diff --git a/IPython/testing/plugin/ipdoctest.py b/IPython/testing/plugin/ipdoctest.py
index 85e4494..47ccb77 100644
--- a/IPython/testing/plugin/ipdoctest.py
+++ b/IPython/testing/plugin/ipdoctest.py
@@ -461,7 +461,7 @@ class DocTestCase(doctests.DocTestCase):
         try:
             super(DocTestCase, self).tearDown()
         except AttributeError, exc:
-            if exc.message != self._result_var:
+            if exc.args[0] != self._result_var:
                 raise