python: Make exception handling Python 3 safe

Change-Id: I9c2cdfad20deb1ddfa224320cf93f2105d126652
Reviewed-on: https://gem5-review.googlesource.com/c/15980
Maintainer: Andreas Sandberg <andreas.sandberg@arm.com>
Reviewed-by: Giacomo Travaglini <giacomo.travaglini@arm.com>