diff --git a/lib/galaxy/webapps/galaxy/controllers/visualization.py b/lib/galaxy/webapps/galaxy/controllers/visualization.py
index f346fdf6c21..dd39c333f46 100644
--- a/lib/galaxy/webapps/galaxy/controllers/visualization.py
+++ b/lib/galaxy/webapps/galaxy/controllers/visualization.py
@@ -767,7 +767,7 @@ class VisualizationController( BaseUIController, SharableMixin, UsesVisualizatio
         """
         Log, raise if debugging; log and show html message if not.
         """
-        log.exception( 'error rendering visualization (%s): %s', visualization_name, unicodify( exception ) )
+        log.exception( 'error rendering visualization (%s)', visualization_name )
         if trans.debug:
             raise
         return trans.show_error_message(