diff --git a/django/core/mail/backends/smtp.py b/django/core/mail/backends/smtp.py
index f8392918b2..aaacaad517 100644
--- a/django/core/mail/backends/smtp.py
+++ b/django/core/mail/backends/smtp.py
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ class EmailBackend(BaseEmailBackend):
             if self.username and self.password:
                 self.connection.login(force_str(self.username), force_str(self.password))
             return True
-        except (smtplib.SMTPException, socket.error) as e:
+        except (smtplib.SMTPException, socket.error):
             if not self.fail_silently:
                 raise