--- Lib/traceback,old.py	2008-01-17 15:13:11.000000000 +0200
+++ Lib/traceback.py	2008-01-17 15:41:35.000000000 +0200
@@ -243,8 +243,12 @@
     sys.last_value, sys.last_traceback, limit, file)'."""
     if file is None:
         file = sys.stderr
-    print_exception(sys.last_type, sys.last_value, sys.last_traceback,
-                    limit, file)
+    try: 
+        last_type, last_value, last_traceback = sys.exc_info()
+        print_exception(last_type, last_value, last_traceback,
+                        limit, file)
+    finally:
+        del last_type, last_value, last_traceback # for gc
 
 
 def print_stack(f=None, limit=None, file=None):