diff --git a/Objects/genobject.c b/Objects/genobject.c
index 4d0c4f6..bad485c 100644
--- a/Objects/genobject.c
+++ b/Objects/genobject.c
@@ -253,12 +253,11 @@
 		}
 	}
 
-	/* Allow raising builtin string exceptions */
-
-	else if (!PyString_CheckExact(typ)) {
+	else {
 		/* Not something you can raise.  throw() fails. */
 		PyErr_Format(PyExc_TypeError,
-			     "exceptions must be classes, or instances, not %s",
+			     "exceptions must be classes or instances "
+			     "deriving from BaseException, not %s",
 			     typ->ob_type->tp_name);
 			goto failed_throw;
 	}