diff --git a/meta/classes/base.bbclass b/meta/classes/base.bbclass
index bdb3ac33c6..0cf27fbb91 100644
--- a/meta/classes/base.bbclass
+++ b/meta/classes/base.bbclass
@@ -596,9 +596,9 @@ python () {
 
             for lic_exception in exceptions:
                 if ":" in lic_exception:
-                    lic_exception.split(":")[0]
+                    lic_exception = lic_exception.split(":")[1]
                 if lic_exception in oe.license.obsolete_license_list():
-                    bb.fatal("Invalid license %s used in INCOMPATIBLE_LICENSE_EXCEPTIONS" % lic_exception)
+                    bb.fatal("Obsolete license %s used in INCOMPATIBLE_LICENSE_EXCEPTIONS" % lic_exception)
 
             pkgs = d.getVar('PACKAGES').split()
             skipped_pkgs = {}