diff --git a/bitbake/lib/bb/data_smart.py b/bitbake/lib/bb/data_smart.py
index 75e22f9c45..79b4ed9329 100644
--- a/bitbake/lib/bb/data_smart.py
+++ b/bitbake/lib/bb/data_smart.py
@@ -392,7 +392,8 @@ class DataSmart(MutableMapping):
             except bb.parse.SkipRecipe:
                 raise
             except Exception as exc:
-                raise ExpansionError(varname, s, exc)
+                exc_class, exc, tb = sys.exc_info()
+                raise ExpansionError, ExpansionError(varname, s, exc), tb
 
         varparse.value = s