_threshold: Optional[float] = None,
-):
 
     # -------------------------------------------------------------------------
     # Open the file.
diff --git a/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/ogr_layer_algebra.py b/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/ogr_layer_algebra.py
index 20a6b6c723f3..587d501ffe11 100644
--- a/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/ogr_layer_algebra.py
+++ b/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/ogr_layer_algebra.py
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@
 import sys
 
 from osgeo import gdal, ogr, osr
+from osgeo_utils.auxiliary.util import enable_gdal_exceptions
 
 ###############################################################################
 
@@ -171,12 +172,8 @@ def CreateLayer(
 ###############################################################################
 
 
+@enable_gdal_exceptions
 def main(argv=sys.argv):
-    with gdal.ExceptionMgr(), ogr.ExceptionMgr(), osr.ExceptionMgr():
-        return _main(argv=argv)
-
-
-def _main(argv=sys.argv):
 
     driver_name = "ESRI Shapefile"
     quiet = False
diff --git a/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/ogrmerge.py b/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/ogrmerge.py
index 578f32e0a672..0cc32e1ed1ac 100644
--- a/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/ogrmerge.py
+++ b/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/ogrmerge.py
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@
 
 from osgeo import gdal, ogr, osr
 from osgeo_utils.auxiliary.base import PathLikeOrStr
-from osgeo_utils.auxiliary.util import GetOutputDriverFor
+from osgeo_utils.auxiliary.util import GetOutputDriverFor, enable_gdal_exceptions
 
 
 def Usage(isError):
@@ -167,12 +167,8 @@ def close_element(self, closing_name=None):
 # process()
 
 
+@enable_gdal_exceptions
 def process(argv, progress=None, progress_arg=None):
-    with gdal.ExceptionMgr(), ogr.ExceptionMgr(), osr.ExceptionMgr():
-        return _process(argv=argv, progress=progress, progress_arg=progress_arg)
-
-
-def _process(argv, progress=None, progress_arg=None):
 
     if not argv:
         return Usage(isError=True)
diff --git a/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/pct2rgb.py b/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/pct2rgb.py
index d50f5404439f..66d81d04b1bd 100644
--- a/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/pct2rgb.py
+++ b/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/pct2rgb.py
@@ -42,11 +42,16 @@
 from osgeo_utils.auxiliary.color_palette import get_color_palette
 from osgeo_utils.auxiliary.color_table import get_color_table
 from osgeo_utils.auxiliary.gdal_argparse import GDALArgumentParser, GDALScript
-from osgeo_utils.auxiliary.util import GetOutputDriverFor, open_ds
+from osgeo_utils.auxiliary.util import (
+    GetOutputDriverFor,
+    enable_gdal_exceptions,
+    open_ds,
+)
 
 progress = gdal.TermProgress_nocb
 
 
+@enable_gdal_exceptions
 def pct2rgb(
     src_filename: PathLikeOrStr,
     pct_filename: Optional[PathLikeOrStr],
@@ -54,25 +59,6 @@ def pct2rgb(
     band_number: int = 1,
     out_bands: int = 3,
     driver_name: Optional[str] = None,
-):
-    with gdal.ExceptionMgr():
-        return _pct2rgb(
-            src_filename=src_filename,
-            pct_filename=pct_filename,
-            dst_filename=dst_filename,
-            band_number=band_number,
-            out_bands=out_bands,
-            driver_name=driver_name,
-        )
-
-
-def _pct2rgb(
-    src_filename: PathLikeOrStr,
-    pct_filename: Optional[PathLikeOrStr],
-    dst_filename: PathLikeOrStr,
-    band_number: int = 1,
-    out_bands: int = 3,
-    driver_name: Optional[str] = None,
 ):
     # Open source file
     src_ds = open_ds(src_filename)
diff --git a/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/rgb2pct.py b/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/rgb2pct.py
index 34803a7e3f7b..b689a08a6e95 100644
--- a/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/rgb2pct.py
+++ b/swig/python/gdal-utils/osgeo_utils/rgb2pct.py
@@ -39,32 +39,20 @@
 from osgeo_utils.auxiliary.base import PathLikeOrStr
 from osgeo_utils.auxiliary.color_table import get_color_table
 from osgeo_utils.auxiliary.gdal_argparse import GDALArgumentParser, GDALScript
-from osgeo_utils.auxiliary.util import GetOutputDriverFor, open_ds
+from osgeo_utils.auxiliary.util import (
+    GetOutputDriverFor,
+    enable_gdal_exceptions,
+    open_ds,
+)
 
 
+@enable_gdal_exceptions
 def rgb2pct(
     src_filename: PathLikeOrStr,
     pct_filename: Optional[PathLikeOrStr] = None,
     dst_filename: Optional[PathLikeOrStr] = None,
     color_count: int = 256,
     driver_name: Optional[str] = None,
-):
-    with gdal.ExceptionMgr():
-        return _rgb2pct(
-            src_filename=src_filename,
-            pct_filename=pct_filename,
-            dst_filename=dst_filename,
-            color_count=color_count,
-            driver_name=driver_name,
-        )
-
-
-def _rgb2pct(
-    src_filename: PathLikeOrStr,
-    pct_filename: Optional[PathLikeOrStr] = None,
-    dst_filename: Optional[PathLikeOrStr] = None,
-    color_count: int = 256,
-    driver_name: Optional[str] = None,
 ):
     # Open source file
     src_ds = open_ds(src_filename)