diff --git a/Python/exceptions.c b/Python/exceptions.c
index 3f07089641b..03affdc8431 100644
--- a/Python/exceptions.c
+++ b/Python/exceptions.c
@@ -288,6 +288,9 @@ Exception__str__(PyObject *self, PyObject *args)
 	    out = NULL;
 	break;
     }
+    case -1:
+        PyErr_Clear();
+        /* Fall through */
     default:
         out = PyObject_Str(args);
         break;