diff --git a/libcloud/common/base.py b/libcloud/common/base.py
index 00a0038..9c53908 100644
--- a/libcloud/common/base.py
+++ b/libcloud/common/base.py
@@ -13,6 +13,7 @@
 # See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
 # limitations under the License.
 
+import sys
 import ssl
 import time
 
@@ -488,10 +489,9 @@
             else:
                 self.connection.request(method=method, url=url, body=data,
                                         headers=headers)
-        #except ssl.SSLError, e:
         except ssl.SSLError:
-            raise ssl.SSLError()
-            #raise ssl.SSLError(str(e))
+            e = sys.exc_info()[1]
+            raise ssl.SSLError(str(e))
 
         if raw:
             response = self.rawResponseCls(connection=self)
diff --git a/libcloud/compute/base.py b/libcloud/compute/base.py
index b52a230..e6961b0 100644
--- a/libcloud/compute/base.py
+++ b/libcloud/compute/base.py
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@
 Provides base classes for working with drivers
 """
 
+import sys
 import time
 import hashlib
 import os
@@ -564,9 +565,8 @@
                                         ssh_client=ssh_client,
                                         max_tries=3)
         except Exception:
-        #except Exception, e:
-            #raise DeploymentError(node, e)
-            raise DeploymentError(node, None)
+            e = sys.exc_info()[1]
+            raise DeploymentError(node, e)
         return node
 
     def _wait_until_running(self, node, wait_period=3, timeout=600):