diff --git a/src/common/xmpp/transports_nb.py b/src/common/xmpp/transports_nb.py
index 0c9a49966..2b0a57c9d 100644
--- a/src/common/xmpp/transports_nb.py
+++ b/src/common/xmpp/transports_nb.py
@@ -351,8 +351,8 @@ class NonBlockingTCP(NonBlockingTransport, IdleObject):
         try:
             self._sock.setblocking(False)
             self._sock.connect((self.server, self.port))
-        except Exception, (errnum, errstr):
-            pass
+        except Exception, exc:
+            errnum, errstr = exc.args
 
         if errnum in (errno.EINPROGRESS, errno.EALREADY, errno.EWOULDBLOCK):
             # connecting in progress