diff --git a/python/src/com/jetbrains/python/debugger/containerview/PyNumericViewUtil.java b/python/src/com/jetbrains/python/debugger/containerview/PyNumericViewUtil.java
index 7203c9ad04d0d..babd24bf146b8 100644
--- a/python/src/com/jetbrains/python/debugger/containerview/PyNumericViewUtil.java
+++ b/python/src/com/jetbrains/python/debugger/containerview/PyNumericViewUtil.java
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ else if (imag != null) {
       }
     }
     else {
-      throw new IllegalArgumentException("Not a valid python complex value: " + pyComplexValue);
+      throw new NumberFormatException("Not a valid python complex value: " + pyComplexValue);
     }
     return null;
   }