diff --git a/Lib/test/regrtest.py b/Lib/test/regrtest.py
index 440c09c3ae8..238f2760093 100755
--- a/Lib/test/regrtest.py
+++ b/Lib/test/regrtest.py
@@ -995,12 +995,9 @@ def runtest_inner(test, verbose, quiet, huntrleaks=False, debug=False):
         sys.stderr.flush()
         return FAILED, test_time
     except:
-        type, value = sys.exc_info()[:2]
-        print("test", test, "crashed --", str(type) + ":", value, file=sys.stderr)
+        msg = traceback.format_exc()
+        print("test", test, "crashed --", msg, file=sys.stderr)
         sys.stderr.flush()
-        if verbose or debug:
-            traceback.print_exc(file=sys.stderr)
-            sys.stderr.flush()
         return FAILED, test_time
     else:
         if refleak: