A processing device includes a timer and an exception controller configured to provide an exception indicator representative of a first exception. The processing device further includes a timer controller configured to selectively enable/disable the timer in response to the exception and based on a characteristic of the exception. A method of utilizing the processing device includes receiving an exception and determining a characteristic of the exception. The method further includes, at a first time, selectively enabling/disabling the timer of the processing device based on the characteristic, and, at a second time subsequent to the first time, accessing a count value stored at the timer. The method further includes providing the count value for output from the processing device.