diff --git a/Lib/py_compile.py b/Lib/py_compile.py
index 1d884d008e7..f7a200204ca 100644
--- a/Lib/py_compile.py
+++ b/Lib/py_compile.py
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ def compile(file, cfile=None, dfile=None, doraise=False):
     try:
         codeobject = __builtin__.compile(codestring, dfile or file,'exec')
     except Exception as err:
-        py_exc = PyCompileError(err.__class__,err.args,dfile or file)
+        py_exc = PyCompileError(err.__class__, err, dfile or file)
         if doraise:
             raise py_exc
         else: