diff --git a/Lib/random.py b/Lib/random.py
index 58865fc59b9..92163bb6084 100644
--- a/Lib/random.py
+++ b/Lib/random.py
@@ -237,7 +237,7 @@ def _randbelow(self, n, _log=_log, int=int, _maxwidth=1L<<BPF,
 
     def choice(self, seq):
         """Choose a random element from a non-empty sequence."""
-        return seq[int(self.random() * len(seq))]
+        return seq[int(self.random() * len(seq))]  # raises IndexError in seq is empty
 
     def shuffle(self, x, random=None, int=int):
         """x, random=random.random -> shuffle list x in place; return None.