diff --git a/fail2ban/client/configparserinc.py b/fail2ban/client/configparserinc.py
index 617ff8f6..d6cda7f7 100644
--- a/fail2ban/client/configparserinc.py
+++ b/fail2ban/client/configparserinc.py
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ after = 1.conf
 			parser, i = self._getSharedSCPWI(resource)
 			if not i:
 				return []
-		except UnicodeDecodeError, e:
+		except UnicodeDecodeError as e:
 			logSys.error("Error decoding config file '%s': %s" % (resource, e))
 			return []
 		
diff --git a/fail2ban/client/configreader.py b/fail2ban/client/configreader.py
index bcad59c3..643cdf3a 100644
--- a/fail2ban/client/configreader.py
+++ b/fail2ban/client/configreader.py
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ class ConfigReaderUnshared(SafeConfigParserWithIncludes):
 				if not pOptions is None and optname in pOptions:
 					continue
 				values[optname] = v
-			except NoSectionError, e:
+			except NoSectionError as e:
 				if shouldExist:
 					raise
 				# No "Definition" section or wrong basedir
diff --git a/fail2ban/client/fail2banclient.py b/fail2ban/client/fail2banclient.py
index 8be9e085..788906aa 100755
--- a/fail2ban/client/fail2banclient.py
+++ b/fail2ban/client/fail2banclient.py
@@ -381,7 +381,7 @@ class Fail2banClient(Fail2banCmdLine, Thread):
 							elif not cmd == "":
 								try:
 									self.__processCommand(shlex.split(cmd))
-								except Exception, e: # pragma: no cover
+								except Exception as e: # pragma: no cover
 									if self._conf["verbose"] > 1:
 										logSys.exception(e)
 									else:
diff --git a/fail2ban/client/fail2bancmdline.py b/fail2ban/client/fail2bancmdline.py
index 311c7af9..356255af 100644
--- a/fail2ban/client/fail2bancmdline.py
+++ b/fail2ban/client/fail2bancmdline.py
@@ -245,7 +245,7 @@ class Fail2banCmdLine():
 			ret = self.configurator.getOptions(jail)
 			self.configurator.convertToProtocol()
 			stream = self.configurator.getConfigStream()
-		except Exception, e:
+		except Exception as e:
 			logSys.error("Failed during configuration: %s" % e)
 			ret = False
 		return ret, stream
diff --git a/fail2ban/client/fail2banregex.py b/fail2ban/client/fail2banregex.py
index aa55a0ff..f36ca7b0 100644
--- a/fail2ban/client/fail2banregex.py
+++ b/fail2ban/client/fail2banregex.py
@@ -335,7 +335,7 @@ class Fail2banRegex(object):
 			if ret is not None:
 				found = True
 				regex = self._ignoreregex[ret].inc()
-		except RegexException, e:
+		except RegexException as e:
 			output( e )
 			return False
 		return found
@@ -352,7 +352,7 @@ class Fail2banRegex(object):
 				regex = self._failregex[match[0]]
 				regex.inc()
 				regex.appendIP(match)
-		except RegexException, e:
+		except RegexException as e:
 			output( e )
 			return False
 		except IndexError:
@@ -514,7 +514,7 @@ class Fail2banRegex(object):
 				output( "Use         log file : %s" % cmd_log )
 				output( "Use         encoding : %s" % self.encoding )
 				test_lines = self.file_lines_gen(hdlr)
-			except IOError, e:
+			except IOError as e:
 				output( e )
 				return False
 		elif cmd_log == "systemd-journal": # pragma: no cover
diff --git a/fail2ban/client/fail2banserver.py b/fail2ban/client/fail2banserver.py
index 147e131f..85259e79 100644
--- a/fail2ban/client/fail2banserver.py
+++ b/fail2ban/client/fail2banserver.py
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ class Fail2banServer(Fail2banCmdLine):
 					exit(-1)
 				logSys.debug('Starting server done')
 
-		except Exception, e:
+		except Exception as e:
 			if self._conf["verbose"] > 1:
 				logSys.exception(e)
 			else:
diff --git a/fail2ban/client/jailreader.py b/fail2ban/client/jailreader.py
index 13f611f7..e3c4731c 100644
--- a/fail2ban/client/jailreader.py
+++ b/fail2ban/client/jailreader.py
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ class JailReader(ConfigReader):
 							self.__actions.append(action)
 						else:
 							raise AttributeError("Unable to read action")
-				except Exception, e:
+				except Exception as e:
 					logSys.error("Error in action definition " + act)
 					logSys.debug("Caught exception: %s" % (e,))
 					return False
diff --git a/fail2ban/server/action.py b/fail2ban/server/action.py
index f579c31e..702ad397 100644
--- a/fail2ban/server/action.py
+++ b/fail2ban/server/action.py
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ class CommandAction(ActionBase):
 					res &= self.executeCmd(startCmd6, self.timeout)
 			if not res:
 				raise RuntimeError("Error starting action %s/%s" % (self._jail, self._name,))
-		except ValueError, e:
+		except ValueError as e:
 			raise RuntimeError("Error starting action %s/%s: %r" % (self._jail, self._name, e))
 
 	def ban(self, aInfo):
diff --git a/fail2ban/server/database.py b/fail2ban/server/database.py
index 46d40051..4e2dddf1 100644
--- a/fail2ban/server/database.py
+++ b/fail2ban/server/database.py
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ if sys.version_info >= (3,):
 		try:
 			x = json.dumps(x, ensure_ascii=False).encode(
 				locale.getpreferredencoding(), 'replace')
-		except Exception, e: # pragma: no cover
+		except Exception as e: # pragma: no cover
 			logSys.error('json dumps failed: %s', e)
 			x = '{}'
 		return x
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ if sys.version_info >= (3,):
 		try:
 			x = json.loads(x.decode(
 				locale.getpreferredencoding(), 'replace'))
-		except Exception, e: # pragma: no cover
+		except Exception as e: # pragma: no cover
 			logSys.error('json loads failed: %s', e)
 			x = {}
 		return x
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ else:
 		try:
 			x = json.dumps(_normalize(x), ensure_ascii=False).decode(
 				locale.getpreferredencoding(), 'replace')
-		except Exception, e: # pragma: no cover
+		except Exception as e: # pragma: no cover
 			logSys.error('json dumps failed: %s', e)
 			x = '{}'
 		return x
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ else:
 		try:
 			x = _normalize(json.loads(x.decode(
 				locale.getpreferredencoding(), 'replace')))
-		except Exception, e: # pragma: no cover
+		except Exception as e: # pragma: no cover
 			logSys.error('json loads failed: %s', e)
 			x = {}
 		return x
@@ -176,7 +176,7 @@ class Fail2BanDb(object):
 
 			logSys.info(
 				"Connected to fail2ban persistent database '%s'", filename)
-		except sqlite3.OperationalError, e:
+		except sqlite3.OperationalError as e:
 			logSys.error(
 				"Error connecting to fail2ban persistent database '%s': %s",
 				filename, e.args[0])
diff --git a/fail2ban/server/filter.py b/fail2ban/server/filter.py
index c357f6e6..70ae1a49 100644
--- a/fail2ban/server/filter.py
+++ b/fail2ban/server/filter.py
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ class Filter(JailThread):
 				logSys.warning(
 					"Mutliline regex set for jail '%s' "
 					"but maxlines not greater than 1")
-		except RegexException, e:
+		except RegexException as e:
 			logSys.error(e)
 			raise e
 
@@ -146,7 +146,7 @@ class Filter(JailThread):
 		try:
 			regex = Regex(value)
 			self.__ignoreRegex.append(regex)
-		except RegexException, e:
+		except RegexException as e:
 			logSys.error(e)
 			raise e 
 
@@ -583,7 +583,7 @@ class Filter(JailThread):
 										failRegex.getMatchedLines(), fail])
 								if not checkAllRegex:
 									break
-					except RegexException, e: # pragma: no cover - unsure if reachable
+					except RegexException as e: # pragma: no cover - unsure if reachable
 						logSys.error(e)
 		return failList
 
@@ -729,15 +729,15 @@ class FileFilter(Filter):
 		try:
 			has_content = log.open()
 		# see http://python.org/dev/peps/pep-3151/
-		except IOError, e:
+		except IOError as e:
 			logSys.error("Unable to open %s" % filename)
 			logSys.exception(e)
 			return False
-		except OSError, e: # pragma: no cover - requires race condition to tigger this
+		except OSError as e: # pragma: no cover - requires race condition to tigger this
 			logSys.error("Error opening %s" % filename)
 			logSys.exception(e)
 			return False
-		except Exception, e: # pragma: no cover - Requires implemention error in FileContainer to generate
+		except Exception as e: # pragma: no cover - Requires implemention error in FileContainer to generate
 			logSys.error("Internal error in FileContainer open method - please report as a bug to https://github.com/fail2ban/fail2ban/issues")
 			logSys.exception(e)
 			return False
@@ -750,7 +750,7 @@ class FileFilter(Filter):
 			# initial seek to start time using half-interval search algorithm:
 			try:
 				self.seekToTime(log, startTime)
-			except Exception, e: # pragma: no cover
+			except Exception as e: # pragma: no cover
 				logSys.error("Error during seek to start time in \"%s\"", filename)
 				raise
 				logSys.exception(e)
diff --git a/fail2ban/server/filterpoll.py b/fail2ban/server/filterpoll.py
index bebdcad2..336807d4 100644
--- a/fail2ban/server/filterpoll.py
+++ b/fail2ban/server/filterpoll.py
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ class FilterPoll(FileFilter):
 			logSys.debug("%s has been modified", filename)
 			self.__prevStats[filename] = stats
 			return True
-		except OSError, e:
+		except OSError as e:
 			logSys.error("Unable to get stat on %s because of: %s"
 						 % (filename, e))
 			self.__file404Cnt[filename] += 1
diff --git a/fail2ban/server/filterpyinotify.py b/fail2ban/server/filterpyinotify.py
index 2116cb92..c5b5680b 100644
--- a/fail2ban/server/filterpyinotify.py
+++ b/fail2ban/server/filterpyinotify.py
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ if not hasattr(pyinotify, '__version__') \
 try:
 	manager = pyinotify.WatchManager()
 	del manager
-except Exception, e:
+except Exception as e:
 	raise ImportError("Pyinotify is probably not functional on this system: %s"
 					  % str(e))
 
diff --git a/fail2ban/server/ipdns.py b/fail2ban/server/ipdns.py
index cca63535..cba08d0c 100644
--- a/fail2ban/server/ipdns.py
+++ b/fail2ban/server/ipdns.py
@@ -70,7 +70,7 @@ class DNSUtils:
 				ip = IPAddr(result[4][0])
 				if ip.isValid:
 					ips.append(ip)
-		except socket.error, e:
+		except socket.error as e:
 			# todo: make configurable the expired time of cache entry:
 			logSys.warning("Unable to find a corresponding IP address for %s: %s", dns, e)
 			ips = list()
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ class DNSUtils:
 		# retrieve name
 		try:
 			v = socket.gethostbyaddr(ip)[0]
-		except socket.error, e:
+		except socket.error as e:
 			logSys.debug("Unable to find a name for the IP %s: %s", ip, e)
 			v = None
 		DNSUtils.CACHE_ipToName.set(ip, v)
diff --git a/fail2ban/server/jail.py b/fail2ban/server/jail.py
index 7659a7ad..92f8190e 100644
--- a/fail2ban/server/jail.py
+++ b/fail2ban/server/jail.py
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ class Jail(object):
 					logSys.info("Initiated %r backend" % b)
 				self.__actions = Actions(self)
 				return					# we are done
-			except ImportError, e: # pragma: no cover
+			except ImportError as e: # pragma: no cover
 				# Log debug if auto, but error if specific
 				logSys.log(
 					logging.DEBUG if backend == "auto" else logging.ERROR,
diff --git a/fail2ban/server/server.py b/fail2ban/server/server.py
index 60eea1f3..db3918c7 100644
--- a/fail2ban/server/server.py
+++ b/fail2ban/server/server.py
@@ -138,7 +138,7 @@ class Server:
 			pidFile = open(pidfile, 'w')
 			pidFile.write("%s\n" % os.getpid())
 			pidFile.close()
-		except IOError, e:
+		except IOError as e:
 			logSys.error("Unable to create PID file: %s" % e)
 		
 		# Start the communication
@@ -146,13 +146,13 @@ class Server:
 		try:
 			self.__asyncServer = AsyncServer(self.__transm)
 			self.__asyncServer.start(sock, force)
-		except AsyncServerException, e:
+		except AsyncServerException as e:
 			logSys.error("Could not start server: %s", e)
 		# Removes the PID file.
 		try:
 			logSys.debug("Remove PID file %s" % pidfile)
 			os.remove(pidfile)
-		except OSError, e:
+		except OSError as e:
 			logSys.error("Unable to remove PID file: %s" % e)
 		logSys.info("Exiting Fail2ban")
 	
@@ -604,7 +604,7 @@ class Server:
 			# the child gets a new PID, making it impossible for its PID to equal its
 			# PGID.
 			pid = os.fork()
-		except OSError, e:
+		except OSError as e:
 			return (False, (e.errno, e.strerror))	 # ERROR (return a tuple)
 		
 		if pid == 0:	   # The first child.
@@ -625,7 +625,7 @@ class Server:
 				# fork guarantees that the child is no longer a session leader, thus
 				# preventing the daemon from ever acquiring a controlling terminal.
 				pid = os.fork()		# Fork a second child.
-			except OSError, e:
+			except OSError as e:
 				return (False, (e.errno, e.strerror))  # ERROR (return a tuple)
 		
 			if (pid == 0):	  # The second child.
diff --git a/fail2ban/server/transmitter.py b/fail2ban/server/transmitter.py
index e4b9d81a..698dad34 100644
--- a/fail2ban/server/transmitter.py
+++ b/fail2ban/server/transmitter.py
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ class Transmitter:
 		try:
 			ret = self.__commandHandler(command)
 			ack = 0, ret
-		except Exception, e:
+		except Exception as e:
 			logSys.warning("Command %r has failed. Received %r"
 						% (command, e))
 			ack = 1, e
diff --git a/fail2ban/tests/clientreadertestcase.py b/fail2ban/tests/clientreadertestcase.py
index 239989b7..e68523c2 100644
--- a/fail2ban/tests/clientreadertestcase.py
+++ b/fail2ban/tests/clientreadertestcase.py
@@ -421,7 +421,7 @@ class FilterReaderTest(unittest.TestCase):
 			# from testcase01
 			filterReader.get('Definition', 'failregex')
 			filterReader.get('Definition', 'ignoreregex')
-		except Exception, e: # pragma: no cover - failed if reachable
+		except Exception as e: # pragma: no cover - failed if reachable
 			self.fail('unexpected options after readexplicit: %s' % (e))
 
 
@@ -771,7 +771,7 @@ filter = testfilter1
 	def testLogPathSystemdBackend(self):
 		try: # pragma: systemd no cover
 			from ..server.filtersystemd import FilterSystemd
-		except Exception, e: # pragma: no cover
+		except Exception as e: # pragma: no cover
 			raise unittest.SkipTest("systemd python interface not available")
 		self._testLogPath(backend='systemd')
 		self._testLogPath(backend='systemd[journalflags=2]')
diff --git a/fail2ban/tests/samplestestcase.py b/fail2ban/tests/samplestestcase.py
index 7af12f13..31b1812e 100644
--- a/fail2ban/tests/samplestestcase.py
+++ b/fail2ban/tests/samplestestcase.py
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ def testSampleRegexsFactory(name, basedir):
 			if jsonREMatch:
 				try:
 					faildata = json.loads(jsonREMatch.group(1))
-				except ValueError, e:
+				except ValueError as e:
 					raise ValueError("%s: %s:%i" %
 						(e, logFile.filename(), logFile.filelineno()))
 				line = next(logFile)
diff --git a/fail2ban/tests/servertestcase.py b/fail2ban/tests/servertestcase.py
index 2fd0efac..12bbb2f7 100644
--- a/fail2ban/tests/servertestcase.py
+++ b/fail2ban/tests/servertestcase.py
@@ -1111,7 +1111,7 @@ class ServerConfigReaderTests(LogCaptureTestCase):
 					# command to server, use cmdHandler direct instead of `transm.proceed(cmd)`:
 					try:
 						cmdHandler(cmd)
-					except Exception, e:  # pragma: no cover
+					except Exception as e:  # pragma: no cover
 						self.fail("Command %r has failed. Received %r" % (cmd, e))
 
 			# jails = server._Server__jails
diff --git a/fail2ban/tests/utils.py b/fail2ban/tests/utils.py
index 4cbf4354..bdc1c189 100644
--- a/fail2ban/tests/utils.py
+++ b/fail2ban/tests/utils.py
@@ -433,13 +433,13 @@ def gatherTests(regexps=None, opts=None):
 			raise ImportError('Skip, fast: %s, no_gamin: %s' % (unittest.F2B.fast, unittest.F2B.no_gamin))
 		from ..server.filtergamin import FilterGamin
 		filters.append(FilterGamin)
-	except ImportError, e: # pragma: no cover
+	except ImportError as e: # pragma: no cover
 		logSys.warning("Skipping gamin backend testing. Got exception '%s'" % e)
 
 	try:
 		from ..server.filterpyinotify import FilterPyinotify
 		filters.append(FilterPyinotify)
-	except ImportError, e: # pragma: no cover
+	except ImportError as e: # pragma: no cover
 		logSys.warning("I: Skipping pyinotify backend testing. Got exception '%s'" % e)
 
 	for Filter_ in filters:
@@ -448,7 +448,7 @@ def gatherTests(regexps=None, opts=None):
 	try: # pragma: systemd no cover
 		from ..server.filtersystemd import FilterSystemd
 		tests.addTest(unittest.makeSuite(filtertestcase.get_monitor_failures_journal_testcase(FilterSystemd)))
-	except ImportError, e: # pragma: no cover
+	except ImportError as e: # pragma: no cover
 		logSys.warning("I: Skipping systemd backend testing. Got exception '%s'" % e)
 
 	# Server test for logging elements which break logging used to support