diff --git a/SWIG/Examples/test-suite/allowexcept.i b/SWIG/Examples/test-suite/allowexcept.i
index 8c91db1ad..699432d6d 100644
--- a/SWIG/Examples/test-suite/allowexcept.i
+++ b/SWIG/Examples/test-suite/allowexcept.i
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ private:
    $action
   */
 }
-%feature("allowexcept");
+%allowexception;
 
 %inline %{
 XYZ global_variable;
diff --git a/SWIG/Source/Modules/lang.cxx b/SWIG/Source/Modules/lang.cxx
index 0a391ee60..704565a67 100644
--- a/SWIG/Source/Modules/lang.cxx
+++ b/SWIG/Source/Modules/lang.cxx
@@ -1209,7 +1209,7 @@ Language::variableHandler(Node *n) {
      only variables.
   */
   if (!(Extend | SmartPointer)) {
-    if (GetFlag(n,"feature:allowexcept")) {
+    if (!GetFlag(n,"feature:allowexcept")) {
       UnsetFlag(n,"feature:except");
     } 
     if (Getattr(n,"feature:exceptvar")) {