diff --git a/demo_simple.py b/demo_simple.py
index 5c3b1b0..7eade45 100755
--- a/demo_simple.py
+++ b/demo_simple.py
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ try:
     t.close()
 
 except Exception, e:
-    print '*** Caught exception: ' + str(e.__class__) + ': ' + str(e)
+    print '*** Caught exception: %s: %s' % (e.__class__, e)
     traceback.print_exc()
     try:
         t.close()