diff --git a/ofs/local/zipstore.py b/ofs/local/zipstore.py
index 086c15f..a41b803 100644
--- a/ofs/local/zipstore.py
+++ b/ofs/local/zipstore.py
@@ -49,7 +49,7 @@ def __init__(self, zipfile, mode="r", compression=ZIP_STORED, allowZip64=False,
         self.hashing_type = hashing_type
         self.quiet = quiet
         if mode == "r" and not is_zipfile(zipfile):
-            raise e
+            raise BadZipArchive(zipfile + ' is not a valid zipfile.')
         try:
             self.z = ZipFile(self.zipfile, self.mode, self.compression, self.allowZip64)
             #if mode != "r":