diff --git a/notebook/base/handlers.py b/notebook/base/handlers.py
index dcabc4cb3..4a081afac 100755
--- a/notebook/base/handlers.py
+++ b/notebook/base/handlers.py
@@ -359,6 +359,7 @@ class IPythonHandler(AuthenticatedHandler):
         exc_info = kwargs.get('exc_info')
         message = ''
         status_message = responses.get(status_code, 'Unknown HTTP Error')
+        exception = '(unknown)'
         if exc_info:
             exception = exc_info[1]
             # get the custom message, if defined