diff --git a/messytables/excel.py b/messytables/excel.py
index 9d30131..2d9f698 100644
--- a/messytables/excel.py
+++ b/messytables/excel.py
@@ -45,12 +45,8 @@ def get_workbook():
                     file_contents=read_obj,
                     encoding_override=encoding,
                     formatting_info=with_formatting_info)
-            except XLRDError as e:
-                _, value, traceback = sys.exc_info()
-                if PY2:
-                   raise ReadError("Can't read Excel file: %r" % value, traceback)
-                else:
-                   raise ReadError("Can't read Excel file: %r" % value).with_traceback(traceback)
+            except XLRDError as xlrdexc:
+                raise ReadError("Can't read Excel file: %r" % xlrdexc)
         '''Initilize the tableset.
 
         :param encoding: passed on to xlrd.open_workbook function