diff --git a/sau/helpers.py b/sau/helpers.py
index 0125917..6096abb 100644
--- a/sau/helpers.py
+++ b/sau/helpers.py
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ def exec_cmd(cmd, timeout=900, env = None):
 
     try:
         out, err = proc.communicate(timeout=timeout)
-    except subprocess.TimeoutExpired as err:
+    except subprocess.TimeoutExpired as ex:
         log.error('Command "{}" timed out, killing it.'.format(' '.join(cmd)))
         proc.kill()
         time.sleep(30)