diff --git a/r2/r2/lib/db/tdb_sql.py b/r2/r2/lib/db/tdb_sql.py
index 5f3fab4f9..0d3e55dc4 100644
--- a/r2/r2/lib/db/tdb_sql.py
+++ b/r2/r2/lib/db/tdb_sql.py
@@ -369,7 +369,7 @@ def make_thing(type_id, ups, downs, date, deleted, spam, id=None):
         id = do_insert(table)
         params['thing_id'] = id
         return id
-    except sa.exc.SQLError, e:
+    except sa.exc.DBAPIError, e:
         if not 'IntegrityError' in e.message:
             raise
         # wrap the error to prevent db layer bleeding out
@@ -417,7 +417,7 @@ def make_relation(rel_type_id, thing1_id, thing2_id, name, date=None):
                                    name = name, 
                                    date = date)
         return r.last_inserted_ids()[0]
-    except sa.exc.SQLError, e:
+    except sa.exc.DBAPIError, e:
         if not 'IntegrityError' in e.message:
             raise
         # wrap the error to prevent db layer bleeding out
diff --git a/r2/r2/models/mail_queue.py b/r2/r2/models/mail_queue.py
index ea5f654a7..0170fe00c 100644
--- a/r2/r2/models/mail_queue.py
+++ b/r2/r2/models/mail_queue.py
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ class EmailHandler(object):
                 has_opted_out(email, _update = True)
                 opt_count(_update = True)
                 return (email, True)
-            except sa.exc.SQLError:
+            except sa.exc.DBAPIError:
                 return (email, False)
         return (None, False)