diff --git a/mitogen/setns.py b/mitogen/setns.py
index b07b4df7..1779ca77 100644
--- a/mitogen/setns.py
+++ b/mitogen/setns.py
@@ -151,7 +151,8 @@ class Stream(mitogen.parent.Stream):
                     os.readlink(nspath + name) != os.readlink(selfpath + name)
                 )
             ]
-        except Exception, e:
+        except Exception:
+            e = sys.exc_info()[1]
             raise Error(str(e))
 
         os.chdir('/proc/%s/root' % (self.leader_pid,))