diff --git a/Lib/test/test_exceptions.py b/Lib/test/test_exceptions.py
index cf7c50dbe09..4fbee3e76a1 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_exceptions.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_exceptions.py
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ def r(name): print name
 print '(not used any more?)'
 
 r(SyntaxError)
-try: exec('/\n')
+try: exec '/\n'
 except SyntaxError: pass
 
 r(SystemError)