diff --git a/src/scwidgets/check/_check.py b/src/scwidgets/check/_check.py
index 16532d7..2aa0fbd 100644
--- a/src/scwidgets/check/_check.py
+++ b/src/scwidgets/check/_check.py
@@ -218,7 +218,9 @@ def check_function(self) -> ChecksResult:
             if self._fingerprint is not None:
                 try:
                     output = self._fingerprint(*output)
-                except Exception as exception:
+                except (  # we do not raise here since it is passed to widget output # noqa B040
+                    Exception
+                ) as exception:
                     if python_version() >= "3.11":
                         exception.add_note(
                             "An error was raised in fingerprint function, "
diff --git a/src/scwidgets/exercise/_widget_code_exercise.py b/src/scwidgets/exercise/_widget_code_exercise.py
index 0d15f36..257c9e2 100644
--- a/src/scwidgets/exercise/_widget_code_exercise.py
+++ b/src/scwidgets/exercise/_widget_code_exercise.py
@@ -657,6 +657,11 @@ def _on_click_update_action(self) -> bool:
                 raised_error = True
                 raise e
 
+            # The clear_output command at the beginning of the function waits till
+            # something is printed. If nothing is printed, it is not cleared. We
+            # enforce it to be invoked by printing an empty string
+            print("", end="")
+
         return not (raised_error)
 
     def run_update(self):