diff --git a/setup.py b/setup.py
index a8dc26c..13b50c8 100644
--- a/setup.py
+++ b/setup.py
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ def compile_translations(self):
                         self.announce('Compiling translation at %s' % po_path)
                         subprocess.check_call(['msgfmt', po_path, '-o', mo_path], cwd=self.install_lib)
         except Exception as ex:
-            self.announce('Translations compilation failed: %s' % ex.message)
+            self.announce('Translations compilation failed: %s' % getattr(ex, 'message', str(ex)))
 
 
 def package_data(pkg, root_list):