diff --git a/tools/python/xen/xm/loadpolicy.py b/tools/python/xen/xm/loadpolicy.py
index 947da2e7fa..807859c02d 100644
--- a/tools/python/xen/xm/loadpolicy.py
+++ b/tools/python/xen/xm/loadpolicy.py
@@ -31,15 +31,12 @@ def main(argv):
     if len(argv) != 2:
         raise OptionError('No policy defined')
     
-    try:
-        load_policy(argv[1])
-
-    except ACMError:
-        sys.exit(-1)
-    except:
-        traceback.print_exc(limit = 1)
+    load_policy(argv[1])
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
-    main(sys.argv)
-
-
+    try:
+        main(sys.argv)
+    except Exception, e:
+        sys.stderr.write('Error: %s\n' % str(e))
+        sys.exit(-1)
+        
diff --git a/tools/python/xen/xm/makepolicy.py b/tools/python/xen/xm/makepolicy.py
index 5a8fa3d09b..1a81a14eaa 100644
--- a/tools/python/xen/xm/makepolicy.py
+++ b/tools/python/xen/xm/makepolicy.py
@@ -33,16 +33,13 @@ def main(argv):
     if len(argv) != 2:
         raise OptionError('No XML policy file specified')
 
-    try:
-        make_policy(argv[1])
-    except ACMError:
-        sys.exit(-1)
-    except:
-        traceback.print_exc(limit=1)
-        sys.exit(-1)
-
+    make_policy(argv[1])
 
 if __name__ == '__main__':
-    main(sys.argv)
+    try:
+        main(sys.argv)
+    except Exception, e:
+        sys.stderr.write('Error: %s\n' % str(e))
+        sys.exit(-1)