diff --git a/src/PIL/AvifImagePlugin.py b/src/PIL/AvifImagePlugin.py
index c92e2534ef9..d9d2850037e 100644
--- a/src/PIL/AvifImagePlugin.py
+++ b/src/PIL/AvifImagePlugin.py
@@ -169,21 +169,15 @@ def _save(
 
     icc_profile = info.get("icc_profile", im.info.get("icc_profile"))
     exif = info.get("exif", im.info.get("exif"))
-    if isinstance(exif, Image.Exif):
-        exif = exif.tobytes()
-
     exif_orientation = 0
     if exif:
-        exif_data = Image.Exif()
-        try:
-            exif_data.load(exif)
-        except SyntaxError:
-            pass
+        if isinstance(exif, Image.Exif):
+            exif_data = exif
+            exif = exif.tobytes()
         else:
-            orientation_tag = next(
-                k for k, v in ExifTags.TAGS.items() if v == "Orientation"
-            )
-            exif_orientation = exif_data.get(orientation_tag) or 0
+            exif_data = Image.Exif()
+            exif_data.load(exif)
+        exif_orientation = exif_data.get(ExifTags.Base.Orientation, 0)
 
     xmp = info.get("xmp", im.info.get("xmp") or im.info.get("XML:com.adobe.xmp"))