diff --git a/network/nxos/nxos_hsrp.py b/network/nxos/nxos_hsrp.py
index 7967aac7b2c..174915cb515 100644
--- a/network/nxos/nxos_hsrp.py
+++ b/network/nxos/nxos_hsrp.py
@@ -799,7 +799,8 @@ def load_config(module, candidate):
 def execute_config_command(commands, module):
     try:
         body = module.configure(commands)
-    except ShellError, clie:
+    except ShellError:
+        clie = get_exception()
         module.fail_json(msg='Error sending CLI commands',
                          error=str(clie), commands=commands)
     return body