diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 30b38d93..beca3302 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
 - #950: Added support for listing installed Python packages using `list -python`, `list -py` and `list-installed -python`
 - #822: The CPF resource processor now supports system expressions and macros in CPF merge files
 - #578 Added functionality to record and display IPM history of install, uninstall, load, and update
+- #996:Ensure COS commands execute in exec under a dedicated, isolated context
 
 ### Changed
 - #316: All parameters, except developer mode, included with a `load`, `install` or `update` command will be propagated to dependencies
diff --git a/src/cls/IPM/Main.cls b/src/cls/IPM/Main.cls
index db2b1f69..0ee1f98e 100644
--- a/src/cls/IPM/Main.cls
+++ b/src/cls/IPM/Main.cls
@@ -980,8 +980,7 @@ ClassMethod ShellInternal(
             } elseif (tCommandInfo = "load") {
                 do ..Load(.tCommandInfo)
             } elseif (tCommandInfo = "exec") {
-                write !
-                xecute tCommandInfo("parameters","expression")
+                do ..ExecuteCOS(.tCommandInfo)
             } elseif (tCommandInfo = "install") {
                 do ..Install(.tCommandInfo)
             } elseif (tCommandInfo = "reinstall") {
@@ -2213,6 +2212,17 @@ ClassMethod Load(
 	$$$ThrowOnError(log.Finalize($$$OK, devMode))
 }
 
+ClassMethod ExecuteCOS(ByRef tCommandInfo)
+{
+    set namespace = $namespace
+    try {
+        write !
+        xecute tCommandInfo("parameters","expression")
+    } catch ex {
+    }
+    set $namespace = namespace
+}
+
 ClassMethod LoadInternal(
 	ByRef pCommandInfo,
 	pLog As %IPM.General.AbstractHistory) [ Internal ]