diff --git a/runtime/Python2/src/antlr4/error/ErrorStrategy.py b/runtime/Python2/src/antlr4/error/ErrorStrategy.py
index b70c7df8e0..f79cc59c65 100644
--- a/runtime/Python2/src/antlr4/error/ErrorStrategy.py
+++ b/runtime/Python2/src/antlr4/error/ErrorStrategy.py
@@ -125,7 +125,7 @@ def reportError(self, recognizer, e):
             self.reportFailedPredicate(recognizer, e)
         else:
             print("unknown recognition error type: " + type(e).__name__)
-            recognizer.notifyErrorListeners(e.getOffendingToken(), e.getMessage(), e)
+            recognizer.notifyErrorListeners(e.message, e.getOffendingToken(), e)
 
     #
     # {@inheritDoc}
diff --git a/runtime/Python2/src/antlr4/error/Errors.py b/runtime/Python2/src/antlr4/error/Errors.py
index 35ac0d10a7..55a3db8bce 100644
--- a/runtime/Python2/src/antlr4/error/Errors.py
+++ b/runtime/Python2/src/antlr4/error/Errors.py
@@ -79,6 +79,7 @@ def __init__(self, lexer, input, startIndex, deadEndConfigs):
         super(LexerNoViableAltException, self).__init__(message=None, recognizer=lexer, input=input, ctx=None)
         self.startIndex = startIndex
         self.deadEndConfigs = deadEndConfigs
+        self.message = ""
 
     def __unicode__(self):
         symbol = ""
diff --git a/runtime/Python3/src/antlr4/error/Errors.py b/runtime/Python3/src/antlr4/error/Errors.py
index e78ac05911..3f34492693 100644
--- a/runtime/Python3/src/antlr4/error/Errors.py
+++ b/runtime/Python3/src/antlr4/error/Errors.py
@@ -85,6 +85,7 @@ def __init__(self, lexer:Lexer, input:InputStream, startIndex:int, deadEndConfig
         super().__init__(message=None, recognizer=lexer, input=input, ctx=None)
         self.startIndex = startIndex
         self.deadEndConfigs = deadEndConfigs
+        self.message = ""
 
     def __str__(self):
         symbol = ""