In the patch:

This:
+        except AttributeError:
+            pass

should be:
+        except:
<everything inside except statement>

Checking for the AttributeError is very slightly slower. Not by a lot, but I think if we're going for speed we might as well be as fast as possible. I can't imagine any other exception coming from that try statement.

Using except: pass as opposed to sticking everything inside the except statement is also very slightly slower as well

Simple test case, 10 million loops:
except: 7.140999794006348
except AttributeError: 7.8440001010894775

Exception code
in except: 7.483999967575073
after except/pass: 7.75