diff --git a/Lib/test/test_cgi.py b/Lib/test/test_cgi.py
index 890d1b2423d..71e275f23a4 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_cgi.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_cgi.py
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ def __cmp__(self, anExc):
         return cmp(self.err.args, anExc.args)
 
     def __getattr__(self, attr):
-        return getattr(self, self.err)
+        return getattr(self.err, attr)
 
 def do_test(buf, method):
     env = {}