diff --git a/klayout/EBeam/pymacros/pcells_EBeam/ebeam_dc_halfring_straight.py b/klayout/EBeam/pymacros/pcells_EBeam/ebeam_dc_halfring_straight.py
index 82b5d17f..ea297512 100644
--- a/klayout/EBeam/pymacros/pcells_EBeam/ebeam_dc_halfring_straight.py
+++ b/klayout/EBeam/pymacros/pcells_EBeam/ebeam_dc_halfring_straight.py
@@ -56,10 +56,11 @@ def produce_impl(self):
     # draw the half-circle
     x = 0
     y = r+w+g
-    try:
+    from SiEPIC import __version__ 
+    if __version__ > '0.5.0':
       self.cell.shapes(LayerSiN).insert(arc_wg_xy(x-Lc/2, y, r, w, 180, 270, dbu=dbu))  # dbu argument introduced in SiEPIC 0.5.1
       self.cell.shapes(LayerSiN).insert(arc_wg_xy(x+Lc/2, y, r, w, 270, 360, dbu=dbu))
-    except:
+    else:
       self.cell.shapes(LayerSiN).insert(arc_wg_xy(x-Lc/2, y, r, w, 180, 270))
       self.cell.shapes(LayerSiN).insert(arc_wg_xy(x+Lc/2, y, r, w, 270, 360))