diff --git a/src/calibre/gui2/linux_file_dialogs.py b/src/calibre/gui2/linux_file_dialogs.py
index 6e4f15f7ad..4a80eb7ba1 100644
--- a/src/calibre/gui2/linux_file_dialogs.py
+++ b/src/calibre/gui2/linux_file_dialogs.py
@@ -306,7 +306,6 @@ def linux_native_dialog(name):
                     ret[0] = func(window, *args, **kwargs)
                 except:
                     ret[1] = sys.exc_info()
-                    sys.exc_clear()
                 while not loop.isRunning():
                     time.sleep(0.001)  # yield so that loop starts
                 loop.quit()