diff --git a/blackbird/src/main/java/tools/jackson/module/blackbird/util/ReflectionHack.java b/blackbird/src/main/java/tools/jackson/module/blackbird/util/ReflectionHack.java
index cc8575f6..2817f384 100644
--- a/blackbird/src/main/java/tools/jackson/module/blackbird/util/ReflectionHack.java
+++ b/blackbird/src/main/java/tools/jackson/module/blackbird/util/ReflectionHack.java
@@ -53,7 +53,13 @@ private static MethodHandle init() {
         }
 
         public static Lookup privateLookupIn(Class<?> lookup, Lookup orig) {
-            return Unchecked.supplier(() -> (Lookup) FACTORY.invokeExact(lookup, orig)).get();
+            try {
+                return (Lookup) FACTORY.invokeExact(lookup, orig);
+            } catch (ReflectiveOperationException e) {
+                return orig;
+            } catch (Throwable t) {
+                throw Sneaky.throwAnyway(t);
+            }
         }
     }
 
diff --git a/blackbird/src/test/java/tools/jackson/module/blackbird/TestAccessFallback.java b/blackbird/src/test/java/tools/jackson/module/blackbird/TestAccessFallback.java
index c2069da6..8942dec1 100644
--- a/blackbird/src/test/java/tools/jackson/module/blackbird/TestAccessFallback.java
+++ b/blackbird/src/test/java/tools/jackson/module/blackbird/TestAccessFallback.java
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 package tools.jackson.module.blackbird;
 
+import java.lang.reflect.Proxy;
+
 import tools.jackson.databind.ObjectMapper;
 
 public class TestAccessFallback extends BlackbirdTestBase
@@ -69,4 +71,19 @@ public void testDeserializeAccess() throws Exception
         MyBean bean2 = abMapper.readValue(BEAN_JSON, MyBean.class);
         assertEquals("a", bean2.getE());
     }
+
+    public void testProxyAccessIssue181() throws Exception {
+        ObjectMapper om = newObjectMapper();
+        String val = om.writeValueAsString(Proxy.newProxyInstance(TestAccessFallback.class.getClassLoader(), new Class<?>[] { Beany.class }, (p, m, a) -> {
+            if (m.getName().equals("getA")) {
+                return 42;
+            }
+            return null;
+        }));
+        assertEquals("{\"a\":42}", val);
+    }
+
+    public interface Beany {
+        int getA();
+    }
 }
diff --git a/release-notes/CREDITS-2.x b/release-notes/CREDITS-2.x
index 384c5df0..4626fdef 100644
--- a/release-notes/CREDITS-2.x
+++ b/release-notes/CREDITS-2.x
@@ -81,6 +81,7 @@ Steven Schlansker (stevenschlansker@github)
  (2.12.0)
 * Fixed #141: Blackbird fails to deserialize varargs array
  (2.13.0)
+... and many, many more (esp. to Afterburner/Blackbird projects)
 
 Marc Magon (GedMarc@github)
 
diff --git a/release-notes/VERSION-2.x b/release-notes/VERSION-2.x
index 5e90d222..263c00e4 100644
--- a/release-notes/VERSION-2.x
+++ b/release-notes/VERSION-2.x
@@ -23,6 +23,9 @@ Active maintainers:
 
 2.16.0 (not yet released)
 
+#181: BlackBird proxy object error in Java 17
+ (fix by Steven S)
+
 #209: Add guice7 (jakarta.inject) module
  (contributed by Joe B)