diff --git a/Python/ast.c b/Python/ast.c
index 80e6354..ffd5679 100644
--- a/Python/ast.c
+++ b/Python/ast.c
@@ -2679,6 +2679,18 @@
     expr1 = ast_for_expr(c, CHILD(n, 1));
     if (!expr1)
         return NULL;
+
+    if (expr1->kind == Tuple_kind && n_children < 4 &&
+        (asdl_seq_LEN(expr1->v.Tuple.elts) == 2 ||
+         asdl_seq_LEN(expr1->v.Tuple.elts) == 3)) {
+        /* Backwards compatibility: pass exec args as a tuple */
+        globals = (expr_ty) asdl_seq_GET(expr1->v.Tuple.elts, 1);
+        if (asdl_seq_LEN(expr1->v.Tuple.elts) == 3) {
+            locals = (expr_ty) asdl_seq_GET(expr1->v.Tuple.elts, 2);
+        }
+        expr1 = (expr_ty) asdl_seq_GET(expr1->v.Tuple.elts, 0);
+    }
+
     if (n_children >= 4) {
         globals = ast_for_expr(c, CHILD(n, 3));
         if (!globals)