diff --git a/Lib/idlelib/pyshell.py b/Lib/idlelib/pyshell.py
index 3141b477eff181..6028700356b171 100755
--- a/Lib/idlelib/pyshell.py
+++ b/Lib/idlelib/pyshell.py
@@ -1369,11 +1369,11 @@ def open_stack_viewer(self, event=None):  # -n mode only
 
         from idlelib.stackviewer import StackBrowser
         try:
-            StackBrowser(self.root, sys.last_value, self.flist)
+            StackBrowser(self.root, sys.last_exc, self.flist)
         except:
             messagebox.showerror("No stack trace",
                 "There is no stack trace yet.\n"
-                "(sys.last_value is not defined)",
+                "(sys.last_exc is not defined)",
                 parent=self.text)
         return None