diff --git a/aws_lambda_powertools/logging/formatter.py b/aws_lambda_powertools/logging/formatter.py
index 07971ba0a26..0d0750b4085 100644
--- a/aws_lambda_powertools/logging/formatter.py
+++ b/aws_lambda_powertools/logging/formatter.py
@@ -152,7 +152,11 @@ def format(self, record: logging.LogRecord) -> str:  # noqa: A003
         """Format logging record as structured JSON str"""
         formatted_log = self._extract_log_keys(log_record=record)
         formatted_log["message"] = self._extract_log_message(log_record=record)
-        formatted_log["exception"], formatted_log["exception_name"] = self._extract_log_exception(log_record=record)
+        # exception and exception_name fields can be added as extra key
+        # in any log level, we try to extract and use them first
+        extracted_exception, extracted_exception_name = self._extract_log_exception(log_record=record)
+        formatted_log["exception"] = formatted_log.get("exception", extracted_exception)
+        formatted_log["exception_name"] = formatted_log.get("exception_name", extracted_exception_name)
         formatted_log["xray_trace_id"] = self._get_latest_trace_id()
         formatted_log = self._strip_none_records(records=formatted_log)
 
diff --git a/tests/functional/test_logger.py b/tests/functional/test_logger.py
index 0e576752508..412a9358553 100644
--- a/tests/functional/test_logger.py
+++ b/tests/functional/test_logger.py
@@ -251,6 +251,19 @@ def test_logger_append_duplicated(stdout, service_name):
     assert "new_value" == log["request_id"]
 
 
+def test_logger_honors_given_exception_keys(stdout, service_name):
+    # GIVEN Logger is initialized with exception and exception_name fields
+    logger = Logger(service=service_name, stream=stdout)
+
+    # WHEN log level info
+    logger.info("log", exception="exception_value", exception_name="exception_name_value")
+
+    # THEN log statements should have these keys
+    log = capture_logging_output(stdout)
+    assert "exception_value" == log["exception"]
+    assert "exception_name_value" == log["exception_name"]
+
+
 def test_logger_invalid_sampling_rate(service_name):
     # GIVEN Logger is initialized
     # WHEN sampling_rate non-numeric value