diff --git a/src/Chemistry.hpp b/src/Chemistry.hpp
index 47a396757..0e289148c 100644
--- a/src/Chemistry.hpp
+++ b/src/Chemistry.hpp
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ namespace quokka::chemistry
 
 AMREX_GPU_DEVICE void chemburner(burn_t &chemstate, Real dt);
 
-template <typename problem_t> void computeChemistry(amrex::MultiFab &mf, const Real dt, const Real max_density_allowed, const Real min_density_allowed)
+template <typename problem_t> auto computeChemistry(amrex::MultiFab &mf, const Real dt, const Real max_density_allowed, const Real min_density_allowed) -> bool
 {
 
 	// Start off by assuming a successful burn.
@@ -164,8 +164,12 @@ template <typename problem_t> void computeChemistry(amrex::MultiFab &mf, const R
 	amrex::ParallelDescriptor::ReduceIntMin(burn_success);
 
 	if (!burn_success) {
-		amrex::Abort("Burn failed in VODE. Aborting.");
+		// amrex::Abort("Burn failed in VODE. Aborting.");
+		amrex::Print() << "\t>> WARNING: Unsuccessful burn. Retrying hydro step."
+			       << "\n";
 	}
+
+	return burn_success;
 }
 
 } // namespace quokka::chemistry
diff --git a/src/RadhydroSimulation.hpp b/src/RadhydroSimulation.hpp
index c1b5654ed..92345d849 100644
--- a/src/RadhydroSimulation.hpp
+++ b/src/RadhydroSimulation.hpp
@@ -230,7 +230,7 @@ template <typename problem_t> class RadhydroSimulation : public AMRSimulation<pr
 				 amrex::Real time, amrex::Real dt_lev) -> bool;
 
 	void addStrangSplitSources(amrex::MultiFab &state, int lev, amrex::Real time, amrex::Real dt_lev);
-	void addStrangSplitSourcesWithBuiltin(amrex::MultiFab &state, int lev, amrex::Real time, amrex::Real dt_lev);
+	auto addStrangSplitSourcesWithBuiltin(amrex::MultiFab &state, int lev, amrex::Real time, amrex::Real dt_lev) -> bool;
 
 	auto isCflViolated(int lev, amrex::Real time, amrex::Real dt_actual) -> bool;
 
@@ -507,8 +507,12 @@ template <typename problem_t> void RadhydroSimulation<problem_t>::addStrangSplit
 }
 
 template <typename problem_t>
-void RadhydroSimulation<problem_t>::addStrangSplitSourcesWithBuiltin(amrex::MultiFab &state, int lev, amrex::Real time, amrex::Real dt)
+auto RadhydroSimulation<problem_t>::addStrangSplitSourcesWithBuiltin(amrex::MultiFab &state, int lev, amrex::Real time, amrex::Real dt) -> bool
 {
+
+	// start by assuming chemistry burn is successful.
+	bool burn_success = true; // NOLINT
+
 	if (enableCooling_ == 1) {
 		// compute cooling
 		if (coolingTableType_ == "grackle") {
@@ -523,12 +527,14 @@ void RadhydroSimulation<problem_t>::addStrangSplitSourcesWithBuiltin(amrex::Mult
 #ifdef PRIMORDIAL_CHEM
 	if (enableChemistry_ == 1) {
 		// compute chemistry
-		quokka::chemistry::computeChemistry<problem_t>(state, dt, max_density_allowed, min_density_allowed);
+		burn_success = quokka::chemistry::computeChemistry<problem_t>(state, dt, max_density_allowed, min_density_allowed);
 	}
 #endif
 
 	// compute user-specified sources
 	addStrangSplitSources(state, lev, time, dt);
+
+	return burn_success;
 }
 
 template <typename problem_t>
@@ -1028,7 +1034,12 @@ auto RadhydroSimulation<problem_t>::advanceHydroAtLevel(amrex::MultiFab &state_o
 	auto dx = geom[lev].CellSizeArray();
 
 	// do Strang split source terms (first half-step)
-	addStrangSplitSourcesWithBuiltin(state_old_cc_tmp, lev, time, 0.5 * dt_lev);
+	auto burn_success_first = addStrangSplitSourcesWithBuiltin(state_old_cc_tmp, lev, time, 0.5 * dt_lev);
+
+	// check if burn failed in chemistry. If it did, return
+	if (!burn_success_first) {
+		return burn_success_first;
+	}
 
 	// create temporary multifab for intermediate state
 	amrex::MultiFab state_inter_cc_(grids[lev], dmap[lev], Physics_Indices<problem_t>::nvarTotal_cc, nghost_cc_);
@@ -1290,10 +1301,10 @@ auto RadhydroSimulation<problem_t>::advanceHydroAtLevel(amrex::MultiFab &state_o
 #endif
 
 	// do Strang split source terms (second half-step)
-	addStrangSplitSourcesWithBuiltin(state_new_cc_[lev], lev, time + dt_lev, 0.5 * dt_lev);
+	auto burn_success_second = addStrangSplitSourcesWithBuiltin(state_new_cc_[lev], lev, time + dt_lev, 0.5 * dt_lev);
 
-	// check if we have violated the CFL timestep
-	return !isCflViolated(lev, time, dt_lev);
+	// check if we have violated the CFL timestep or burn failed in chemistry
+	return (!isCflViolated(lev, time, dt_lev) && burn_success_second);
 }
 
 template <typename problem_t>