diff --git a/narwhals/_polars/series.py b/narwhals/_polars/series.py
index 4a931c152..e9ac005d7 100644
--- a/narwhals/_polars/series.py
+++ b/narwhals/_polars/series.py
@@ -226,17 +226,15 @@ def __invert__(self: Self) -> Self:
 
     def is_nan(self: Self) -> Self:
         native = self._native_series
-
-        if self._backend_version < (1, 18):  # pragma: no cover
-            return self._from_native_series(
-                pl.select(pl.when(native.is_not_null()).then(native.is_nan()))[
-                    native.name
-                ]
-            )
         try:
-            return self._from_native_series(native.is_nan())
+            native_is_nan = native.is_nan()
         except pl.exceptions.PolarsError as e:
             raise catch_polars_exception(e) from None
+        if self._backend_version < (1, 18):  # pragma: no cover
+            return self._from_native_series(
+                pl.select(pl.when(native.is_not_null()).then(native_is_nan))[native.name]
+            )
+        return self._from_native_series(native_is_nan)
 
     def median(self: Self) -> Any:
         from narwhals.exceptions import InvalidOperationError
diff --git a/narwhals/exceptions.py b/narwhals/exceptions.py
index 412034c06..011fb9407 100644
--- a/narwhals/exceptions.py
+++ b/narwhals/exceptions.py
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ class InvalidOperationError(NarwhalsError):
     """Exception raised during invalid operations."""
 
 
-class InvalidIntoExprError(NarwhalsError):
+class InvalidIntoExprError(TypeError, NarwhalsError):
     """Exception raised when object can't be converted to expression."""
 
     def __init__(self: Self, message: str) -> None: