diff --git a/_pytest/core.py b/_pytest/core.py
index 4166ac3c4..cc7726cdf 100644
--- a/_pytest/core.py
+++ b/_pytest/core.py
@@ -33,7 +33,7 @@ class TagTracer:
 
         content = " ".join(map(str, args))
         indent = "  " * self.indent
-        
+
         lines = [
             "%s%s [%s]\n" %(indent, content, ":".join(tags))
         ]
@@ -345,7 +345,10 @@ def importplugin(importspec):
         #if str(e).find(name) == -1:
         #    raise
         pass #
-    __import__(importspec)
+    try:
+        __import__(importspec)
+    except ImportError:
+        raise ImportError(importspec)
     return sys.modules[importspec]
 
 class MultiCall:
diff --git a/testing/test_genscript.py b/testing/test_genscript.py
index 0ac18015d..39fc18276 100644
--- a/testing/test_genscript.py
+++ b/testing/test_genscript.py
@@ -3,7 +3,8 @@ import subprocess
 
 
 def pytest_funcarg__standalone(request):
-    return request.cached_setup(scope="module", setup=lambda: Standalone(request))
+    return request.cached_setup(scope="module",
+        setup=lambda: Standalone(request))
 
 class Standalone:
     def __init__(self, request):
diff --git a/testing/test_runner.py b/testing/test_runner.py
index 25e3df28a..984f382e3 100644
--- a/testing/test_runner.py
+++ b/testing/test_runner.py
@@ -380,7 +380,7 @@ def test_runtest_in_module_ordering(testdir):
 
 def test_outcomeexception_exceptionattributes():
     outcome = runner.OutcomeException('test')
-    assert outcome.message == outcome.msg
+    assert outcome.args[0] == outcome.msg
 
 def test_pytest_exit():
     try: