diff --git a/CHANGES b/CHANGES
index cea7fd4e2..b48bc1ed8 100644
--- a/CHANGES
+++ b/CHANGES
@@ -2729,7 +2729,7 @@ Version 1.3.15 (September 9, 2002)
                 %typemap(throws, throws="java.io.IOException") file_exception {
                     jclass excep = jenv->FindClass("java/io/IOException");
                     if (excep)
-                        jenv->ThrowNew(excep, _e.what());
+                        jenv->ThrowNew(excep, $1.what());
                     return $null; // or use SWIG_fail
                 }