diff --git a/bitbake/lib/bb/data.py b/bitbake/lib/bb/data.py
index 5b7a092a21..9a32353d68 100644
--- a/bitbake/lib/bb/data.py
+++ b/bitbake/lib/bb/data.py
@@ -323,9 +323,8 @@ def build_dependencies(key, keys, shelldeps, vardepvals, d):
 
         deps |= set((vardeps or "").split())
         deps -= set((d.getVarFlag(key, "vardepsexclude", True) or "").split())
-    except:
-        bb.note("Error expanding variable %s" % key)
-        raise
+    except Exception as e:
+        raise bb.data_smart.ExpansionError(key, None, e)
     return deps, value
     #bb.note("Variable %s references %s and calls %s" % (key, str(deps), str(execs)))
     #d.setVarFlag(key, "vardeps", deps)
diff --git a/bitbake/lib/bb/data_smart.py b/bitbake/lib/bb/data_smart.py
index f5f3b13a73..ec3c04e30c 100644
--- a/bitbake/lib/bb/data_smart.py
+++ b/bitbake/lib/bb/data_smart.py
@@ -103,7 +103,10 @@ class ExpansionError(Exception):
         self.variablename = varname
         self.exception = exception
         if varname:
-            self.msg = "Failure expanding variable %s, expression was %s which triggered exception %s: %s" % (varname, expression, type(exception).__name__, exception)
+            if expression:
+                self.msg = "Failure expanding variable %s, expression was %s which triggered exception %s: %s" % (varname, expression, type(exception).__name__, exception)
+            else:
+                self.msg = "Failure expanding variable %s: %s: %s" % (varname, type(exception).__name__, exception)
         else:
             self.msg = "Failure expanding expression %s which triggered exception %s: %s" % (expression, type(exception).__name__, exception)
         Exception.__init__(self, self.msg)