Index: Lib/test/test_parser.py
===================================================================
--- Lib/test/test_parser.py	(revision 82399)
+++ Lib/test/test_parser.py	(working copy)
@@ -235,6 +235,12 @@
         self.check_suite("try: pass\nexcept: pass\nelse: pass\n"
                          "finally: pass\n")
 
+    def test_except_clause(self):
+        self.check_suite("try: pass\nexcept: pass\n")
+        self.check_suite("try: pass\nexcept A: pass\n")
+        self.check_suite("try: pass\nexcept A, e: pass\n")
+        self.check_suite("try: pass\nexcept A as e: pass\n")
+
     def test_position(self):
         # An absolutely minimal test of position information.  Better
         # tests would be a big project.
Index: Modules/parsermodule.c
===================================================================
--- Modules/parsermodule.c	(revision 82399)
+++ Modules/parsermodule.c	(working copy)
@@ -2126,10 +2126,13 @@
 
     if (res && (nch > 1))
         res = validate_test(CHILD(tree, 1));
-    if (res && (nch == 4))
-        res = (validate_comma(CHILD(tree, 2))
-               && validate_test(CHILD(tree, 3)));
-
+    if (res && (nch == 4)) {
+        if (TYPE(CHILD(tree, 2)) == NAME)
+            res = validate_name(CHILD(tree, 2), "as");
+        else
+            res = validate_comma(CHILD(tree, 2));
+        res = res && validate_test(CHILD(tree, 3));
+    }
     return (res);
 }