diff --git a/MySQLdb/MySQLdb/connections.py b/MySQLdb/MySQLdb/connections.py
index d281cbd..1d6fa82 100644
--- a/MySQLdb/MySQLdb/connections.py
+++ b/MySQLdb/MySQLdb/connections.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ def defaulterrorhandler(connection, cursor, errorclass, errorvalue):
         connection.messages.append(error)
     del cursor
     del connection
-    raise errorclass(errorvalue)
+    raise errorclass, errorvalue
 
 re_numeric_part = re.compile(r"^(\d+)")
 
diff --git a/MySQLdb/tests/test_MySQLdb_capabilities.py b/MySQLdb/tests/test_MySQLdb_capabilities.py
index 98a2371..a510468 100644
--- a/MySQLdb/tests/test_MySQLdb_capabilities.py
+++ b/MySQLdb/tests/test_MySQLdb_capabilities.py
@@ -77,8 +77,8 @@ class test_MySQLdb(capabilities.DatabaseTest):
         from MySQLdb.constants import ER
         try:
             self.cursor.execute("describe some_non_existent_table");
-        except self.connection.ProgrammingError as msg:
-            self.assertTrue(msg.args[0].args[0] == ER.NO_SUCH_TABLE)
+        except self.connection.ProgrammingError, msg:
+            self.assertTrue(msg[0] == ER.NO_SUCH_TABLE)
 
     def test_bug_3514287(self):
         c = self.cursor