diff --git a/Python/exceptions.c b/Python/exceptions.c
index 03affdc..e4a6880 100644
--- a/Python/exceptions.c
+++ b/Python/exceptions.c
@@ -419,6 +419,9 @@
     case 1:
         code = PySequence_GetItem(args, 0);
         break;
+    case -1:
+        PyErr_Clear();
+        /* Fall through */
     default:
         Py_INCREF(args);
         code = args;
@@ -522,6 +525,10 @@
 	    goto finally;
 	}
 	break;
+
+    case -1:
+	PyErr_Clear();
+	break;
     }
 
     Py_INCREF(Py_None);