diff --git a/hy/_compat.py b/hy/_compat.py
index 096282a..80d8f80 100644
--- a/hy/_compat.py
+++ b/hy/_compat.py
@@ -52,3 +52,8 @@ if PY3:
     long_type = int
 else:
     long_type = long  # NOQA
+
+if PY3:
+    exec('def raise_empty(t, *args): raise t(*args) from None')
+else:
+    def raise_empty(t, *args): raise t(*args)
diff --git a/hy/compiler.py b/hy/compiler.py
index 610d643..4c7af9c 100644
--- a/hy/compiler.py
+++ b/hy/compiler.py
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ from hy.models.cons import HyCons
 from hy.errors import HyCompileError, HyTypeError
 
 import hy.macros
-from hy._compat import str_type, long_type, PY27, PY33, PY3, PY34
+from hy._compat import str_type, long_type, PY27, PY33, PY3, PY34, raise_empty
 from hy.macros import require, macroexpand, reader_macroexpand
 import hy.importer
 
@@ -429,7 +429,7 @@ class HyASTCompiler(object):
         except HyTypeError as e:
             raise
         except Exception as e:
-            raise HyCompileError(e, sys.exc_info()[2])
+            raise_empty(HyCompileError, e, sys.exc_info()[2])
 
         raise HyCompileError(Exception("Unknown type: `%s'" % _type))