diff --git a/kubernetes/base/config/exec_provider.py b/kubernetes/base/config/exec_provider.py
index 317a56695..a0d3df394 100644
--- a/kubernetes/base/config/exec_provider.py
+++ b/kubernetes/base/config/exec_provider.py
@@ -87,8 +87,8 @@ def run(self, previous_response=None):
         exit_code = process.wait()
         if exit_code != 0:
             msg = 'exec: process returned %d' % exit_code
-            stderr = stderr.strip()
             if stderr:
+                stderr = stderr.strip()
                 msg += '. %s' % stderr
             raise ConfigException(msg)
         try: