diff --git a/Doc/library/pdb.rst b/Doc/library/pdb.rst
index 2b28ae0..0d2a936 100644
--- a/Doc/library/pdb.rst
+++ b/Doc/library/pdb.rst
@@ -107,9 +107,12 @@
    being debugged (e.g. when an assertion fails).
 
 
-.. function:: post_mortem(traceback)
+.. function:: post_mortem([traceback])
 
-   Enter post-mortem debugging of the given *traceback* object.
+   Enter post-mortem debugging of the given *traceback* object.  If no 
+   *traceback* is given, it uses the one of the exception that is currently
+   being handled (an exception must be being handled if the default is to be
+   used).
 
 
 .. function:: pm()
diff --git a/Lib/pdb.py b/Lib/pdb.py
index 8da23d8..82b52a3 100755
--- a/Lib/pdb.py
+++ b/Lib/pdb.py
@@ -1198,7 +1198,16 @@
 
 # Post-Mortem interface
 
-def post_mortem(t):
+def post_mortem(t=None):
+    # handling the default
+    if t is None:
+        # sys.exc_info() returns (type, value, traceback) if an exception is
+        # being handled, otherwise it returns None
+        t = sys.exc_info()[2]
+        if t is None:
+            raise ValueError("A valid traceback must be passed if no "
+                                               "exception is being handled")
+
     p = Pdb()
     p.reset()
     while t.tb_next is not None:
diff --git a/Misc/NEWS b/Misc/NEWS
index 26b8b79..bd3a6cc 100644
--- a/Misc/NEWS
+++ b/Misc/NEWS
@@ -21,6 +21,11 @@
 Library
 -------
 
+- Issue #1106316: pdb.post_mortem()'s parameter, "traceback", is now
+  optional: it defaults to the traceback of the exception that is currently
+  being handled (is mandatory to be in the middle of an exception, otherwise
+  it raises ValueError).
+
 - Issue #1193577: A .shutdown() method has been added to SocketServers
   which terminates the .serve_forever() loop.