diff --git a/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py b/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py
index cf7889678553..d7c6e61e6c95 100644
--- a/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py
+++ b/lib/matplotlib/backend_bases.py
@@ -2606,7 +2606,7 @@ def _get_uniform_gridstate(ticks):
         elif scalex == 'linear':
             try:
                 ax.set_xscale('log')
-            except ValueError:
+            except ValueError as exc:
                 warnings.warn(str(exc))
                 ax.set_xscale('linear')
             ax.figure.canvas.draw_idle()