diff --git a/src/Pyro4/__init__.py b/src/Pyro4/__init__.py
index 264f68e4..cd37b979 100644
--- a/src/Pyro4/__init__.py
+++ b/src/Pyro4/__init__.py
@@ -37,10 +37,10 @@ def _configLogging():
                     logfile_dir = os.path.dirname(os.path.expanduser(logfilename))
                     tempfile = tempfile.TemporaryFile(dir=logfile_dir)
                     tempfile.close()
-            except OSError as x:
-                # cannot write in current directory, use the default console logger
+            except OSError:
+                # cannot write in the desired logfile directory, use the default console logger
                 logging.basicConfig(level=levelvalue)
-                logging.getLogger("Pyro4").warn("unable to write to the given logfile (access rights?), falling back to console logger")
+                logging.getLogger("Pyro4").warn("unable to write to the desired logfile (access rights?), falling back to console logger")
             else:
                 # set up a basic logfile in current directory
                 logging.basicConfig(