diff --git a/Lib/test/test_signal.py b/Lib/test/test_signal.py
index 5c1132254ed..042cfa93e82 100644
--- a/Lib/test/test_signal.py
+++ b/Lib/test/test_signal.py
@@ -29,7 +29,8 @@ def handlerA(*args):
     if verbose:
         print "handlerA", args
 
-HandlerBCalled = "HandlerBCalled"       # Exception
+class HandlerBCalled(Exception):
+    pass
 
 def handlerB(*args):
     if verbose: