diff --git a/Python/ceval.c b/Python/ceval.c
index de2b35b..c854fcf 100644
--- a/Python/ceval.c
+++ b/Python/ceval.c
@@ -3025,15 +3025,7 @@
 		Py_DECREF(tmp);
 	}
 
-	if (PyString_CheckExact(type)) {
-		/* Raising builtin string is deprecated but still allowed --
-		 * do nothing.  Raising an instance of a new-style str
-		 * subclass is right out. */
-		if (PyErr_Warn(PyExc_DeprecationWarning,
-			   "raising a string exception is deprecated"))
-			goto raise_error;
-	}
-	else if (PyExceptionClass_Check(type))
+	if (PyExceptionClass_Check(type))
 		PyErr_NormalizeException(&type, &value, &tb);
 
 	else if (PyExceptionInstance_Check(type)) {
@@ -3054,10 +3046,8 @@
 	else {
 		/* Not something you can raise.  You get an exception
 		   anyway, just not what you specified :-) */
-		PyErr_Format(PyExc_TypeError,
-			     "exceptions must be classes, instances, or "
-			     "strings (deprecated), not %s",
-			     type->ob_type->tp_name);
+		PyErr_SetString(PyExc_TypeError,
+                                "exceptions must derive from BaseException");
 		goto raise_error;
 	}
 	PyErr_Restore(type, value, tb);
@@ -4148,7 +4138,7 @@
 		if (g != NULL && PyDict_Check(g))
 			metaclass = PyDict_GetItemString(g, "__metaclass__");
 		if (metaclass == NULL)
-			metaclass = (PyObject *) &PyClass_Type;
+			metaclass = (PyObject *) &PyType_Type;
 		Py_INCREF(metaclass);
 	}
 	result = PyObject_CallFunction(metaclass, "OOO", name, bases, methods);