import traceback cases = """ except IOError: open(filepath) try:+ try+ foo:bar """.splitlines() def main(): for case in cases: try: exec(case) except Exception as exc: lines = traceback.format_exception_only(type(exc), exc) #traceback.print_exception(type(exc), exc, None, chain=False) #print(exc) print(lines[1] + lines[2], end='') print(' ' * (4 + exc.offset - 1) + '"') main() # ** Output ** # # except IOError: # ^ # " # open(filepath) # ^ # " # try:+ # ^ # " # try+ # ^ # " # foo:bar # ^ # "