diff --git a/py/mpstate.h b/py/mpstate.h
index 78f497e..d0baad2 100644
--- a/py/mpstate.h
+++ b/py/mpstate.h
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@
 
     // current exception being handled, for sys.exc_info()
     #if MICROPY_PY_SYS_EXC_INFO
-    mp_obj_t cur_exception;
+    mp_obj_base_t *cur_exception;
     #endif
 
     // dictionary for the __main__ module