diff --git a/PIL/ImageCms.py b/PIL/ImageCms.py
index ec891d0e5..c875712c1 100644
--- a/PIL/ImageCms.py
+++ b/PIL/ImageCms.py
@@ -86,11 +86,11 @@ VERSION = "1.0.0 pil"
 from PIL import Image
 try:
     from PIL import _imagingcms
-except ImportError:
+except ImportError as ex:
     # Allow error import for doc purposes, but error out when accessing
     # anything in core. 
     from _util import import_err
-    _imagingcms = import_err('ImagingCMS')
+    _imagingcms = import_err(ex)
 from PIL._util import isStringType
 
 core = _imagingcms
diff --git a/PIL/_util.py b/PIL/_util.py
index e1ede1217..761c258f1 100644
--- a/PIL/_util.py
+++ b/PIL/_util.py
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ def isDirectory(f):
     return isPath(f) and os.path.isdir(f)
 
 class import_err(object):
-    def __init__(self, name=''):
-        self.name = name
+    def __init__(self, ex):
+        self.ex = ex
     def __getattr__(self, elt):
-        raise Exception("Import Error, %s not available" % self.name)
+        raise self.ex