diff --git a/Lib/distutils/errors.py b/Lib/distutils/errors.py
index a718f01a40c..bec34645112 100644
--- a/Lib/distutils/errors.py
+++ b/Lib/distutils/errors.py
@@ -73,6 +73,9 @@ class DistutilsInternalError (DistutilsError):
     should never be seen if the code is working!)."""
     pass
 
+class DistutilsTemplateError (DistutilsError):
+    """Syntax error in a file list template."""
+
 
 # Exception classes used by the CCompiler implementation classes
 class CCompilerError (Exception):